Elements Therapeutic Massage Reports Double-Digit Growth at Franchise Studios

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO, April 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) Elements Therapeutic Massage, a fast growing franchise in the $20 billion massage category, is capturing an increasingly large market share by "going in deep."

By focusing on providing deep tissue and therapeutic massage services, versus the cookie-cutter relaxation massage and discount spa services (facials, etc.) that other massage concepts provide, Elements Therapeutic Massage has grown to 80 locations since 2007 and is on pace to triple in size over the next three years.

Despite the overall decrease in consumer spending over the past three years, Elements Therapeutic Massage studios have consistently experienced double-digit same studio growth during the same period. For example, Elements saw a 38 percent increase in 2010 at its 14 studios in Boston.*

Between July 2009 and July 2010, roughly 48 million adult Americans (18 percent) had a massage at least once, leaving a vast, untapped market to attract millions of adults to receive regular massage - American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 2011. Also according to the American Massage Therapy Association, the lion's share of Americans are getting massages for medical or health reasons and pain relief, versus just to relax.

Recognizing the huge growth potential for Elements in the health and wellness industry, Jeff Jervik, a former Papa John's, Pizza Hut and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts executive, joined the company in 2008. Jervik currently serves as President and CEO of Fitness Together Franchise Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Elements. In addition to his attraction to a field that focused on services that improve people's lives, Jervik was eager to apply his franchising knowledge to the emerging Elements brand.
"We're at the epicenter of an industry that continues to defy the economy," Jervik said, noting that Elements has set a goal to open 500 locations by 2015. "By building a solid infrastructure of home office support and providing a sustainable business model, we are setting our franchisees up for success as we grow the system ... the right way."
For example, Elements strategically over-engineered its systems in financial planning, customer satisfaction, marketing, real estate selection, etc. to sustain high-level corporate support for each franchisee. In addition, by implementing a membership-based business model, franchisees develop a recurring revenue stream at their studios.
In addition to a membership model, Elements' has created a niche with its continued focus on therapeutic massage. While 70-80 percent of massages performed by therapists today are Swedish massages meant for gentle stress relief and relaxation, 70-80 percent of massages performed at Elements are deep tissue massages, including trigger point work to meet clients' unique therapeutic needs.
For potential franchisees, Elements boasts a lower investment and cost structure with a smaller footprint, less build-out and lower rent than competitors in the massage retail space; making the franchise more operationally efficient, and is the only massage franchise to share certain gross profit information in its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

*Based on studios open for at least 1 year as of January 1, 2009.

About Elements Therapeutic Massage, Inc.
Elements Therapeutic Massage is headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and owned by Fitness Together Holdings, Inc. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, a one-on-one personal training fitness franchise that began franchising in 1996, and Elements Therapeutic Massage, a massage therapy franchise that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network has sold hundreds of franchises across the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica, Israel, Ireland, and Canada. Elements Therapeutic Massage is actively selling franchises, for more information about massage franchise opportunities visit http://elementsfranchise.com.