Hand & Stone on Entrepreneur.com

Hand & Stone was featured on Entrepreneur.com.  The article titled "Running a ‘Toddler’ and ‘Infant’ Massage Franchise," features Debbie and Mike Gulledge’s two Hand & Stone locations. The article looks at how they have navigated business ownership while expanding. The couple discusses how they received the right tools from corporate for a successful business model that also has an upscale feel and reasonable price point. As a Veteran, Debbie also received a discount off the franchise fee, making the brand even more enticing.

Read the full article here.  

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.

Hand & Stone Featured in the Tampa Bay Times

Entrepreneurs bring Hand & Stone Massage to Brandon

·         By Eric Vician, Times Correspondent

Friday, November 8, 2013 12:12pm

Eric Vician | Special to the Times

Manager Katie Beasley, left, stands with Rene Tirado, who along with business partners Jim and Connie Weaver opened Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa at 11009 Causeway Blvd.

Rene Tirado and Jim Weaver know a few things about retail and franchising. They went into business together in 2001, opening Plato's Closet in Carrollwood, and have since opened four more of the consignment stores in Tampa, Brandon, Lakeland and Wesley Chapel.

But their latest franchising venture can be attributed to Jim's wife, Connie, who bought Jim a gift certificate to the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. The present, a three-hour massage, went unused for a year and a half. Then, after Connie threatened to regift it, Jim grudgingly redeemed it.

"He was blown away by the whole process," Tirado said.

Within hours, the business partners had researched the company and were on a flight to Hand & Stone's corporate office in New Jersey. They were sold on massages and opened a new location last month at 11009 Causeway Blvd. They also bought the existing Hand & Stone location in Palm Harbor.

"When we went up there, we were looking for why not to do it," Tirado said of the trip to Hamilton, N.J. "We felt great about it."

Hand & Stone specializes in massages with smooth river stones that are heated to 120 degrees. But unlike other spas that simply place the hot stones on your back, the Hand & Stone massage therapists implement them as part of the massage process.

A one-hour hot stone massage costs $59.95 for new clients. Other introductory offers include a one-hour massage for $39.95 or facial from an esthetician for $49.95. Or you may choose to become a member and for $49.95 a month, you can enjoy any massage or facial once every 30 days at any of the more than 140 locations nationwide.

The 2,200-square-foot spa has eight rooms for massages and facials, including couples rooms. The Brandon location is the 14th in Florida and is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Call (813) 409-3848 for an appointment or visit handandstone.com.

If you know of something that should be Everybody's Business, email Eric Vician at ericvician@yahoo.com.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/entrepreneurs-bring-hand--stone-massage-to-brandon/2151484

Alternative Medicine Becomes Mainstream: Spa Franchise Provides Massage For The Masses

Hand & Stone Opens Doors in Mays Landing; To Relax, Rejuvenate Community with Top-Tier Cost Efficient Model

Looking to double its store count nationwide by the end of 2011, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa will open in Mays Landing on January 31 at 4215 Black Horse Pike, bringing its total spa count to eleven in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area.

“We see Mays Landing as a prime market for our brand’s development,” said Todd Leff, CEO and President of Hand & Stone. “We are pleased to have Mitchell Sands join our system and lead our brand with top-tier services and integrity in Mays Landing.”

Proving that massage therapy isn't just for the rich and famous anymore, the new Hand & Stone will erase what once was considered a penchant of the affluent by offering services to all levels of consumers.

Coming from a background in automobiles, motorcycles and insurance, Mitchell Sands has worked in a variety of different industries. Now, he says, he is ready to take a new direction in the massage industry where he has seen firsthand people’s passion for the job. “I look forward to working with people who not only have a passion for their career, but also enjoy bringing pleasure and relaxation to other people,” Sands says.

This will not be the only Hand and Stone location Sands will open. Native to Washington Township, Sands owns the rights to develop multiple Hand & Stone locations in Washington Township and once the May’s Landing location becomes established, he projects to open another in Rio Grande.

Launched in 2005 by John Marco, a physical therapist with 20 years of experience, Hand & Stone’s mission is to bring massage therapy to the masses. Clients enjoy the treatment, but "most aren't just coming for the indulgence," Leff said. "They're coming for stress reduction and pain relief, and many on the suggestion of their doctors."

Under the new provisions of the recently-passed health care bill, alternative medical procedures, including massages from licensed therapists at spas like Hand & Stone, are being taken more seriously by the traditional medical community. According to Leff, about 75 percent of health savings account plans and HMOs will now reimburse patients for massage therapy if their doctor writes a formal prescription. Ailments worthy of that prescription include muscle and joint pain, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (commonly known as TMJ), and stress. According to the 2010 AMTA Industry Report massage use among older Baby Boomers (ages 55-64) has doubled in the past ten years and use among those older than 65 has tripled during that same time.

