Franchisee Spotlight: Kelly and Joe Harris

FRANCHISEE PROFILE:

Name: Kelly & Joe Harris

Opening Date: 2/17/2013

Address: 694 N. Delsea Drive, Suite 35, Glassboro, NJ

Email: kharris@handandstone.com

Kelly, a native of Maple Shade, New Jersey graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a degree in bioscience and medical technology. She went on to become a medical laboratory scientist for the Kennedy Hospital and worked as a laboratory manager there for several years. Joe is originally from Washington Township and made a living as a cereal entrepreneur, owning a home remodeling business called Harris Enhancements and DJ business called Starlite Entertainment.

How did you learn about the brand?

Kelly’s brother in-law is one of the regional developers for Hand & Stone in New Jersey and also Southern California.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Hand & Stone?

I saw how stressed the mothers of the community were and we used to suggest massage treatments.  We saw how successful this model was and just being able to give back to the community

What makes your business unique in the community?

We really care about this community. This isn’t just a money making opportunity, but one that will let us get more involved in the community and provide a true escape from the daily stressors of people’s lives. My previous job in the hospital was extremely stressful and demanding, so we know the benefits of massage first hand.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

We regularly donate services to the ARC, a local charity.

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

Getting settled in our space was a challenge. We did most of our build-out with no electricity! We are excited to be opening soon.

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

We would like to open another location within the next year if the opportunity presents itself.  We would very much like to become leaders in the community.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

Kelly and Joe have a true passion for helping others. Joe is also the exclusive DJ for Hair Cuttery! They fly Joe around to the different locations for their events.

ABOUT HAND & STONE

Hand & Stone is a 90 plus unit massage and facial spa with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses. Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 18 states and Canada.  For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.

Hand and Stone Featured in Home News Tribune

Hand and Stone was recently featured in the Home News Tribune and mycentralnewjersey.com. The article discusses AJ Borowsky's career and how he decided to open a Hand and Stone. AJ speaks on the challenges and successes he has seen, and how the successes far outweigh anything else.



"AJ Borowsky often found himself looking for a new interest. That search led Borowsky and his wife, Julie Vila, to open a Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa at The Shoppes at North Brunswick shopping center...Borowsky likes being busy. Since 2006 he has run the in-house training division at ABC News working with reporters and producers on new technology. A few years ago he went back to school for financial planning and took and passed a certified financial planner exam but never transitioned into that field. Vila, his wife of 13 years, has worked as a mainframe computer system programmer for more than 20 years. 'I'm always looking for different things to do. I get bored easily,' Borowsky said. 'My interests grab hold of me.'"

Read the full article here.

Hand and Stone Featured in The Courier Post

Hand and Stone was recently featured in an article in The Courier Post! The article discusses how husband and wife Kelly & Joe Harris will expand on their backgrounds and on their new Hand & Stone opening at 694 N. Delsea Drive, Suite 35, Glassboro, NJ. Kelly and Joe explain why they wanted to go into business together and why they specifically wanted to bring the Hand & Stone brand to the Glassboro area. Kelly and Joe also explain their future development plans for the area.  

To be or not to be? In business, that is. It’s a nagging question that haunts entrepreneurs and the following statistic doesn’t help: According to experts, more than half of self-owned start-ups close within five years. Washington Township’s Joe Harris says he always knew he wanted to be his own boss and he has proved to be an exception to the failure rate rule. Harris started his own disc jockey entertainment company when he was 15. In 2000, he founded Harris Enhancements, a home-remodeling firm. And two weeks ago, the 43-year-old and his wife, Kelly, opened a Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa franchise on Delsea Drive in Glassboro. The store is minutes away from Rowan University, Joe’s alma mater. “My father taught me from an early age it was better to be your own boss,” Harris recalls. “He would ask, ‘Why make money for a company when you could work for yourself?’ “He said the best way to be successful was to own your own business.” Harris says his DJ and remodelingbusinesses are doing well, and the fledgling Hand & Stone spa franchise has opened with higher-than-expected membership and revenues. Is Harris just lucky? “Maybe,” he responds. “But I really believe you make your own luck. I know it may be a cliche, but with me, it’s all about my customers. From the time I started my DJ business, I’ve always made sure the customer was happy.

