Elements Massage® Franchisees Hugh and Shauna Washburn Expand Their Reach with a Second Studio in Draper, Utah

The idea of getting a massage might seem indulgent, but Elements Massage® studio owners and husband-and-wife team, Hugh and Shauna Washburn, are quick to say otherwise.

The pair is passionate about the wide-ranging public health benefits of therapeutic massage, and why they’ve become multi-unit owners with one of the premier therapeutic massage brands. Today, the Washburns are preparing to open their second franchise with the Elements Massage brand, which will be located in Draper, Utah. The Draper location is expected to open in December 2019. The duo’s first location, which they opened in October of 2013, is located in the nearby city of South Jordan.

With approximately 250 studios nationwide, the Elements Massage brand provides a single service business model that focuses on therapeutic massage and offers franchisees top-notch support. The brand continues to expand, and is currently looking to open additional studios in markets such as Dallas-Fort Worth.

Hugh and Shauna Washburn, who met as students at Brigham Young University, were at a crossroads when they decided to franchise with the Elements Massage brand. They decided to move back to their native Utah to live close to Shauna’s mom after living in Chicago for 26 years.

Personal experience sparks interest

Around that time, Shauna developed health issues related to food intolerance. Her physical therapist recommended massage therapy services, which helped Shauna tremendously. Shauna was so thrilled by the results, that she dragged her very reluctant husband to his very first massage session to help with the arthritis in his lower back.

The result--“I was converted,” Hugh Washburn said.

While Shauna already owned her own window treatment business, she was interested in going into business with her husband and expanding her portfolio. The Washburns looked into franchise opportunities and landed on the Elements Massage brand for its single service business model and unique focus on therapeutic massage therapy services.

“We chose the Elements Massage brand because of our passion for what therapeutic massage service did to help our health,” Washburn said. “We really do believe that massage therapy is good for people, and we’re passionate about spreading the word. Our Elements Massage business is a customer service business, meaning we do everything we can to provide a top-notch experience and beneficial results to clients.”

Overcoming initial challenges

The Washburns were confident that the focus on health and wellness at the heart of the Elements Massage brand would resonate in health-conscious Utah, but their South Jordan location struggled in its first year. The location was getting positive online reviews, but membership was not growing. Then they identified the reason: the concept of getting regular massages seemed a tad overindulgent in the region.

“In Utah, people fix their own cars and tend their own gardens,” Washburn said. “There is a guilt associated with pampering yourself. It’s fine to do that if you’re on vacation, but people here feel guilty, if they do it regularly.”

The Washburns realized that educating consumers about the Elements Massage® brand would clarify to the surrounding community that massage sessions aren’t a luxury, but a pathway to real and sustained wellness. They took action.

“We implemented new practices in operations and worked with our massage therapists and front desk staff to better educate customers about the health benefits of massage as a vehicle for self-care,” Washburn said. “Massage therapy really is just as important as going to the gym.”

The messaging worked, and today the Washburn’s South Jordan Elements Massage location is a shining example of what the brand represents.

Expansion and growth

As for the Washburns, the duo was always open to the idea of becoming multi-unit owners with the Elements Massage brand. When they first signed-on, they were struck by the ample opportunity to expand the footprint of their South Jordan location thanks to other businesses vacating the shopping center where their original studio is located. Their South Jordan space initially opened with five rooms and has since expanded to 15 rooms and about 4,000 square feet.

“We opened our original location with five rooms and then converted the office into a sixth room,” Hugh Washburn said. “In 2015, our neighbor moved out and so we added four more rooms, and about one-and-a-half years ago, another co-tenant did not renew their lease, so we added five more. Our growth indicated that we’d be able to support an expanded space.”

The Washburns are thrilled with their decision to franchise with Elements Therapeutic Massage, LLC, and open a second location.

“We’re very hands-on owners,” Washburn said. “We also have an excellent management team in place. We work very hard to make sure our Elements Massage studio is great in every way. When people come in, we want their experience to be different than any other place they’ve gone. It’s very rewarding.”

“The Elements Massage brand is all about health and wellness, and specifically providing massage therapy in contrast to typical spa services,” said Dan Demolli, Vice President of Franchise Development for Elements Therapeutic Massage, LLC. “Hugh and Shauna have firsthand knowledge of the many health benefits massage therapy services can provide and have effectively communicated that to customers. The Elements Massage brand is confident they will continue to represent the brand well in Draper.”

***This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. MN File No. F-5517.