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WHAT’S IT REALLY LIKE TO BE A BARRE3 STUDIO OWNER?
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to own a barre3 studio? We could tell you all about it (and we would love to, if you’re interested!). But what better way to learn about the life of a barre3 studio owner than to hear about it straight from an owner herself?
We asked Amy Grabenkort, owner of barre3 Vancouver | Felida, to share her story with us. Read on to learn how she went from being a school principal to running a thriving barre3 studio, and why she’s never looked back.
I always thought I knew what my path would look like: I’d be an elementary school teacher, and then I’d become a principal. I love lifting people up whose job was lifting other people up, and being a principal, I knew, would allow me to do that. My path was clear and I was excited!
And for a while, my path did look like that. I taught elementary school, and then I was appointed to school principal. I was pregnant at the time, and I remember my boss saying, “You’ll rock being a mom and a principal.”
I tried to do just that, but I soon realized I was feeling out of balance. Someone else was raising my kids while I took care of everyone I worked with. I knew this was not my best life, but the situation felt complicated. This was the life I’d planned for as long as I could remember. I had just finished paying for graduate school, where I got a degree in leadership—how, I thought to myself, would I ever use that degree if I weren’t a principal?
Discovering the missing link
One of my biggest issues with my work/life situation was that I had no time for exercise. As a lifelong athlete, physical movement had always been my coping mechanism. Now that was gone, and I was feeling perpetually off. That’s when I first tried a barre3 class. I loved it immediately, and I quickly became a regular. I was extremely busy—I’d change from workout gear into my work clothes in the car on the way to meetings—but I noticed that on the days I moved my body, I was a better boss, a better mom, and a better wife. I was a better me.
One day I was in a meeting, and I just thought, I’m so much happier when I have barre3 in my life. I went to the website to book a class, and my eye went to the Own a Studio tab.
Taking the leap
I remember feeling a bit of imposter syndrome. Could someone with my career background really own a studio? I went back and forth on the form, one day thinking, “I’m not going to fill it out,” and the next day thinking, “I’m going to fill it out.” I had already dreamed up a lifestyle that was balanced with movement, where I was surrounded by supportive women doing the same thing and feeling connected to my family. It just felt so right.
So I filled out the form, and the next thing I knew, I was meeting with Sadie! I signed my franchise agreement in April, finished the school year as a principal…and then I realized there was no open inventory in my town for a studio at that moment. I waited about a year, which gave me time to really dive into the business end of being a franchise owner. This was such a good thing. As a principal, I had studied for eight years and undergone training for how to do the job. Being a barre3 franchise owner was completely different, and I loved that about it.
Relishing—and respecting—the freedom that comes with this role
Before talking to Sadie, my perception of owning a franchise was that it would be “barre3 in a box.” I was after something different, and I had found that with barre3. For the first time in my life, I had the luxury of choosing what success looked like for me. I knew I wanted to be happy and successful, and I wanted to be the boss of my own success. With barre3, I felt like that was available to me. It was clear even in Sadie’s language. She didn’t ask me to work for her; she asked me to be her business partner. She’ll say things like “we as business owners.” That’s what being a franchise owner is—being a partner—and I took that title and responsibility really seriously.
The support you get as an owner starts right when you sign on. You go through extensive training before you open, and there’s an entire team dedicated to helping you build a successful studio, but at the same time, you’re given so much trust and freedom. It’s so empowering.
While I loved the freedom, I also wanted a thriving business, I was willing to do the work that comes with that. I had left a lucrative career for this, and I needed to make a good living. I didn’t come to barre3 with an MBA, but I did come with drive. I’m drawn to a challenge, and I thrive on creative problem solving. I also know the value of building an incredible team, so I made that a priority—and I’m convinced they’re the reason I’m successful. I’m always looking for ways to grow even stronger, to thrive even more, and that’s why I love that barre3 is a learning company. Just as the company is constantly evolving, so are the owners. We learn and grow together.
Beyond barre3’s franchise and marketing teams, owners also get support from the huge network of other barre3 owners all over the country (and beyond!). It’s the first job I’ve ever had where there’s no competitive vibe. We can throw our biggest, hairiest problems out to our fellow owners, and we help each other come up with solutions. Just as Sadie is standing next to us as owners, we’re standing next to each other.
The biggest, most heart-warming payoff
When I opened my studio, my dream was to run a business where I get to bring together the most inspiring, empowered women I know and lift them up so they can lift others up—and I love that I’ve been able to do that. What I didn’t know was that this environment would create a ripple effect. When clients come into the studio, they feel the support, and they in turn support one another. When you read the reviews clients leave, they gush just as much about the community and the support as they do about the workout. There’s so much talk in the world right now of women empowering other women. At barre3, it’s not just talk. We’re walking the walk. It’s the most amazing feeling, and it’s why, from the day I opened four years ago, there hasn’t been a single morning when I haven’t woken up excited.
