Icebox Cryotherapy INFO

Icebox Cryotherapy Studios is a whole body cryotherapy company founded by Alia Alston that opened its flagship studio in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2012. Alston’s life was changed forever at 19 years old when she was in a serious car accident caused by a drunk driver. On a mission to heal herself without surgery, she discovered cryotherapy. After seeing positive changes in her own body, the founder realized she could help the community feel and look their best by creating a spa-like retail environment where anyone and everyone could enjoy the service. “After spending years in physical therapy offices, I wanted to create an environment where people could heal and be in a fun, upbeat, modern environment,” she said. As the first cryotherapy retail location in the United States, Icebox provides a safe, non-invasive and holistic approach to health and wellness. With a fun atmosphere, highly trained staff and the best equipment in the industry, Icebox pushes past the norms of a typical wellness studio and delivers the best-three-minutes-of-your-day. From athletic performance and pain management to skin health and overall wellness, Icebox can give you the best innovative cold therapy experience. To learn more about Icebox Cryotherapy and cryotherapy benefits, visit IceboxTherapy.com.

This year, the Icebox team is picking up franchise growth with the goal of signing 18 units by the end of 2023. For franchisees who are looking to become part of a dynamic opportunity within the health and wellness space, Icebox is a one-of-a-kind concept. And today, as the $6 billion cryotherapy market continues to grow rapidly, Icebox is a runaway leader, offering franchisees all over the country a chance to join a revolution in the health and wellness space and cater to the growing interest in self-care. The Icebox business model provides franchisees with a scalable path, thanks to its simplified services and a membership-based model where guests are recommended to visit the studio a minimum of two to three times in a seven to ten day period for the best results. 

But Alston says the true advantages of Icebox franchise ownership go much deeper than that. The most rewarding part of the business, she says, is being able to change lives. Icebox’s services allow people to get moving again, discontinue pain medications and hit personal milestones. These types of stories keep franchisees and their studio teams focused on “the why” behind the work.

Additionally, similarly to how the company supports clients, Icebox is also committed to helping franchise owners with every aspect of the business, whether it be with its customized technology platform to support franchisees, comprehensive operations manual, full onsite training program or marketing suite. 

At Icebox, guests can receive a one-time cryotherapy appointment or sign up to become a member with three different tier options depending on how frequently they plan on visiting the studio. As opposed to other competitors who might offer cryotherapy as an ancillary service, Icebox members can be confident that everyone on the team has a deep passion and knowledge for cryotherapy and all its health and skin health benefits.

This gives Icebox owners access to a unique service, setting them apart from the competition. Franchisees can also look forward to a committed corporate team who will be with them on every aspect of the business, including a customized technology platform, a comprehensive operations manual, a full onsite and LMS training program and marketing assets and support. 

The corporate team will also work alongside the individual franchisee and the brand’s preferred vendors to assist in site selection, store design and lease negotiation. The franchisor trains the franchisee in the hiring and education process, which has allowed Icebox to retain a much higher percentage of employees than other competitors in the industry. Icebox even features a Franchise Advisory Council, where owner-operators have an opportunity to collaborate, share best practices, go over KPIs, implement marketing programs and more. Alston believes that the growth of Icebox is not only due to what she has developed and learned from over 10 years of running her own studios, but from the franchisees that have been successful and shared their knowledge. 

Cryotherapy was created as a contemporary update to the traditional, centuries-old ice bath treatment. It involves exposing the body for three minutes to ultra-low temperatures, ranging from -200F to -256F without getting wet. While the concept was originally designed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory joint diseases, practitioners and patients soon found whole body cryotherapy treatment had the ability to help with much, much more. From athletic performance and recovery, pain management, overall wellness and skin health, Icebox guests range on average from age 12-65. 

Today, the $6 billion cryotherapy market continues to grow rapidly, and Icebox is a clear leader, offering franchisees around the United States the opportunity to cater to a growing interest in self-care and capitalize on the revolution in the health and wellness space. Self-care has never been more relevant and in-demand. According to a study done by Mindbody, 75% of Americans feel that wellness is more important than ever. Alternative healing practices like cryotherapy are also becoming more ubiquitous across the country as the dangers around prescription medications become more well-known.

The ideal Icebox franchise owner is someone who truly loves the Icebox brand and is driven to service their community and help others, according to Alston. They should want to take part in a culture within their studio and be motivated to grow their business. Icebox franchisees also have a strong work ethic, accept challenges from home office and are on a mission to make a difference in their community.

The team is looking for both single-unit and multi-unit franchisees to help the brand achieve its goal of opening Icebox studios in markets all across the country. Target markets include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Icebox makes it easy for franchisees to open and operate their locations. For example, the brand provides the following initial and ongoing training and support: help finding a location, negotiating your lease and assisting in local vendor relations; complete store design, development and construction support services; full integration with a customized technology platform to support franchisees; a comprehensive operations manual, training manual and videos; full onsite training for franchisees and their teams; marketing support and guidance including social media, public relations and full collateral packages; and pre-opening training at the studio. 

Icebox also helps with the staffing, hiring and education process, which has allowed it to retain a much higher percentage of employees than other competitors in the industry. Additionally, the brand has a Franchise Advisory Council, where owner-operators are able to collaborate, share best practices, go over KPIs, implement marketing programs and more. 

“Icebox is accomplishing what we started 11 years ago as the first brick-and-mortar cryotherapy studio in the country,” said Alston. “Each studio lovingly dedicates themselves to providing an enriching escape that instantly assists with pain management, overall wellness and skin health. What a meaningful mission we are all on to serve our communities.”

The total investment necessary to open an Icebox studio ranges from $384,950– $682,750, including a $45,000 franchise fee.