Relax The Tax

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa offers a deal every year on Tax Day. They call it Relax the Tax and this year is the best one yet. One-day-only nationwide sale - offering a 50-minute introductory massage for just $39.95.

Tax Day Causes Stress for Americans Nationwide; Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Offers Relief

“Relax the Tax” Helps Americans Unwind from Tax Season

Hamilton, NJ – With the tax filing deadline on April 15, Tax Day is looming around the corner, and millions of Americans are feeling the stress that results from having to get their yearly taxes in order. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa looks to provide a staple of relief to Americans this tax season by providing a much needed deal called “Relax the Tax” on the dreaded Tax deadline day.

On April 15, participating Hand & Stone locations will offer customers an unprecedented one-day-only nationwide sale - offering a 50-minute introductory massage for just $39.95. This will be the fourth annual “Relax the Tax” in Hand & Stone’s history, and the sale is becoming an ever more popular alternative for customers who are looking for a little extra relaxation after submitting their taxes.

“Over the past three years many guests have taken advantage of ‘Relax the Tax’ and left our spas feeling significantly more rejuvenated after just an hour session,” said Hand & Stone founder and COO, John Marco. “If there is one day of the year that Americans deserve to take an hour to themselves, it’s Tax Day. In these ever increasing stressful and uncertain times, Hand & Stone is here to offer a calm and soothing environment to recuperate and relax.”

With Tax Day drawing near and April being National Stress Awareness Month, it is no wonder why people need relaxation now more than ever. Spring marks a time of renewal, rejuvenation, and restoration, but it can also contribute to people feeling a lot of tension and anxiety. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa has made a commitment to reducing these stressors with their “Relax the Tax” day initiative.

According to Marco, stress is the number one reason why consumers receive regular massages. Massage therapy relaxes the muscles which aids the body in generating more blood flow, and therefore helps repair and regenerate muscles faster.

A massage on Tax Day will have effects that extend far beyond relaxation. It also:

· Relieves Tension and Stress

· Decreases Pain

· Lowers Blood Pressure

· Increases Circulation

· Strengthens the Immune System

· Improves Recovery Time from Injuries

· Reduces Fatigue

“At Hand & Stone, we are constantly trying to find ways to make massage accessible to more guests than ever before, and what better way than to offer a great deal on Tax Day,” said Marco. “With all of the continued added health benefits, consumers will see measurable results and feel great once again.”

ABOUT HAND & STONE

Hand & Stone is a 150 unit massage and facial spa chain with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses. Launched in 2004 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 21 states and Canada. For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.

Hand & Stone Featured in Port Washington Patch

Hand and Stone was recently featured in an article in the Port Washington Patch titled "Hand & Stone Spa: A Place to Unwind in Port Washington."The article begins with a description of the spa and the importance of relaxation, and then goes into franchisee Rosalia Yarrington’s background in the corporate world and how after raising her children she decided she wanted to get involved with a franchise, so decided to open a Hand & Spa.  The article then details the problems that she faced after Hurricane Sandy. 

"A sense of tranquility permeates the new Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa at 987 Port Washington Boulevard. With its soft lighting, earth-toned painted walls, and soothing music, it's easy to see why on a recent Friday morning, new and established customers dropped in to learn when they could schedule a massage or facial. Owner Rosalia Yarrington takes it all in stride, making visitors feel welcome. To Yarrington, relaxation is essential. 'Everyone needs a way to de-stress and re-energize,' she said. Contradictory as it may seem, relaxation is the reason she went into business. A former corporate accountant, Yarrington, a Manhasset resident, had stepped off the career ladder to raise her three children, now 13, 11 and 8. As they became more independent, Yarrington looked toward entrepreneurship. She researched franchise opportunities, looking for a turnkey operation she could get behind, that also provided franchisees full support."

You can read the rest of the article here.

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to Open in Non-Traditional Location; Geared to Allure Vacationers and Local Residents Alike

Looking to double its store count nationwide by the end of 2011, Hand & Stone is the first membership-based massage and facial services franchise to tap into locations that have typically been reserved for high-end spa experiences. Recently, Hand & Stone announced it is opening a location at The Club at Morristown, an exclusive fitness club located at Headquarters Plaza in Morristown, New Jersey. Headquarters Plaza is a multi-function commercial complex featuring the newly renovated Hyatt Morristown full service hotel, three office towers with over 600,000 sq ft of office space and the exclusive The Club fitness club.

“Over the past two years, we’ve been focused on educating consumers on the health benefits of massage which lead to more consistent massage use,” said Todd Leff, CEO of Hand & Stone. “We believe our new location at Headquarters Plaza will be a tremendous benefit to The Club, the Hyatt and Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa as we will attract business and leisure guests staying at the hotel as well as members of the fitness club so that it will become a destination for a larger audience who wishes to utilize massage and facial services consistently for its health benefits.”

Alain Goulet, the new franchisee of the Morristown location, is optimistic that the opening will produce wonderful results. “This location creates a new direction for Hand & Stone,” said Leff. “We’ve got our traditional retail locations and newer options for nontraditional locations like this.”

As large scale expansion plans are under way, Hand & Stone looks to mirror this projected success. “As we continue to discover new ways to grow, we have our eye on ways we can expand the business opportunities to new Hand & Stone franchisees,” said Leff. “We expect to see business professionals stopping in on their lunch hour for a Swedish massage; and at the same time vacationing couples looking to for that great spa getaway experience.”

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

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.

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.