Franchisee Spotlight: Conne Lineman, Montgomeryville, PA

On Nov. 25, 2013, Connie Lineman will be opening a Hand and Stone location in Montgomeryville, Pa. The spa will be Lineman’s first business ownership venture, but she’ll be in good company; her business partner, Maripat Mowry, comes from a experienced franchising family and has her own Hand and Stone spa in Warrington, Pa.

Connie Lineman is a long-time resident of Pennsylvania, having grown up in the Warminster, Pa. area and attended college at Wilkes University. After graduating in 1993, she began working for Cottman Transmission, where she first met the Mowry family – Maripat worked in accounting for the automotive franchise, and Maripat’s husband, Greg, was Lineman’s boss. She continued working with the company until 2010, when she was offered a promotion with MAACO in King of Prussia, Pa. However, when the company relocated, Lineman decided to forgo moving and instead, stayed in the area.

Not long after, Lineman ran into the Mowrys at an event and the former colleagues began talking about business opportunities. Maripat mentioned that she was hoping to open expand with a second location of her already successful Hand and Stone spa and asked Lineman whether she wanted to get involved. Lineman accepted the offer and the two signed on to open a spa in Montgomeryville.

How did you learn about the brand?

I originally worked for Maripat at her first Hand and Stone location for the first six months, then left because of my job offer at MAACO.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand and Stone?

I think it’s a relaxing, fun atmosphere. People come here to relax and they leave happy, and I love that. I think our business model is very strong. We’re helping our customers be better parents, better spouses, and better friends by allowing them to treat themselves to some self-care.

What are your expansion/development plans? Number of units? Timeframe? What is your end goal?

Being a multi-center owner is not outside the realm of possibilities. When I made this decision to be a small business entrepreneur, I thought, “Who better to invest in than yourself?” There are some very successful spas out there, and there’s no reason we won’t be a top-level spa; we’re located in a busy shopping center, with great foot traction and movement. I’m already very excited about our prospects — give us a few months to get this under our belt and we’ll see where to go from there.

Franchisee Spotlight: Kevin Bryne, Kent, Washington

Kevin Byrne, will be joining Hand & Stone equipped with extensive experience in business management. Byrne was born in Chicago, Il. but spent the majority of his younger years in Lake Zurich, Il. In 1979, Byrne moved to Tacoma, Wash. to study business and economics at the University of Puget Sound.

Byrne dived into the banking world immediately upon graduating, spending almost 20 years in Washington’s bank industry. He spent his first ten years at Puget Sound National Bank and then eight years at a smaller bank called Western Community Bank, which was sold to Key Bank in the final seven months that he worked there.

After working under someone else for over 17 years, Byrne started Northwest Community Bank in 1991.  He sold the bank after eight years to start a commercial mortgage company, which he ran for seven years. On the heels of his business ownership streak, Byrne started a franchise company called Express Financial Centers, which offered a variety of financial services. The company operated in nine locations across Washington, California, South Dakota and Wisconsin. However, when state laws changed in Washington, Byrne found it increasingly difficult to successfully grow his company and decided to close operations to pursue business ownership with a pre-existing franchise.

Byrne will be the primary manager of the Hand & Stone location, which he will run with his wife Mary, and two sons, aged 25 and 18. He will be the primary manager of the store.

How did you learn about Hand and Stone?

After I closed my business I started looking into something else to do and came across the Hand & Stone franchise. I was actually inspired to go into the massage industry after receiving a gift certificate for a competitor, Massage Envy.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

I was working with a bank to help it recapitalize and throughout the process I was constantly met with endless new conditions that were specifically unfavorable to smaller banks. The regulatory burden created by the FDIC made me realize that although I had had a great career, it was time to walk away from banking.  I wanted to venture outside of the finance industry and go into a business where I could use my past business skills in a positive way. 

I went to New Jersey for Discovery Day in May and was immediately impressed by the company. Opening a location in Tacoma was my first preference but after struggling to find a location, the leasing agent presented Kent Station. Another franchisee had actually already put their hand up for the location but was unable to complete the transaction. Kent Station Shopping Complex reserved the space for Hand & Stone for almost a year because they really wanted us to open there.

Are you involved in any charities or community outreach programs?

My wife and I have gone on a mission trip to Honduras with our church for the past several years. My wife is extremely active in the community – she sits on the Board of Directors of our son’s Catholic prep school, Bellarmine Preparatory; is President of the school la crosse team; sits on the board for Carol Cancer of Pierce County’s South Sound Care; formerly sat on the Tacoma chapter of the Heart Association, and became the first female president of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association before she left the group in March 2013.

