Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Hand & Stone in the Columbus Dispatch



Hand & Stone was featured in the ColumbusDispatch. The article focuses on the new Hand & Stone opening in Columbus. This is the first location in Ohio. Find out more about the new Hand & Stone opening in Columbus and franchisee Chris Amatos in this piece.


Read the full article here.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Hand & Stone in Columbus Business First



Hand & Stone was featured in ColumbusBusiness First. The article highlights the new Hand & Stone opening in Columbus. It features the types of services Hand & Stone will offer and also what sets it apart from competitors in the area. Chris Amatos from Hand & Stone provides a great quote about why Hand & Stone decided to target the Polaris area. The article also mentions the cost of the franchise and licensing fee.


Read the full article here.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Hand & Stone in the Front Porch Stapleton



Hand & Stone was featured in the FrontPorch Stapleton. The article highlights the new Hand & Stone opening in Stapleton to Libby and Scott Kolble. Libby and Scott provide information on what the spa offers and how it benefits everyone, not just women. The article also gives insight into services and membership fees.


Read the full article here.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Hand & Stone in the Plymouth Sun Sailor



Hand & Stone was featured in the Plymouth Sun Sailor. The article highlights the new Hand & Stone opening in Plymouth and the brands expansion plans across Minnesota. The article features great quotes from Elliott Randolph about what the brand will offer and also some background information about Hand & Stone.


Read the full article here.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Hand & Stone on Entrepreneur Online




Hand & Stone was featured on EntrepreneurOnline. The article was a feature piece on Julie Bulatovic, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa franchisee, for Kate Taylor’s Franchise Players column. Julie talked about her experience with franchising and her passion behind the fight against breast cancer, which ultimately influenced Hand & Stone’s "Embrace the Touch" program. The program provides specially designed oncology treatments for cancer survivors and their family or caretakers.


Read the full article here.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Hand & Stone on ABC 6 Philadelphia



Hand & Stone was featured on ABC 6 Philadelphia. The ABC 6 team was out at Joe Erace’s Hand & Stone on Wednesday night for his event he put on for women currently fighting, and who have fought breast cancer. The anchors talked about how Joe invited 50 women to his location, offered them free massages and facials, and how they were all treated to a gourmet dinner.


Read the full article here.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Hand & Stone in the Minneapolis Business Journal



Hand & Stone was featured in the Minneapolis BusinessJournal. This article talks about Elliott Randolph’s new Hand & Stone opening in Plymouth, Minnesota. This piece also looks at his expansion plans to Minnetonka. The article highlights why Elliott chose this opportunity with Hand & Stone and what the brand will offer.


Read the full article here. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Hand & Stone in Franchise Times



Hand & Stone was featured in Franchise Times. Eric Danver a Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa franchisee was profiled in this piece. Eric talked about his entrepreneurial background with Papa John’s in Delaware and New Jersey and why he chose to expand his business portfolio to include Hand & Stone. The piece also talks about the growth of the spa industry and what makes it a lucrative opportunity.


Read the full article here. 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Hand & Stone in NJBiz

Hand & Stone was featured in NJBiz. The article talks about how John Marco founded Hand & Stone and the growth of the company across the country. It highlights John’s secret to running a successful business and touches on how they continue to be a top competitor in the massage industry. There is another article that runs directly after that talks about the new location in Howell, NJ opened by Nick Marco and Tara Bogota. It focuses on Nick and Tara’s goal to be one of the most successful Hand & Stone locations and how they grew up around the business and learned to love it.


Read the full article here. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Hand & Stone in Star Local Media

Hand & Stone was featured in an article with Mark McCullin and Milton Honza in the Star Local Media The article is a Q&A with Mark and Milton about their experience as Hand & Stone business owners.


Read the full article here. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Hand & Stone in the Fairfax County Times

Hand & Stone was featured in the Fairfax County Times. The article highlights the Hand & Stone experience and why Darielle and Eric Danver decided to open her own unit in Chantilly, Virginia. The article ends with the announcement of another Hand & Stone location that is set to open January 2015 in the Reston Town Center.


Read the full article here. 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Hand & Stone in The Bedford Journal

Hand & Stone was features in The Bedford Journal. The article announces the opening of the massage and facial spa, and includes quotes from Hand & Stone CEO Todd Leff and Gus Barillas, a franchisee.


Read the full article here. 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Hand & Stone in Press of Atlantic City

Hand & Stone was featured in the Press of Atlantic City. This article talks about how Gregg and Denise Taylor just opened up a brand new Hand &Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Manahawkin. The article also talks about the signature hot stone massages, different facials offered, and the particular products that are used at the spa. Furthermore, it covers how the spa was designed for relaxation and tranquility for local customers who come in.


