Franchise Discovery Day at Hand & Stone Massage

What is a “Discovery Day”?

“Discovery Day” is a franchise industry term used to describe the presentation most franchisors conduct for groups of prospective franchise owners. Discovery Day presentations vary by franchisor. Some are very slick sales events with scripted presentations made to large groups. Others are less formal and more personal, consisting of smaller groups with lots of interaction, dialogue and time for questions.

I was pleased to find that Hand & Stone Massage Discovery Day falls into the latter category, a experiencing presentations that were informative (rather than salesy) and personal, with a friendly and relaxed tone. In total, there were 3-4 groups in attendance, and Hand & Stone VP of Franchise Development Bob McQuillan laid out the agenda: an “icebreaker” & attendee self-introductions over coffee and bagels, short presentations and Q&A’s by the training, operations & marketing department heads, a working lunch with senior executives, and an on-site tour of a nearby Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa. After a brief wrap-up and final Q&A, attendees would have the opportunity to experience a hot stone massage firsthand.

What I discovered at Hand & Stone Spa Discovery Day

I came away from the Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa impressed on a number of levels.

I was impressed with the Discovery Day experience itself.  The people were friendly, open and helpful.  It was not a dog and pony show or sales pitch, but an exchange of information from both sides to help determine whether the franchise was a good fit for the attendee’s business goals and skill sets.  If you are seriously exploring business start-up options of this type, you will find the investment of time and travel expenses well worth it.

I was impressed by the industry growth statistics, which I verified independently after the presentation.

I was impressed by the simplicity and the operational efficiency of the concept itself, as well as the customer experience and reactions I witnessed.

I was impressed by the care that was exhibited in not making any earnings claims or representations outside of the Financial Performance disclosure provided in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

Most of all, I was impressed by the knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated team in place to support and guide franchisees from day one.  Listening to the presentations of this highly experienced management team, I had to keep reminding myself that this is a young franchise chain with less than 50 units.  Most of these professionals have experience supporting many times the number of franchise locations they currently serve, and I was impressed by the fact that John Marco and Todd Leff are willing to invest in establishing a solid foundation and infrastructure prior to embarking on the energetic growth that is almost a certainty in the next few years.

Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa is poised and ready for growth.

Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa appears to be poised and ready for growth.

Does that mean that the Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa is the right franchise opportunity for your personal and business goals?  Is it the perfect match for your particular market?

Those are decisions that only you can make.  All I can say is that the Hand & Stone franchise is definitely worth consideration… whether it’s the right opportunity is for you to discover.

What to Look For in a Franchise

What to look for in a franchise

In the long run, there are many criteria to consider when evaluating a franchise opportunity. But initially there are just three main questions I ask in order to determine whether a given opportunity warrants further investigation. In attending a Discovery Day, I want to know:

Is this the right market to get into?

It doesn’t matter if a franchise has the greatest products or services in the world if consumers aren’t ready, willing and able to buy. Are industry sales growing? If so, do credible sources predict that growth will continue? This was one of my main concerns about the Hand & Stone Massage concept: Isn’t massage one of those luxury items that gets cut in recessionary times?

Is this the right concept to meet the market need?

If you determine that there is a market need, then ask: Is this concept designed to meet the needs of both the consumer and you – the operator? The best franchise concepts are streamlined for both operational efficiency and profitability. They are designed to provide value and a superior experience for your customer, and growth through multiple revenue streams for you.

Is this the right management and support team to guide my growth… now and in the future?

This is a critical consideration for several reasons. When you purchase a franchise you are agreeing to follow the systems and policies set forth by the franchisor for the duration of your franchise contract. For that reason, it’s critically important that you are confident that the leadership team has both the experience and judgement to make the right strategic decisions, and that they are truly committed to franchisee success. Additionally, you should consider the franchise fees and royalties you will pay as fees for services rendered and evaluate them on that basis. Does this management team have the experience and expertise to provide value to your business not only in the start-up phase, but on an ongoing basis? Can they provide benefit in excess of the monetary contributions you will make?



Hand & Stone Massage Franchise

The demand for affordable spa services is booming…

My search for the most promising new and emerging franchise opportunities recently led me to the seaside town of Toms River, New Jersey, and to Discovery Day at the home office of The Hand & Stone Franchise Corporation.

This series of short posts will give you a glimpse into this fast-growing new franchise opportunity that has attracted some of the top talent in the franchise industry.

