As of January 6th, 2021 Float Forty-One is officially… ONE! And to say we’re experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement. After the year that was 2020, we know we’re not (still) here by sheer chance or coincidence.
Closely following our official opening on Jan 6, we had to abruptly cancel our ribbon cutting in mid-March due to the alarming news of COVID-19 spread in our community. A few days later, we were forced to close our center for the foreseeable future.
The next few months were a blur of navigating virtual school for our children and serving activation orders with the CT Air National Guard in support of COVID operations - all while trying to keep the business “afloat” and growing in new and different ways. Like many of you, we were left with our heads spinning and somehow in a fog at the same time. We knew we had our work cut out for us in the first year of a new business, but nothing could have prepared us for this.
Regardless, we stayed the course and in a few months time (thought it felt like an eternity) there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Phase 2 of reopening went into effect in June, and by mid-June we felt comfortable opening our doors again. And boy did our public show up. Just a few months into the pandemic our community was experiencing such deep anxiety and uncertainty and found floatation therapy as a way to recenter.
By the end of June we were able to host our very first Karma Float weekend. The idea was to provide some relief to anyone in our community by allowing clients to “pay what you can” for our services. This event became a huge milestone for us and marked the first glimmer of hope that the tides were turning for our business and our community.
Since then, we’ve been able and honored to offer more than 125 complimentary floats to essential workers, more than 50 complimentary floats to West Hartford educators, and sponsored nine military members through our new six-week stress relief program - which focuses on the effects of compound floating and building stress resilience from the inside. On the business side, we were recognized as 2020’s Best New Business by the West Harford Chamber of Commerce, named a second-year runner-up for Best New Business according to West Hartford Magazine, and had the opportunity to share our story across three different podcast platforms in hopes of bringing inspiration and healing to others.
It’s been twelve months of hustle, uncertainty, pivoting, and stumbling into grace. More than 2,521 float sessions and a growing community of friends and clients. Despite ALL of the odds stacked against us for opening up a business in the middle of a global pandemic...we're here....we made it to year one and you can be sure we’ll be here providing relief and healing to our float family.
All the best,
Sarah LaTeano Co-Owner Float Forty-One