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BUSINESS THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 • PAGE 13
Husband and wife duo say their newly
opened spa has special meaning for them
Cassandra and Vaughn Irons, third and fourth from left, are flanked by staff members at their newly opened spa
in Stonecrest. Photo provided
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Husband-and-wife
business team Vaughn
and Cassandra Irons said
their recently launched
enterprise in Stonecrest
is more than another
business venture. "We live
in Stonecrest, and we're
delighted at how well its
business community is
developing, and we are
proud to be part of it,"
Vaughn said.
The couple recently
held the grand opening
of Hand & Stone Massage
and Facial Spa in the
Privi area of the Mall at
Stonecrest on Mall Parkway.
Vaughn described Privi as
a "mall within a mall." It's
a development focused
on lifestyle, he explained,
with entertainment, food
and beverages, health
services, art, education, and
gathering spaces.
"People who live in this
area have in the past had
to go miles to receive first-
class spa services. That's
why we decided to bring
Hand & Stone Massage and
Facial Spa, a luxury massage
and facial spa franchise, to
our own community," he
continued. "Our confidence
in the decision to invest in
this franchise was bolstered
by the spa's exceptional
health and wellness
offerings, its premium spa
services, and our belief in
the community's willingness
to embrace the business."
The couple noted that
Hand & Stone is among
the fastest-growing spa
franchises in the country,
and that it was named
No. 1 in the spa category
by Entrepreneur Magazine
in 2023, 2021, and 2020
and was ranked No. 8
on Forbes' Best Franchises
to Buy list in the high
investment category.
Vaughn said his and
his wife's new spa is also
a community asset in
that it provides quality
employment for people
living in the area. "We're
really proud of our staff.
Everyone we've hired is
working out well," he said,
noting that some staff
members previously worked
at other franchise locations.
He added that he and his
wife were impressed by
"the brand's commitment
to best-in-class training
and ongoing education
resources," assuring
"exceptional skincare and
massage treatments in
a tranquil, relaxing, and
comfortable environment."
Cassandra said that in
addition to the quality of
spa services they liked that
there were products and
services that are suitable
for all skin and body types.
"We serve people of all
ethnic backgrounds and we
wanted to have a franchise
that could serve them
equally well," she said.
The spa offers
professional massage
services, including Swedish,
Himalayan salt, sports,
deep tissue, oncology, and
prenatal massages as well
as its signature hot stone
massage and facial and
hair removal treatments
"tailored to each individual's
needs or skin concerns, with
a wide range of services
available for women, men
and teens," the business's
promotional materials note.
Although he is a
seasoned entrepreneur,
Vaughn said he took a
special interest in wellness
after personally facing
serious health challenges.
Diagnosed with stage-
five kidney disease, he
underwent a kidney
transplant made possible
by his wife's willingness
to donate her kidney to
a stranger, setting off a
chain of organ donations
that solved the problem of
finding a compatible donor,
ultimately saving Vaughn's
life. The experience, they
said, opened a passion for
health and wellness.
In an atmosphere
designed for relaxation from
the decor to the music to
the water flowing across
the lobby logo, the facility
features private treatment
rooms, including one set up
for couple massages. "This
is something we especially
wanted to do," Cassandra
said. "Couples can come
for a side-by-side massage
on Valentine's Day, their
anniversary, or anytime they
feel like having a special
time together."
The facility offers
memberships, she said,
but also welcomes singular
appointments. "There
are several nearby hotels
and those in town for a
few days may decide they
would like to relax with a
massage or facial; they are
welcome as well. It's a great
gift for such occasions as
birthdays or Mother's Day.
We have had groups such as
sororities express interest
in scheduling a spa day for
members."
Although Hand & Stone
has only been open a few
weeks, it has been "booked
and busy," according to
Cassandra. "We are here
to provide a haven for
relaxation, rejuvenation,
and self-care, and we're
excited to be a part of this
vibrant community's journey
toward a healthier and more
balanced lifestyle."
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