Chief Development Officer Matt Stanton Praises the Elements Massage Brand’s Streamlined Business Model and Focus on Health and Wellness

Matt Stanton brought a wide range of work experience to the table when he joined WellBiz Brands Inc. in December 2017 as Chief Development Officer. While he had previously worked in development for two food franchises, Smashburger and Taco Bueno restaurants, Stanton’s knowledge and business savvy also transcended industries.

• I’ve been in the franchise industry for approximately 10 years, but in my career, I have always done deal work in everything from fundraising for a biotech startup to bringing in contracts for national labs for the government to merger and acquisition work for a Fortune 500 chemicals company.
• The industries I’ve worked in have been very different, but they taught me how to get deals done and find solutions that bring different parties together to make business happen.

Stanton’s first foray into franchising was with the fast-casual concept Smashburger, which he joined in 2011 in a growth strategy role. His accomplishments included doubling franchise sales production in 2014 and again in 2015. He eventually ran the franchise development team and helped the brand grow from 75 units to more than 350 units. He left Smashburger in 2016 and joined Taco Bueno.

Wellbiz brands overview

Today, Stanton is thrilled to be part of WellBiz Brands, which manages three franchise concepts in the health and wellness space: Amazing Lash Studio, Fitness Together, and Elements Massage.

• At WellBiz Brands, I run the team that handles franchise development and provides assistance to franchisees in getting their studios open.
• I also oversee the development of all three of our brands. Our growth strategy right now is to build great relationships with the right franchise owners.

Elements massage growth

The Elements Massage brand, in particular, is at a strategic time of growth, as it met the 250-unit mark, with a strong focus on expanding its footprint in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee, and Texas.

The therapeutic massage franchise is well-positioned to grow thanks, in part, to the support of WellBiz Brands and a focus on therapeutic massage as a critical aspect of health and wellness. What used to be considered a once-in-a-while treat is now seen as a valuable component of self-care, and this is a huge differentiator for the Elements Massage brand.

• Five or 10 years ago, massage therapy services were more about pampering yourself or providing a method of relaxation.
• Today, more and more people are also seeing massage therapy as a great way to help manage pain and deal with other issues with their bodies.
• We see more and more doctors recommending massage therapy to patients as a fundamental part of their overall health and wellness regimen.

Business model benefits

The Elements Massage brand is a single-focused model focusing on massage therapy and the therapeutic benefits it provides. This simple business model allows franchise owners to focus on providing a stellar customer experience.

• With a very focused offering like ours, franchisees can be much more efficient and offer an improved customer experience by shining in one particular area.
• The Elements Massage brand was founded that way, and we’ve stayed true to that vision.

This focus has paid off. Last year, the Elements Massage brand ranked No. 1 in Newsweek’s “America’s Best Customer Service” list in the “Spa, Wellness and Beauty” category.

• That’s a testament to the quality of franchisees we have, along with our simple and proven business model.
• Adding too much complexity makes it harder to offer excellent hospitality to customers. We’ve created great differentiation in the market, but also the ability to provide a better service than our competitors.

With an exclusive focus on therapeutic massage and the support of WellBiz Brands and leaders like Stanton, franchise owners are supported as they bring a top-notch service centered on health and wellness to their communities.

With a single-unit investment range between $251,950 and $491,350, the Elements Massage franchise was recently named one of the Top 10 Best Franchises to Buy in the medium investment category by Forbes.