Porter Ranch Grand Opening

Congrats to our Porter Ranch location and their very successful Grand Opening over the weekend!! If you're in the are come visit us or call (818) 366-8866 for more information. The owners, Henry and Sheryl Mandell have a fantastic story of how they came to Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, and have great plans for the community.

 Henry Mandell, 57, joins Hand & Stone with over 30 years of experience in executive-level positions in the apparel, technology licensing, entertainment and consumer products industries. Among his vast experience in entrepreneurial environments, Henry affected a turnaround as CEO at a Silicon Valley technology company, and served as President of Ed Hardy from 2006-2008, growing the brand from a 15 million dollar business to 275 million over the time that he managed the company. In 2008, Henry became a partner of a financial consulting company, stabilizing companies that were experiencing a crisis during the economic downturn. Currently, he is the general manager and CFO of U-PIC Insurance Services.

Henry grew up in New York and received a business degree from Syracuse University in 1978. He also received an MBA from San Jose University in 2003, earned mid-career at night.

Henry met his wife, Sheryl, a Los Angeles native, when he moved to California to work at Twentieth Century Fox in 1981. Before leaving the work force to take care of their two children, Sheryl worked as a mortgage loan processor. When she returned to work, she found her true passion in the catering business, which she has since worked in for the past 15 years as a consultant. This experience has equipped her with the customer service skills needed to run a Hand & Stone spa.

Henry will continue working full time at the insurance agency, and will be charged with managing the financial side of the business while Sheryl will be the hands-on owner of the spa. This is the first Hand & Stone located in Los Angeles.

How did you learn about Hand and Stone?

I decided early this year that I wanted to properly investigate franchises so I hired a franchise broker. Based on our strengths, interests and financial expectations, he pitched various opportunities to us, including Hand & Stone.  My wife was interested in the concept and felt that her skills would be transferrable on the customer service side. I saw it as a growing company in a market experiencing strong growth. It’s a business that can’t be outsourced or made obsolete by technology.

Why is it poised for success in LA?

People in LA are concerned about health, wellness, looking and feeling good. There’s a strong demographic in Porter Ranch area in terms of its income and population, while the psychographic profile matches perfectly with the target market for Hand & Stone. It’s a mature area where there are longtime home owners, it’s an upper middle class area, and there is disposable income. We’ve already received strong feedback from people in the neighborhood and have sold memberships pre-opening.

What are your development plans? End goal?

We will be developing three franchises, with the first in Porter Ranch, in the north San Fernando Valley and then two more over the next three years. We have the East Ventura County and West San Fernando Valley territories.

How many jobs will you be adding to the area?

I will be adding at least 10 jobs initially, and eventually getting up to at least 50. I plan to be a job creator. 

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: 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: 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. 

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.   

Franchisee Profile: Debbie Gulledge

Debbie (54) spent most of her young life traveling; by the time she was 18 she had moved 23 different times. Her father was in the military but the main reason they traveled so often was his love and craving for flipping houses. He would travel to different towns or different states buying homes and renovating them to sell. Debbie followed her family as they moved but finished up her high school and college years in Oregon, where she attended the Marylhurst University and majored in communications. Right before graduation, she joined the National Guard for Oregon and eventually became a corporal, then transitioned to sergeant, and left the Oregon Military Academy as a Captain in 1995. She had been in the Army National Reserve for a total of 15.5 years.

Due to her husband, Mike’s employer, she and her family moved to Tampa, FL. where they remain today. Debbie has always been involved in a high stress career environment, especially as a female in the armed forces. She started researching different spa franchises after her mother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Debbie took her mother to massage therapists as a way to ease the illness, stress, and assist with the vigorous chemo therapy her mother was going through. A year later, her mother passed away but the benefits of the massages she was receiving really helped her deal with the difficult health scare. A year later, on Veteran’s Day, Debbie was out celebrating with friends when her daughter was struck by a car on the way to church. Her daughter suffered severe neck and back injuries. Massage therapy was a big part of her rehabilitation process. After experiencing these difficult life situations, Debbie had made up her mind to open up her own massage and spa location, to help others achieve a healthier and more grounded sense of physical self.