Read the full article here. 

Friday, October 3, 2014

Hand & Stone in The Herald-Sun

Hand & Stone was featured in an article in The Herald-Sun. The piece focused on what the new Hand & Stone Spa in Chapel Hill would offer the local community, including: facials, massages and hair removal. The article also mentioned the number of jobs it plans to bring to Chapel Hill and the number of Hand & Stone locations throughout the U.S.


Read the full article here. 

Hand & Stone on CBS Philly

Hand & Stone was featured on the online version of CBS Philly. The article was a feature on Cara Street, manager for Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Millville. This article also touched on the growth of the massage industry and is part of an ongoing series called “Let’s Get To Work Philly.”


Read the full article here.

Hand & Stone on PENN Live

We were featured on the online version of PENN Live. The article was a feature piece on Hand &Stone Massage and Facial Spa opening in the Harrisburg, Penn., area and expanding into central Pennsylvania. Todd Leff, president and CEO of Hand & Stone talked about the opening and what Harrisburg residence can expect from the new location.


Read the full article here.

Hand & Stone in Massage Magazine

From Massage Magazine
Hand & Stone was featured on the online version of Massage Magazine. The article focuses on Hand & Stone’s commitment to their Recover From Summer campaign and the installation of FaceFirst skin scanners at participating locations.


Read the full article here. 

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Hand & Stone in The Town Courier

This article in TheTown Courier introduces readers to Kay Hechler and her husband John Phillips will be opening their first Hand & Stone spa together in Gaithersburg. The article also discusses the history and growth of the brand, as well as the services that Hand & Stone offers.

Read the full article here.

Hand & Stone in The Gazette

Hand & Stone was featured in The Gazette. The article features Kay Hechler of Hand & Stone Gaithersburg. Kay talks about her inspiration to open her own Hand & Stone after experiencing first-hand the benefits of massage.


Read the full article here.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Hand & Stone in The News & Observer

Hand & Stone will be opening a location in Raleigh, North Carolina this August.

This article in The News & Observer explains skin mapping and the services provided to the community at Hand & Stone.  It also has information about the cost for services and the address. Kathleen Newport, co-owner of the Raleigh Hand & Stone, says, “Anyone can walk in and sit with an aesthetician to do skin mapping. We really try to hone in to that guest’s concerns and to their particular face condition in terms of products that are actually effective.”
Find out more here.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa targets stress at Kildeer franchise

The article talked about Hand & Stone in the Chicagoland area and growth plans for the area. Highlighted in the piece was Paulina Laskosky, who recently opened her third Hand & Stone location with the most recent in Lake County. Paulina did a fantastic job conveying the core principals of Hand & Stone and what the brand will be accomplishing in Chicago.

Read the full article here. 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Q&A With Tony & Brittany Rodgers

Both having similar backgrounds and goals for success, Tony and Brittany seek to open five Hand & Stone locations throughout Houston. With a strong passion for the health and wellness industry, the couple brings devotion, motivation and faith to the Hand & Stone brand.

Q: Where are you from?
A: Tony grew up in South Bend, Ind., where he graduated from a five year apprenticeship program with his associates degree in applied science. Brittany grew up in Orlando, Fla., but moved to South Bend, to go to school, where she met Tony. She attended Indiana University and graduated with degrees in psychology, social and behavioral science and radiology science.

Q: What was your career before franchising?
A: Before franchising, Tony spent 10 years in the construction industry, running large commercial accounts. Later, Tony became operations manager for a large manufacturing/recycling  facility located in Northern Indiana. Brittany worked in the medical field of Radiology where she enjoyed helping and caring for patients. She worked mostly in large out-patient centers, including one of the largest orthopedic clinics in all of central Florida. Additionally, Tony dabbled with his Realtor’s license, partnering up with a company to buy, remodel and sell prime real estate for opportunities to further his success. The couple spent two years purchasing and renovating vintage riverside homes in the Notre Dame/ St. Mary area of Northern Indiana.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: Tony and Brittany learned about the Hand & Stone brand from Frannet, a leading company in expert franchise consulting.  Once Tony and Brittany realized their strong desire for independence and accomplishment,  the couple began searching  for the next step towards success. With much research, and the assistance from Frannet, Tony and Brittany were introduced to Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?
 A: Tony and Brittany chose to open their own business to gain personal freedom,  stability and the chance to one day give back. They wanted the opportunity to finally reap the benefits from their devoted strength. By opening their own business, Tony and Brittany have the ability to watch their hard work pay off for future generations to come.

