Best of the Best

18 BEST OF THE BEST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013 • NWA MEDIA PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT assage therapy is no longer a luxury re- served only for the affluent. That's the message Mike Harris has for anyone interested in visiting his Massage Envy location in Rogers and the forthcoming Fayetteville location but is concerned about the cost. "We are very excited about our expansion in Fayette - ville at the Steele Crossing shopping center near Target in a few months, which will be larger providing more session rooms and also providing facials as well as our popular massages," Harris said. Essentially, it's the same concept the company was founded on 11 years ago in Scottsdale, Ariz. "Before Massage Envy came along, everyone was just wishing they could afford a massage more than once a year," said Harris, who co-owns the Massage Envy fran - chise on Pleasant Grove Road with his wife, Ana Thelma and the forthcoming Fayetteville location. "They were envi- ous of the rich and famous people who got the massages on a monthly basis. Now, everybody can enjoy that." If anyone understands the challenge of bringing mas- sage therapy to the masses, it is Harris, whose business has earned Best of the Best recognition for the fifth con- secutive year. "Being singled out as being one of the best in the business is something we don't take lightly," he said. "It shows that Northwest Arkansas is supporting us as much as we'd like to support them." Harris also prevailed over some 500 other Massage Envy locations nationwide to win Franchisee of the Year in 2009, less than two years after opening the doors to his business in October 2007. He views the Spirit Award earned in April as even more prestigious, with the franchi - see list now expanded to more than 900. "That was a tremendous honor because one of the things I did [before buying the franchise] was investigate what the potential was for owning a business up here, and what attracted me was the caliber of owners that Massage Envy had," Harris said. "These are very successful people, and for me to be named as one of the best in that arena was quite an honor." Harris served as a general manager for a Sam's Club store before spending several years as a territorial man - ager for Shaw Industries, a commercial carpet manufac- turer in Arizona. He handled the Massage Envy account for Shaw and grew interested in massage therapy through his interac- tions with the company. Massage Envy bills itself as the "pioneer and na- tional leader of affordable massage and spa services" and claims to have been "launched to create a completely new category in the wellness industry." The company has more than 1.2 million members, about 2,200 of whom belong to the Rogers location, but Harris said membership is by no means a requirement for getting a massage. Harris has 55 employees, including more than 40 li - censed massage therapists. Massage Envy has added some signature upgrade options over the past year, including deep-muscle treat- ment. The company has also become heavily involved with the National Arthritis Foundation, donating about $800,000 to the cause last September. "What singles us out is that we're very much involved with the community, whether it's with fundraisers or dona - tions or answering the call for our members as far as what they need out of the massage arena," Harris said. "We're pretty much entrenched throughout the area." Treatments at Massage Envy can be fully customized to fit a client's specific needs. Signature services include such options as Hot Stone Envy, which its website at massageenvy.com says "melts away tension, eases muscle stiffness and increases circu - lation and metabolism." Stress relief, blood-pressure reduction, improved re- laxation and general pain management are some of the other potential health benefits of massage therapy. "My goal is for everyone to have a satisfying experi- ence," Harris said. "If not, we're going to fix it." NWA Media/TOM LAYTON The staff at Massage Envy of Rogers, and soon to be in Fayetteville as well, can help clients customize their sessions to fit their needs. MASSAGE ENVY >> Massage No affluence required at Rogers massage specialist SPECIAL TO NWA MEDIA M

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