Texas’s First Hand and Stone Owners Reflect on Six Years with the Franchise

In 2012, Tony and Brittany Rodgers opened their Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in The Woodlands, Texas. Theirs was the first Hand & Stone location in Texas, but the business quickly found an eager customer base, and six and a half years later, it’s become a pillar of the local community.

When the Rodgers set out to open a business in 2011, they knew they wanted to open a spa — both Tony and Brittany are passionate about health and wellness — but they weren’t sure where to start, so the couple turned to a franchise broker to explore their options.

Brittany says Hand & Stone wasn’t one of the first brands their broker proposed, but once they found it, they were sold.

“Hand & Stone was not on the original list given to us,” she said. “A similar concept was originally proposed, which sparked an interest. It wasn’t until then that our broker mentioned an opportunity with a new spa concept, which was Hand & Stone franchise. We were immediately intrigued. Shortly thereafter, we decided to visit a Hand & Stone in Kissimmee, FL. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed and we knew this is what we were looking for.”

Prior to opening their first Hand & Stone in Texas, the Rodgers lived in Orlando, FL. When they decided to join the franchise, they wanted to find a territory that they could build out, and Florida was already growing quickly. Brittany says they knew they wanted to stay in the warm weather, live close to family and take advantage of a surging economy, and Houston offered all of those things.

So the Rodgers packed up and moved to The Woodlands, where they have operated their first Hand & Stone for the past six years and a half years.

“We could not have picked a better area to open the first location in the state, it is the right demographic for our brand and the right customer base,” Brittany said. “The Woodlands community quickly welcomed our business model and loved our services.”

The Rodgers capitalized on the success of their first spa and quickly opened three more Hand & Stone spas in the Houston area, each developing its own loyal customer base very quickly.

In addition to their "exceptional customer service" and "an unbeatable variety of services," Brittany says much of the success of their spas can be attributed to Hand & Stone’s membership-based revenue model, which ensures a steady stream of income throughout the year.

Many Hand & Stone clients purchase month-to-month memberships, paying for a month’s worth of services up front to take advantage of discounted prices and other incentives. Brittany says the biggest benefit of the membership option for clients is the flexibility it offers.

“The membership helps make it convenient for our clients to access all of our services on a regular basis and to feel the difference, physically and emotionally,” she said.

The Rodgers’s success in Texas has not gone unnoticed by Hand & Stone’s corporate team. VP of Franchise Development Bob McQuillan said his team is looking for owners like Tony and Brittany in each new market the franchise enters.

“In a lot of ways, Brittany and Tony are exactly the types of owners we’re always looking for,” McQuillan said. “They are passionate about the business, they get what we’re all about, and they started with a clear game plan for what they wanted to do and how they wanted to grow. When one of our owners opens a location in a new market, as they did, it’s so important that they represent the brand well, and we couldn’t have asked for better representation than what they’ve done with their spas in Texas. As we continue to expand into new markets, that’s exactly the type of representation we are looking for.”

As the Rodgers look to the future of their businesses, Brittany says they still have a lot of room for growth, and they are excited to take full advantage.

“We’ve been blown away by the love and support we’ve received from each community we are in,” Brittany said. “There is such a strong demand for what we do, and we’re excited to continue growing to meet that demand.”