First U.S. Concept to Combine Retail Apothecary with Medical Skin Care Services Gains Backing of High-Level Franchising Investors

By: Ageless Remedies | 1,014 Shares 845 Reads

Ageless Remedies Brings Med-Spas to Mainstream America, Removes Celebrity Stigma

Atlanta, GA – The first U.S. medical spa franchise to combine skin care procedures with retail product apothecaries has caught the eye of a professional franchise management/investment team, who are helping the founders put their unique concept on the map with a franchise expansion model – taking it to mainstream America and finally removing the "luxury, celebrity status" that med-spas have traditionally held in the marketplace.

With Americans spending more than $11 billion on cosmetic procedures a year and the cosmeceuticals product market exceeding $7 billion, Ageless Remedies medical skin care and apothecary is emerging a rising star in the med-spa category – the fastest growing segment of the spa industry. The growing popularity of medical spas is part of a larger consumer movement towards more aggressive skin care treatments and anti-aging services. According to the International Medical Spa Association, over the past five years, the medical spa industry has increased 133 percent and the number of med-spas went from approximately 45 facilities in 2002 to more than 2,000 facilities in 2007.

Dispelling the stereotype that treatments such as Botox and Restalyne are reserved for models and movie stars, Ageless Remedies operates nine locations in Atlanta and Athens, Ga., Charlotte and Lake Norman, N.C., Richmond, Va., Denver, CO and Jackson, Miss. with two new franchise units set to open in metro-Atlanta in June 2007. The franchise plans to have 15 locations in operation by 2007 and a total of 50 locations by 2011.

"With more than 78 million U.S. baby boomers and others seeking out the latest technologies and procedures to combat anti-aging, sun damage and other skin issues, who do they want recommending what products they should use on their skin: a licensed professional that knows their skin and has earned their trust, or a person standing behind the counter at a local department store?" said Jennifer Curtin, founder and co-president of Ageless Remedies, a business management/marketing professional with more than 20 years experience in cosmetics and anti-aging. "We offer something other medical spas do not - access to prescriptive skin care products under proper medical supervision."

Curtin, along with founder and co-president Maureen Herrmann, a 20-year cosmetic industry veteran who previously held positions with prestigious cosmetic leaders such as Chanel, YSL and Christian Dior, established the Ageless Remedies concept under another name eight years ago. Their unique combination of offerings -- retail products and personalized skin care programs in a medically supervised, comfortable environment where just about anyone feels welcome -- created a sensation regionally and eventually caught the eye of franchising developer Mike Lassiter. Recently, Lassiter's franchise management company, Franchising Concepts, recognized the market potential of Ageless Remedies, and invested in the company as an equity partner to help take the concept to the next level in franchising.

In addition, in a move that lends further credibility to Ageless Remedies' market potential, David Smith, with 15 years of broad-based experience in franchise, retail, service and consulting environment, recently left his executive position with HoneyBaked Ham to become a partner with Ageless Remedies and serve as its Chief Operating Officer.

"The founders have laid a solid foundation for us to build upon with a gem of a concept in a booming market segment," Smith said. "The desire for healthier, better looking skin is shared by everyone, not just those in the upper income brackets. Ageless Remedies has found its niche by focusing on skin care and providing personalized skin care regimens for all age groups and all skin types. From the woman in her 40s that wants to reverse sun damage, to the man in his 20s who wants permanent hair removal, to the teenager who needs acne treatments, we achieve results for all of them. I believe in this concept and am passionate and confident about its growth potential."

Each Ageless Remedies location offers affordable, non-surgical procedures such as Botox, Restalyne, Laser Hair Removal, Microdermbrasion and chemical peels, personalized skin-care programs and an on-site retail apothecary with more than 30 skin care product lines that include prescriptive products.

The Ageless Remedies environment features an old-world nostalgic feel with rich, dark-wooded floors and furniture and an open layout that makes clients feel comfortable as they walk through the doors. "Why would anybody want to have a procedure done in an intimidating and sterile environment, when they could come to a place like Ageless Remedies, where they experience procedures by highly-trained medical professionals in a friendly, elegant and relaxing atmosphere?" Herrmann noted.

Estimated start-up costs for the full medical model of an Ageless Remedies ranges from $314,300 - $392,850. Some of the skincare services are optional at Ageless Remedies, which allows them to customize the offerings in each market to best fit the skills and background of each franchisee and the market where the store is located. This flexibility can also lower the cost of entry significantly. Each location has a medical director who is a licensed physician that supervises all care and procedures, leaving owners free to focus on other areas of the business. While 50 percent of Ageless Remedies franchise owners are physicians, the remainder is former corporate executives and other professionals seeking an opportunity to own their own business in a booming segment. Ageless Remedies also offers franchisees extensive initial and ongoing training in all aspects of the business.

About Ageless Remedies
Ageless Remedies, based in Atlanta, is a medical skin care and apothecary franchise that performs non-invasive medical procedures delivered in a professional, inviting and clinical environment. The products and services offered at Ageless Remedies focus on medical skin care treatments that provide results. The Ageless Remedies franchise opportunity offers maximum profit potential by offering a sales model that combines both skin care procedures and retail products through the retail apothecary. The company has the backing of Franchising Concepts, Inc., which partners with proven businesses to develop and implement a customized franchising program to meet their business growth objectives. Taking a strategic approach to growth, Ageless Remedies plans to have 15 locations in operation by 2007 and 50 locations by 2011. For more information, visit www.agelessremedies.com