Hand & Stone featured on NorthJersey.com

Our Hand & Stone in Franklin Lakes is now open for business and just celebrated the grand opening with the Mayor of Franklin Lakes, Frank Bivona, spa manager, Daisy Merejo and the two owners, Jeff and Ken Silbert. The team is excited to be in the new community and this marks the fourth opening by brothers and business partners, Jeff and Ken, who plan to develop another six in Northern New Jersey. The spa was featured in a write up by NorthJersey.com for the grand opening.

See article on NorthJersey.com here.

Hand & Stone opens in Franklin Lakes

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013

FRANKLIN LAKES - OAKLAND SUBURBAN NEWS

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Style opened in style at 828 Franklin Ave. in Franklin Lakes with an official ribbon-cutting that included Jeff Silbert, owner, Frank Bivona, Franklin Lakes mayor, Daisy Merejo, spa manager, and Ken Silbert, owner, joined by several spa staff members. Open daily, the spa offers Swedish, deep tissue and sports massages, as well as its signature hot stone massage. Additional services include facials, aromatherapy, hair removal and scalp massages. Hand & Stone may be reached at 201-848-8300, and further information is available at www.handandstone.com. 

See article online here. 

Hand & Stone Developer of the Year Erik Bostrom Drives Expansion in Colorado

Massage and Facial Franchise Strengthens Presence in Colorado with Eight Locations Expected to be Open by End-of-Year

Hamilton, NJ – Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa (Hand & Stone), one of the fastest growing spa franchises in the country, is proud to announce the plans to have a total of eight spa locations open in Colorado by the end of 2013. The new locations will be owned by a series of local owners throughout the Denver-area and the development is through the hard work of regional developer Erik Bostrom, winner of the brand’s 2013 Developer of the Year Award.

Bostrom, Regional Developer for Hand & Stone’s Colorado market, exemplifies the brand’

s ability to attract passionate entrepreneurs who are eager to grow the franchise and expand the reach of its health-focused services. To date, Bostrom, who joined the brand in 2008 to focus on growth, has already helped to opened six spas and has signed a total of 13 units.

“We’re on target to exceed our growth plans for the Colorado region. Our goal was to open three locations this year – we have already doubled that number and will triple it by the end of 2013,” said Bostrom. “Colorado is home to many residents who live active and healthy lifestyles, which has been conducive to our growth.”

At only 34 years old, Bostrom has been instrumental in Hand & Stone’s franchise development in Colorado. As Regional Developer, he is responsible for working with potential franchisees to help them become acquainted with Hand & Stone and walk them through the process of opening a spa in the state.

The new Colorado openings will contribute to Hand & Stone’s overall growth for 2013. System wide sales are expected to reach $90 million and a total of 25 more spas are expected to open across the nation by year-end.

“We want to continue to seek out the most aggressive entrepreneurs to help us expand in new and existing markets, create more jobs and provide opportunities to those who dream of running a successful business,” Todd Leff, President and CEO of the brand, said. “Our business is one that provides peace and tranquility to clients who want to detach from their often stressful lives. We are able to help our customers achieve this relaxation because of the passionate franchisees that we have on board at Hand & Stone.”

Leff also credits the company’s positive progress with the franchise’s emphasis on quality customer service and extensive menu of healthy lifestyle options. Hand & Stone has set itself apart from competitors by offering customizable and affordable massages and facials.

ABOUT HAND & STONE
Hand & Stone is a 125-plus unit massage and facial spa with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses. Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 17 states and Canada. For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.

Hand & Stone Celebrates Strong Growth and Outstanding Franchisees

Massage and Facial Franchise Wraps Up First Three Quarters of 2013 with Stellar Growth Figures and Celebrates Top-Performing Franchisees

Hamilton, NJ – Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spas (Hand & Stone), one of the fastest growing spa franchises in the country, continues its momentum of solid growth with system wide sales projected to hit $90 million for 2013 and 15 more stores expected to open by year-end. The chain now has 125 open locations and has awarded 60 new franchises so far this year – a company record.

Proving that the thriving brand has made a name for itself as a top leader in the industry, Hand & Stone has established four or more stores in 12 different markets. The franchise’s presence is particularly strong in the Philadelphia DMA, with 31 locations currently in full operation, and in the New York DMA, which is home to another 29 Hand & Stone spas.