Q: When choosing a franchise, what were the criteria you used to make your decision?
A: When choosing a franchise, Tony and Brittany had specific criteria they were in search of. They knew they wanted to stay in the health and wellness industry due to their passionate histories for both health and wellness. They wanted a company they could stand behind, a company they felt passionate about, a company that could meet their financial goals for personal success and a company that connected with the community.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?
A: For Tony and Brittany, the most appealing aspect about joining a franchise system was the proven track record for success. They felt strongly about the worth of a well-established business model and felt it was a great way to get started in the entrepreneurial world of business.

Q: What are some of your achievements (professionally or personally) that you think will help you along the way in your business?
A: Tony and Brittany were once told the keys to success are devotion, motivation and faith —three things neither of them lack. Starting their entrepreneurial business journeys at a young age, the couple’s education and work experience have been their biggest achievements thus far. Priceless assets they share that will drive their success in the franchise world include dedication for hard work, a passion for continuously giving back to others and an extensive background in many aspects of the business world. 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hand & Stone on Fox & Friends as Top Company Hiring This Week

Hand & Stone was just featured on Fox & Friends as a top company hiring this week!

Cheryl Casone, a contributor from Fox Business News, mentioned about Hand & Stone offers training and has plans to hire 280 positions from Managers, to Spa Associates and Massage Therapists and Estheticians.


Watch the video here!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Hand & Stone featured in Dallas News

Photo from HealthBlog.DallasNews.com

When you think of summer skin, do you think dry, red, peeling? Soft and bronze? I personally think soft and un-bronzed or even dry and un-bronzed is preferable to any semblance of sun-touch. But hey, that’s just me standing on my prevent-skin-cancer-use-sunscreen soapbox.
The people at Hand & Stone are much more expert than I at skin care. Therefore (comma) I will now turn the floor over to them and their tips:
1. Exfoliate. In a nutshell, this means getting rid of those ol’ dead skin cells and grime. This helps prevent pores from becoming congested and improves hydration.
You can, of course, buy products to take care of that task. Or you can make your own with household products. What am earth am I talking about? Click here to find out. Warning: Reading this may make you hungry.
Exfoliation is important all year long, by the way. What makes it different in summer is that once you’ve done the deed, your skin may indeed feel nice and smooth, but it’s also more sensitive to sun. So lather up on sunscreen. Click here for tips from Dr. Jane Sadler.
2. Keep skin hydrated. Toners and masks can help here. Toners can be used once a day; find some make-your-own-ideas right here. Masks can be used once or twice a week to deliver, as the Hand & Stone folks say, “a burst of intensive moisture to the skin.”
Find mask ingredients in your pantry. 
3. Drink plenty of water.Surprise, surprise, eh?! Water helps carry away toxins that build up in your system; thus, drinking a lot of the stuff can help clear your skin.
4. Keep applying sunscreen. Yes, I’m repeating myself, but check out what Dr. Jane Sadler says about sunscreen.
5. If you get sunburned…use a soothing gel for relief. Check out this way to make aloe vera ice cubes. Or use your own gel and put it in the refrigerator for awhile before use.
Try to make that sunburn your only sunburn; One blistering sunburn, the H&S pros say, doubles your risk of melanoma.
Read the full article here.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Hand & Stone Community Attends Wellness Festival in East Windsor Target Parking Lot



The article about the Hand & Stone Wellness Festival in The Times Trenton gives the time, date, and address for the Wellness Festival along with what it offered to the East Windsor area this past Saturday. Featuring Umesh Bhatia of Hand & Stone and his Wellness Festival last weekend. Umesh talks about how being healthy is not just about relaxation, but about the body, mind and soul — all three things together. This was great press for Umesh’s event!

Read the whole article here.
File photo of Archana and Umesh Bhatia, left and right, owners of Hand & Stone spa in East Windsor. (Keith A. Muccilli/ For The Times of Trenton)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Hosts Free Wellness Festival in East Windsor, NJ

Hand &Stone, the fastest growing massage and facial spa in the country, along with franchisee Umesh Bhatia, will be hosting The Wellness Festival on Saturday, June 28 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., in an effort to increase community involvement and health initiatives. The free event will take place at the Target Shopping Center at 72 Princeton-Highstown Rd. in East Windsor, New Jersey and is open to the public.

Touting the slogan, “Enlighten, Embrace, Empower,” The Wellness Festival is a full day of free activities and wellness seminars from industry experts. Attendees can take advantage of several workshops from well-recognized experts in the health field, who will be on-hand to discuss topics ranging from natural health, to body fat composition to Jyothi meditation.  

