Massage and Facial Spa

With Another Major Conversion Initiative, Industry Leading Spa Franchise Accelerates Its Growth Across Seven States, with More Territories Available in North America  

TREVOSE, Pa. — Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the nation’s leading massage and facial spa franchise, today announced the conversion of 30 LaVida Massage locations across seven states that were rebranded as Hand & Stone franchise spas on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. The expansion located in Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Washington allow Hand & Stone to optimize markets where the brand already operates and to establish a presence in new, priority markets. Notably, Hand & Stone Bentonville is the first location in Arkansas and brings up the total of Hand & Stone locations from 39 to 40. These conversions allow Hand & Stone to optimize markets where the brand already operates and to establish a presence in new, priority markets.

“We’ve made the deliberate decision to make conversions a core part of our ongoing domestic expansion strategy. Conversions are a win-win for the entire Hand & Stone community, including our clients, our existing franchise owners and their teams, and for the converting operators,” said John Teza, President and Chief Executive Officer at Hand & Stone. “Through the addition of the LaVida Massage spas to our system, we’re reaching more consumers than ever before, and welcoming talented, experienced franchise business owners, who are already familiar with our sector, into our industry-leading brand. We are excited to partner with our new franchise owners and look forward to continuing our growth journey and exploring new opportunities to expand this strategy.”

Key to the conversion, as with every new spa opening, Hand & Stone is supporting incoming conversion franchisees by providing a full week of new owner training sessions at Hand & Stone’s headquarters in Trevose, Pennsylvania. The brand is also deploying training staff to provide on-site support for spa associate, massage therapist, and esthetician training for all incoming staff ahead of the conversion. Further, Hand & Stone is making a significant financial investment to support the successful conversion of each spa, as well as ensuring there is a smooth transition into the Hand & Stone system through guidance provided by the brand’s dedicated new spa operations leader.

“The former LaVida Massage spa owners are entering our brand with a background in the massage and wellness business, so our priority is to really immerse them into the Hand & Stone system and familiarize them with the wealth of specialized services that make us unique and keep us on the cutting edge,” said Jennifer Durham, Chief Development Officer at Hand & Stone. “Joining a brand like Hand & Stone provides these experienced spa owners the opportunity to increase their revenue through the addition of services they weren’t previously able to offer and, ultimately, expand their membership base. We share in their excitement as they embark on this new entrepreneurial journey with us.”

The converted locations will offer their clients the Hand & Stone lifestyle membership, which includes access to advanced skincare and spa services such as Decompression Therapy massage, Diamond Glow facial, NuFACE microcurrent facial, Percussive Therapy massage and LED Phototherapy facial. These locations will also offer additional enhancements through partnerships with award-winning skincare lines, including Dermalogica® (featuring their first-ever professional device, Pro Pen), ClarityRX, and IMAGE Skincare.

As Hand & Stone enters this new phase of growth, many open territories remain available for franchise ownership across the country. For more information on franchising opportunities, please visit handandstone.com/franchise.

New and existing franchisees in the region contribute to the brand’s continued growth in the market

CHICAGO — Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the nation’s leading luxury massage and facial spa franchise, proudly announces its continued growth in the Chicago market. Driven by several dedicated franchisees, this expansion underscores Hand & Stone’s unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier wellness services and memorable customer experiences across North America.

Leading this growth are husband and wife franchisee duos, Saj and Sunny Rizvi, and Mike and Kathy Hendershott. As they prepare to open Hand & Stone locations in Chicago, the Rizvis, the Hendershotts and one additional franchise owner embark on an ambitious plan to establish a combined total of eight new spas in the coming years, solidifying Hand & Stone’s presence in both Chicago and its suburbs.

Distinguished by their success as Kiddie Academy franchise operators, the Rizvis have fostered a reputation for creating a positive work environment and prioritizing customer satisfaction. “When we discovered Hand & Stone, it perfectly aligned with our vision and our dedication to making a positive impact in Chicagoland. The brand’s values resonate with our mission of not only providing exceptional spa services but also contributing to the well-being of our local community,” Sunny Rizvi said. “We’re excited to introduce the Hand & Stone experience to more Chicago neighborhoods, fostering growth and community bonds,” added Saj Rizvi.

The Hendershotts, with a strong background in the financial industry, have embraced a prosperous journey in the wellness and relaxation sector, with an existing portfolio of seven Hand & Stone franchise spas under their belts – five of which are in the Chicago market. At the recent Hand & Stone Conference, the Hendershotts were even recognized as the winners of the Cryokskin Achievement Award, which acknowledges the franchisee who has embraced and paved the way for the brand in the development of its third service modality. “As we continue to play a pivotal role in expanding Hand & Stone’s presence, we’re thrilled to introduce even more exceptional spa experiences to the vibrant Chicago community,” Mike Hendershott stated. “Our mission is clear: to provide a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation in the Windy City. We eagerly anticipate serving our customers with the utmost care and professionalism, ensuring they feel truly pampered,” Kathy Hendershott added.

“The continued expansion of Hand & Stone in Chicagoland is a prime example of our steady and sustainable national growth strategy,” said Jennifer Durham, Chief Development Officer at Hand & Stone. “With an existing presence in the market, we’ve specifically targeted key trade areas for additional growth and are excited to attract franchise owners who recognize the demand for wellness options within their local communities and know that Hand & Stone has the tools to successfully deliver that to them. The Rizvis are leveraging their early childcare franchise experience as new Hand & Stone owners while the Hendershotts are award winning market leaders in our system. This mix of new and established multi-unit owners is a testament to our brand and our welcoming franchise community.”

With support of franchisees like the Rizvis and Hendershotts, Hand & Stone looks forward to continuing to deliver top-tier wellness services for in the Chicago market. The new Chicagoland spas will bring high-quality professional massage services, including Swedish, Himalayan Salt, Sports, Deep Tissue, Oncology and Prenatal massages to the community. Guests will also be able visit the new spas to enjoy Hand & Stone’s signature hot stone massage and best-in-class facial and hair removal treatments tailored to each individual’s needs or skin concerns, with a wide-range of services available for women, men and teens.

The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its footprint throughout North America. For more information on franchising opportunities, please visit www.handandstonefranchise.com.