How to: Build a successful wellness franchise
Massage. Pure & Simple.
The vision of The Massage Company is simple: to bring high-quality massage to the mainstream.
The Massage Company (TMC) launched the UK’s first membership-based massage business in March 2016 with a pilot centre in Camberley, Surrey.
Three successful franchise sites have followed in Tunbridge Wells, High Wycombe and Sutton Coldfield with more opening in 2020. The business now has thousands of members across the country, visiting one of the four centres as part of their monthly membership.
Standing out in the market
The health and wellness market has expanded considerably in the last 20 years, with the potential of further growth still to come. Consumers want expert specialists, which is why TMC prioritise exceptional delivery of expert Deep Tissue, Sports, Swedish and Maternity massages, every single time.
So confident are TMC in fact, that they even launched the world’s first ‘Great Massage Guarantee’.
The leisure sector, of which health and wellness is a significant part, is one of the natural sectors to occupy empty space on the high street, in shopping centres and in Out of Town developments. Town centres and retail parks have an opportunity to become an exciting destination for an abundance of specialist occupiers who can deliver a high standard of expertise and a unique customer experience.
Building a successful franchise
“Franchising is such an interesting industry and I wish I had found it earlier in my career,” explains Co-Founder and CEO Elliot Walker. “Health and wellness is growing rapidly and franchising is such an easy way to take advantage of an industry you might not know anything about.
“If you have the drive, specialist experience and the passion to get involved, whether it is massage, fitness or laser therapy, there is a franchise for you. There is the business school saying that 95% of new businesses fail in the first 5 years, yet ask the banks why they like funding franchise businesses because that stat is the opposite in the franchise world. 95% of franchise businesses are still going after 5 years!”
Looking back at where it all began
The Soapbox platform at Completely Retail Marketplace UK was where The Massage Company launched. Co-Founders Charlie Thompson and Elliot presented their unique concept back when there was virtually no space available in their desired areas and sourcing sites was difficult.
“Completely Retail Marketplace UK has been instrumental in the TMC search for property,” explains Elliot. “The quality and number of exhibitors and delegates present bi-annually have ensured it is one of the first events that go into the TMC calendar each year.”
So what are the core values of the brand? Elliot explains the issues they found when researching the massage industry and how TMC offers a solution:
- “Massage is hard to find at convenient times: the TMC answer is to be open 7 days a week, from first thing in the morning to late into the evening.”
- “Quality can't often be guaranteed: this is why TMC treat the whole team well and offer training for Massage Therapists with an internationally certified 3-year CPD course following an initial intensive TMC Training Course.”
- “Massage is expensive: TMC counter this by providing the opportunity for customers to visit more often. TMC is about returning monthly to maintain performance and prevent injury. This is opposed to massage being an expensive, one-off treat.”
Charlie Thompson and Elliot Walker along with their early-adopter franchisees are now delivering thousands of massages a month across all four TMC centres. More centres are in the pipeline for 2020 and beyond.
If you would like to have a massage in one of the centres, visit: www.massagecompany.co.uk
Or, if you would like to find out more about franchising The Massage Company business, visit: www.massagecompanyfranchise.co.uk
To register for the upcoming Completely Retail Marketplace UK on 28th April 2020 at Old Billingsgate Market, London, simply fill out the quick and easy registration form. Or go back to ‘Choose Your Event’ to see our international dates.
