Hand & Stone has announced that 2021 was amongst the brand’s most successful in its 18-year history. It managed to sign 59 new development agreements and expand its footprint with 24 new spas. This development has seen a doubling in year-over-year signings, with over half of the new agreements having been signed existing franchisees.
“2021 was a successful year of franchise development for Hand & Stone. We welcomed several new franchise partners to the system, including established operators with experience in multiple brands,” said John Teza, CEO of Hand & Stone.
“In addition, we saw significant growth from our existing Hand & Stone franchise owners, who accounted for better than 50% of new territory commitments for the year. Our franchise owner’s commitment to the brand and proven success demonstrates the strength of the Hand & Stone model.
“It is clear that Hand & Stone’s industry-leading innovation and unparalleled service offerings translate to thriving businesses for our franchisees.”
In addition to adding 24 new spas across North America, the brand entered these cities for the first time: El Paso, TX; Mobile, AL; Knoxville, TN; Savannah, GA; Birmingham, AL; and Edmonton, ON. The brand acquired the 23-unit Massage Experts in May 2021 to give the brand a presence in Eastern and Western Canada.
“We closed out 2021 with tremendous momentum and have no doubt that the best is yet to come. We will continue to build upon the strong foundation of the brand,” said Teza.
“We will continue to engage new and experienced operators from outside the system and know that existing franchise owner development is key to our brand’s overall success. We expect 2022 to be a year of significant growth for Hand & Stone, as we launch Cryoskin body contouring and continue to innovate in both skincare and massage services. We’re focused on attracting the most talented operators across the entire enterprise.”
Hand & Stone plans to double its spa openings in 2022 and open 50 locations across the U.S. and a further five in Canada. The brand is especially targeting Florida, Texas, Arizona, Ohio and Tennessee.