“I’ve been very blessed and fortunate, and I have an incredible family to whom I owe a lot.” Family includes his 29-year-old wife, who until November worked in the medical field. Partnering with her husband is Kelly’s first venture into the business world, although she’s familiar with the entrepreneurial spirit. “My mother has had her own wedding invitation business since I was a little kid,” says Kelly, who started her career as a medical laboratory scientist at Kennedy Health Center in Cherry Hill. Most recently she managed the laboratory at Kennedy University Hospital in Stratford. “I went to school for medical technology and had a very good job at Kennedy. So leaving that job and starting this with Joe is a very big step for me.

To read the full story, click here. 

Hand and Stone Featured in NJBIZ

Hand and Stone was recently featured in an article on NJBIZ titled, "Massage Chain Continues Aggressive Expansion in New Jersey." The article discusses the brand's overall concept and explains what differentiates Hand & Stone from any competitors in the area. Todd Leff explains why and how Hand & Stone has seen such tremendous growth, success and expansion within the last year, leading the brand to outcompete competitors. Todd also expands on the specific future development plans for New Jersey. Kelly & Joe Harris opened the newest location in Glassboro.

"Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa locations are popping up all over New Jersey. Since the company was formed in 2005, it has grown to 100 locations in 18 states and Canada, with 25 of those spas in New Jersey. The company said three locations have opened in New Jersey since the start of 2013, and seven to 10 more are slated to open by year’s end.

“The fact that we have had year-over-year growth in sales and membership base is gratifying for us at a time when other businesses are struggling for sales,” CEO Todd Leff said. “Our most successful locations are in New Jersey due to the right demographic. We have great support from our customer base here.”

The company employs a clustered approach to growth, saturating a market with multiple locations, along with radio and television advertising, before moving on to the next market. With executives confident South Jersey is nearly covered, the company is now focusing on moving northward."

Read the full article here. 

Hand and Stone Featured in New Jersey's Trenton Times

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Trenton Times in an article title, ‘Hamilton-based Hand & Stone proves to be a hit across state, nation.’ Todd Leff, CEO of Hand & Stone discussed the unprecedented growth of the company since joining the system. Looking to grow the system after a brief retirement, Leff has led the company from 25 locations to nearly 100 and the system now has over 2,500 employees. Between the low-cost model and the membership style, Hand & Stone has really found its niche, fitting into just about every market across the United States.

"Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa franchisee Umesh Bhatia says the economic downturn has been great for his business. People turn to massage the way they do to other instant comforts. "It's like drinking. You drink when you're happy and you drink more when you're unhappy. Regardless of what you do today, stress is at an all-time high and it's not getting any better," he said. Bhatia and his wife opened their franchise in the East Windsor Village Shopping Center on Black Friday in 2011 and he said he has already met all of his financial expectations. He said he credits his success, and the success of the company, to people's growing desire for a sense of well-being. 

The Hand and Stone Franchise Corp. almost doubled the size of its operations in 2012 and reached $55 million in sales, according to a company release. The first Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa opened in Toms River in 2004 and the company now has 97 locations across the United States. This year 44 new U.S. locations and five in Canada will open. The company is headquartered in Hamilton, and president and CEO Todd Leff said that is no coincidence."

Read the full article here.

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 Phoenix Business Journal

Hand & Stone was recently featured in the Phoenix Business Journal where regional developer, Maggie Brown and CEO, Todd Leff, shared the track record for success the brand has established in the Phoenix-area. With the sixth opening in the market and three more planned for 2013, the brand has the potential to reach at least 23 total locations. With the industry reaching $13.4 billion in 2011, this spa shows no signs of slowing down, projecting another 50 locations to be opened in 2013.

"'Even in a rough economy this is something that people do for themselves,' said Maggie Brown, the spa chain's regional developer for Arizona. Brown owns the franchise rights in Arizona and also runs two of the six Valley locations. She has plans to open upward of 23 Hand & Stone stores in Arizona, with the Biltmore area of Phoenix high on the list of potential spots. Brown also mentioned she is researching Chandler, Gilbert, Flagstaff, Prescott and Tucson." 

The article goes on to say that Brown cites Phoenix's status as a popular travel destination for the popularity of the spa. She has made arrangements with several area hotels to refer visitors to Hand and Stone for spa services during their stay. 

Click here to read the rest of the article.