Todd Leff, President and CEO of the brand, credits the company’s positive progress with the franchise’s emphasis on quality customer service and the extensive menu of healthy lifestyle options. By offering customizable and affordable massages, facials and hair removal, Hand & Stone has continued to set itself apart from competitors and positioned itself for success in 2014. 

“Our unstoppable growth can be attributed to our ability to attract quality franchisees who share our passion for delivering the highest level of service we offer customers,” Leff said. “Despite tough economic times, our numbers show that people love our services. With our affordability and convenience we are actually growing the demand for services in each new market we enter.”

While Americans across the nation are increasingly embracing healthier lifestyles, the fastest growing markets for the Hand & Stone brand have been in Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; Dallas/Ft Worth, TX; South Florida, and New Jersey.

In recognition of the franchisees that have contributed to the successful expansion of the health-focused franchise, with over 300 franchisees and team members in attendance, Hand & Stone recently honored its leading franchisees at its 2013 National Conference held in Atlantic City NJ October 15-17^th.

Hand & Stone 2013 Conference Awards winners include:

·         Rookie of the Year Award (First Year Highest Achievement): Langhorne, PA

·         Face Forward Award (Leading Facial Service Space): Huntington, NY

·         Fast Track Award (Top Performing New Spa): Phoughkeepsie, NY

·         Stoney Award (Leading Hot Stone Massage Spa): Puyallup, WA

·         The “Spa-tacular” Spa of the Year (Highest  Achieving Hand and Stone Spa): Marlton, NJ

·         Founders Award (Passion for Excellence): Paul and Maria Cermatori (Spring Lake, NJ) and Skip Papanikolas and Maggie Brown (Scottsdale, AZ)

“These awards showcase our tremendous franchisees and the achievements that Hand & Stone team members have made,” Leff said. “We value each and every one of our franchisees and want to show our appreciation of their commitment to the brand.”

Leff, a 54-year-old franchise veteran, became President of Hand & Stone in July of 2009 and immediately embarked upon an ambitious nationwide expansion, attracting more and more potential franchisees with his palpable enthusiasm for the brand. Since taking over, the company has opened 100 new locations in just four years and expanded into new territories such as Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, and California.

“We want to continue to seek out the most aggressive entrepreneurs to help us identify and expand into new markets, create more jobs and provide opportunities to those who dream of running a successful business,” Leff said. “Our business is one that provides peace and wellness to clients who want to detach from their often stressful lives. We are able to help our customers achieve this relaxation because of the passionate franchisees that we have on board at Hand & Stone.”

ABOUT HAND & STONE
Hand & Stone is a 125-plus unit massage and facial spa with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses. Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 17 states and Canada. For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.

Our Pumpkin Facial is Here!

Now that we are into the full swing of the fall, it's only natural that we release our seasonal Pumpkin Facial! Be sure to come stop by to experience the ultimate facial using pumpkin enzymes to help repair dull, sun-damaged skin. It will leave your skin feeling hydrated and youthful! Be sure to try it soon, because this deal will only be around for a limited time. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Katherine Blake-Chenier, Washington Township, Michigan

Katherine Blake-Chenier, 46, grew up in Michigan and received a scholarship to study at the University of Hawaii, from which she graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Upon graduation, she moved to South California for her first entry-level job as an editorial assistant at the Orange County Register before entering the television news industry. She has worked as a television sports reporter and anchor in Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver and Dallas.

She met her Canadian husband, Louis, in 2001 at a hockey game in Colorado and had a long-distance relationship for four years. After the two married 2005, Katherine realized that she had explored all possible opportunities in the television news industry and decided to join her husband’s drilling exploration business in Canada. She spent the next few years dividing her time between Michigan and her husband’s home in Canada.

Katherine’s experience in helping her husband grow their company from the ground up gave her the necessary skills to open a business that was more in line with her own passion – sports. Inspired by the fact that she herself was getting regular massages, she started looking into various massage franchises and was introduced to Hand & Stone by a representative from one of the Hand & Stone’s competitors. 

Unimpressed by most of the franchises that she had seen, she was enthused by the passion of Hand & Stone Founder John Marco when she attended a Discovery Day. Katherine liked the customer service that Hand & Stone offered and the fact that the company’s philosophy was to have customers leave happier than when they arrived. Her husband, who has a strong business background, saw that the company had a good corporate structure and business model and encouraged her to pursue the opportunity.

