Ever wonder how consumers feel about your franchise? Franchise Times editorial staffers check out three brands in a different genre each month, and report back in FT Undercover.
With advertised benefits ranging from muscle spasm relief to wrinkle reduction, red light therapy is spawning a new franchise segment within the wellness category and prompting established brands to enhance their offerings. At Massage Envy (A), some of its more than 1,000 locations added LightStim beds, a brand of FDA-cleared red light therapy machines. At this location near Minneapolis, the full-body table was recommended as a “soothing” treatment before a massage. Thank goodness a massage followed because lying on the hard acrylic surface with only a bath towel for warmth was hardly relaxing. Conditions improved once the table warmed, and a four-panel facial device akin to a medical-grade service enhanced the experience. One treatment isn’t enough to fairly assess the results on muscle pain—and how is someone supposed to tell if their blood is more oxygenated?—but I did notice a couple of blemishes improved right away. As a Massage Envy member, use of the bed ran $41 for 20 minutes; non-members pay $65.
The upshot: Targeted red light facial treatments seem the more effective option versus the full-body bed, but it’s worth considering depending on the results sought. —L.M.
As someone who’s always hot, the thought of walking into a 150-degree sauna at Perspire Sauna Studio (B) near Minneapolis induced nervousness. Would excessive sweating make me look like I just got out of the shower? Would I even make it the full 40 minutes? The front desk employee gave me a tour of the small studio, which had about six private sauna rooms. As a sauna newbie, I appreciated her step-by-step tutorial on how to personalize the sauna and where to put my towels before I left. I was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed the experience. There are TVs in every room, so I turned on “Selling Sunset” and adjusted the heat down to a mild 135 degrees. Full-spectrum infrared rays, including red light, generate the heat so the air isn’t oppressive and steamy. I left my session sweaty—but not disgusting—and I felt my ever-tight back muscles relax. The $40 price tag feels a little steep to me, but the franchise offers monthly memberships. An unlimited monthly membership is $179, while a four-pack is $79.
The upshot: Perspire is a great place to relax for some “me time,” but apparently the full effects of sauna take a few sessions to show up. —E.W.
The wind chill in Minneapolis was -35 degrees the day of a visit to a suburban Beem Light Sauna (C). Ideal conditions indeed. The owner provided a welcoming experience, answering questions and offering an in-depth tour of the studio before touting the purported benefits of the infrared sauna’s lights: detoxification, depression and stress reduction, pain relief, improving immunity and skin health being among the many claims. The studio features solo and social saunas for customers attending with a friend, along with red light therapy rooms and showers. A 40-minute session meant cycling through the infrared wavelengths at 145 degrees and breaking a sweat without breathing in heavy humidity. The studio offers iPads in every room for customers’ listening and viewing enjoyment. Each room also includes a robe, towels and a cooling mint-infused towel. After the sauna came a 20-minute red light therapy session as part of the studio’s promotion, offering unlimited light therapy sessions in the first week for $59.
The upshot: Beem, which is up to 38 locations, provided a welcoming, self-care-driven environment for the hour. Though the experience was relaxing, official toxin-free status isn’t likely after a single session. —A.H.