Hand & Stone Featured in Star-Ledger

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Star-Ledger in an article titled, "Three questions: His job is to help other people relax."  This article profiles Hand & Stone CEO, Todd Leff, who shared a bit of his entrepreneurial journey from federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice in Philadelphia, being the president of Cottman Transmission and AAMCO, taking a short retirement and then being seated as CEO with Hand & Stone. What intrigued Leff about the massage industry was how Hand & Stone was really revolutionizing the industry with its monthly membership price, accessibility and affordable cost bring massage to the masses. Hand & Stone offered Leff a new project to help the concept grow throughout the United States and in just under two years, the franchise system doubled the number of units and has over 70 locations.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Three Questions: His job is to help other people relax

By:  Sarah Schillaci

Todd Leff may not have been ready for a life of leisure, but he’s been able to put his business knowledge to work in the relaxation industry.

After a short-lived retirement in 2009, the Warrington, Pa., resident re-entered the workplace to serve as president and CEO of Hand & Stone, a Hamilton Township-based chain of day spas offering massage, facials, and waxing. Leff, leading the marketing, franchise development, and finance side of the company, has seen the number of spa locations nearly double in the past two years, to more than 70 nationwide.

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Hand & Stone featured in The Lehigh Valley Business Journal

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Lehigh Valley Business Journal in an article entitled, "The Business of Beauty."  Clayton Cox, Hand & Stone franchisee in Easton, was interviewed on the success that Hand & Stone has experienced since opening at the beginning of 2012. Clayton discussed how the company has seen an increase in business because Hand & Stone offers luxury services at an affordable price for all consumers. By offering these services at an affordable price point, Hand & Stone has seen tremendous success when many high end spas have failed.  For the entire article click here or begin below.

The Business of Beauty
By: Katherine Schneider

Hair salons and plastic surgery clinics annually rake in a whopping $70 

billion nationwide. The local landscape is littered with companies looking to cash in on this booming business of beauty. Several new spas have opened in recent weeks and one salon chain expects to place five new franchises in the near future.

As the economy improves – and as Baby Boomers struggle to stay young and competitive in the work force – profits will continue to rise, industry experts say.

On a national level, there were 13.8 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2011; that number is up 5 percent from 2010. In addition, 5.5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year – a number that has also grown by 5 percent.

While national numbers for expensive plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation and facelifts are rising, Lehigh Valley residents don't seem to be following that trend.

"In the industry as a whole there's a mild downturn especially in big cities, large cities for expensive procedures. People are getting less expensive procedures such as Botox and fillers, and laser skin resurfacing. We continue to grow in low-ticket items. People aren't getting facelifts; instead they're getting Botox," said Dr. Thomas Young, proprietor of Young's Medical Spa in Center Valley.

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