In today’s fast-paced corporate world, modern urban stress has given birth to countless wellness solutions, but one unique startup in China is taking relaxation to an entirely new level. Transforming a simple, everyday urge into a thriving luxury enterprise, a 32-year-old entrepreneur has launched a professional back-scratching service that is raking in a staggering ₹1.4 million per month. Operating under the brand name ‘Suma,’ this quirky business proves that unique ideas born out of nostalgia can capture massive market demand.
From Childhood Memories to a Luxury Massage Parlor Experience
The brains behind this unusual enterprise is Zhang Xiaoqiao, a resident of China’s Hubei Province who launched the venture in Shenzhen. According to reports from the South China Morning Postthe concept replicates the serene atmosphere of high-end wellness and massage parlors. Clients lie comfortably on plush beds while professionally trained staff use specially designed, blunt-yet-effective tools mimicking fingernails to gently scratch hard-to-reach areas on their backs and bodies.
The idea struck Zhang last year when he came across a viral social media video of a woman scratching her husband’s back, accompanied by comments from viewers online expressing willingness to pay for such a service. This triggered fond childhood memories of his father scratching his back to help him fall asleep, inspiring Zhang to professionalize the comforting act.
High Demand and Soaring Earnings in Shenzhen
Priced at around ₹4,200 per hour, the service is marketed not merely as a cure for an itch, but as an advanced stress-relief and sleep-enhancement therapy. Customers can guide staff to focus on specific itchy areas, often resulting in giggles and deep relaxation.
Zhang opened his maiden outlet in Shenzhen’s Bao’an district in May, and following an overwhelming response, quickly expanded with a second branch in the Futian district a month later. Today, both locations pull in a combined monthly revenue of roughly ₹14 lakh. Zhang notes that roughly 70 percent of his clientele comprises stressed male professionals living in fast-paced urban centers who find the unique scratching sessions even more soothing than traditional deep-tissue massages.
Overcoming Skepticism With a Vision to Scale Nationwide
Developing the business model was no easy feat, as Zhang had to pioneer custom scratching techniques from scratch following a winding career path that included seven corporate jobs and two failed e-commerce startups. While internet users continue to playfully debate whether “professional scratcher” can become a mainstream career, Zhang remains unfazed. With a rapidly growing base of loyal, repeat customers, he has set an ambitious target to scale his brand by opening 100 Suma outlets across China, turning a simple childhood comfort into a nationally recognized wellness profession.