Part 1: What to Look For in a Franchise

Part 2: The Booming Market for Massage & Facials

Part 3:  How Hand & Stone Meets the Market Need

Part 4:  The Powerhouse Team Behind Hand & Stone Massage

Part 5:  Franchise Discovery Day at Hand & Stone Massage

Franchise Scouting Report: Mosquito Squad

The Mosquito Squad franchise caught our eye, and may be invited to be featured in the upcoming Top New Franchises guide.

According to the company, “Mosquito Squad offers an affordable, proven and effective way to control mosquitoes and other insects within the perimeter of your property. Part of Outdoor Living Brands’ franchise company based in Richmond, VA, Mosquito Squad keeps families, residences, and special events insect-free by applying an approved barrier spray around a property, killing the harmful pests within it.”

According to Mosquito Squad, a key advantage to their franchise program are the multiple potential revenue streams. There are three different revenue opportunities available as a franchise owner: the Barrier Spray Program, Misting System and Special Event Spraying. Each one has a different price point designed to appeal to homeowners in need of an outdoor pest management solution.

Another advantage is quick start-up.  The company claims that, in most cases, you can be up and running within 30 days. The initial three-day training takes place in Richmond, Virginia.

Mosquito Squad began franchising in 2005 and has a start-up investment between $32,000 and $57,000.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE MOSQUITO SQUAD FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY?  FEEL FREE TO COMMENT OR SUGGEST ANOTHER TOP NEW FRANCHISE BELOW.

Karen Stewart, Fairway Divorce

“It’s a chance to make a difference…

A chance to change the world…”

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Recommend a New Franchise

Do you know of a promising new or emerging franchise opportunity?  Tell us about it below.

Please include a company contact and website address (if you can) and why you think it’s a Top New Franchise.

BOLD NEW FRANCHISES: Why They’re Worth a Look

NEW FRANCHISES: Why They’re Worth a Look

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New Spy Store Franchise

The Spy Place is a Fort Wayne, IN-based franchisor start-up founded by CEO Ray Huck. The Spy Place will first début its franchise opportunity at the International Security Conference West in Las Vegas, from April 1 through April 3, 2009.

According to the company:

The Spy Place www.thespyplace.com, is a retail operation that engineers, sells and installs affordable Remote Viewing Video Surveillance Systems, (CCTV, Covert camera Systems, ‘Nanny Cams’) allowing businesses and homeowners alike, the ability to view their home or business from any internet-connected computer in the world, allowing for 24 hour real time viewing and, at the same time, providing a permanent digital record of all events that happened in their absence. The Spy Place also offers Computer Tracking Software, GPS Tracking Software, Lighting and Access Control Systems, Biometrics, and also provides Bug Detection Services for attorney’s and corporations.

The Spy Place services Homeowners, Business, Municipalities and Law Enforcement Agencies to name a few. The Spy Place also offers a ‘James Bond Type’ Surveillance Retail Store, which adds to the excitement and mystique of The Spy Place brand.

The anticipated The Spy Place Start-Up costs are estimated to be between $200,000 and $350,000, with much depending on construction and build out costs.

Attorney Linda Church, formerly of The Scott Kern Law Office in Connecticut, has joined fledgling franchisor The Spy Place Franchising, LLC, as General Counsel.

New Woodfired Pizza Franchise

Source: Bizjournals

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza plans to open seven locations across the Southeast over the next year.

The growth comes a year after the Charlotte-based company launched a franchise program to expand the chain.

“The concept is 10 years old now,” says Jeff Van Dyke, Brixx managing partner. “We feel like we’ve got things down now and are ready to grow the brand.”

Company-owned locations scheduled to open in the next year are in Asheville, Raleigh, Cary and Nashville, Tenn. A franchisee opened a Columbia, S.C., location about three weeks ago. Other franchise restaurants set to open in the next year are in Wilmington, Winston-Salem and Knoxville, Tenn. The company currently has 11 locations. The first Brixx opened in Dilworth in 1998.

New Staffing Franchise

A new I.T. Staffing franchise is emerging from Knoxville, TN. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel:

“Staff I.T., an information technology recruiting and staffing firm with headquarters in Oak Ridge, is announcing today a major shift in operations that includes a name change and expansion through franchising.

“The 10-year-old company, which now will be called RecruitWise, is looking to franchise into 27 cities within a 450-mile radius of Knoxville over the next decade.

“Founder and President Glenn Zahn said RecruitWise will target cities that are Knoxville’s size or larger.

“Zahn said there is a growing need for information technology recruitment and staffing services as companies look to fill more tech-based positions.

He said as the company evaluated expansion options, the decision to franchise emerged as the best fit. He also said the decision to change names was made because Staff I.T. does not qualify for a trademark but RecruitWise does and the firm was needing to trademark its identity.”

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