“At Mend, our mission is to harmonize well-being and environmental responsibility, creating a sanctuary where sustainable spa experiences and eco-friendly goods converge. We are dedicated to curating a selection of products and services that nurture both body and planet, fostering a community committed to conscious living.”
—Erika Stubbs and Alexandra Bertsch, co-founders, Mend
The Berkshires has a new spa committed to “sustainability, holistic wellness, education and empowerment, circular economy, community engagement, and continuous innovation.” And everything they do reflects those values. Whether you are looking for a 60-, 75-, or 90-minute massage session—or something else (Monastery buccal face treatment, Zen duo ritual, Thai massage, prenatal massage, holistic nutrition counseling, or energy work)—Mend promises a comforting, out-of-the-ordinary spa experience.
In addition to the spa, the thoughtfully sourced retail shop offers its signature line of massage oils and candles, personal care products (and refills), a unique blend of Extra Special Teas, sustainable cards, compostable wrapping paper, and more.
Shared roots, complementary skills and passions
Sisters Erika Stubbs (licensed massage therapist and spa director) and Alex Bertsch (sustainability coordinator) grew up in the Berkshires but never thought they would be in business together. Bertsch is an extrovert who has traveled and lived around the world (her husband is in the military) and currently lives in San Diego. Stubbs is an introvert who has always lived in the Berkshires. She describes attending nursing school—twice—but being anxious and highly sensitive, she found both the role and setting hard to maintain. Wanting to give back another way, she turned to massage therapy.
Last December, the siblings decided to launch a business together, joining Stubbs’s empathy and extensive massage therapy training with Bertsch’s anthropology background and passion for the environment. In late May, they opened their Great Barrington spa (“mend.”), focused on mending their clients, the community, and the planet. The satellite spa in The Red Lion Inn launched in early October.
“Many people argue that one sustainable purchase won’t make a difference in the long run, but I believe supporting local, eco-conscious businesses is one of the most impactful ways we can drive change,” Bertsch shares. “My travels around the world and my journey into motherhood have deepened my sense of urgency regarding the planet’s health. It’s all too easy to ignore the impact of our consumption, but it’s important to pause and reflect on what we are putting on our skin and allowing into our bodies.”
Both the spa and retail shop feature organic, cruelty-free products in a holistic sensory experience—you absorb the warmth and comfort the moment you walk in, from the soothing scents and ambiance to the natural, sustainably made products displayed in the open space. “It takes a lot of work for people to live in an environmentally sustainable way,” Stubbs stresses. “We’re trying to bring it forward by making it easier for them to do so.”
What’s it like to go into business with your sister/best friend? “We’ve had our share of challenging days,” Stubbs admits, “and on those days, it was nice to have someone to share that with. Mostly, running a business is a lot of ebb and flow, and we pull each other along.” She notes they’ve always been honest with each other and (being four years apart) have never been competitive. “We needed each other through hard times growing up and have always been each other’s constant.”
Bertsch lives on the West Coast and does most of her work remotely. “Being in California has opened up incredible opportunities for sourcing unique secondhand clothing! I love spending my days exploring racks, attics, and markets in search of truly special finds,” she notes. Her curated seasonal collections include a fall line featuring heritage pieces and an upcoming holiday collection titled “Let’s Have A Kiki!” (to be released on December 1).
Open floor plan for improved flow
The open-concept spa at Mend (think walls and curtains, not doors) is an entirely different experience than the dark, tiny pillbox rooms found at many other spas. “It’s all connected. My favorite part is when people come into this space and are overcome by it,” Stubbs says. Your spa experience begins when you step into your slippers and walk through the curtained pathway to the decompressing room, outfitted with natural cloth reclining chairs, a stone sculpture (made by Cornwall, Conn., artist Karl Saliter), and soothing sounds. They’ll also pour you a cup of one of the Extra Special Tea blends created just for Mend.
Stubbs’s husband, Daniel (electrician and jack-of-all-trades), did all of the renovations—which, as those who loved shopping at Out of Hand (the previous tenant) know, were fairly extensive. One of the main challenges was creating a level floor in such an old building. To tackle that, he built a raised platform for the massage rooms, enhancing the feel and design. The flooring is made of recycled tires, and the walls are covered with firring strips made from trees grown in the U.S. (so no deforestation). “It’s really important to us that everything is sustainably sourced, and we collaborate with local businesses as much as possible,” Stubbs stresses.
A newly opened Floating Room—a unique immersive experience in their sensory deprivation sanctuary—blends tranquility with eco-conscious design. Surrounded by organic materials and warm, natural tones, clients float in silence and warm, Epsom salt-saturated water for a feeling of weightlessness (think Marconi Union’s ambient song, “Weightless”). You can choose between light or dark sessions of 60 or 90 minutes. “It really helps with pain relief and management,” Stubbs says. “The second half of the float treatment is a deep meditative experience; your body is sedated and calm, helping the mind to center.” (Note: Through December, you can book a 60-minute massage plus a 60-minute float for a Fall Promo discounted rate.)
Taking the experience home with you
When you leave, you’re invited to carry the comfort of the spa home to enjoy in your own living space. Bertsch curates a collection of sustainable products that tell stories of craftsmanship and environmental responsibility—a fitting role given her skills and experience studying different holistic and eco-friendly practices worldwide. In addition, she created a signature line of scents and oils, features a different scented candle each month, and donates 10 percent of the proceeds from the candle sales to a local organization. (This month, the scent is “leaf peeping,” and the nonprofit is Berkshire Natural Resources Council.) “We hope to give back 10 percent of the cost of our spa services, too, eventually,” Stubbs shares, “to offer the community a little more than a traditional spa.”
