Hand & Stone featured in Dallas News

Summer skin tips from Hand & Stone by Leslie Barker

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.

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. 

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.

Hand & Stone Has Much to Celebrate with 2012 Success

As Americans continue to invest in healthy lifestyles, Hand & Stone continues to enjoy immense success as the brand opened 31 new locations and signed 56 new deals in 2012. Additionally, spa level sales for the system reached $55 million, an 83% growth in system wide revenue over 2011, capping off a year of remarkable growth despite a tough economy.   At the end of 2012, the system featured 97 locations across the United States and Canada and employed approximately 2,500 team members system wide.

Todd Leff, President and CEO, says the company’s emphasis on quality customer service combined with a full menu of healthy lifestyle options for massage and facials and an affordable month to month price have positioned the brand for continued growth in an era where many businesses are closing. As a result of this growing demand, Hand & Stone has plans to open a total of 49 new locations in 2013. They expect at least 44 new locations in the U.S. and five to seven locations in Canada as the company continually eyes new opportunities in international markets.

Leff himself is a believer, having invested in the company after a brief attempt to retire. The successful 52-year-old franchise veteran became President of Hand & Stone in July of 2009 and immediately embarked upon an ambitious nationwide expansion. Since taking over, the company has quadrupled its size and been able to expand into new territories such as Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Illinois, South Carolina, and California. “People tend to look at our services as an investment in themselves, something that is almost a necessity because it helps them achieve a peace of mind even if it’s just for an hour or two,” said Leff. “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.”

“As we continue to enter new markets in 2013, we are thrilled at the opportunity to introduce even more people to our affordable healthy lifestyle services,” continued Leff. “The future is certainly bright for Hand& Stone.”

Hand & Stone featured in Houston Business Journal

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Houston Business Journal in an article entitled, "Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa opens first Texas location in The Woodlands." The article focuses on Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa opening its first location in Texas in The Woodlands by Tony and Brittany Rodgers at 4526 Research Forest Drive. Highlighted in the article is background information on Tony and Brittany as well as information about Hand & Stone and the massage industry. Information is also given about the offerings of Hand & Stone.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa opens first Texas location in The Woodlands

By: Allison Wollam

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa has opened its first location in Texas in The Woodlands.

The spa recently opened at 4526 Research Forest Drive, and franchisees Tony and Brittany Rodgers are planning to open four additional spas in the local market over the next several years.

“We were attracted to the franchise because of its strong business model,” Brittany Rodgers said.

The franchise has more than 80 years of franchising experience at the corporate level, and that appealed to the young couple, said Rodgers, who is 28 years old.

The couple is already scouting sites for their next location, and they plan to open it by April, she said. The couple will focus on areas north and northwest of Houston for most of its locations.

(Read More)

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)

Franchisee Profile: Tony & Brittany Rodgers of Houston, TX

Name:  Tony & Brittany Rodgers

Opening Date: April 2012

Brand:   Hand & Stone

Location: Houston, TX

 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.

ABOUT HAND & STONE

Hand & Stone is a 50-plus unit massage and facial spa with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses, tapping into the day-cation market segment.  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 20 locations by the end of 2011.  For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.