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Massage Envy
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
Headquarters,
United States
Number of locations
~1,100 (2022)
Area served
United States
Key people
  • Beth Stiller (CEO)
Websitemassageenvy.com

Massage Envy Franchising LLC is an American massage and skin care national franchisor, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Massage Envy franchise network is the largest provider of therapeutic massages and skin care in the United States, and has more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchise locations, as of 2022. Massage Envy was established in 2002 and began franchising in 2003.

Corporate overview[edit]

Massage Envy is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its network of franchised locations is the largest provider of therapeutic massages and skin care in the United States.[1][2] The Massage Envy franchise network uses a membership-based business model,[3] Massage Envy's franchisees are collectively the largest American employer of massage therapists and estheticians. In addition to massage therapy, facials, skin peels, and microderm infusion,[4] Massage Envy franchises offer stretch therapy and skin care products.[5]

Beth Stiller is the current chief executive officer of Massage Envy Franchising. Joseph "Joe" Magnacca previously served as chief executive officer from early 2016 until late 2019.[1][6][7] Beth Stiller previously held the chief commercial officer position, from April 2016 until Joe Magnacca's departure in 2019.[8] Kathy Collins became chief marketing officer in July 2018.[9]

History[edit]

Massage Envy was founded in 2002 and started franchising in 2003.[3][10] By late 2008, Massage Envy franchisees collectively employed more than 8,000 professionals at 420 independently owned and operated locations in 36 U.S. states.[11] The Massage Envy franchise network expanded its membership-based business model in 2009 by adding facials and other spa services.[3] There were approximately 650 franchised locations by late 2010.[12] Forbes ranked Massage Envy number 20 on their 2012 list of "Top 20 Franchises for the Buck".[2] According to the magazine, franchises required an initial investment averaging $455,505 and made over $1 million in annual sales in 2010.[12] Massage Envy partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for a campaign called "Massage for the Cure", which raised over $1.4 million by August 2010.[13]

There were more than 1,100 locations in 49 U.S. states, as of March 2022.[10] The Massage Envy franchise network expanded its skin care products and service offerings in 2017 to include Image Skincare and PCA Skin as well as non-surgical procedures such as chemical peels and microderm abrasion.[1][4] The company also announced plans for its franchisees to remodel more than 700 locations, and to launch new body stretch, facial, and massage services over the next few years.[14] In late 2017, Entrepreneur reported there were 1,189 franchises, with startup costs ranging from $434,800 to approximately $1 million.[3][5]

Sexual Assault Complaints

In November 2017, BuzzFeed reported that over 180 women had "filed sexual assault lawsuits, police reports, and state board complaints against Massage Envy spas, their employees, and the national company" over allegations of sexual misconduct.[15] The women also accused Massage Envy of ignoring or mishandling most of the cases they reported to the company. According to BuzzFeed's article, Massage Envy requires internal investigations of reported abuse, but does not provide significant instruction on how they should be conducted, and it does not require that law enforcement be notified except in states with laws requiring such notification. The article also stated that employees of Massage Envy franchises were not equipped to conduct internal investigations into abuse allegations.[16] In response, the company issued a statement describing the incidents as "heartbreaking". The company's statement also noted that the Massage Envy franchise network had performed over 125 million massages during their more than 15 years of operation, but added that "even one incident is too many".[17][18] The company founded a safety advisory council with industry executives and a representative from the anti-sexual assault advocacy organization Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Massage Envy also added a "Commitment to Safety" to their website to make clients aware of implemented changes.[9]

Skin Care Products

The company announced a private label skin care brand CyMe (pronounced "see me") in 2018.[1][19] According to Women's Wear Daily, skin care accounted for approximately seven percent of the company's business, as of April 2018.[1] The Massage Envy franchise network also launched assisted stretch services in 2018, featuring proprietary methods administered by a massage therapist.[20] Entrepreneur ranked Massage Envy number 358 on its 2019 "Franchise 500" list.[3][21]

Research

The Massage Envy network has funded massage therapy research conducted by the Massage Therapy Foundation, as well as the Touch Research Institute, part of the University of Miami's Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.[11][22] In December 2018, Massage Envy announced a partnership with the Cortiva Institute, the largest group of massage therapy and skincare schools in the U.S., to provide development and employment opportunities through Massage Envy franchise locations for Cortiva graduates at Massage Envy clinics.[23]

Marketing[edit]

In 2015, Adweek reported that the company hired a new lead agency and spent approximately $15 million annually on advertising and marketing, with franchisees spending an additional $40 million annually in local markets.[2] The company rebranded in 2016, targeting baby boomers and millennials; the "Because Everything" campaign promoted massage as holism rather than a luxury, and featured men, who made up 25 percent of Massage Envy's clientele.[10]

