Hand & Stone featured in Highlands Ranch Herald

An article called “Holiday shoppers seek stress relief,” ran in the Highlands Ranch Herald, and published Dec. 23. This article references Hand & Stone in Highlands Ranch as somewhere to go to relax after all that holiday shopping! Erik Bostrom was quoted in the article telling readers why many holiday shoppers pit stop at Hand & Stone - to get a break and some relaxation amidst all the crazy holiday shopping. View the full article here.

Holiday shoppers seek stress relief
By Chris Michlewicz

Traffic congestion. Long lines. Aching feet. They are the signatures of holiday shopping. But there is relief from the hustle and bustle if you know where to look.

With the shopping season starting earlier every year, there is little wonder why consumers tend to run out of steam by the time Christmas hits. Most people are ready to relax with a movie or curl up with a good book. However, those who become stir crazy during holiday breaks have options right in their own backyard that can melt the stress away.

Many find relief in working out, particularly yoga classes, which offer a period of silence and decompression. Moms and dads have the chance to escape the excited sounds of children on school break or the expectation to assemble toys. Recreation centers operated by the Highlands Ranch Community Association, South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, as well as public fitness facilities in Parker and Castle Rock, offer yoga classes on a regular basis.

The sessions can be therapeutic and great for the well-being of both mind and body. Some classes focus on using yoga as a tool for reducing pain, fatigue, stiffness and stress.
Some find spa treatments as a source of comfort during the stressful holiday shopping season. Whether it is someone who desires relaxation after hosting a large family dinner or out-of-town guests, a deep-tissue massage or facial can be just the answer.

“It’s a perfect way for people to get ‘me’ time,” said Erik Bostrom, owner of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Highlands Ranch. “They feel more effective in other areas of their life, whether it’s as an employee, boss, mother or father. They leave with a different mind set.”

(Read More)

Hand & Stone Founder John Marco interviewed by Advcance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine

Hand & Stone was recently featured in Advance for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine in an article called “Five Questions with John Marco.” The article discusses how Founder of Hand & Stone, John Marco utilized his background as a physical therapist to create and grow Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. John speaks about massage therapy being extremely beneficial for health reasons but lacking in accessibility and affordability, which ultimately gave him the idea to create the concept, Hand & Stone. Read a portion of the story below or check out the full article here:

5 Questions With: John Marco
by Jonathan Bassett

As awareness of the health benefits of massage continues to rise, massage therapy is no longer considered a luxury item. It's become a lifestyle choice for those seeking longevity and wellness.

With corporate offices in Hamilton, NJ, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa has grown to incorporate 35 franchise locations across 11 states and in Canada. In 2005, company founder and COO John Marco leveraged a 25-year career in physical therapy to establish a unique business model that allows clients to schedule an appointment on the day of service, rather than tracking down a freelance massage therapist and waiting days or weeks for an appointment. Membership rates mean clients pay far less than traditional hourly rates.

In this interview with ADVANCE, Marco discusses his 25-year physical therapy career, how the idea of his business came about, and what's next for Hand & Stone.

ADVANCE: How did you get your start in physical therapy?

Marco: In 1977 I volunteered as a physical therapy aide in a rehabilitation hospital in Toms River, NJ. Within a few weeks a job opening became available for a PT aide position, and I took it. It didn't take long for me to see that some very special things were being done right before my eyes. I was hooked on a healing profession. I was hooked on physical therapy. (Read More)

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)

Hand and Stone Feautred in Colorado Springs Gazette

Hand and Stone was recently featured in a great article in the Colorado Springs Gazette called, “Prime territory? Four franchisors see Springs as ripe for business,” which published Saturday, August 14. The article was built from an in-depth interview with Erik Bostrom about why Colorado Springs is a great expansion market for Hand & Stone, what makes Hand & Stone a step above the competition and who makes the ideal franchisee. A portion of the article is below and you can view the article in its entirety here.

Prime territory? Four franchisors see Springs as ripe for business
By Bill Radford

HAND & STONE
Hand & Stone, a massage and facial spa, was launched by a physical therapist in New Jersey in 2005 and has grown to about 30 locations. Erik Bostrom operates a Hand & Stone franchise in Highlands Ranch; he’s also regional developer for Colorado and is looking at three markets: northern Colorado, Denver and Colorado Springs. He envisions two to three locations in the Springs and 20 or so in the Denver area.

In Colorado, “we’re looking at kind of a perfect storm of conditions that make it perfect to grow,” he said. Colorado’s economy is starting to recover more quickly than the nation as a whole, he said; at the same time, a soft commercial real estate market makes acquiring property easier. And Colorado’s active, healthy lifestyle provides the ideal clientele, he added.

Bostrom said he is particularly interested in the Springs because of its large population of former military.

“Folks that are former military tend to do very well in franchises,” he said. “They understand the benefits of following a designed system.”

Bostrom cites a total initial investment of $280,000 to $375,000 for a franchisee. Beyond the finances, he said, he’s looking for franchisees with solid management skills.

“We’re going to teach you the industry,” he said. “That’s what we’re experts in.”

Another massage franchise, Massage Envy, is already settled in town with two locations in the Springs.

“I give Massage Envy credit,” Bostrom said. “They were the first in this industry.”
But he said, “I think we’ve built a better mousetrap in a number of different ways.” One factor he cites is the breadth of Hand & Stone’s services, going beyond massage to include services such as facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and a variety of waxing services.

(Read More)

July 2010 eNews: Letter from the Owner

Welcome to another edition of the Hand & Stone Highlands Ranch e-newsletter. We’ve launched a new version of our website with a couple of exciting new features this month.

I think the most exciting new feature of this website is the ability to request an appointment online. When we asked over 70% of you said that you would like this ability and we’ve responded with what I believe is the best online appointment request system in the industry. Simply input the type of service that you would like to receive, the day, time and any special notes and your request is submitted with just a click of a button. Our staff will then confirm your appointment within 60 minutes. In my former career I spent a lot of time on the phone in conference calls, I would have really appreciated the ability to setup an appointment online during this time. While I’m glad we are a leader in this feature, I also hope that this becomes standard soon.

Another feature that we added along with online appointment requests is more information about the types of services that we offer. Often times people think of us for our Swedish massage and signature facial, but we offer so much more. As a therapeutic massage provider we offer 10 different modalities of massage. Each of these modalities is beneficial to our clients in different ways. We also offer a full array of skin care services including advanced treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels. You can now find detailed information about all of the different services we offer on our website. Once you’ve learned about all the different options you can then setup your next appointment to try something new right online!

So if you haven’t yet checked it out, I encourage you to head over to www.handandstone.com. I hope that you find our new website both informative and convenient.

Sincerely,

Erik Bostrom
Spa Owner & Colorado Regional Developer