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.
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