Hand & Stone Supports MS 150 City to the Shore

This September, Hand & Stone was proud to be the VIP sponsor for the 31st Annual MS150 City to the Shore benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and more than 2 million people worldwide.

The event over the weekend of September 24-25, had 7,000 participants and raised more than $5M dollars! Some fun facts from the two days are that more than 10,000 bananas, 16,000 oranges, and 28,000 tablespoons of peanut butter were provided to cyclists.

Our contribution to the City to the Shore focused on providing massages to bicyclists who endured a 175 mile bike ride over two days. A fun fact about our therapists are that they provided 365, 15 minute massages to participation cyclists!

We want to give Denise McQuillan of Cherry Hill, NJ a special thanks for coordinating our on-site involvement with this amazing event!

Below, please enjoy some pictures from the weekend!

This picture was taken at the end of the race on Sunday. This “young” lady has participated in the race for a number of years. She rode in her jacket, skirt, pumps, which were covered with mud and grass, on a rusted out bike with a basket that held nothing more than her water bottle and a towel. She rode 75 miles each day to raise money for MS. I feel honored that I was able to meet this extraordinary person and that I was given the opportunity to be there when she arrived at the finish line.” – Denise McQuillan

Hand & Stone Employees

Can you find us?

Registering to win a free massage or facial!

A cyclist taking home a gift from H&S

Cyclists coming in for the finish!

Franchisee Profile: Ken and Karen Bowen of Cary, NC

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Opening: Mid to late September 2011

Phone: 919-552-9474

Q: Where are you originally from?

A: I grew up in Chapel Hill, NC, but have been in Holly Springs, a town outside of Cary since 1992.

Q: What did you do before becoming a Hand and Stone franchisee?

A: Before opening my first business with Hand & Stone, I was a Physical Therapist for 22 years. I graduated with an MS in PT from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and have been practicing since 1988. I worked in hospitals, homes and rehab centers for years and now desire to experience something new, especially with the changing healthcare industry. In addition, I wanted to focus more on customer service & creating a WOW experience for customers.

Q: How did you learn about Hand and Stone?

A: My husband, Ken, and I had been looking into business opportunities for quite some time. Ken is an electrical engineer by trade and in the financial field and will be able to provide me support with the financial aspect of the business. We used a franchise coach to help us determine a franchise industry to focus on, and after a few possibilities we saw Hand & Stone as a great fit.

Q: Why was Hand and Stone the right fit for you?

A: The major selling point with us for Hand & Stone was the customer service aspect. I wanted to be involved in something in which I could help create a great customer experience. In addition, massage has become more than just a luxurious treat. It is something that can improve one’s health & well-being. This really resonated with me and my PT background.

Q: What are your future goals? Development plans?

A: I want to get this location running and successful, but my husband and I would like to open another location down the line for both of us to be involved in.

ABOUT HAND & STONE

Hand & Stone is a 40-plus unit massage and facial spa with a mission to bring massage and massage services to the masses. Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now lead by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now resides in 12 states and Canada with plans to open an additional 40 locations by the end of 2011. For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.

Franchisee Profile: Nick O'Neill of Longwood, FL

Location: 2425 State Road 434

Longwood, Fla. 32779

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m originally from Ireland. I moved to the U.S. when I was 21 years old, working part-time at my uncle’s company in Portland, Me., as a marine engineer. I did that for two summers, then came to the States for good to attend college, where I earned my degree in nursing. After graduation, I worked at a psychiatric hospital for a couple of years as a psychiatric nurse, then was introduced to the property management field. It was around that time that I purchased a few rental properties in Florida, and moved to the state in 2004 to start my own property management company.

Q: How did you decide to open a Hand & Stone?

A: About a year ago, someone gave me a voucher for a massage place and while I was speaking with one of the therapists they told me they were busy all the time. The housing market is testy right now, so I started to think that going into the spa industry might be a smart business move. I began looking into franchise opportunities and saw that Hand& Stone is a brand that has room for growth, a diverse business plan and a better overall system than its competitors.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

A: With this type of business, you need a lot of startup support. In this market, you can’t afford to learn by making mistakes — it’s just too costly. Business owners know that the first year is critical, and I wanted to make sure that I had the support especially at the beginning so I would make less mistakes than I would on my own.