While the typical massage client used to have to track down a freelance massage therapist, schedule an appointment days in advance, and pay over $100 for a one-hour treatment, most Hand & Stone clients book their appointments on the same day as service and pay 30 percent less than the traditional hourly rate. Better yet, when they sign up for a one-session-per-month plan, they end up paying around $60 per visit.

The average customer isn't a wealthy socialite with nothing better to do; she's a 42-year-old female with an annual household income of $65,000, has children and loves to shop at Target and Kohls. With that busy, overscheduled lifestyle, it’s not surprising that the number one reason clients visit Hand and Stone is for stress reduction. Hand & Stone's clientele is roughly 70 percent female, 30 percent male, with an increasing number of male patrons.

As massage spas become more mainstream in the health care industry, Hand & Stone stays at the top of the game by adding locations and services to keep the brand fresh. That strategy has proven to be successful, as the addition of facials and waxing to the services roster has boosted the average comparable store sales by over 40 percent during this past year, in a very tough economic environment. After awarding a record 40 new franchises in 2010, Leff expects to sign another 50 new franchisees to the Hand & Stone system this year, each one investing a total of around $325,000, including franchise fees, to outfit a suburban, strip-mall location with space for at least 10 massage rooms.

"Twenty-two percent of Americans got a massage in 2009, and that figure is growing. As massage becomes a more integrated part of health care, we see this business achieving even wider-spread growth and longevity," said Leff.

Alternative Medicine Becomes Mainstream: Spa Franchise Provides Massage For The Masses

Hand & Stone Opens Doors in St. Louis; To Relax, Rejuvenate Community with Top-Tier, Cost Efficient Model

Looking to double its store count nationwide by the end of 2011, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa will open its first location of the year in the St. Louis suburb of Des Pere, at 1070-1074 N. Ballas Road on February 7.

“We see the St. Louis metro area as a prime market for our brand’s development,” said Todd Leff, CEO and President of Hand & Stone. “We are pleased to have Christy and Tony Burke join our system and lead our brand with top-tier services and integrity in the St. Louis area.”

Proving that massage therapy isn't just for the rich and famous anymore, the new Hand & Stone will erase what once was considered a penchant of the affluent by offering services to all consumers.

“Tony and I are thrilled about opening this spa together. Our future customers will love the upscale look and feel of our spa at a fraction of the cost,” said Des Peres franchisee Christy Burke. “Not only will they enjoy the relaxation time at Hand & Stone, but they will soon realize the health benefits of regular massage use too.”

Local residents of the St. Louis metro region, collectively Christy and Tony Burke have years of experience in management and business ownership, so while they recognize the difficulty of opening a business in this economy, they’re ready for the challenge. The Burkes don’t plan on just stopping at one location in the area, their future plans call for another four to five locations over the next several years with every member of their family contributing to the new spa’s success including their four children.

Launched in 2005 by John Marco, a physical therapist with 20 years of experience, Hand & Stone’s mission is to bring massage therapy to the masses. Clients enjoy the treatment, but "most aren't just coming for the indulgence," Leff said. "They're coming for stress reduction and pain relief, and many on the suggestion of their doctors."

Under the new provisions of the recently-passed health care bill, alternative medical procedures, including massages from licensed therapists at spas like Hand & Stone, are being taken more seriously by the traditional medical community. According to Leff, about 75 percent of health savings account plans and HMOs will now reimburse patients for massage therapy if their doctor writes a formal prescription. Ailments worthy of that prescription include muscle and joint pain, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (commonly known as TMJ), and stress. According to the 2010 AMTA Industry Report massage use among older Baby Boomers (ages 55-64) has doubled in the past ten years and use among those older than 65 has tripled during that same time.

While the typical massage client used to have to track down a freelance massage therapist, schedule an appointment days in advance, and pay over $100 for a one-hour treatment, most Hand & Stone clients book their appointments on the same day as service and pay 30 percent less than the traditional hourly rate. Better yet, when they sign up for a one-session-per-month plan, they end up paying around $60 per visit.

The average customer isn't a wealthy socialite with nothing better to do, she's a 42-year-old female with an annual household income of $65,000, has children and loves to shop at Target and Kohls. With that busy, overscheduled lifestyle, it’s not surprising that the number one reason clients visit Hand and Stone is for stress reduction. Hand & Stone's clientele is roughly 70 percent female, 30 percent male, with an increasing number of male patrons.

As massage spas become more mainstream in the health care industry, Hand & Stone stays at the top of the game by adding locations and services to keep the brand fresh. That strategy has proven to be successful, as the addition of facials and waxing to the services roster has boosted the average comparable store sales by over 40 percent during this past year, in a very tough economic environment. After awarding a record 40 new franchises in 2010, Leff expects to sign another 50 new franchisees to the Hand & Stone system this year, each one investing a total of around $325,000, including franchise fees, to outfit a suburban, strip-mall location with space for at least 10 massage rooms.