“As a TV reporter, I worked in a stressful environment,” she said.  “I had deadlines to meet and there were times when I would have to get a story from someone who was going through the worst day of their life. I was bringing stress to people’s lives most nights, but now, I’m able to take stress away from people’s lives.”

Katherine was granted two franchise licenses and chose to open her first location in Michigan to be close to her family members and aging parents. The location also allows her husband to drive over to Canada, where he still runs his drilling business. However, another major reason she has chosen to open her spa in Michigan is because she was saddened by the many foreclosures that she has witnessed and wants to contribute to the community by creating more jobs in the area. As such, she plans to open her second location in the Detroit Metro area. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Rafael Marquez, Sugar Land, Texas

Rafael Marquez, 39, was born and raised in Mexico. “And then, I met a girl from Fargo, North Dakota,” he recalled, laughing. The girl, an exchange student studying psychology and Spanish, would eventually become his wife. The couple lived in Mexico for a few years before moving to Minneapolis, where Marquez began working toward his MBA at the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, he started working for Best Buy, primarily in the development of new business concepts and helping with Best Buy Mobile and Best Buy Express. He stayed with the brand for five years before joining United Health Group where he worked with Optum new businesses.

“After working for them for a couple of years , I was given the opportunity to live anywhere in the country, and I settled on Houston,” he said., After telecommuting from his home in The Woodlands for a year Marquez began to feel more and more of a desire to tap into his entrepreneurial spirit. “I’ve always had the ambition and passion to start my own business,” Marquez said. His wife Heather Meier, will help out with the new Hand & Stone.  When not prepping for this new venture, the two enjoy spending time with their children, who are ten, seven and four years old, as well as, with various family members and friends they have in the Sugar Land area.

How did you learn about the brand?

I used several franchise consultants, and I looked at all different businesses from cell phone retailers to vitamin retailers. And the membership business model appealed to me, as well as, this wellness industry. I learned that Hand & Stone can differentiate from the competitors with their larger array of services and customer service.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

I realized that the massage industry has a good business model. I have a lot of experience in analyzing, understanding and implementing business models, and I found this was the best model for me to start. I saw the growth and that the market was ready. From there, I looked at the different brands but I believe Hand & Stone is ahead of the competition because we offer massages, facials, hair removal, which is a lot more than the average competitor. The ability to offer those three services gives us an edge in the market. Also, when I spoke with Hand & Stone corporate staff, I saw that they were all very experienced. And the support of this professional staff is very important to me.

What are your expansion or development plans?

We signed an agreement to open four spas. We hope to open our second in November, which will be in the Galleria area of Houston. If everything else goes well, the third and fourth locations will open next year.

What are some of your passions?

I would say that my family is very important - my children and wife. I come from a large family, and I get great support from all of them. My wife has the biggest job out of both of us: managing the house and caring for the children. But she will be helping us out with the business as well, so that is exciting.

Franchisee Spotlight: Paul Palumbo, New City, New York

Paul Palumbo is gearing up to open his first Hand & Stone.  He has over 10 years experience with another franchise, the experience from which undoubtedly will set him up for success with his massage and facial spa.

Paul went to William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ.  Upon graduation, he went to work for Dun and Bradstreet in New York City and worked as the national sales and operational manager.  He stayed there from 1980 until 2004, and from there, he went to work as the director of sales at Bowker in New Providence, NJ. As the company began to lay off employees toward the beginning of 2012, Paul and his wife Dawn began to look at opening a Hand & Stone. Paul will hold his current job at Ingram until the time comes to transition into Hand & Stone full time.

How did you learn about the brand?

 I have a business friend who owns a few spas.  He was over at our house and he shared with me details about the spa business and how it was a great opportunity.  I went to the welcome meeting and decided to go ahead with it.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Hand & Stone?

Ideally, I’d like to have success with this Hand & Stone Spa then eventually consider opening more down the road.

Franchisee Spotlight: Anna Spade, Huntington Beach, CA

Anna Spade, 52, a 30-year veteran in the marketing and advertising sales industry, started her education at the George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University.  From there, she went on to get her MBA in technology management at University of Phoenix and finally finished with a certificate in internet marketing from Full Sail University in Florida. While getting her multiple degrees and certificates, she worked in the telecommunications industry. 

Spade started her career at GTE Directories in their Human Resources department.  When GTE was bought by Verizon Information Services, she grew and changed with the company – in 1996, she moved on to work as a marketing manager and senior staff consultant at GTE Directories/Verizon Information Services. 

