Local Entrepreneur Takes on Southern California Expansion for National Massage Franchise

Feb. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Local Entrepreneur Takes on Southern California Expansion for National Massage Franchise
Hand & Stone Opens Doors in Tustin; Shahira Raineri Plans Four More in Orange County

Hamilton, NJ – Looking to double its store count nationwide by the end of 2011, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa will open its second California location in just two months. Leading the expansion is local entrepreneur, Shahira Raineri, who has a mission to make Hand & Stone synonymous with affordable luxury in Orange County.  Raineri has selectively chosen Tustin as her second point of expansion in Orange County; her first opened in Mission Viejo late last year.

The new Tustin Hand & Stone will open on February 14 at 2981 El Camino Real at the Market Place.  Planning to build the brand quickly in Orange County, Raineri expects to open at least four more locations across Orange County in the next two years.  

“Hand & Stone isn’t just another one off spa,” Raineri said. “This concept has potential just like Starbucks of the coffee world.”  

According to Raineri, other spas fail to educate consumers on the lasting health benefits of massage. “Most consumers don’t understand that consistent massage can reduce pain, strengthen the immune system, increase flexibility among other benefits,” said Raineri. “While people might come initially to relax, they will subscribe because our experienced massage therapists work with them on specific treatments for their particular ailments.”

For over 20 years, Shahira Raineri led Marketing and Product Management initiatives in the corporate world, but her true ambition was to be a part of the health and wellness industry and become an entrepreneur. Building Hand & Stone Spas in Orange County is her first mission. She moved 3,000 miles from New Jersey to California to start developing the Hand & Stone brand in Orange County where people more than anywhere else value a healthy lifestyle and understand the benefits of self wellness – like those from relaxation massage and facials.

Services at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa are not just limited to massage treatments.  This world class Spa also features a broad menu of skin care services including facials, exfoliation treatments, microdermabrasion, among others.  Just recently, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa partnered with the world-renowned LA-based skin care treatment line Dermalogica, a 25-year old product line free of common irritants and ingredients that improves skin health, to use and sell its products at Hand & Stone.  

“I’m excited for Orange County residents to experience the luxury of Hand & Stone at one-third the cost of traditional spa services,” said Raineri. “I’m going to build as many locations as I can as quickly as I can to give the most people access to this truly unique concept.”

Raineri is also the Area Developer, and in this role, she will introduce Hand & Stone to potential franchisees, consulting with them on the benefits of opening their very own Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa and developing the brand even further.

As massage spas become more mainstream in the health care industry, Hand & Stone stays at the top of the game by adding locations and services to keep the brand fresh. That strategy has proven to be successful, as the addition of facials and waxing to the services roster has boosted the average comparable store sales by over 40 percent during this past year, in a very tough economic environment.

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ABOUT HAND & STONE
Hand & Stone is a 40-plus unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses, meeting demand of consumers who wish to receive the long term health benefits of these services. Launched in 2005 by a passionate physical therapist, John Marco and now led by franchise veteran Todd Leff, Hand & Stone now has locations in 12 states and Canada with plans to open an additional 40 locations by the end of 2011. For more information on Hand & Stone, visit www.handandstone.com.