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The Jamisons have signed on to open three Squeeze Massage shops in Denver, Colorado and are excited to bring a new level of quality to the wellness industry.
Stacey and Mark Jamison are the dynamic franchisee duo bringing Squeeze — the upscale massage brand from the founders of Drybar — to The Mile High City of Denver. The Jamisons come from diverse backgrounds in everything from court reporting to real estate broker to financial advising. But now, with a newly opened Squeeze shop and several more to come, the husband-and-wife team has combined their individual expertise to become a thriving force within the wellness industry.
Before Squeeze, Stacey was a court reporter for 17 years, running her freelance business and eventually falling into selling residential real estate. Mark, on the other hand, works as a financial advisor with Bank of New York Mellon, catering to clients with complex estate planning challenges.
The couple's journey into Squeeze began in 2022, after their move to Colorado in 2020 for family reasons. “We were expecting our first grandchild at the time,” Stacey said. “And we're now working on number three!”
Although Stacey considered staying in the real estate industry, after selling her first house in the Denver area, she realized it wasn’t what she wanted to do with her life. Meanwhile, Mark’s involvement with a networking group introduced him to a consultant who specialized in franchising.
“The goal was to find a business opportunity that would connect with both of us,” said Mark. “We looked at several different franchises. Once the consultant presented us with a dozen franchises, he said to pick your top three. We were both in our separate offices and we both picked only one. It was Squeeze!”
The Squeeze Massage franchise was founded by the creators of Drybar as a way to offer “A Way Better Massage Experience” with elevated interiors, personalized approach and superior quality of massage therapists. Since launching in 2019, the franchise now has six locations open and operating - Studio City, CA; Brentwood, TN; Scottsdale, AZ; Cherry Creek, CO; Alamo Heights, TX; Rogers, AK.
The Jamisons signed on for three Squeeze locations last year and officially opened their first shop in Denver this past June.
“We started very strong,” said Stacey. “We opened with 157 members and we are now over 200 just two months in. The guests love the space, they love the simplicity. Squeeze has done an amazing job with the technology and their overall systems. They really have everything in place to set you up for success.”
Squeeze’s revolutionary app-based booking platform allows guests to book, pay, tip, set personalized preferences, rate and review all at the touch of a button so guests can walk in and figuratively float out. Massages are tailored to guests’ preferences including pressure, aromatherapy, music and lighting, with no additional fees.
When it comes to training and support, Stacey says the Squeeze team was there to hold their hand every step of the way. Squeeze offers an online training platform that enables every role within the shop team structure to learn the operations of the business. The brand has found digestible ways to deliver training and protocols with built-in assessments to make sure there is true comprehension at all levels.
“Even though we are an emerging franchisor, our documentation, training programs and overarching system is more inline with an established brand,” said Brittany Driscoll, Squeeze co-founder & CEO. “We call our franchisees Operating Partners because it’s really important to me that they feel like true partners. I feel very strongly that our support of them is a direct reflection of how they will treat and support their team and their business. The tone starts with us.”
With a solid foundation in place, the Jamisons are already growing their business rapidly through partnerships and community engagement.
“Squeeze calls me the mayor of Cherry Creek,” said Stacey. “I feel like I've been marketing and networking from the moment we signed the lease. It's really about letting those webs grow. We have partnerships with local events, organizations and fitness groups, for example, as a way to get some exposure into the community.”
Looking ahead, the Jamisons hope to expand and are currently looking for real estate in other markets. At Squeeze, Operating Partners work alongside an expert real estate and construction project management team to optimize site selection, lease negotiations, space planning, design and construction project management from start to finish.
“We'll definitely get two under our belts, hopefully by the second quarter of next year,” said Stacey.
In addition to expanding their reach, the Jamisons say they are also excited about improving the massage industry's work environment.
“I was really surprised at how poorly massage therapists were treated at other retail places — there is a major need for this kind of supportive environment,” said Mark. “When therapists walk through our shop and look more into the brand, they can see the type of culture we have here. Everybody is helping each other, complementing each other and collaborating together. They really thrive in this environment versus the environment that they came from. We are excited to continue offering that environment to therapists in our community.”
Through their commitment to creating a positive and welcoming environment, Stacey and Mark Jamison have solidified Squeeze's presence in their community, setting an inspiring example for other prospective franchisees.
"We are thrilled to have Stacey and Mark representing Squeeze in Denver,” said Driscoll. “And we’re genuinely excited to watch them flourish in such a vibrant community."
Now, with plans to expand across the country, the time has never been better for passionate and qualified franchisees like the Jamisons to join Squeeze at the ground floor as it continues its trajectory towards Drybar-level success and beyond.
The estimated total investment necessary to begin operation of a Squeeze Shop is between $543,645 and $889,521. This includes $61,500 that must be paid to Franchisor or its affiliates. For more information on franchising with Squeeze, visit: https://www.squeezemassage.com/franchising
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