We’re looking to grow! If you’re inspired by Amy’s story and would like to learn more about owning a barre3 studio, fill out the form on our franchise page to get the conversation started.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to own a barre3 studio? We could tell you all about it (and we would love to, if you’re interested!). But what better way to learn about the life of a barre3 studio owner than to hear about it straight from an owner herself?
We asked Amy Grabenkort, owner of barre3 Vancouver | Felida, to share her story with us. Read on to learn how she went from being a school principal to running a thriving barre3 studio, and why she’s never looked back.
I always thought I knew what my path would look like: I’d be an elementary school teacher, and then I’d become a principal. I love lifting people up whose job was lifting other people up, and being a principal, I knew, would allow me to do that. My path was clear and I was excited!
And for a while, my path did look like that. I taught elementary school, and then I was appointed to school principal. I was pregnant at the time, and I remember my boss saying, “You’ll rock being a mom and a principal.”
I tried to do just that, but I soon realized I was feeling out of balance. Someone else was raising my kids while I took care of everyone I worked with. I knew this was not my best life, but the situation felt complicated. This was the life I’d planned for as long as I could remember. I had just finished paying for graduate school, where I got a degree in leadership—how, I thought to myself, would I ever use that degree if I weren’t a principal?
Discovering the missing link
One of my biggest issues with my work/life situation was that I had no time for exercise. As a lifelong athlete, physical movement had always been my coping mechanism. Now that was gone, and I was feeling perpetually off. That’s when I first tried a barre3 class. I loved it immediately, and I quickly became a regular. I was extremely busy—I’d change from workout gear into my work clothes in the car on the way to meetings—but I noticed that on the days I moved my body, I was a better boss, a better mom, and a better wife. I was a better me.
One day I was in a meeting, and I just thought, I’m so much happier when I have barre3 in my life. I went to the website to book a class, and my eye went to the Own a Studio tab.
Taking the leap
I remember feeling a bit of imposter syndrome. Could someone with my career background really own a studio? I went back and forth on the form, one day thinking, “I’m not going to fill it out,” and the next day thinking, “I’m going to fill it out.” I had already dreamed up a lifestyle that was balanced with movement, where I was surrounded by supportive women doing the same thing and feeling connected to my family. It just felt so right.
So I filled out the form, and the next thing I knew, I was meeting with Sadie! I signed my franchise agreement in April, finished the school year as a principal…and then I realized there was no open inventory in my town for a studio at that moment. I waited about a year, which gave me time to really dive into the business end of being a franchise owner. This was such a good thing. As a principal, I had studied for eight years and undergone training for how to do the job. Being a barre3 franchise owner was completely different, and I loved that about it.
Relishing—and respecting—the freedom that comes with this role
Before talking to Sadie, my perception of owning a franchise was that it would be “barre3 in a box.” I was after something different, and I had found that with barre3. For the first time in my life, I had the luxury of choosing what success looked like for me. I knew I wanted to be happy and successful, and I wanted to be the boss of my own success. With barre3, I felt like that was available to me. It was clear even in Sadie’s language. She didn’t ask me to work for her; she asked me to be her business partner. She’ll say things like “we as business owners.” That’s what being a franchise owner is—being a partner—and I took that title and responsibility really seriously.
The support you get as an owner starts right when you sign on. You go through extensive training before you open, and there’s an entire team dedicated to helping you build a successful studio, but at the same time, you’re given so much trust and freedom. It’s so empowering.
While I loved the freedom, I also wanted a thriving business, I was willing to do the work that comes with that. I had left a lucrative career for this, and I needed to make a good living. I didn’t come to barre3 with an MBA, but I did come with drive. I’m drawn to a challenge, and I thrive on creative problem solving. I also know the value of building an incredible team, so I made that a priority—and I’m convinced they’re the reason I’m successful. I’m always looking for ways to grow even stronger, to thrive even more, and that’s why I love that barre3 is a learning company. Just as the company is constantly evolving, so are the owners. We learn and grow together.
Beyond barre3’s franchise and marketing teams, owners also get support from the huge network of other barre3 owners all over the country (and beyond!). It’s the first job I’ve ever had where there’s no competitive vibe. We can throw our biggest, hairiest problems out to our fellow owners, and we help each other come up with solutions. Just as Sadie is standing next to us as owners, we’re standing next to each other.
The biggest, most heart-warming payoff
When I opened my studio, my dream was to run a business where I get to bring together the most inspiring, empowered women I know and lift them up so they can lift others up—and I love that I’ve been able to do that. What I didn’t know was that this environment would create a ripple effect. When clients come into the studio, they feel the support, and they in turn support one another. When you read the reviews clients leave, they gush just as much about the community and the support as they do about the workout. There’s so much talk in the world right now of women empowering other women. At barre3, it’s not just talk. We’re walking the walk. It’s the most amazing feeling, and it’s why, from the day I opened four years ago, there hasn’t been a single morning when I haven’t woken up excited.
We’re looking to grow! If you’re inspired by Amy’s story and would like to learn more about owning a barre3 studio, fill out the form on our franchise page to get the conversation started.
