New venture for Algonquin spa owner

After 21 years spent working in human resources consulting, Heather Kinsley was laid off in the fall of 2009.

Less than two years later, the Algonquin woman has reinvented herself by opening a spa, venturing into a new business and different lifestyle.

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa opened July 25 in the Woods Creek Commons shopping center on Randall Road. Kinsley, as owner and manager, oversees the day-to-day operations of its 14 full- and part-time employees, including aestheticians and massage therapists.

Algonquin is the first Illinois location of the franchise, whose headquarters are in New Jersey. There are currently 49 such spas throughout the United States, plus three in Canada, Kinsley said.

“This is first my business venture as an entrepreneur,” she said. “I was laid off, and at that point had to decide what I wanted to do next. I could have gone back to human resources, but I decided I wanted a different lifestyle. I wanted more control over my own time, less traveling, and a better work-life balance.”

Her only knowledge of the world of spas had been as a consumer, but her research showed that franchises comprise the vast majority of businesses that stay open after five years, Kinsley said.

She settled on Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa because of its focus on health and its well-rounded training program, which included lease negotiation, advertising, and more, she said. Opening the 3,000-square foot spa entailed a $39,000 franchise fee, plus an investment of $300,000 to $400,000, she said.

Taking the plunge was taking a risk on herself, she said. “When it came to opening day, it really was a question of, ‘How do I get people to know that I am here?’ she said. “You have to find different avenues to bring people in.”