April 2017 | Business View Magazine

130 131 tion, or overall wellness; 28 percent of massage consumers said they had received their massag- es for relaxation and general stress reduction. Today, massage therapy is a $12.1 billion industry, with an estimated 325,000 to 375,000 massage therapists and massage school stu- dents in the United States. Professional mas- sage therapists work in many different loca- tions: their offices; hotels, resorts, and cruises; people’s homes and workplaces; health clubs; etc. Almost a quarter of all massages are re- ceived at a spa. And one of the most well- known spa brands in the country is Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, a national fran- Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa chise that was founded in 2004 by John Marco. “John was a physical therapist with his own prac- tice in his hometown of Toms River, New Jersey for 25 years,” says Bob McQuillan, company Vice President for Franchise Development. According to McQuillan, Marco had watched how the massage industry was growing and saw a need in the market- place for an affordable, convenient, higher-end spa experience for middle-market consumers, coupled with a membership format that would ensure re- curring revenue for its owner. He opened his second Hand & Stone location in 2006 and began franchis- ing soon thereafter. “John built the company to about 25 locations, but as he was building it, he knew he was going to need a franchise veteran to help him scale the organization and build a team and a net- work,” says McQuillan. “That’s when he and Todd met.” Todd is Todd Leff, a franchise veteran and former I loved the underly- ing concept of the business. I loved that it was targeted to improving people’s health and wellness and that it was a busi- ness aimed at the middle market. TOdd Leff CEO Carli Lloyd and Todd Leff