Shenzhen-based entrepreneur Zhang Xiaoqiao has established a chain of itch‑scratching salons, generating approximately 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) in monthly revenue from two locations.
Zhang, 32, opened his inaugural itch‑scratching outlet in Shenzhen’s Baoan District in early May, and followed up with a second branch in the city’s Futian District a month later, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.
Operating under the brand name Suma, the two venues employ staff equipped with specially designed pointed nails to gently scratch customers who lie face down on beds, in a setting reminiscent of a massage spa.
Customers are charged 300 yuan (US$40) per hour, with the service marketed as a means to relieve stress and improve sleep quality. The staff occasionally target specific itchy zones to promote relaxation and even provoke laughter.
“In first‑tier cities, residents typically face high stress levels, which has driven strong demand for this service,” Zhang told the media.
With no existing Chinese model to follow, Zhang had to independently research and develop effective scratching techniques from scratch.
Zhang reports that the combined gross income of his two stores reaches 100,000 yuan per month, with the business already hitting break‑even and beginning to generate profit.
The clientele is split between men and women, with men accounting for roughly 70 percent, according to Zhang. Some patrons have noted that the experience feels more relaxing than a traditional massage, fostering a robust base of repeat customers.