“The inspiration for our refillable toxin-free candles came to me while I was reading about how scent can evoke powerful memories,” she explains. “I thought how wonderful it would be to extend that post-massage bliss and continue the ritual at home. I’m thrilled to share that our candles have become our top sellers! They are beautifully crafted and locally poured by Megan from Brookman Candles, who has been incredibly supportive from the start. Our holiday candle is launching soon, and we’ve already received so many inquiries about the scent!”
Experienced hands
“Our team is amazing,” Stubbs raves. “I don’t know what we did to deserve the people we have here. We couldn’t do what we do without them.” From spa/retail manager Hayley Ranolde to the licensed massage therapists, the team’s passion, experience, and expertise provide a soothing, restorative experience with every visit. “Hayley is always five steps ahead of me,” Stubbs acknowledges, “which comes in handy since we have multiple tabs open at any given time as owners.”
Their first hire was Kevin Burnley, who became interested in massage therapy after studying martial arts and Eastern philosophies of natural healthcare at a young age and now has over 25 years of experience—including owning a wellness center in Cincinnati before the pandemic. His massage style combines hard and soft techniques (Swedish, deep tissue, Esalen, Lomi Lomi, Cranio-Sacral therapy, and healing touch). “Kevin has been with us since the beginning, when the place was in complete shambles,” Stubbs emphasizes. “He had faith in us even when we didn’t and has played a special role ever since.”
Ned Torrico studied kinesiology in college and continued training in various massage modalities at a well-known regional spa during COVID. Seeing up to seven clients daily, mostly visitors to the Berkshires, left him wanting to work in a place that served more locals on a less demanding schedule. When he met with Stubbs and Bertsch and learned about their vision, he knew he had to be part of it. Beyond the appealing focus on local clients and limited sessions, he appreciated the opportunity to use all of his training (Ayurvedic, prenatal, deep tissue, Swedish, Thai, acupuncture, and reflexology) to create a personalized, meaningful client experience.
Serenity Gagliardi experienced kidney cancer as a teen and explored various forms of therapy during her recovery. Her journey from patient to practitioner is grounded in her belief in the profound healing effects of massage therapy. Her dedication to “nurturing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health through thoughtful, therapeutic touch” is especially powerful for anyone who is recovering from illness or trauma.
Giving back to—and expanding—the community
“In my 20s, my mentor (a massage therapist) inspired me to be who I am now,” Stubbs says gratefully. “I think it’s important to offer a lot of different therapies and ways to find comfort and relaxation to serve the whole community.” To do that, they charge by the length of the session, not by the services provided. They also offer monthly discounts for different sectors of the community. Last month, it was for educators; this month, it’s healthcare workers, and in November, it will be hospitality workers. “They’re the ones who are going to push us through the hard times,” she adds.
“We rushed to open our Great Barrington location by Memorial Day weekend, and Kevin and I were the only massage therapists at the time,” Stubbs points out. “Not long after, Sarah Eustis, owner of Red Lion Inn and Main Street Hospitality, came in and had a session with me. After an awesome energy experience, she grabbed my arm and asked, ‘How would you feel about opening a satellite spa at the Red Lion Inn?’”
“I was gobsmacked. I really respect and admire her as a woman who gets things done,” Stubbs continues. She and Eustis began talking and launched a satellite three-room Mend spa on the fourth level of the inn a few months later. “Sarah’s goal was for people to be transported. We took that as a challenge, and my sister made it something wonderful while I focused on our Great Barrington location,” Stubbs explains. (Guests of the inn enjoy an exclusive 15 percent discount on all Mend services and products.)
Making it sustainable
The sister duo handles all the marketing and branding themselves. The biggest challenge they’ve faced is that people often misunderstand what their name means. “Many think we are a sewing/mending shop,” Stubbs smiles. “The period [mend.] is for emphasis—to cause you to sit with it and look into the full meaning of it, to reinforce that it’s something different for everyone,” she explains. “We didn’t want a traditional spa name. We want to keep sustainability at the forefront as we serve the community post-pandemic and try to protect the environment. It also relates to us. We are in a constant state of learning, revival, trying to mend in some way.”
They also believe in keeping the work sustainable for their employees and themselves. “Our therapists are never booked for more than four sessions a day, and they create their own breaks and time off,” Stubbs explains. Their eight employees all work part-time. “We’re not interested in churning out clients. Putting your hands on different bodies requires a lot. When they become a blur, you need to step back and take care of yourself,” she adds. They also ensure each therapist is treated to a complementary session once every two weeks to learn from and know each other’s strengths. “This helps us find the right fit for each client, reduces competition and ego, and is more in keeping with being a wellness provider,” she maintains.
Keeping it simple
“What’s your dream for the future?” I ask. “For me, it’s this,” Stubbs smiles. “I was able to work above a salon without paying rent when I was starting out, so this is my way of giving back. Eventually, we hope to make a profit, expand upstairs, and add facials, nutrition counseling, and acupuncture to our offerings. But we still want to keep things simple, and we don’t want to become a wellness center focused on upselling.”
Bertsch acknowledges, “None of this would be possible without our families, our amazing staff, and this wonderful community. However, if I’m being completely honest, the success of Mend is due to Stubbs’s brilliance and determination. She’s an outstanding leader, and our clients absolutely adore her. Her intuition and openness foster an environment where people feel safe to share their stories. I feel incredibly proud and fortunate that we get to merge our visions and build this dream together.”
Do they have any advice for other women business owners or entrepreneurs? Stubbs shares this assurance: “Be patient. Trust the word-of-mouth process at work in most hiring situations in the Berkshires. Once you have the community around you, you’re going to be okay.”
