Hand & Stone Welcomes Two New Franchise Owners, Accelerates Tennessee Growth with More Available Territories

TENNESSEE (June 26, 2024) — Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the nation's leading luxury massage and facial spa franchise, is experiencing remarkable growth across Tennessee as residents throughout the state increasingly seek high-quality wellness services. With room for even more growth, the brand has signed seven deals to continue expanding its Tennessee footprint, including: 

• Three Nashville units in partnership with Erin Powell and Dale Goodrich, one of which is slated to open in Nolensville in 2025 
• Two Chattanooga spas that will open as part of a commitment made by Don Williams, an experienced Hand & Stone franchise owner and Area Developer for Tennessee 
• The inaugural Memphis-Germantown spa, which will be brought to the community by first-time Hand & Stone spa owners, Gary Millender and Thomas DuBose, who signed their agreement just a few short months ago and will open their spa in Q4 2024 

As a leader in the $1.8 trillion wellness industry, Hand & Stone has become the go-to destination for top-tier self-care offerings and with a focus on strengthening its market presence in the Volunteer State, the brand is committed to bringing wellness options to underserved communities. 

“Tennessee’s dynamic cities are growing at a rapid rate, providing an excellent opportunity for aspiring business owners to cater to the overall increasing demands for results driven, innovative wellness solutions in major metropolitan areas,” said Jennifer Durham, Hand & Stone's Chief Development Officer. “We understand the need for an oasis that focuses on professional and customized wellness services to help  these bustling communities and are looking forward to introducing our premier massage and facial services to even more Tennessee residents.”  

Adding more than 700,000 people to its population last year, Tennessee is among the top 10 states with the highest population growth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With an increasing population across the state, including in major markets like Nashville and Knoxville, the Volunteer state is in great need of wellness options for its residents. In addition to having some of the fastest growing cities in the nation, the state has an overwhelmingly positive business climate, with a wide range of large companies calling Tennessee home. Spanning across many industries, including agricultural, manufacturing, healthcare and tourism, Tennessee’s hardworking residents need to create a ritual for self-care, and Hand & Stone has strategic plans in place to deliver on this surge in demand.  

To further serve the Tennessee market and provide affordable health and relaxation options, Hand & Stone has partnered with several seasoned entrepreneurs and franchisees who share a passion for wellness to expand the brand’s reach in the state while maintaining a connection to the communities they serve. This includes franchisees Gary Millender and Thomas DuBose, experienced franchise owners who currently operate an Urban Air franchise and are opening a spa this year in Germantown. Gary and Thomas also have experience spanning across the pharmaceutical, finance, insurance and real estate industries before their pursuit of their franchise venture. The business duo is enthusiastic about their introduction to the Memphis market with their first spa in Germantown. 

 “Memphis is a vibrant city filled with energy and a growing awareness of the importance of self-care,” said Gary Millender, Hand & Stone franchise owner. “Which is why we believe that our community is in need of a unique wellness space like Hand & Stone, where individuals can truly prioritize their well-being amidst their active, busy lifestyles. We are thrilled to offer innovative wellness technologies and services, from massages to advanced esthetics, and more, to the people of Greater Memphis.” 

Hand & Stone’s existing franchise owner Don Williams, who currently operates spas in Florida, was eager to serve as Area Developer and pursue his own new spa development in Tennessee. Don serves a unique role to provide prospective franchise owners with his decade of experience operating very successful spas and continuing to invest in growth in underpenetrated markets like Chatanooga. Don was instrumental in welcoming new owners Erin Powell and Dale Goodrich who secured 3 agreements for new spas in the Nashville market in 2023 and after an exhaustive search, landed an exciting opportunity in Nolensville in a new development that has just broke ground and will open in 2025. 

Looking ahead, the brand is poised for further expansion, with prime franchise opportunities available in several key Tennessee markets, including Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities and Jackson. This top-tier market availability, combined with Hand & Stone’s membership-driven business approach, ensure consistent revenue streams and foster long-term customer relationships, driving profitability for franchisees while making a positive impact on community wellness. Hand & Stone’s proven business model and robust support system present a lucrative opportunity for franchisees to enter rapidly growing markets and cater to the growing demand for premium wellness services. For those interested in franchise opportunities in Tennessee, visit www.handandstonefranchise.com. 

ABOUT HAND & STONE MASSAGE AND FACIAL SPA   
Hand & Stone is a more than 600-unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to deliver premium spa services to the middle market in a professional, affordable, and convenient manner. Launched in 2004, Hand & Stone now has locations across 36 states and Canada. Each spa features best-in-class massage and skincare treatments. Available for women, men and teens, a wide range of services are tailored to each individual's needs or skin concerns. Hand & Stone facial treatments are performed by licensed estheticians, using top-of-the-line products backed by science including Dermalogica, IMAGE Skincare and ClarityRx Clinical Skin Care. The fastest-growing spa franchise in the country, Hand & Stone has been named No. 1 in the spa category by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2023, 2021 and 2020 and was ranked No. 8 on Forbes' Best Franchises to Buy list in the high investment category. For more information, visit www.handandstonefranchise.com.   

###