From a spa in Victoria, Texas, to a nearly 90-unit franchise system, Woodhouse Spas has seen incredible growth over the past two-plus decades. What started as a vision from a well-traveled community member has turned into a national brand, offering luxury experiences to guests and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“Woodhouse was started over 20 years ago in a small town about an hour south of Houston and an hour east of San Antonio,” said Ben Jones, CEO of Radiance Holdings, Woodhouse Spas’ parent company. “It was started by a woman in the community who had a vision. She was really well-traveled and had come to feel that the wellness associated with a spa experience was really vital to her life. And she wanted to bring that resort-level experience that she found so meaningful to others in the community.”
In 2001, the first Woodhouse Spa was opened in Victoria, and the brand began building its legacy as a place for guests to receive high-quality services, even in smaller communities.
“These franchise owners really feel like they want to deliver for their community,” Jones said. “They truly believe in the power of personal care and wellness, and they want to challenge the notion that quality experiences are only found in big cities.”
Through 2016, Woodhouse grew slowly and steadily, further solidifying its place in the market. In 2003, the first franchised location was opened in Kingston, Pennsylvania. In 2008, the brand was awarded Best Day Spa Chain in America by DAYSPA Magazine.
“The relatively slow growth over that 10-15 year period was really beneficial to figuring out what this brand is and getting to where we are today,” Jones said. “It allowed the brand to really solidify around its purpose, systems and menu without the pressure of hyper-growth that you sometimes see in franchising.”
Then, in 2016, Woodhouse marked the opening of its 50th franchise location. As it continued to expand, the entire system stayed close to the brand’s core values and worked to maintain a close-knit franchise community.
The system’s commitment to its values and mission was reaffirmed in 2016 when the founder became ill and had to step away from the business.
“When this happened, a core group of franchise owners really took it upon themselves to solidify the business and keep it stable,” Jones said. “When Radiance Holdings bought the business in 2020, what we found was a really strong community of franchise owners who really knew what they were doing. That came from the fact that the founder had to step away from the day-to-day of the business and lean on that same core group of franchise owners.”
Radiance Holdings’ acquisition of the brand marked Woodhouse Spas’ entry into the private equity world, backed by an ongoing commitment to the heart of the business.
“We had been speaking with the founder for a couple of years prior to closing the deal,” Jones said. “She was very intent on making sure her company found a home where it would be nurtured. We had to show her our bona fides and really convince her we were the right home for this brand.”
After the acquisition, Woodhouse Spas’ headquarters was moved to Denver, and the leadership team invested even further in the people and technology of the brand.
During this same period, Radiance Holdings had an opportunity to leverage an explosion of interest in personal care and wellness. Following the pandemic, there was a growing emphasis on human connection and self-care, and Woodhouse caters to this quite well.
“For many people, this is critical to their well-being,” Jones said. “Between this growth and our investments in the brand, technology and marketing, Woodhouse has never been stronger. Our performance has never been better in the brand’s 20-year history.”
Looking toward the future, the Radiance Holdings team intends to continue this development and innovation while maintaining the community feel and commitment to core values Woodhouse is known and loved for.
More than just a business success narrative, Woodhouse Spas’ story is a testament to the power of community-driven entrepreneurship. Through economic challenges, leadership transitions and even a pandemic, the franchise has built its legacy of wellness, community and vision, empowering local entrepreneurs and maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/woodhouse-spas.
Woodhouse Spas
SPONSORED
By prioritizing community connection and slow, intentional growth, the luxury spa franchise has built a model that allows entrepreneurs to deliver personalized wellness services to people nationwide.
From a spa in Victoria, Texas, to a nearly 90-unit franchise system, Woodhouse Spas has seen incredible growth over the past two-plus decades. What started as a vision from a well-traveled community member has turned into a national brand, offering luxury experiences to guests and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“Woodhouse was started over 20 years ago in a small town about an hour south of Houston and an hour east of San Antonio,” said Ben Jones, CEO of Radiance Holdings, Woodhouse Spas’ parent company. “It was started by a woman in the community who had a vision. She was really well-traveled and had come to feel that the wellness associated with a spa experience was really vital to her life. And she wanted to bring that resort-level experience that she found so meaningful to others in the community.”
In 2001, the first Woodhouse Spa was opened in Victoria, and the brand began building its legacy as a place for guests to receive high-quality services, even in smaller communities.
“These franchise owners really feel like they want to deliver for their community,” Jones said. “They truly believe in the power of personal care and wellness, and they want to challenge the notion that quality experiences are only found in big cities.”
Through 2016, Woodhouse grew slowly and steadily, further solidifying its place in the market. In 2003, the first franchised location was opened in Kingston, Pennsylvania. In 2008, the brand was awarded Best Day Spa Chain in America by DAYSPA Magazine.
“The relatively slow growth over that 10-15 year period was really beneficial to figuring out what this brand is and getting to where we are today,” Jones said. “It allowed the brand to really solidify around its purpose, systems and menu without the pressure of hyper-growth that you sometimes see in franchising.”
Then, in 2016, Woodhouse marked the opening of its 50th franchise location. As it continued to expand, the entire system stayed close to the brand’s core values and worked to maintain a close-knit franchise community.
The system’s commitment to its values and mission was reaffirmed in 2016 when the founder became ill and had to step away from the business.
“When this happened, a core group of franchise owners really took it upon themselves to solidify the business and keep it stable,” Jones said. “When Radiance Holdings bought the business in 2020, what we found was a really strong community of franchise owners who really knew what they were doing. That came from the fact that the founder had to step away from the day-to-day of the business and lean on that same core group of franchise owners.”
Radiance Holdings’ acquisition of the brand marked Woodhouse Spas’ entry into the private equity world, backed by an ongoing commitment to the heart of the business.
“We had been speaking with the founder for a couple of years prior to closing the deal,” Jones said. “She was very intent on making sure her company found a home where it would be nurtured. We had to show her our bona fides and really convince her we were the right home for this brand.”
After the acquisition, Woodhouse Spas’ headquarters was moved to Denver, and the leadership team invested even further in the people and technology of the brand.
During this same period, Radiance Holdings had an opportunity to leverage an explosion of interest in personal care and wellness. Following the pandemic, there was a growing emphasis on human connection and self-care, and Woodhouse caters to this quite well.
“For many people, this is critical to their well-being,” Jones said. “Between this growth and our investments in the brand, technology and marketing, Woodhouse has never been stronger. Our performance has never been better in the brand’s 20-year history.”
Looking toward the future, the Radiance Holdings team intends to continue this development and innovation while maintaining the community feel and commitment to core values Woodhouse is known and loved for.
More than just a business success narrative, Woodhouse Spas’ story is a testament to the power of community-driven entrepreneurship. Through economic challenges, leadership transitions and even a pandemic, the franchise has built its legacy of wellness, community and vision, empowering local entrepreneurs and maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/woodhouse-spas.
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