US. Smarte Carte Inc has announced the acquisition of two premier massage chair companies – Sit Back & Relax and First Class Seats Inc. Combined, the three companies operate more than 4,200 vended massage chairs at more than 600 airports, shopping malls and other public venues in the US.
Smarte Carte President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Rudis said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Sit Back & Relax and First Class Seats, as we believe the massage chair business concept closely resembles our other businesses and the product is well suited for all the markets where we already do business. This is an excellent fit with our strategy to bring additional products and services to our existing customers.”
Founders of First Class Seats, Mark and Marsha Eberhardt, and Sit Back & Relax senior executives, Tim Kelleher and Mike Habib, will join Smarte Carte and continue to be involved in the management of the business.
“We have long believed that merging with Smarte Carte was the best possible outcome for First Class Seats,” said Mark Eberthardt. Sit Back & Relax owners, Kyle Nagel and Lori Lyon had a similar reaction to the acquisition, saying: “Smarte Carte’s existing presence in malls and airports made this a perfect match.”
Chairs from both companies provide an affordable alternative for back and neck massage therapy, offering customers a “˜deep tissue’ three minute massage for just US$1 – or 15 minutes for US$5.
Since the first vended luggage carts rolled into airports in 1967, Smarte Carte introduced computerised electronic lockers to transportation centres, amusement parks, waterparks and ski resorts, as well as self-serve vended strollers to shopping malls.
Most recently, Smarte Carte introduced air travellers to its self-serve rapid charging kiosk – the Charge Carte which provides charging cords for cell phones, smartphones and the iPod.
About Smarte Carte Inc
With its corporate headquarters in Minnesota, Smarte Carte currently has more than 1,300 employees at more than 1,000 locations on five continents.
For more information, visit www.smartecarte.com.
About Sit Back & Relax, LLC
Sit Back & Relax, based in New Hampshire, was established in 2004. It is said to be the largest provider of vended massage chair services in the US with more than 3,400 vended massage chairs installed at more than 500 shopping malls, fitness centres and airports nationwide.
For more information, visit www.sitbackrelax.com.
About First Class Seats Inc
Based in Wisconsin, First Class Seats is said to have pioneered the massage chair industry in 1994. It currently offers massage chair services at 27 airports and more than 100 other commercial locations throughout the US and Puerto Rico.
The company plans to develop new services for the airport passenger, including a foot massager and its newest work/relaxation/entertainment kiosk which offers travellers a private space in a very public place.
For more information, visit www.firstclassseats.com.
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