Shenzhen entrepreneur earns 100,000 yuan monthly from itch-scratching service

Zhang Xiaoqiao, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, has launched a unique itch-scratching business in Shenzhen, China, earning approximately 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) per month from two locations.

Operating under the brand name Suma, the stores are located in the Baoan and Futian districts. The service involves trained staff using specially designed pointed nails to gently scratch customers' backs and other body parts while they lie face down. The sessions are priced at 300 yuan (approximately US$40) per hour and are marketed as a way to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

Zhang noted that the service is in high demand in first-tier cities due to high stress levels among residents. The business has already reached its break-even point and is generating profit. While the clientele includes both men and women, men make up about 70 percent of the customers. Zhang, who previously experienced several unsuccessful business ventures, developed the scratching techniques himself as there was no existing model for this service in China.