Q: What skills do you feel have helped you in your business?

A: I think working with people in general in several different areas and different settings has helped me. This is a people business, and it’s about understanding their needs and always trying to look for the best approach. I want to create an atmosphere where people come in and enjoy the service and want to keep coming back.

Q: What are your development or expansion plans?

A: With the expected success of my first location, I hope to expand into other areas in the future.

Hand & Stone Sponsors the Multiple Sclerosis Society

Hand & Stone has been given a great opportunity to sponsor the Multiple Sclerosis Society's 31st annual Bike MS Event, "City To The Shore"!

City to Shore Ride is the second largest Bike MS event in the country. This particular race has various route options to ensure that everyone of all ages can participate. Beginning in Cherry Hill, NJ, cyclists will enjoy picturesque terrain as they travel through New Jersey's pine barrens and into the sweet smells of salt water and ocean air of historic Ocean City, NJ.

When:

The race is being held this Saturday & Sunday, September 24th - 25th, 2011

Our Participation:

We are happy to announce that we will be the exclusive on-site Massage company each day giving out Free Massages to all of the participating cyclists! We will have multiple chairs and massage therapists to ensure that everyone participating will leave not only feeling great about helping such a great cause, but also feeling relaxed!

We are extremely excited to be a part of such a great event and cannot wait till this weekend!

MS Society has extended the register deadline for Bike MS. Click here if you would like to participate this weekend!

Hand & Stone featured in Mission Viejo Patch

Hand & Stone was recently featured in Mission Viejo Patch entitled "Hand & Stone Massage Mission Viejo Tripled Staff in 7 Months." Reporter Peter Schelden spoke with Hand & Stone franchisee Shahira Raineri about how she has been able to grow her business so quickly with Hand & Stone. Shahira also discusses her entrepreneurial journey which has led to her becoming a Hand & Stone business owner in Mission Viejo and Tustin. She references tools like Yelp and the local city as resources to helping her grow. Click here to read the full article.

Hand & Stone Massage Mission Viejo Tripled Staff in 7 Months

By: Peter Schelden

When it opened its first California location in December in Mission Viejo, Hand and Stone had 12 employees. Owner Shahira Raineri says she has now tripled that number and is going strong.

"OK, we're going to move 3,000 miles—it sounds crazy now that I'm saying it—and we're going to put our spa in Mission Viejo."

That's Shahira Raineri, owner of Hand and Stone, describing her decision to move out West from New Jersey and start her first business.

Hand and Stone opened last December. Back then, the business had 12 employees. In seven months, the staff has tripled, and a new location has been opened in Tustin.

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Hand & Stone featured on A Girl's Gotta Spa

Hand & Stone was recently featured on A Girl’s Gotta Spa, in a blog post titled “Considering Prenatal Massage? Hand & Stone Explains How the Service Alleviates Aches & Pains.” The post discusses several pointers for women who are considering prenatal massage. Colleen Bryan, of Hand & Stone, suggests women wait until their second trimester for the service, know that it has health benefits beyond relaxation and that the therapists will adapt to the pregnant woman’s needs. Click here to view the entire post.

Considering Prenatal Massage? Hand & Stone Explains How the Service Alleviates Aches & Pains

By: Shannon Nelson

There is no better time to be pampered than during pregnancy (I should know–I had 4 boys!) For nine months, your body is changing and growing, which can add some unexpected aches and pains. But many women don’t realize that prenatal massage can be an effective way to reduce anxiety, stress, and the aches and pains caused by poor circulation during pregnancy.

Colleen Bryan, of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, has offered A Girl’s Gotta Spa!readers several pointers on what pregnant women should know concerning prenatal massage:

Wait until your second trimester. As a rule of thumb, you should wait until the first trimester is over before coming in for a massage. The second trimester is typically when the belly begins to grow and the body is changing, anyway, so that’s usually the time that women are experiencing stress or discomfort.

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