Recessions are stressful. So reasonably priced massages and facials -- ranging from $49.95 to $79.95 -- have been very popular at Maria Cermatori's Hand & Stone franchise. So popular, in fact, that Cermatori opened another location in nearby Brick, N.J., on Wednesday. She has hired 10 employees for her existing store in the past year, and recently brought on 17 more for the new location. She expects to bring on another 10 to 15 employees in the next month or so.
"The whole concept is affordability and availability," Cermatori said. She keeps the shop open for 14 hours Monday through Friday, with slightly shorter hours on the weekend. The last couple of years have been "amazing" for the day-cation spa she said. The Spring Lake spa location has more than 700 members that come in every month for a discounted rate.
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