Local Mom and Career Woman Wins Hand & Stone’s Hardest Working Person in America Contest

Chosen by Fan Votes on Facebook, Joanne Vadas Wins Free Massages for a Year from Hand & Stone

In a nationwide contest hosted by the 30-plus unit massage and facial spa Hand & Stone, Howell, New Jersey mom, caregiver and nurse, Joanne Vadas, was named “Hardest Working Person in America.” Nominated by her daughter Natalie, Joanne’s story captured the hearts of Hand & Stone fans nationwide, who voted her story the most compelling in the nationwide Facebook contest. As winner, Joanne Vadas will receive free massages for an entire year at Hand & Stone’s Spring Lake location for her selfless giving and hardworking character.

Natalie’s nomination stated, “My mom, Joanne, is the hardest working person I know. My father passed away last year from malignant melanoma so for the past two years my mother has been consumed with not only taking care of him for his last few months, but now she is working so very hard to keep this household afloat. She is a nurse in a dermatologist office, and she is on her feet all day-- with one knee replaced and the other needing to be replaced any day now (which she would, except she cannot afford to take the time off of work). She does everything for everyone, but never anything for herself.”

Natalie Vadas’ nomination was one of seven heart-felt nominations selected to move to the final round, where Hand & Stone’s Facebook fans voted on the nominations to determine the winner. Joanne Vadas was announced the winner on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. The 2nd place winner is Jean Sable of Phoenix, AZ.

“I am amazed, awe struck. I was completely unaware about Natalie (Joanne’s daughter) signing me up for the contest,” said Joanne Vadas. “It came as quite a surprise just how many people had nice things to say and showed their support for me.”

Hand & Stone’s “Hardest Working Person in America” contest was designed to build individualized and personalized connections with would be and established members alike.

“Especially in trying economic times, Americans are forced to work harder and longer hours,” said Todd Leff, CEO of Hand & Stone. “We wanted to hear our member’s stories, as well as the stories of their friends and families, and then reward them with a little relaxation.”

The contest launched Hand & Stone’s social presence and built individualized and personalized connections with their Facebook fans and educated fans about Hand & Stone’s services.

“While the typical massage client used to have to track down a freelance masseuse, 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,” said Leff, noting that when they sign up for a one-session-per-month plan, they end up paying just $49 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 store sales by over 20 percent during this past year, in a very tough economic environment. Hand and Stone expects to open 15 new locations currently under construction by the year end.

"Most of our franchisees have no massage experience, they are just business people who understand that this industry is ripe for growth and love the fact that we are providing a positive health related service," Leff said. "Twenty-two percent of Americans got a massage last year, and that figure is growing. As massage becomes a more integrated part of health care, we see this business achieving even wider-spread growth and longevity."

Alternative Medicine Becomes Mainstream: Benefits Provided to the Masses

What was previously thought of as just a luxury and pampering experience is now being called a way of life for millions of Americans, even to the point of a necessity. Massage clearly delivers the physical and mental benefits that are very easy to understand and appreciate.

“After being in physical therapy for 25 years, I recognized that many patients’ injuries were improved better and more quickly through massage therapy,” said John Marco, Founder and COO of Hand & Stone. “No longer is massage considered a luxury item, it’s now driven by those who are seeking longevity and wellness, making it a lifestyle choice above all else.”

The industry alone had over 130 million visits annually and boasted sales of $12.8 billion in 2009 and there’s not one finite person who typically gets massages; they are from every walk of life, male or female, young to old. According to the 2010 AMTA Industry Report, massage use among 18-24 year olds has risen to 48%; massage use among older Baby Boomers (ages 55-64) has doubled in the past ten years and use among those older than 65 has tripled during the same time.

These staggering statistics indicate that consumers are “getting it” and they now understand that massage has positive medical implications. According to John Marco, massage does much more than just relax you. It:

• Relives Tension and Stress
• Decreases Pain
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Increases Circulation
• Strengthens the Immune System
• Improves Recovery Time from Injuries
• Reduces Fatigue
• And a lot more…

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

“What fuels the rapid growth of the industry is the direct ‘feel-good’ results that occur due to instant relaxation that each client experiences during and after a massage,” said Marco, “The treatment is so desirable for consumers because it has identifiable and measureable results, where they feel rejuvenated after an hour session.”

While the typical massage client used to have to track down a freelance Massage Therapist, schedule an appointment days in advance, and pay as much as $90 or more 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 even less per visit.

As massage becomes more and more mainstream in the health care industry, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa 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 store sales by over 14 percent during this past year, in a very tough economic environment. Marco expects to sign another 25 new franchisees to the Hand & Stone system this year, each one investing a total of around $325,000.

“Massage and facials are a great way to maintain a healthy body and healthy skin,” Marco said. “It provides an escape for many individuals, where you can take an hour or two to focus on pampering yourself while receiving long-term health benefits too.”

Hand & Stone Featured in Denver Business Journal

The Denver Business Journal just published an article called “Business owners have mixed feelings about coupons” which features Hand & Stone franchisee Erik Bostrom discussing how listing his business on Groupon affected his business. Erik says his spa has seen an increased amount of traffic and signups as a result of the 1,288 people who purchased the Groupon. A portion of the article is below and the full story can be read by clicking here.

Business owners have mixed feelings about coupons
By Ed Sealover

Erik Bostrom, owner of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Highlands Ranch, placed a 60 percent-off coupon for a hot-stone massage with Groupon in August.

He was just hoping to attract a few new customers. But within 24 hours, he sold 1,288 of the deals, far more than even the trendy national couponing site told him to expect. He had to ask staffers to work extra hours. And it’s become harder — though not impossible, he insists — to book an appointment at his spa.

(Read More)