Mike & Loree Petree focus on being active franchisees at their growing spa in Tyler, TX.

Before investing in Hand & Stone, Mike & Loree Petree ran a successful nationwide staffing company within the construction sector for more than a decade. The couple, who currently reside in Mount Pleasant, TX, sold the business in 2015, with plans to slow down and head into retirement. However, soon after selling the company, the Texas couple realized they weren’t quite ready to settle down and still had that entrepreneurial itch to run a business.

“When we were thinking about different concepts to invest in, my wife, Loree, mentioned we should open a business that we would both enjoy and induced a lifestyle that promoted health & wellness for us and our customers,” said Mike. “We looked at several independent spa concepts in our area, but then came to our senses and realized that we didn’t have the spa background and experience to properly run a spa without any back-end support. We wanted to invest in a proven model where the framework was already there and that’s what led us to Hand & Stone.”

The Petrees’ flew to Trevose, Pennsylvania to attend a Discovery Day to learn more about the spa franchise. There, they met with each department head they would be working within their business and heard several presentations ranging from how to efficiently market in their community to the ins and outs of day-to-day operations.

“Attending Discovery Day at the corporate office sealed the deal for us. The team at Hand & Stone were fully transparent and supportive throughout the steep learning curve and opening process, so we went in knowing exactly what to expect and the challenges we would face,” said Mike.

In the months leading up to their opening, Mike posted updates and photos about the spa each day, further ingraining the brand into the community and allowing residents to get an inside look at the new business coming to Tyler. When they opened the spa in July 2017, the location already had more than 3,000 followers on its Facebook page.

In addition to being active on social media, the Petrees’ are active business owners in their community. The couple switches off each day, making the two-hour drive from their home in Mount Pleasant to the spa to greet customers and make sure every aspect of their location is running smoothly. Looking ahead, the entrepreneurial pair is focused on strengthening spa memberships through quality service and building relationships across Tyler through sponsorships, networking events and local promotions.

Find out more about franchising opportunities here: handandstonefranchise.com.