Do men like to be pampered? Is it something they want? Is there a market for this in business? Well, the answer is actually yes. Meet Darnika Platt, owner of ManCave Atlanta. As an entrepreneur, wife, and mother, taking care of people and looking out for their needs is second nature to her. She is dedicated to offering people a space for self-care needs. Considered to be a small-town girl with big-city goals, she left Grand Rapids, Michigan for Atlanta, Georgia in 2004 to expand her life. Through her entrepreneurial journey, the idea is to develop an upscale men’s spa that features manicure and pedicure suites, facial and massage suites, a private barber suite, a cigar suite, and a large business and sports suite that can also be utilized as an event space was born. We at FEMI Magazine wished to get an exclusive look into how this venture started. Here’s how it went.
What inspired the idea to develop ManCave Atlanta?
I’m the type of girl who loves to be pampered. I’ve always frequented spas and salons, but within the last couple of years, I noticed more men popping up at the same spots that I visited. It’s no secret that most of these facilities market and cater more towards women, so I was curious as to why these men still came. I discovered that there was a demographic of men who wanted to get the same services that I was receiving. They liked manicures and pedicures, getting facials and peels, and enjoying massages. In fact, the market is very large and includes a lot of business owners and CEOs, professional athletes, and entertainers. However, in recent years, more everyday men are also learning the value of self-care and wellness. I discovered all of this mainly through discussions with men who would sit next to men in the nail salon or that I saw I spas, and this caused me to do a lot of research on the subject. What I found is that the men who loved these services also felt neglected because of the lack of places that catered to them.
For example, most manicures and pedicures take place in a nail salon. While there are exclusive spas that sometimes offer these services also, the easiest way a man can access them is to visit a nail salon, where men are outnumbered by women and have to endure the smell of nail polish and acrylic. That’s not ideal for a man. So, what I decided to do is create a facility that houses all of the services that men enjoy too, but design it to cater to them. Besides manicure, pedicure, esthetician, and massage services, we also have a private barbershop, a business and sports lounge, and a cigar lounge. More importantly, the decor and atmosphere are upscale but very appealing to men. It’s masculine but clean and sleek. As for the name, it comes from the phrase “man cave” which is used as a term for a place where men can relax and be themselves. That’s the environment we provide.
Why would you say men of today need this kind of space?
Recently, there’s been a mentality shift not just with men but our entire society. We’re placing a higher value on health than we ever did before. And that’s not just fitness and healthy eating, but also wellness and mental health. Men need more spaces that are just for them. Places that understand what they want and need, which is what we specialize in. Also, men are more educated in wellness and self-care. There was a time that if you said the words manicure and pedicure, men assumed that you were just getting your nails painted. Surprisingly men have caught up a lot in the last couple of years, and they now understand that a lot of the things that women do in similar facilities aren’t about makeup, nail polish, and hairspray. They’ve found out the importance of skincare, moisturizing, exfoliating, detoxes, and all of the other things that are regular body maintenance. Men now see the results of investing in all of this stuff, in real-time. Because, the image of a 50-year-old that we all keep in our head, the man with grey hair, wrinkly skin, and a slow walk, is now non-existent. The average man over 50 now looks like Lenny Kravitz (57), Taye Diggs (50), Shemar Moore (51), Rick Fox (52), Terry Crews (53), Jaime Foxx (53), and Barack Obama (60).
What type of feedback did you receive about ManCave thus far from men?
We get great feedback. Men love our facility. We have a new saying that you can’t really explain ManCave Atlanta to someone, they have to come to see it for themselves. That’s because when you’re talking to someone about it they’re interested but you can tell that they don’t fully understand or can’t really imagine it accurately. But every time we get a new man to walk through our doors, their jaws drop. They’re amazed, but they instantly get it. That’s the “wow factor” that we enjoy every time. It’s like having a big secret and finally revealing it to someone. You’re relieved that they now know, and also you get a lot of satisfaction at the person’s reaction. We also get a lot of great comments about our massages. The most common comment is that they say it feels like our massage therapists are dancing across their body and they feel rejuvenated afterward.
What do women say about ManCave Atlanta, is it received well or is it a place for men to get into trouble?
Our basic services are available to men and women, however, our exclusive services are only offered through memberships that are only given to men. We have a lot of women who get our basic services and return. For them, they see us as just an upscale spa with a great staff. Though we strive to cater more towards men, that really doesn’t bother our women clientele. In fact, we encourage men and women to get their services as couples. If a man becomes a member, he can have his wife, girlfriend, or friend as a guest with him, this is the easiest way for couples to enjoy ManCave Atlanta together. As for getting into trouble, we’re not that kind of facility. A lot of the exclusive things that we provide to members include private events, networking opportunities, and resources for businesses and professionals. We love it when our guests connect with each other and it happens a lot. You wouldn’t believe how many times a guest has called their friend while at ManCave Atlanta only to find their friend in another part of the facility getting a massage or a haircut. The men here really network and connect with each other which is what we want.
What does the future hold for the ManCave brand?
We’re in the process of expanding. I would love to have multiple locations which is what the next step is. I can’t say too much right now, but that’s the goal.
We love how innovative and forward-thinking the mind of Darnika is. We are sure that more locations of Mancave will be popping up soon and definitely be received in no time.
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