Events Include:
·         With 20+ years of expert practice and training, Dr. Dave Wendel of the Natural Health and Wellness Center will be conducting health care screenings covering blood pressure checks, body mass index, body fat analysis, stress analysis and sharing breast cancer information.

·         Retro Fitness’ Expert Trainers will demonstrate total-body workouts, boot camps and offer Body Fat Composition analysis in addition to answering fitness questions. Retro will showcase the latest in health club equipment and classes.

·         Sprayology offers the latest advancement in homeopathic and vitamin oral sprays, and will be in attendance to demonstrate how attendees can deal with health issues using homeopathy.

·         Jim Rose, M. Ed, a retired top executive from Johnson & Johnson, has been a meditation practitioner and international speaker for more than 30 years. As a member of the Science of Spirituality, a global non-profit, non-denominational organization, Jim will lead hands-on workshops focused on Jyothi meditation and spirituality, and their application to daily life.

·         Additionally, Hand & Stone will be conducting free chair massages, free skin scans, and offering the latest in facial care advice. Brand experts will provide guidance on the various types of massages and facial care services to best benefit the body.

Refreshments will be provided and the event will conclude with a raffle for wellness products.  


“We’re extremely excited to host a celebration of well-balanced health with Hand & Stone and it’s partners and provide the community of East Windsor free resources and workshops for a better mind, body, and soul,” Bhatia, owner of Hand & Stone of East Windsor, said. “We invite the community to join us and we hope all benefit from the empowering festival.”

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Hand & Stone Featured in the Summer Issue of Mill Creek Living

Dennis Williams and his wife Patti both settled in the title insurance business and when they real estate market collapsed their jobs were eliminated. A little after that the state of Washington offed a class, held by a non-profit group that showed us all the of industries that were considered low level unemployment, at this time Dennis found a franchise broker. After a few short months they opened up a Hand & Stone spa with seven massage therapists and four estheticians.  

Although Hand & Stone is new to Mill Creek, it is a business that gets busier every week and has given Dennis and Patti hopes they can open a second and perhaps a third Hand and Stone Spa in the area.

To read the full article click here and turn to page 48

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Hand & Stone Hosts A Free Massage Ethics CE Seminar

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa recently hosted a seminar on Tuesday, June 10 on Massage Ethics for all Philadelphia-area Massage Therapists, which provided four free CE credits toward state certification.

The seminar was led by Mark Carangelo, former Orthopedic Massage Therapist for the New York Jets, owner of the American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM) and appointed by the Governor of New Jersey as first Vice Chair of the Massage and Bodywork Therapy Licensing Board.

Here are a few photos from the event. 





Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Hand & Stone spa service opening Fort Lauderdale site in June

Emon Reiser - South Florida Business Journal

Hand & Stone, a spa service franchise, is opening its newest location in Fort Lauderdale on June 29.

The 3,200-square-foot space at 2388 N Federal Highway will be the franchise’s 22nd location in Florida. Todd Leff, CEO of Hand & Stone said the brand plans to open 4 to 5 more locations in Florida by the end of the year, with new spots in Jacksonville and Lake Nona. The New Jersey-based franchise has a total of 155 locations and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this October.

“When the concept first started, it was only massage. Today, we are massage, facials and hair removal. Facials are the fastest growing segment of our business today,” Leff said.

He added that the brand, aimed to be affordable and convenient for locals, also has stores in Florida’s major markets including Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami and West Palm Beach.

Anna Gorbunova, who was born in Russia but raised in Fort Lauderdale, will be spearheading Hand & Stone’s Miami-Dade and Broward growth. The 24-year-old is the franchisee for the new Fort Lauderdale location and will develop 3 to 5 more Florida locations for expansion.

“By the end of the year, Hand & Stone plans to have 200 stores open in the U.S. and Canada,” Gorbunova said. “[The franchise] is flourishing everywhere, not just Florida, but people down here are very health- and beauty-oriented.”

Hand & Stone operates in 21 states and Canada.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

New Hand & Stone Opens in Geneva, Ill.

