Massage and Facial Spa

New survey by leading massage & facial spa franchise reveals who’s really carrying the holidays on their backs

TREVOSE, Pa. — The holidays may be merry and bright, but they’re also back-breaking. This year, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the nation’s leading spa franchise, is giving America’s most stressful season a well-deserved break with the introduction of a new national holiday, Back Friday.

A recent survey commissioned by Hand & Stone reveals that half of Americans admit the week after Black Friday is more stressful than an average week, signaling the official start of “holiday burnout.” Landing exactly one week after Black Friday, Back Friday transforms one of the most exhausting weeks of the year into a new reason to relax. This year, Back Friday will be celebrated on Friday, December 5. The survey also found:

• Moms Make It Happen: Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) say moms carry the holiday season most on their backs.
• Special Delivery: Nearly one-in-four (23%) respondents say delivery drivers carry the holiday season most, and another 40% rank them second. Altogether, 63% place delivery drivers in their top two, showing strong appreciation for those keeping packages moving.
• Holiday Hustle: With half of Americans (49%) saying the week following Black Friday is more frazzled than an average week, a majority (56%) either feel stressed or uncertain during this time.
• On The Wishlist: One in three respondents (34%) say they’d rather have a massage over any material gift, proof that experiences and self-care are the real luxuries on everyone’s wish list.

“Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon built on chaos, and Americans are maxed out from the holiday hustle, so we thought, what if we flipped it?” said John Teza, CEO of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. “While this is the most hectic time of year, we realized people aren’t taking time for the self-care needed to push through the madness. Through our spas, we see every day that even a few minutes of calm can make all the difference. Back Friday is about giving people permission to slow down, recharge and honor the ones who make the magic happen for the holidays.”

To officially ring in the new holiday, on Friday, December 5, Hand & Stone is bringing the Back Friday experience to life with a spa pop-up hitting NYC, the epicenter of holiday hustle. As the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers will be rewarded with some much-needed rest and relaxation amidst the chaos. The pop-up will offer NYC consumers a chance to win free chair massages, self-care prizes and spa gift cards, offering an opportunity for rest in a season full of stress. Hand & Stone invites guests to attend as a reminder to pause, decompress and make wellness a part of the holiday routine.

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa locations nationwide will join the celebration with in-spa activations designed to spread the spirit of Back Friday in every community by gifting up to three complimentary services to deserving guests, honoring those who carry the holiday season on their backs. Hand & Stone will also be supporting their holiday gift card promotion during Back Friday, where guests can purchase a $150+ gift card and receive a $50 promotional card (*at participating locations). Consumers can also enter an official giveaway starting on November 25^th through Hand & Stone’s pinned post on Instagram by nominating in the comments who carries the holiday season the most on their backs.

Back Friday is officially certified by the National Day Calendar, the original and authoritative entity curating, registering and celebrating national days, weeks and months. Following the inaugural Back Friday on December 5, the holiday will be celebrated annually one week after Black Friday, marking a new cultural moment that reinvents the holiday season and inspires Americans to put self-care at the top of their wish lists.

For more information about hand & Stone and its offerings, visit www.handandstone.com, and follow the brand (@handandstoneusa) on Instagram for ongoing news.

METHODOLOGY
This 2025 survey was commissioned by Hand & Stone and conducted online by Talker Research with a nationally representative sample of 2,000 Americans.

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.