In March of 2012, Spade left her position and ultimately decided to open her Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. With her multiple business degrees and years of experience helping family members and friends with their business plans, she decided it was time to open her own retail store.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

After I left the Yellow Pages and Internet advertising industry, I started to look around for a different job, but I couldn’t find anything that I felt was right for me.  During the last five years of my career out on the streets as a media consultant, I frequently got massages; I need them for stress relief and overall relaxation on the weekends after a hard work week.  I saw a large area for growth in the spa community and I want to be in the kind of environment that Hand & Stone has created.  I felt that Hand & Stone had a good strategy and was already a well-known brand. 

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

I knew very little about the spa industry when I made my decision to purchase the franchise. But now I am attending classes at the Career Academy of Beauty so I can obtain my Esthetician’s license. I am learning a lot about different skin types and conditions as well as how to individualize treatments so they are appropriate for each client. I want to be knowledgeable about the inner-workings of my business so I can run the store as well as one of the staff estheticians.

What are some of the publications you read? Local? National? What is your goal publication with your business?

I like reading the Huntington Beach Independent newspaper to learn about what’s going on in the community.  I also enjoy the Orange County Living magazine because it has a lot of interesting articles that provide you with good information that is important before making buying decisions.  It has lots of great photos and high quality contractors and other service providers that advertise there.  A slightly more glamorous magazine that I enjoy is Orange Coast Magazine.  It covers everything about Orange Coast area including entertainment, shopping, dining, cooking and relaxing.  When I’m shopping for a deal or just looking for entertainment ideas, I check out the Clipper Magazine.  I also like over-sized direct mail pieces, especially if they are magnetic and include a calendar along with the marketing message.  They are not only useful, but a constant reminder for those who like to stick them on their refrigerator doors.

Franchisee Spotlight: Howard Turetzky and Howard McClurd, Willow Grove, PA

Howard Turetzky, 47, and Howard McClurd, 53, met more than 20 years ago at the medical supply company they both worked for, which aided their decision to go into business with Hand & Stone. “Due to our love of medical supplies, we decided to go into the healing arts of massages and skin care,” Turetzky said. Their first location opened in June of last year, and the duo plans to open a total of five spas.

Turetzky attended Rider College for accounting and Indiana University of Pennsylvania for political science, and McClurd was pre-law at Temple University. The latter went back into his family’s business in the auto industry before entering the medical supply field. He also went on to invent a children’s toy called the Kool Rider – a bike accessory designed to mimic the sound of a motorcycle. He’s a race car enthusiast, and he uses a Kool Rider-branded car, which also now features the Hand & Stone logo, at various fundraising events.  “In terms of race car driving, I’m retired,” he said. “But it’s an Indy race car, so it’s pretty unique, and 100 percent of any money it raises goes to charity.” Helping others is a passion for both of these men, as McClurd also raises money for Live Strong and sits on the board for Dragonfly Forest, a camp for children with serious illnesses and disorders.

The pair have set impressive records for Hand & Stone as the fastest growing spa the brand has seen to date.

How did you learn about the brand and why did you decide to open your own location?

We were looking for something in the medical field that was a little more holistic in nature. We were initially applying for another location and ended up with our spot.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Hand & Stone?

We’re going to have five locations over the next two years. The third and fourth spots will hopefully be opening next spring in Plymouth Meeting, Penn. and Oxford Valley, Penn. 

Hand & Stone featured in Wyckoff Patch

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Wyckoff Patch in an article titled, "New Spa Strives for 'Affordable Luxury.'" For the entire article click here or begin below.

New Spa Strives for 'Affordable Luxury'
By: Devin McGinley

Hand and Stone, a spa chain founded in South Jersey, is making its way across Bergen County.

Franchisee Jeff Silbert opened his latest in Franklin Lakes on Monday with his brother Ken, and the owners are hoping to be a regular stop for local customers.

“It’s an affordable luxury for people that live five, ten, 15 miles, away,” Jeff said of the spa, which is located in the shopping center alongside the Franklin Ave. Stop and Shop.