"Twenty-two percent of Americans got a massage in 2009, and that figure is growing. As massage becomes a more integrated part of health care, we see this business achieving even wider-spread growth and longevity," said Leff.

Massage Industry Poised for Rapid Growth in 2011; Hand & Stone Sets Eye on 40 New Spas

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Rub Out the Line Between Health Care and Luxury

When Todd Leff took the reins to fuel growth for Hand & Stone in 2010, he was fast out of the gate. Hand & Stone opened 12 new locations last year and awarded 28 more totaling 40 locations. In 2010, Hand & Stone marked its name across several cities in its home state of New Jersey and entered new territories nationwide including Missouri, California, and Illinois.

In 2011, Hand & Stone is launching an aggressive growth strategy for 40 new locations in accordance with the growing industry. According to the 2010 AMTA Industry Report, massage use among 18-24 year olds has risen to 48%; massage use among older Baby Boomers (ages 55-64) has doubled in the past ten years and use among those older than 65 has tripled during the same time.

Hand & Stone stayed ahead of the curve in 2010 by giving consumers what they want in a massage and facial spa concept including increasing facial and waxing services at their locations. That strategy has proven to be successful, as the average mature store sales have boosted by over 29 percent in 2010, in a very tough economic environment.

While consumers are relaxed, even de-stressed by the mainstreaming of massage, Hand & Stone is taking this change to the bank. Launched in 2005 by John Marco, a physical therapist with 20 years of experience, Hand & Stone says its mission is to bring massage therapy to the masses. Clients enjoy the treatment, but "most aren't just coming for the indulgence," said Todd Leff, chief executive and president of Hand & Stone. "They're coming for stress reduction and pain relief, and many on the suggestion of their doctors."

While the typical massage client used to have to track down a freelance massage therapist, schedule an appointment days in advance, and pay over $100 for a one-hour treatment, most Hand & Stone clients book their appointments on the same day as service and pay 30 percent less than the traditional hourly rate. Better yet, when they sign up for a one-session-per-month plan, they end up paying just $49 per visit.

The average customer isn't a wealthy socialite with nothing better to do, she's a 42-year-old female with an annual household income of $65,000, has children and loves to shop at Target and Kohls. With that busy, overscheduled lifestyle it’s not surprising that the number one reason clients visit Hand and Stone is for stress reduction. Hand & Stone's clientele is roughly 70 percent female, 30 percent male, with an increasing number of male patrons.

Todd Leff, 51, invested in and became president of Hand & Stone in July of 2009 after a brief attempt at retirement. Having worked in franchising for over 20 years, first growing Cottman Transmission, then leading the merger between Cottman and its main rival, AAMCO, Leff sold his stake in the then 1,100-unit franchise and decided to play golf and relish in his success. That lasted all of three months before he was itching to get back in the game.

"I started looking for a young franchise in an industry that had tailwinds," says Leff. "I figured I could build a management team, implement some larger company processes and take it to the next level."

Leff expects to sign another 50 new franchisees to the Hand & Stone system this year, each one investing a total of around $325,000, including franchise fees, to outfit a suburban, strip-mall location with space for at least 10 massage rooms.5

"Most of our franchisees have no massage experience, they are just business people who understand that this industry is ripe for growth and love the fact that we are providing a positive health related service," Leff said. "Twenty-two percent of Americans got a massage last year, and that figure is growing. As massage becomes a more integrated part of health care, we see this business achieving even wider-spread growth and longevity."9

Hand & Stone featured in Entrepreneur

Hand & Stone is featured in December’s Entrepreneur Magazine in an article titled, “Here’s the Rub: Expensive day spas are pummeled by the recession, but franchised spas and massage centers are growing fast.” During the recession, the massage and facial concepts that have succeeded are those that offer consumers affordability and accessibility like Hand & Stone. At a low monthly membership, consumers can get the same treatments they would at a high-end day spa at roughly 1/3 the cost. Todd Leff, Hand & Stone’s CEO, anticipates being one of the top players in the massage industry in the next couple of years with a planned 250-300 locations nationwide by creating demand in the middle market. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

Here's the Rub
Expensive day spas are being pummeled by the recession, but franchised spas and massage centers are growing fast.

Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa--of Hamilton, N.J., with 34 spas and 14 more slated to open by February--is taking the opposite tack. "We very consciously fall above the massage clinic concept," says CEO Todd Leff, former president and CEO of AAMCO Transmission. He plans to open 30 to 40 units per year until Hand and Stone reaches 250 to 300 stores. "Our goal is to rival the look and feel of the high-end day spa at a price 30 to 40 percent less in a retail shopping environment. Our goal is to create a demand in the middle market, attracting folks with no spa experience or people who have done it at a resort." (Read More)