Debbie’s personal experience with the military, and her close ties with the lifestyle (her father served for four years before the Korean War and her son is a First Lieutenant at the University of Hawaii), Debbie always tries to help those in the armed forces. Veterans, alongside teachers and first responders, always get 15% off membership for massage plans, as do their family members. This discount is always in place and Debbie uses it to give back to those who serve in her community.

In order to celebrate Memorial Day, Debbie’s Hand & Stone location is offering all veterans a free service enhancement through May 31 including services such as foot exfoliations, hot towel services, scalp massages, or aroma therapy options.

Debbie also introduced a line to all Hand & Stone locations called Warrior Princess and 10% of all proceeds of the products go to the Wounded Warrior Project. Debbie believed so much in this line of products it was her who called corporate and asked them to stock locations with the brand.

How did you learn about the brand?

I started doing research a couple of years ago due to the family experiences I had dealt with. I think treating your life and body with respect and taking care of it is important no matter what your current health situation is. It’s beneficial for mind, body, and soul.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

Hand & Stone had a very strong business and corporate model. We saw the Hand & Stone location and instantly felt the luxurious and calming surroundings, while still being able to feel like we could afford the services. They have a month-to-month program for participants, which was good for us as new business owners. Hand & Stone also had a veteran discount rate. I was able to purchase the franchise, with my retirement money, at a discounted price because of my history with the military. This was extremely beneficial.

What does Hand & Stone provide that others can’t?

The original owner of Hand & Stone was a massage therapist himself, so he comes from a knowledgeable background. Knowing what customers need and what to look for in employees have allowed us to serve our clients in the best way possible. We’re confident in all of our 23 current part-time and full-time employees.

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

Stress was one of my biggest challenges. I still had a full time position when I opened my first location in 2012, so I was working a lot on the weekends and evenings. It was really challenging from that perspective. Working alongside my husband can pose its own challenges; we needed to keep a strong connection with each other while recognizing that we’re both in stressful situations. Financially, we had to look at our retirement funds in order to open up a business. We have two kids in college and we really had to believe in the business to take that financial leap at the time. Opening up in Tampa presented its own frustrations because we didn’t have brand awareness; there weren’t any previous locations in the area so people had to get to know us.

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

We will be opening our second location in Tampa in the fall of 2013. If it makes sense for us to open more in the area, we’ll definitely consider it down the road.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I love to travel and always try and find time to get away to experience new things.

Hand & Stone featured in Woodlands Online

Recently, Hand & Stone was featured in Woodlands Online in an article titled, "Hand & Stone massage headed to The Woodlands."  The article focuses on Tony and Brittany Rodgers opening Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in The Woodlands, Texas.  It then goes on to highlight the Rodgers’ journey to becoming a part of Hand & Stone and The Woodlands community.  Click here to read the whole article.

Hand & Stone massage headed to The Woodlands
By: Brian Shettig

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--Research Forest is getting...hot stones?

That's right.  When Hand & Stone massage and facial spa opens April 15, the salon will focus on the spa side of things, including massages with hot stones incorporated into the massaging itself.

"We want to be able to offer the highest quality massage at an affordable price, especially for those who have never had a massage before," said Brittany Rodgers, owber of the location off Research Forest near Diva Boutique and Hubbell and Hudson Kitchen.  This is the first Hand & Stone in Texas and possibly the first of five in the north Houston area, Rodgers said. 

Rodgers, who owns the spa along with her husband Tony, moved to The Woodlands from Florida after trying to find a business they could both be passionate about, she said.  They decided, after some research, to combine their interests in fitness and health into massage and after walking in a Hand & Stone in Orlando, Fla., Rodgers said she knew "right away this was the place."

(Read More)

Hand & Stone Featured in Highlands Ranch Herald

Recently Hand & Stone was featured in the Highlands Ranch Herald in an article titled, "Spring is skin-care season."  The article focuses on tips and techniques to rejuvenate the skin with the changing seasons, including the importance of exfoliating, hydrating, and protecting in one’s daily skin regimen. Erik Bostrom provided skincare advice for the article and Esthetician Sarah Kemp demonstrated a facial on one of their clients.  The article can be found below.

Spring is skin-care season

Ryan Boldrey

When one thinks about spring they typically think thoughts of renewal and of spring cleaning. But how many people think of prepping their skin for the changing season?

“In terms of skin care, there are primarily three areas – exfoliating, hydrating and protecting – that people need to focus on this time of year,” said Erik Bostrom, owner of Hand and Stone Massage in Highlands Ranch.

