Hand & Stone Franchise Archives

How the Hand & Stone Franchise Meets the Market Need

Meeting the market need for affordable massage & facials.

So how does Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa meet the growing demand for massage, spa and skin care services?

According to presenter and VP Bob McQuillan, the strategy is based on a simple premise: provide a wide range of top quality spa services – therapeutic massage, facials & waxing – at affordable prices and unmatched convenience.

Previous: Part 2: The Booming Market for Massage & Facials

Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa locations provide a varied menu of quality massage options, from Sports to Swedish to Pre-natal massage. The signature hot stone massage is Hand & Stone’s ultimate massage experience. In a hot stone massage, heated river stones are skillfully used with massage strokes to add a unique and effective enhancement to the overall massage experience.

Facials and skin care are relatively new additions to the service offering. At Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spas, certified aestheticians evaluate the condition of clients’ skin and customize treatments for optimal results. Clients can experience a dramatic difference in the quality and texture of their skin after just one visit, and can return for a variety of facials to accommodate needs ranging from basic skin maintenance to acne, rosacea, sun damage, scarring or aging.

The pricing and scheduling system for the Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa is designed to provide convenience and value to the spa members and operational simplicity and recurring, predictable revenue flow for franchise owners.

Once new clients experience Hand & Stone through an attractive, introductory offer, they are encouraged to join the membership program, allowing clients to enjoy a 35% savings on spa service packages each month.

While scheduling in advance is recommended, members are welcome to visit on a walk-in basis to better accommodate their busy schedules and to increase their visit frequency. During the Discovery Day presentation, it was clear that there are many strategies and elements built into the system that simultaneously enhanced the health of Hand & Stone Spa members and the financial health of each individual franchise.

In addition, the marketing team has done a great job developing the Hand & Stone gift card program and using industry exclusive promotions like Hand and Stone’s new Spa Party concept to drive new customer traffic.

Next: Part 4: The Powerhouse Team Behind Hand & Stone Massage

Franchise Discovery Day at Hand & Stone Massage

What is a “Discovery Day”?

Previous: Part 4: The Powerhouse Team Behind Hand & Stone Massage

“Discovery Day” is a franchise industry term used to describe the presentation most franchisors conduct for groups of prospective franchise owners. Discovery Day presentations vary by franchisor. Some are very slick sales events with scripted presentations made to large groups. Others are less formal and more personal, consisting of smaller groups with lots of interaction, dialogue and time for questions.

I was pleased to find that Hand & Stone Massage Discovery Day falls into the latter category, a experiencing presentations that were informative (rather than salesy) and personal, with a friendly and relaxed tone.

In total, there were 3-4 groups in attendance, and Hand & Stone VP of Franchise Development Bob McQuillan laid out the agenda: an “icebreaker” & attendee self-introductions over coffee and bagels, short presentations and Q&A’s by the training, operations & marketing department heads, a working lunch with senior executives, and an on-site tour of a nearby Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa. After a brief wrap-up and final Q&A, attendees would have the opportunity to experience a hot stone massage firsthand.

What I discovered at Hand & Stone Spa Discovery Day

I came away from the Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa impressed on a number of levels.

I was impressed with the Discovery Day experience itself. The people were friendly, open and helpful. It was not a dog and pony show or sales pitch, but an exchange of information from both sides to help determine whether the franchise was a good fit for the attendee’s business goals and skill sets. If you are seriously exploring business start-up options of this type, you will find the investment of time and travel expenses well worth it.

I was impressed by the industry growth statistics, which I verified independently after the presentation.

I was impressed by the simplicity and the operational efficiency of the concept itself, as well as the customer experience and reactions I witnessed.

I was impressed by the care that was exhibited in not making any earnings claims or representations outside of the Financial Performance disclosure provided in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

Most of all, I was impressed by the knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated team in place to support and guide franchisees from day one.

Listening to the presentations of this highly experienced management team, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a young franchise chain with less than 50 units.

Most of these professionals have experience supporting many times the number of franchise locations they currently serve, and I was impressed by the fact that John Marco and Todd Leff are willing to invest in establishing a solid foundation and infrastructure prior to embarking on the energetic growth that is almost a certainty in the next few years.

Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa is poised and ready for growth.

Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa appears to be poised and ready for growth.

Does that mean that the Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa is the right franchise opportunity for your personal and business goals? Is it the perfect match for your particular market?

Those are decisions that only you can make. All I can say is that the Hand & Stone franchise is definitely worth consideration… whether it’s the right opportunity is for you to discover.

Read all: Hand & Stone Massage Franchise: Discover the Potential