Sponsored content provided by Massage Envy.
Massage Envy, the nation’s No. 1 provider of massage in the U.S. collectively across its franchise network and a national leader in skin care, is celebrating those who desire a career in massage therapy.
The brand has launched the Massage Envy National Scholarship Sweepstakes for Massage Therapists, which will provide selected winners with a $2,500 check. The goal of the program is to encourage people to consider massage as a career and to use the check towards massage therapy school.
The first winners will be announced this month. The scholarship program will award eight scholarships each month from October 2022 through September 2023 for a total giveaway of $240,000.
Massage Envy announced the scholarship at the American Massage Therapy Association’s convention in late August—and then took the message to a national audience with a Sept. 2 appearance on Good Morning America (GMA).
Massage Envy sponsored the 2022 GMA Summer Concert Series and announced details of the scholarship at the final concert in the series, featuring the Black Eyed Peas performing in New York City’s Central Park.
“We made a very special and exciting announcement on Good Morning America,” said Massage Envy CEO Beth Stiller. “For something of this scale, I think a big national platform like GMA to speak about the massage profession and what we’re trying to give back to the profession was the perfect venue.”
Massage as a New Career
The potential scholarship is one important component of a national Massage Envy campaign intended to spotlight massage as a rewarding career and raise awareness of the massage path available at independently owned and operated Massage Envy franchised locations nationwide.
The effort includes multi-channel advertising campaign featuring Stephanie Hudson and Linn Sandall, both licensed massage therapists who work for independently owned and operated Massage Envy franchised locations, and whose stories highlight the personal satisfaction and professional support they have each found in their massage careers.
The two massage therapists are now appearing in Massage Envy’s digital and social media advertising, and in television and radio ads.
One purpose of featuring these two massage therapists is to connect with people who might not have considered massage therapy as a career, explained Stiller.
“It speaks to how two individuals found their way to massage therapy and what it means to them,” she said. “We spotlight Stephanie, who served in the military and has chosen massage therapy as her new way to serve, and Linn, who found massage therapy through receiving massage treatments to address her own health conditions.”
We hope presenting the two therapists’ stories, Stiller added, will inspire people to consider massage therapy as a career—and everyone who is inspired is encouraged to enter for a chance to win one of the eight monthly scholarships to ease the financial path through massage school.
Why does Massage Envy want to catch the attention of the public? Because at Massage Envy’s approximately 1,100 franchised locations across 49 states, massage therapy is in such great demand that careers are widely available for massage school graduates as well as experienced therapists, said Stiller, and that demand is only expected to grow.
Looking for Something New
A societal change seems to be fueling the appeal of massage services now and over the past two-plus years, said Stiller.
“As we [move] through the COVID-19 pandemic, I think more and more people are focusing on taking care of themselves, creating a holistic, proactive approach to taking care of themselves,” she explained. “So, demand for massage and bodywork as well as skincare has continued to grow.”
The flipside of this, said Massage Envy’s Executive Director of MassageTherapy and Industry Relations Shawn Haycock, is that many members of the public want to escape the day-to-day grind of the corporate setting. Those people, he added, potentially represent the next wave of new massage therapists.
“People are looking for something different,” he said. “They’re asking, ‘what can I do?’ And massage is a great answer for that, as a career that’s all about helping people feel their best.”
Many Americans are seeking a new career path—and flexibility is something many of today’s job seekers expect. A Massage Envy career is a great fit for many types of people seeking part-time work, from parents who need a flexible schedule to be able to look after their kids, to U.S. military veterans and their spouses, to people who want to work part-time in retirement.
“People want a job that fits their life versus a life that fits their job,” said Stiller. “And for people who are looking to feed their professional side and their caregiving side, while also supporting their family and their interests, massage therapy could be an incredible fit.”
Giving Back to Schools
By generating increased interest in massage therapy as a career, The Massage Envy National Scholarship Sweepstakes for Massage Therapists also supports the nation’s massage therapy schools, said Haycock.
“This is a great opportunity for us to give back to massage schools,” he explained. “Massage Envy stepped up to the plate to offer this campaign to help provide more students for the schools, and help many schools do what they do best—prepare students for a massage career.”
His own massage career has spanned 30 years, and Haycock said he remains engaged by his work in the massage field. “I absolutely love it,” he said. “It’s the best career imaginable, in my opinion.”
Many of Massage Envy’s franchisees already have strong relationships with massage schools throughout the U.S., and franchisees who goes into a school to talk about massage therapy and their Massage Envy location can provide a QR code so students can quickly enter for the chance to win a scholarship, awarded in the form of a check.
Enter for the Chance to Win A Scholarship
Anyone who is a legal resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia and 18 years of age or older as of date of entry is eligible to enter for a chance to win a Massage Envy National Scholarship Sweepstakes for Massage Therapists scholarship.
Unique to Massage Envy’s scholarship program is the ease of entry. There are no essays to write and no references to gather. Instead, at the end of each month, eight winners are drawn, sweepstakes-style, from the entries that came in during that month, and then the process begins again. Entrants only need to enter once.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. residents, 18+ (residents of AL & NE who must be 19+ or residents of MS who must be 21+) as of date of entry. See Official Rules at massageenvy.com/scholarship for entry periods, odds, prize description, limitations, and complete details. Sweepstakes begins August 22, 2022 and ends August 31, 2023. Sponsor: Massage Envy Franchising, LLC, 14350 N 87th St Ste 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Neither ME SPE Franchising, LLC (“MEF”) nor any of its affiliates employs any positions within a franchised location, and each individual franchised location is not acting as an agent for MEF or any of its affiliates. Each Massage Envy is independently owned and operated by a franchisee and the franchisee is the sole employer for all positions at the franchised location. Hiring criteria, benefits, compensation, and employee experience are set by the franchisee and vary by location.