How One Mom Went From Hand & Stone Member to Six-Location Owner

Bryn Erace spent 15 years working in operations and healthcare before a single visit to Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa changed everything.

After the birth of one of her children, Bryn's husband, Joe, bought her a massage at Hand & Stone. She walked out and couldn't stop thinking about it — not just the treatment, but the whole experience. The way she felt. The fact that something this restorative was also accessible.

“I didn’t know that one massage was going to change our lives so drastically, but I was immediately hooked,” Bryn says.

Today, Bryn and Joe own six Hand & Stone locations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One of those spas reached 1,000 members in less than six months — the fastest ramp in the entire franchise system. She built that footprint while raising two kids and never once feeling like she had to choose between the business and the family.

It’s a story playing out across the Hand & Stone system, proving that the right franchise doesn’t just build a business. It builds a life.

Betting on Something She Already Believed In

When Bryn decided to leave the corporate world, she knew one thing for sure: she didn’t want to start from scratch.

“The risk of building something with no name recognition, no proven system, no infrastructure—that didn’t appeal to my husband or me,” Bryn says.

By the time the couple seriously explored franchising with Hand & Stone, Bryn had already spent years as a loyal member.

“That’s very different from looking at a sales deck,” Bryn adds. “I already knew the client experience because I had lived it.”

What Bryn found on the business side supported what she already knew.

Hand & Stone’s membership model delivers predictable, recurring revenue. The service mix of massage, facials, and skincare carries consistent demand, backed by brand power and an operational infrastructure that gives franchisees a fast start into franchising. Data dashboards give real-time visibility into sales, membership trends and revenue sources from day one.

“The reporting alone was a real game changer,” Bryn says. “Corporate hires the best people, and the support structure is genuinely there. You’re educated, backed by leaders that care, and you’re never guessing.”

She is also quick to note that franchisees don’t need a wellness or spa background to succeed. What matters most, Bryn emphasizes, is operational discipline, the ability to build and lead a team, and a commitment to the client experience.

“You bring the work ethic and commitment, and the system supports you,” Bryn says.

Building the Right Foundation

The Eraces had four locations before the pandemic and expanded further in the years that followed — a period that tested many operators but ultimately reinforced the strength of the Hand & Stone model. Growth, Bryn says, has never been about chasing numbers alone. It starts with what happens inside the spa.

“We’re obsessive about the member experience,” Bryn says. “From the moment someone walks in, everything is about how they feel.”

A relentless focus on people extends to the massage therapists and estheticians delivering the service. Bryn has built her locations around education, safety and a culture that prioritizes team support.

“When your team feels taken care of, that translates to the client. And that's where real growth comes from,” Bryn says.

Her standards have scaled with the business because she understood early that “you can't be in six places at once.” The people in each location have to carry the mission with them.

What Mothers Already Know

The Eraces’ dedication to their team and clients mirrors Hand & Stone’s broader positioning: wellness that feels both elevated and attainable, a message that resonates deeply with one of the brand’s most consistent and influential membership demographics — mothers.

Bryn understands that demographic intimately. As a mother of two, she knows the pace and pressure of managing work, family, and everything in between. She also knows how rare it can be to step away—even briefly.

“Mothers rebook. They refer their friends. They come back because that hour matters,” she says. “For me, Hand & Stone was never just a business decision. It was a personal one.”

That personal connection shapes how the Eraces have built their lives around the business—as a true team, with control over their time and future. Their son Joey plays baseball at Rutgers University, and being at his games has always been non-negotiable.

“Hand & Stone's model means I don't have to choose between being a mom and running a successful business,” Bryn says. “That's what franchising at its best looks like.”

For anyone evaluating franchise opportunities, Bryn says the Hand & Stone model offers something rare: a proven system, a recognized brand, and a membership base that's only growing as consumers continue to prioritize wellness.

“When you buy into Hand & Stone, you're buying into something people already believe in,” Bryn says. “You're getting a head start that most operators never have. Invest in it, protect it and you'll build something remarkable for you and your family.”

Ready to explore your opportunity to expand with one of the fastest-growing massage and facial spa franchises in North America? Get started today at handandstone.com/franchise.

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Hand & Stone
Delivering accessible and personalized skincare and massage services, Hand & Stone has over 650+ locations in the US with 1000+ available trade areas to grow in. After 20 years of consecutive growth, we have an average unit volume of $1.35 million! Learn More