By Amy E. Williams, Daily Herald 
A new business is open in Geneva along the Randall Road corridor aimed at helping you feel and look better.
Hand & Stone opened May 3 at 1416 S. Randall in the Randall Square Shopping Center at the intersection of Randall and Fargo.
This is the second Hand & Stone franchise location for Geneva resident Kathy Hendershott. Her first is in Wheaton, and Hendershott said she is excited to bring the business to her own town.
"As Geneva residents, we wanted to bring the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa philosophy and services to our local community," she said. "The people in this area are very health conscious, and we have the opportunity to provide the benefit of massage and facial services to local residents, our neighbors and friends.
"We have a passion for health and wellness and have enjoyed working with clients to provide the quality of services," Hendershott said.
"While massage and facial services are good for your health, wellness and personal care, this is also a feel-good industry and we really love seeing clients so relaxed and smiling when they leave."
Hand & Stone offers massages, facials and hair removal services. Clients can purchase services one visit at a time, or the company offers a monthly membership-type program.
Customers can just walk in; however, Hendershott recommends they call ahead for an appointment.
Hendershott said she's hoping to open a third location soon in Naperville. There already is another Hand & Stone location along the Randall Road corridor in Algonquin, 710 S. Randall Road.
Hendershott said she's excited to meet all of the customers trying out her new location in Geneva.
"We look forward to working within the local community and want to thank our many customers, employees and friends for helping to make Hand & Stone Massage and Facial so successful," she said.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Hand & Stone Opens at Courtside Square in King of Prussia

By Gary Puleo, The Times Herald

UPPER MERION — Judging by the roaring success of Hand & Stone’s opening weekend, folks in King of Prussia have been “kneading” a storefront massage therapy haven for quite some time.
“I know people have really been waiting for us to open here,” said owner Dana Kline.
It didn’t happen overnight, she added, but she found the perfect spot to launch Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa behind Panera Bread, in what used to be a religious bookstore.
“We did nearly 100 services our first weekend, so I’m confident about this location,” Kline said. “King of Prussia is very business-friendly; they worked really well with us in getting our building permits and certificate of occupancy, but it wasn’t easy finding a location.”
Kline’s initial inclination was to set up shop near Wegmans on North Gulph Road, but the location wouldn’t be available in time.
The Panera-anchored Courtside Square shopping center offered the high visibility the chain relishes, but was it necessarily ideal to be so close to the mall? Could the sometimes nutty traffic affect business, especially during the seemingly relentless construction?
Kline mulled over a lot of questions and ultimately made her decision, which was not quite as simple as her initial foray into the franchised relaxation business.
After 20 years as vice president of operations for the Goddard School franchise company, Kline left the world of early childhood education and bought an existing Hand & Stone franchise in Haverford in January 2013.
“The motto of this business model is similar to Goddard,” she said. “The actual services are different, but the business model is really similar to what I did for 20 years. They’re both sales businesses. At Goddard we have to sell parents on coming to our school, and at Hand & Stone we have to sell people memberships to be members at our spa. I’ve been in franchising a long time; it’s just that I worked at the other end of it. Now I own my own company.”
Hand & Stone was the only mega massage chain she ever considered hooking up with, Kline allowed.
“I knew people who were involved with this company, so I kind of knew the direction it was growing in and the possibilities. And I definitely didn’t want to be around screaming children all day anymore,” she added, laughing.
Although walk-in customers are always treated to an introductory one-hour massage at $49.95, most people opt for a $59.95 membership, which brings down the cost of all services — which range from classic facials, hair removal and the H&S signature hot stone massage — considerably.
In less than a year under Kline’s ownership, the membership at Haverford soared from 300 to 1,000.
Now she’s set to echo that feat, starting from scratch, in King of Prussia.
“When I decided to go with Hand & Stone I knew I wanted one in the Main Line area and I knew King of Prussia would be another good place to put one, and there’s no learning curve here for me,” Kline said. “You don’t really have to be an on-site owner, but I’ve just spent the last year managing my Haverford location so I could really understand the business and how to run it. Now I have a manager here in King of Prussia.”
With a staff of nearly 20 — including 11 massage therapists, headed up by seasoned therapist Dave Teich — Kline is making the most of all the finer points she gathered by running her first H&S location as she builds a “customer-centric” operation from the ground up.
“Our goal is to make sure that the customer leaves happy and satisfied with the service we’ve provided,” she said. “The only way I could figure that out was to be in the spa to see what little things we should be doing, making sure the massage therapists and aestheticians and the front desk have the tools to be able to provide my philosophy. We have a fairly large staff for a new spa because we’re expecting to be extremely busy. ”
Massage therapists stick to certain protocols, but here’s the rub: They’re all free to tweak and pummel the rubdown to the client’s specs at Hand & Stone.
“Every aspect is customizable, and the therapist is always assessing you to make sure your massage is the best that you can get when you come in every time,” Teich explained. “You should never be getting the same massage twice. Your body is always different and the massage needs to be different too.”
Too often the “massagee” just lies on the table in silence, he allowed.
“They don’t say, ‘That’s a little too hard’ or ‘This is really bothering me.’ So the massage therapists have to be really in tune with their body language. But it’s a fine line between asking you questions the perfect number of times,” he added, smiling, “and one too many times.”
 
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