LAS VEGAS, March 1, 2023 – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today named Toya Evans, local business owner of two Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spas just south of the D.C. metro area in Brandywine, Maryland and Woodbridge, Virginia, as a 2023 IFA Franchisee of the Year. Hand & Stone is the spa franchise concept, offering advanced skincare and spa services that incorporate new technologies at the forefront of the wellness market to enhance each guest’s overall experience. Evans was honored at the 63rd IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.
“Franchisee of the Year recipients represent the best in franchising,” said Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “This is the highest honor IFA awards to individual franchisees, and local business owners like Toya Evans exemplify the power of franchising and its positive contributions to communities around the world.”
The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchise owners from IFA member brands whose outstanding performance and contributions help protect, enhance, and promote the franchise business model. Nominated by their parent company, individuals are selected for their service to their communities, fostering a strong and vibrant workforce, opening the doors for career growth and entrepreneurship, and supporting their fellow franchisees.
Toya Evans is among Hand & Stone’s most impactful franchisees for her extraordinary performance growth and community-giving efforts under her healthy lifestyle brand, Healthy Living Ventures, LLC. Evans, alongside her daughters Lauren Williamson and Chanel Grant, operates six Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations and two Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa locations. The trio also just signed a 3-unit development deal in Knoxville, Tennessee, expanding their Hand & Stone footprint even further.
In addition to being an exemplary multi-unit operator, Evans is a pillar in her community. She is an active member of many organizations and groups like the National Franchise Council and the National Marketing Committee. She also often partners with local groups, including schools and radio stations, helping to coordinate various fundraisers to serve those in need. Evans is a force to be reckoned with and her passion for her healthy lifestyle brand concepts as well as franchising has led her to become a dynamic advocate for the industry.
There are approximately 800,000 franchised businesses across the U.S., providing over 8.4 million direct jobs and generating over $800 billion in economic output. According to Oxford Economics, franchising on average provides higher wages and better benefits than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater entrepreneurial opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, and other underrepresented communities.
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About the International Franchise Association:
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 790,492 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.4 million direct jobs, $825.4 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.
About Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa
Hand & Stone is a 550-plus unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to bring affordable, luxury spa services to all. Launched in 2004, Hand & Stone now has locations across 35 states and Canada. Each spa features best-in-class skincare treatments highlighting the latest in cosmetic technology. Available for women, men and teens, a wide range of services are tailored to each individual's needs or skin concerns. Hand & Stone facial treatments are performed by licensed estheticians, using top-of-the-line products backed by science including Dermalogica and ClarityRx Clinical Skin Care. The fastest-growing spa franchise in the country, Hand & Stone has been 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. For more information, visit www.handandstonefranchise.com.
