An Inside Look at 4 Growing Wellness Franchises
Published by Franchise Times
In a wide-ranging segment that includes everything from fitness and massage to acupuncture and IV drip concepts, wellness franchises are seeing a boom in interest. With physical and mental health in the spotlight, many brands are in expansion mode and here we’re highlighting four with growth on their minds.
For Stretch Zone’s Lindsey McFadden, VP of marketing, the wellness explosion has been a huge boom for the industry as a whole. “To see that explosive growth during COVID was really exceptional,” she said. Keep reading for more on Stretch Zone, plus Perspire Sauna Studio, Serasana Wellness Studio and Rise Modern Wellness.
Stretch Zone
The concept: A pioneer in the body-stretching sector, Stretch Zone began in 2004 with its patented stretching tables. A “proprietary practitioner assisted stretching concept,” it shouldn’t be confused with a fitness studio. The stabilizing tables allow for a deep stretch of muscles, according to McFadden, and is part of a client’s wellness routine. The practitioners are nationally certified and go through a “rigorous training program” in order to assist clients in the best way possible. The unofficial tagline is “We do all the work, you get all the benefits,” said McFadden.
The stats: Stretch Zone opened its 100th location in 2020, eclipsed 200 in 2022 and is marching toward the 300-unit mark. Studios are 1,000 to 1,500 square feet in size and typically located in retail shopping centers. The initial investment range is $107,000 to $209,000
The competition: While it was among the first stretching concepts to hit the scene, this is no longer the case. McFadden said competition has been on the rise as awareness grows, with the biggest name being Stretch Lab, one of 10 brands under Xponential Fitness. A possible edge for Stretch Zone? It counts former NFL star Drew Brees as a franchisee and brand ambassador.
The challenge: While it was among the first, more competition now means that Stretch Zone endeavors to make itself stand out. It’s a matter of getting the word out and highlighting what the brands sees as its differentiators, namely that stretching system from founder Jorden Gold.
