Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa has announced a new partnership with MPower and an exclusive sponsorship platform crafted to attract talent in the field. By forging an alliance with MPower, a first-of-its-kind hybrid massage education platform, developing an unprecedented public learning management system (LMS) and deepening the relationships with experienced massage therapy educators nationwide, the brand has demonstrated its dedication to making massage therapy an accessible and rewarding profession.
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Through its partnership with MPower, Hand & Stone has developed a sponsorship program crafted to attract talent in the field, offering participants a unique career proposition that directly places graduates in a spa upon completion of their studies. This partnership, led by MPower's leaders Pete Medd and Jeff McGrath, aims to provide a cost-effective and flexible approach to massage therapy education, empowering professionals to succeed and offering hybrid education options in states that allow it.
Completing training with MPower and joining Hand & Stone afterward allows students to eliminate upfront out-of-pocket tuition costs. MPower’s education platform is currently only available in nine states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Texas and Virginia) and they are working through other states’ regulations to eventually have a presence across the country.
MPower has garnered positive feedback from students and franchise owners alike, affirming Hand & Stone’s dedication to massage therapy education and reinforcing their commitment to the trade, as well as complementing existing partnerships with other massage schools and community colleges. Currently, there are 480 students actively enrolled and 70 who have already graduated from the MPower program through Hand & Stone.
Saj Rizvi, a new franchise owner who plans to open six spas over the next several years, said, “The Hand & Stone and MPower partnership is about more than just education; it's about creating a sustainable future for our industry. While we are experienced early education franchise owners, we are new franchisees of Hand & Stone and see this as an instrumental program that will attract, train, and retain great talent. Great talent is key and while our spas are not yet open, this program is already setting us up for success and we are grateful to Hand & Stone for the support they continuously provide to us.”
The education platform is not only available to Hand & Stone massage therapists but also to anyone who is already licensed. Through this public LMS, Hand & Stone is offering massage therapists an accessible and flexible resource to further their education, while also reducing the financial burden associated with recertification. Initial courses offered include The Places Massage Can Take You: Work Environments, Myths and Mysteries of Massage Therapy: Pregnancy Massage, Adapting Techniques: Time Blindness, A Treatment Plan and more.
“Innovation is at the core of Hand & Stone’s brand, it’s in our DNA. And it doesn’t stop at the cutting-edge technology we use for our spa services – that’s only just the beginning. Through both working with MPower and utilizing a public LMS, we are making innovative changes to how massage therapy education is accessed,” said Lisa Rossmann, chief brand officer, Hand & Stone. “At Hand & Stone, our massage therapists and estheticians are the backbone of our business. When we looked at the massage industry, we knew there was an opportunity to make major changes and remove a huge entry barrier for pursuing, and even maintaining, massage therapy education. These programs and platforms are changing our industry for the better, and Hand & Stone is pleased to continue fostering growth for aspiring and current massage therapists.”
“Our commitment to fostering positive change in the massage industry is limitless,” said Maureen Brent, director of recruitment operations, Hand & Stone. “The demand for massages is outpacing the available workforce. With so many prosperous career opportunities in the industry, Hand & Stone wants to make the career as accessible as possible to hardworking, determined individuals who want to make a positive impact on people’s daily lives.”