(Read More)

Hand & Stone featured on NJ.com

Hand & Stone featured on NJ.com in an article titled, "Former Rutgers football standout opens massage, facial spa in West Long Branch." The article begins by detailing Jim’s time as a standout defensive end on the Rutgers football team and his decision to open up a Hand & Stone in West Long Branch. Jim is quoted about his athletic career and his life now. The article then gives details about Hand & Stone and includes a quote from Todd about what sets Hand & Stone apart from competitors. Todd also talks about how a lot of couples are opening Hand & Stone franchises and that’s the type of owner the company likes. Jim goes on to talk about how they looked at fitness clubs, but decided on a Hand & Stone after Cheryl enjoyed the Hand & Stone in Toms River. The article ends by talking about the fact that the Hand & Stone is in a shopping center that has had several store locations vacant for a while, but is turning around.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Former Rutgers football standout opens massage, facial spa in West Long Branch
By: Rob Spahr

WEST LONG BRANCH – In the mid-1990’s Jim Guarnera was a standout defensive lineman for the Rutgers University football team, a position filled with a fair amount of competitiveness and violence.

That is all in the past.

On June 24, Guarnera and his wife, Cheryl, opened a business on the other end of the violence spectrum – a Hand & Stone massage and facial spa in the Consumer Centre shopping plaza on Route 36.

(Read More)

Hand & Stone featured in My Suburban Life

Hand & Stone featured in My Suburban Life in an article titled, "Hand & Stone spa opens Wheaton location." The article elaborates on the new Hand & Stone that opened in Wheaton, IL by Mike and Kathy Hendershott and the brands unique concept and expansion plans.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Hand & Stone spa opens Wheaton location

WHEATON – A spa boasting convenience and affordability is now open in Danada Square.
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, which opened Monday, July 15, will provide massages and facials to Wheaton residents and add almost 20 jobs to the business community, with plans to eventually expand....

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Jim and Cheryl Guarnera

Name: Jim and Cheryl Guarnera
Opening Date: June 24, 2013
Grand Opening: July 14, 2013
Address: 310 State Highway 36, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Local Community: Toms River, NJ
Phone Number: 732-389-9009
Email: jguarnera@handandstone.com; cguarnera@handandstone.com

Cheryl: Cheryl Guarnera grew up in Edison, NJ, the oldest of three, and graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Pharmacy in 1996. She worked in several positions within the health care industry such as a clinical pharmacist in the hospice, retail and hospital settings, then to medical communications with Physicians World (part of Thompson Health Care). Cheryl developed continuing medical education (CME) programs, trained speakers, executed product launches and worked with some of the most highly regarded doctors in the U.S. She spent several years in the medical education industry and then moved to Newport Beach, CA with Jim. There, Cheryl continued her career with Bristol-Myers Squibb (in pharmaceutical sales) and is currently with Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Scientific Affairs.

Jim: Jim Guarnera grew up in Plainview, NY and also graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Communication. (Rutgers is where Jim and Cheryl met, more than 20 years ago, and Jim was also nearly a professional football player – he made the final cut as a defensive tackle with the San Francisco 49ers.) Jim started his career in sales and public relations but has spent most of his career in the pharmaceutical industry. After he and Cheryl moved to California, Jim held managerial roles in pharmaceutical sales for companies such as Watson, inVentiv Health and Takeda, and is currently with Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

A job relocation moved the Guarneras back to New Jersey in 2007, which works well for their current lifestyle, especially as they are also raising four children (a boy and three girls). The move has also been good as it’s allowed them to move closer to family as well as continue the next phase of their career – Hand & Stone.  Jim and Cheryl will both continue their respective careers and own Hand & Stone on the side.

How did you learn about the brand?

Cheryl: I was a Hand & Stone member for a few years and really enjoyed the massages I had there.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

Cheryl: We had friends that ran a fitness franchise and we were also interested in a franchise opportunity. Plus, I wanted to create something where I could be at home with the kids. And from a business perspective, we thought it was a smart move.  

Jim: We looked at four different massage franchises, but Hand & Stone was by far the most inviting concept. We like that it offers multiple services that are affordable and that there’s no contract requirement, which is convenient for clients.

What will your staff and layout be like?

Jim: We have 16 employees total to start out -- five massage therapists, five estheticians, five spa associates and our Spa Manager, Toni Leonard. We have nine treatment rooms for massage, facial and waxing services.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

Jim: Getting zoning approval was a 10 month process. Also, getting female massage therapists can be a challenge because they are more in demand.

Will you be involved with the community?

Cheryl: We’re trying to develop a grassroots marketing campaign. We’re looking to build relationships with local businesses and organizations and give back to the community not only financially but by having a presence in the community. Our area has been very affected by Hurricane Sandy and we want to be a part of the community in a positive way.  

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

Cheryl: We’re raising four kids right now so we enjoy spending time with family and all the activities that are going on. We also like to travel internationally and I have gotten into competing in triathlons and marathons.