The Massage Envy network spent $17.9 million on measured media in the U.S. in 2017.[9] Fallon Worldwide became the company's agency-of-record in 2018. Massage Envy launched a brand awareness campaign "Keep your body working" in early 2019.[9][24] The campaign, expected to cost $20–25 million, includes radio and television ads, as well as digital video and social media placements.[9][24] It continues to focus on holism and replaces the previous tagline, "Making the most of every body".[9]

Sponsorships[edit]

In 2017 and 2018, Massage Envy sponsored the PGA Tour and served as the "official total body care sponsor" of Player Performance Centers, mobile trailers staffed with chiropractors, personal trainers, and physical therapy professionals to administer massage and stretch therapy to players.[25][26][27] As part of the sponsorship, Massage Envy partnered with ten professional golfers to serve as spokespeople for "The Streto Method", a proprietary method created by experts in chiropractic treatments, ergonomics, and massage therapy to deliver the company's "Total Body Stretch" service offering. Spokespeople who appeared in television advertisements, wore branded clothing, or used logo-emblazoned equipment included Jamie Lovemark, Patrick Rodgers,[28] and Justin Thomas. The method started being offered at franchised locations in mid 2017.[25] In 2018, the sponsorship expanded to include the PGA Tour Champions and The Players Championship, and Hailey Ostrom served as a spokesperson.[26][29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Brookman, Faye (April 26, 2018). "Joe Magnacca Brings Private-Label Expertise to Massage Envy". Women's Wear Daily. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0043-7581. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c McMains, Andrew (February 9, 2015). "Massage Envy Trades Hometown Agency for San Francisco Shop". Adweek. ISSN 0199-2864. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Massage Envy". Entrepreneur. ISSN 0163-3341. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Brookman, Faye (May 11, 2017). "Massage Envy Digs Deeper Into Skin Care". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Herold, Tracy Stapp (December 12, 2017). "Our Top 10 Franchise Categories for 2018". Entrepreneur. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Johnsen, Michael (January 19, 2016). "Former RadioShack CEO, Walgreens exec to lead Massage Envy". Chain Store Age. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Totten, Steven (January 20, 2016). "Former RadioShack CEO tapped to lead this Scottsdale company". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Johnsen, Michael. "Massage Envy adds second Walgreens executive to its team". Drug Store News. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Pasquarelli, Adrianne (January 11, 2019). "With New CMO and AOR, Massage Envy Rolls Out Brand Campaign". Advertising Age. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Madov, Natasha (April 12, 2016). "Massage Envy Changes its Message to Appeal to Millennials and Boomers". Advertising Age. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Massage Envy Boosts Research". Massage Magazine. June 18, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Top 20 Franchises for the Buck: 20. Massage Envy". Forbes. ISSN 0015-6914. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "Massage for the Cure". Franchise Times. August 1, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  14. ^ Van Abbema, Alex (May 17, 2017). "Massage Envy Rolling Out New Services and Remodel". Franchise Times. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  15. ^ Baker, Katie J. M. (2017-11-26). "More than 180 Women Report Sexual Assaults at Massage Envy". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  16. ^ "Massage Envy therapists accused of sexual assault by more gthan 180 women". CBS News. 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  17. ^ Lardieri, Alexa (2017-11-27). "Dozens Accuse Massage Envy Therapists of Assault". U.S. News & World Report.
  18. ^ Bacon e, John (2017-11-27). "Massage Envy therapists accused of 180 sexual assaults". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  19. ^ Brookman, Faye (July 5, 2018). "Massage Envy Fuses Massages and Body Care With New Launch". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  20. ^ Shortsleeve, Cassie (June 4, 2018). "Should You Try an Assisted Stretch Class?". Shape. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  21. ^ "Our 40th Annual 2019 Franchise 500 Ranking". Entrepreneur. 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  22. ^ DeBusk, Christina (August 15, 2018). "Touch Research Institute Offers MTS Volunteer Opportunities". Massage Magazine. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  23. ^ Reed, Samantha (January 9, 2019). "Two Massage Industry Giants Partner to Benefit Students". America Spa. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Michaels, Laura (January 17, 2019). "New Massage Envy Campaign Touts Benefits of Wellness Regimen". Franchise Times. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  25. ^ a b Menehan, Karen (August 2, 2017). "Massage Envy Partners with PGA for New Stretch Protocol". Massage Magazine. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "The Massage Envy Player Performance Center may have been one of the keys to Tiger Woods' epic performance at the 2018 Players Championship". AOL. May 15, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  27. ^ Jussim, Matthew. "How the PGA Tour's Massage Envy Player Performance Center Helps Golfers Swing Longer and Stronger". Men's Journal. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  28. ^ Johnston, Tom (July 13, 2018). "Players utilize relatively new Streto Method program". Quad-City Times. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  29. ^ Gazdik, Tanya (April 26, 2018). "Massage Envy Enlists Pro Golfer As Brand Ambassador". Marketing Daily. MediaPost Communications. Retrieved September 26, 2018.

External links[edit]