With drier conditions outside and more people heading out into extended sunlight, Bostrom said it is absolutely imperative that people use proper protectant.

“The more time we are spending out in the sun, the more critical it is,” he said. “As you are outside, not only do you have to worry about sun damage, but also that all of that excess sun is going to dry out your skin, which goes back to hydration as well.

“We didn’t always have the knowledge that we have now about how the sun affects our skin and affects our health, and certainly there are great benefits to sun exposure, but it’s also something that we need to be careful with and it can be very damaging. You really need to have a good, high-quality SPF on at all times.”

Also important, Bostrom said, is exfoliation – getting rid of the dead skin that builds up over the course of the winter, which will in turn, leave a person with more youthful-looking skin.

The spa offers numerous product lines to help with a good home-care skin regiment and aid in slowing down aging, as well as everything from classic facial treatments to advance treatments such as microderm abrasion and massage.

“A lot of people just don’t understand what a good skin-care regiment consists of,” Bostrom said. “You can’t use just at-home products or just professional treatments and expect your skin to be perfect, you really need to do both, and you should have a good routine.”

For more skin-care tips and tricks, visit the store’s local Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/handandstonehighlandsranch.  To see costs and learn more about the services that Hand and Stone Massage offers, one can visit the company website at www.handandstone.com and follow the location link to Highlands Ranch.   

Franchisee Profile: Paul Mahler of Levittown, NY

Name:  Paul Mahler

Opening Date: March 26, 2012

Brand: Hand & Stone

Location: Levittown, NY

Paul Mahler is a native of Melville, NY and has spent his entire life living and working in the area. He worked as a lawyer in Long Island and graduated from Hofstra University Law School. Paul also volunteers as a paramedic and a firefighter for the Melville Fire Department. He will be opening the 70^th location of Hand & Stone in Levittown,NY at the end of March.

What was your career before franchising?

Before franchising with Hand & Stone, I worked for two different Law Firms for nearly 15 years on Long Island and practiced intellectual property and creditor’s rights law. I am the ex-captain of the Melville Fire Department but still volunteer as firefighter and advanced emergency medical technician working on Friday nights and am constantly on call.  

Why did you decide to open your own business in the wellness industry?

I always wanted to open my own business and have just been looking for the right opportunity. One of the things that I was looking for with a new business was one that really would have a direct impact on someone’s day. The wellness and spa industry is one where people always walk out more relaxed and happier than when they came in, and I thought that would be a nice transition from practicing law. It’s also a growing industry and that was appealing from a business perspective for the potential growth opportunities. 

As a paramedic, I know how frequently people get injured and how massage can be used for therapy and rehabilitation. By providing this service, I knew that I could help customers for both relaxation and for total wellbeing.  

How did you learn about Hand & Stone?

When I started looking into franchise opportunities, I was a member of a competitor of Hand & Stone and noticed how the spa was always busy. I did the majority of my research online and as I learned about Hand & Stone, I recognized a tremendous difference in the cooler color palette, design and its services. As a male owner and operator, I felt that Hand & Stone was a better fit for my background and offered a better environment for customers to take a break from the stressors of daily life. Hand & Stone was founded by a physical therapist, John Marco, and it was an important factor to me that the company had real experience of the industry and truly knew the health benefits associated with massage.

What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

Franchising is a good way to enter into a business as opposed to a startup company.  Hand & Stone is great about training, setup support and the structure that they offer to its franchisees is impeccable. I liked that there was an outline of how to get started and that the national headquarters was located so close to my new spa. The corporate team truly cares about its franchisees and their success.

What makes your business different?

Hand & Stone provides value because they offer high quality products and it’s affordable for a wider base of customers. There will be an emphasis on customer service and education, so we can provide our clients with the best experience possible.  

What are some of your goals for the first year?

I have some big aspirations for our first year in business, but I hope to have 600 of members, and believe that if we can provide them with a complete experience, we should have no problem achieving that. I want to focus on developing and marketing the business to the local community and find ways to get involved with community projects.

ABOUT HAND & STONE 
Hand & Stone is a 60-plus unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses, meeting demand of consumers who wish to receive the long term health benefits of these services.  Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 12 states and Canada with plans to open an additional 15 locations by the end of 2012.  For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.