Hand & Stone Featured in Ahwatukee Foothills News

Hand & Stone was recently featured in an article in the Ahwatukee Foothills News entitled, “Ahwatukee Hand & Stone Under New Ownership.” The article discusses Steve Currier and Craig Schumacher’s unique entrepreneur story and recent ownership of the Hand & Stone in Ahwatukee. As long-time friends and business partners, the duo has owned many different concepts including a sports fitness center, which they founded in Memphis and expanded to 20 locations. The entrepreneurial team decided to partner with Hand & Stone as they felt it was higher quality and offered more services than competition. The Hand & Stone team is a great example of thriving local entrepreneurs filling a unique void in the community. Below is a portion of the article and the article can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Ahwatukee Hand & Stone under new ownership
Chelsea Brown

Longtime friends and business partners Craig Schumacher and Steve Currier decided earlier this year to venture into Ahwatukee Foothills and take over ownership of Ahwatukee Hand and Stone.

The duo first started working together in 1981 in Elyria, Ohio, where they both served in management and executive positions at the Scandinavian Health Spa chain. In 1999, they opened Q Sports Club in Memphis, Tenn., which would later grow to a chain of 20 sports clubs across the country.

In 2000, Schumacher and Currier sold the Q Sports Club chain to 24 Hour Fitness. Later that year Currier, with a different business partner, opened O Premium Waters in Mesa. Although Schumacher was not Currier's main business partner in this business endeavor, he did work with him and O Premium Waters off and on for three years.

In December of 2009 Currier sold O Premium Waters to Sparkletts, a water company based in Los Angeles, Calif.

After the sale of O Premium Waters, Schumacher said both men were looking into a new business endeavor, and three months later they committed to Ahwatukee Hand and Stone. Today, Schumacher and Currier offer health and wellness services at the Ahwatukee Foothills spa, 4940 E. Ray Road, which has a "no-contract-necessary policy."

"Hand and Stone is an upscale experience," Currier said.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Steve Currier and Craig Schumacher

Something Interesting About Steve and Craig’s Story…
Since Craig and Steve took over the Hand & Stone location in Ahwatukee in March 2010, they have doubled their customer count (in 90 days). With their past experience together in business ownership, Craig and Steve have hit the ground running right and plan to expand with additional locations throughout the region because of the vast success with their first location.

How Steve and Craig Got Started With Hand & Stone…
Steve and Craig have been involved in the fitness industry since 1979, when they were co-owners of several fitness clubs throughout Ohio and Michigan. As time progressed, Steve and Craig opened over 20 Q, The Sports Club locations throughout Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, California and Nevada, which provided high end gym memberships at low cost. Steve and Craig eventually sold their fitness club’s to a large international company, which still operate today.

Craig ventured into business with Massage Envy, working at the corporate level to help develop the brand nationally, which was founded by a past business partner of Craig and Steve’s from the fitness industry. After discovering the Hand & Stone concept and realizing that it was the next generation of Massage Envy, Craig and Steve decided to get back in business together and partner with Hand & Stone and become business owners of the spa in Ahwatukee, which allowed for them to become involved in a concept with infrastructure already in place.

What Intrigued Steve and Craig about Hand & Stone…
Craig and Steve realized that Hand & Stone was a step ahead of Massage Envy, meaning that Hand & Stone was more contemporary, less pedestrian and ultimately provided an all-around better experience to members. Craig and Steve were intrigued by the fact that Hand & Stone provides more spa like features, including facials and stone massage, which are a big part of Hand & Stone’s ability to bring massage to the masses at an affordable rate.

Where Specifically Did Steve and Craig Learn About Hand & Stone?
Craig and Steve learned about Hand & Stone while Craig was working for Massage Envy, one of Hand & Stone’s main competitors. Craig realized that Hand & Stone was the next generation in massage services and decided to become involved in the concept with his lifelong friend and business partner.