Longtime Massage Practitioner Becomes Emerging Franchise’s First Investor with Vermont Location
Kristy Rosberg (above) has written a new chapter in her life with the opening of her Brilliant Massage & Skin franchise, a pop-up location in Stowe, Vt. A licensed massage therapist since 1998 who has mastered many techniques, Rosberg is the first to invest in the massage franchise.
Rosberg’s expertise includes lomi lomi Hawaiian and Reiki massage, myofascial release and sports massage. Her clients have run the full spectrum of ages and physical conditions: expectant moms (she has been a prenatal massage teacher and practitioner since 2003), professional athletes, hospice patients, and everyday Jos and Joes. As a Zen meditation teacher, Rosberg customizes sessions to relax clients and maximize muscle relief.
With the growth of her massage franchise, Rosberg will lean more into her role as business operator over hands-on work with clients. “I’ve been a massage therapist for decades, and the timing was right for me to make the transition into business ownership,” she says.
Past Business Experience
Before deciding to invest, Rosberg worked as a massage therapist with the brand, which eased her comfort level. “I’ve known [founder] Jolita Sakmanaite for years,” says Rosberg, who recorded a video about her decision to become a Brilliant Massage franchisee.
Rosberg knows her way around the small-business arena, too, as owner of a mobile massage service and as a silent partner in a spa in Northern California. Operating the franchise is a much different experience, she says. “The technology and systems have changed so much, although I had already worked with the POS system we use. I’m not wonderful with technology; that can be a struggle for me. But everything is in place and has been laid out for me.”
Sakmanaite, who started Brilliant Massage & Skin in 2017, has provided excellent assistance from signing to start-up to today, Rosberg says. “I’ve had nothing but support and coaching from her. We communicate frequently on the Connecteam app and Zoom, and we’ve met many times in person for coaching and support.”
Dealing with Challenges
Rosberg praises Sakmanaite for having answers to all of her questions and challenges. “One early challenge was finding a suitable location for the massage franchise in our area. Jolita was the one who suggested a pop-up studio to begin with. This option has been more manageable for me and less intimidating than starting an eight-room spa,” she says.
“I also attended a National Franchisee Show in New Jersey this year with Jolita, which gave me a better perspective on the franchise system as a whole. That show was one of my first opportunities to talk to other potential franchisees, and it gave me more confidence to share my experiences and the realities of the business with others.”
Brilliant Massage & Skin Franchise Services
The Brilliant Massage & Skin franchise offers treatment packages and memberships to male and female clients. Its range of services includes:
- Classic Swedish, deep tissue, sports, and specialized oncology and medical massages, as well as couples massages.
- Hydrafacials and other facials as well as peels for all skin types, serving clients even with rosacea and eczema-prone skin.
- Lamprobe treatment of minor skin abnormalities like skin tags, keratosis, cholesterol deposits, cherry angiomas, larger broken capillaries and milia.
- Waxing.
- Teeth whitening.
- Brow shaping and tinting.
Franchisor Support
The franchisor is meticulous about support. Brilliant Massage & Skin franchisees receive help with site selection, lease negotiation and employee recruiting. In-person and virtual training lasts a minimum of 56 hours before launch and will continue as technologies change and best practices are refined. Ongoing support includes weekly team member training sessions and weekly franchisee Zoom calls. Brilliant Massage & Skin franchise headquarters also helps its owners develop locally targeted marketing campaigns on key social media platforms.
So who’s the ideal Brilliant Massage franchisee? Most will come from the massage therapy, spa and/or wellness fields, Sakmanaite says, although industry experience isn’t required. They should have strong sales capabilities and a passion for helping clients – just as Rosberg does. “I love the work I do as a massage therapist,” she says. “I take pride in helping and supporting the long-term clients I’ve had over the years.”
Market and More Information
The Brilliant Massage & Skin franchise benefits from steeply rising demand. Globally, spa services totaled about $96.5 billion last year, according to Grand View Research. The market research company projects that the spa industry will grow 7.5% annually from 2025 through 2030. Grand View attributes the boom to increased consumer awareness of the need for self-care to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Vermont-based Brilliant Massage & Skin has three locations in operation, and territories are available around the U.S.
To learn more about opportunities with this emerging brand, visit the Brilliant Massage & Skin franchise website.
