In 2006, Michele Maruniak’s massage therapy business became the launching pad for Elements Massage (Elements). The Elements franchise system now has 223 open studios in 36 states across the country, and Elements was recently ranked No. 182 on the Entrepreneur magazine Franchise 500 List.
“I was inspired to connect great massage therapists with great clients and that led me to start my first massage studio,” Maruniak said. “Even though massage students are taught to create a business plan and start their own business upon graduating, the problem is that many great massage therapists quit before they start because they don’t have the resources to start and build a business. I saw my therapist friends struggling with marketing and closing their businesses before they got off the ground. Luckily for me, many of my friends came to my studio and we united together to build a great environment for both clients and therapists.”
Maruniak believes it wasn’t any sort of business model that made her original studio successful, but rather a focus on people. “I created a therapist- and client-focused business and that continues to be the focus of Elements to this day,” she said. “The Elements Way is about connecting clients with the right therapist and to not only give the client what they are looking for from their massage, but also to allow the therapist to provide a massage that fits their strengths as a therapist. That focus is what has propelled Elements to where the brand is today, even 10 years after franchising.”
Maruniak said that she is proud and excited about Elements franchise owners and their teams who create amazing work environments. “The massage therapists, managers, and receptionists who enjoy their work and their team make me proud to be a part of the Elements franchise system.”
For more information about Elements Massage, visit www.elementsmassage.com.