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How a Healthcare Executive and a Nurse Built One of barre3’s Top-Performing Studios
In 2017, Sandy and Stephanie Grimes opened barre3 Rittenhouse in Philadelphia with a business plan, a shared vision, and a willingness to mop the floors after the last class of the day. Nine years later, their studio is a top-quartile performer in the barre3 franchise network—with 25% year-over-year growth and membership conversion rates as high as 96%. Their story isn’t about overnight success. It’s about what happens when you pair the right brand with the right people and refuse to stop acting like you’re brand new.
Watch the Full Interview Below or Scroll Down to Read the Highlights
The Women Behind the Studio
Sandy Grimes spent decades as a healthcare executive at Johnson & Johnson before retiring and turning her attention to two things she cared deeply about: exercise and community. Stephanie, her daughter, was working as a nurse at Penn when Sandy introduced her to barre3 in 2014. The workout drew her in immediately — but it was the practice’s emphasis on body wisdom and mental strength that made her stay.
Different careers, different backgrounds, the same instinct for service and leadership. It turned out to be exactly the right foundation for what they were about to build.
From the Boardroom and the Bedside to barre3
The pivot from healthcare and corporate leadership to a boutique fitness franchise might look like an unlikely one on paper. But Sandy and Stephanie were quick to find the through line.
“It doesn’t make any difference where you are,” says Sandy. “Leading a team is the same whether it’s a barre3 studio or a large corporate plant. It’s all about people at the end of the day.”
By applying corporate-level due diligence and nursing-grade care and hospitality, they built a business plan that wasn’t just a document they carried around at the start—it’s a roadmap they still reference today.
Nine Years In, Still Acting Like Day One
In the early years, Sandy and Stephanie wore every hat—IT director, HR manager, the person who stayed late to mop the floors. As the business matured, so did their roles. Stephanie describes a pivotal decision every growing business owner eventually faces: learning to delegate.
She recently stepped back from day-to-day project management to empower a team member—freeing herself to focus on high-level growth and her own development as a leader. Today, their studio runs on a team of 16 instructors, a New Client Acquisition Specialist, and dedicated Instructor Mentors responsible for class quality and local instructor development.
But the mindset hasn’t changed. “We never really take off the hat of a new owner,” says Stephanie. “We’re always pretending like we’re brand new to this space, needing to get out there and stay relevant.”
The Framework That Makes It Work
One of the most significant factors in Sandy and Stephanie’s success is how they approach their relationship with the barre3 Support Center. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, they lean into the proven systems provided to them. “That’s why you join a franchise,” says Stephanie. “There is a tool for everything, and there is a person for everything. The Support Center provides the framework, and we provide the hustle and execution.”
That partnership has been particularly valuable in a competitive urban market like Philadelphia. The Support Center’s data-driven marketing and consumer research has helped them sharpen their local targeting and outreach — identifying exactly who their ideal client is and how to reach her. From specialized training materials for new hires to ongoing product development, both women credit the Support Center’s partnership for keeping them ahead of the curve.
Ownership on Your Own Terms
For Stephanie, studio ownership offered something most corporate or clinical roles couldn’t: the ability to grow a family alongside a business. As she prepares to welcome her second child, she’s reflective about what the barre3 model has made possible. “Is studio ownership a 24/7 situation? Yes,” she says. “But am I picking up my son every day at 3 o’clock? Yep. There’s a wonderful balance of being able to do both.”
What Separates Good From Great
When asked what distinguishes the top-tier owners in the barre3 franchise network, Sandy and Stephanie keep coming back to the same thing: an uncompromising commitment to the product.
“Competition will always exist,” says Sandy,” but when we can control what we’ve got—and we know it’s the best class in town and we have the best talent, both as instructors and as a front desk team—we feel like that’s our secret sauce. It leaves the client with truly no other choice than to come back.”
Three principles have guided them from the beginning:
1. Never compromise on the class experience. “People will forgive you if you run out of toilet paper,” says Stephanie. “They won’t forgive a bad workout.”
2. Act like you’re always new. Even after nine years, maintain the hunger of a grand opening. Stay visible, stay relevant, and stay connected to your community.
3. Clarity is kindness. Clear job descriptions, regular feedback, and a culture that celebrates and elevates team members into leadership roles—that’s what produces near-perfect conversion rates and a studio people keep coming back to.
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
Sandy and Stephanie’s journey proves that the right franchise opportunity—paired with the right mindset—can transform your professional experience and your life. If you’re ready to bring barre3 to your community, we’d love to connect.
Learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner at barre3.com/franchise, or complete our inquiry form to start your discovery process today.
In 2017, Sandy and Stephanie Grimes opened barre3 Rittenhouse in Philadelphia with a business plan, a shared vision, and a willingness to mop the floors after the last class of the day. Nine years later, their studio is a top-quartile performer in the barre3 franchise network—with 25% year-over-year growth and membership conversion rates as high as 96%. Their story isn’t about overnight success. It’s about what happens when you pair the right brand with the right people and refuse to stop acting like you’re brand new.
Watch the Full Interview Below or Scroll Down to Read the Highlights
The Women Behind the Studio
Sandy Grimes spent decades as a healthcare executive at Johnson & Johnson before retiring and turning her attention to two things she cared deeply about: exercise and community. Stephanie, her daughter, was working as a nurse at Penn when Sandy introduced her to barre3 in 2014. The workout drew her in immediately — but it was the practice’s emphasis on body wisdom and mental strength that made her stay.
Different careers, different backgrounds, the same instinct for service and leadership. It turned out to be exactly the right foundation for what they were about to build.
From the Boardroom and the Bedside to barre3
The pivot from healthcare and corporate leadership to a boutique fitness franchise might look like an unlikely one on paper. But Sandy and Stephanie were quick to find the through line.
“It doesn’t make any difference where you are,” says Sandy. “Leading a team is the same whether it’s a barre3 studio or a large corporate plant. It’s all about people at the end of the day.”
By applying corporate-level due diligence and nursing-grade care and hospitality, they built a business plan that wasn’t just a document they carried around at the start—it’s a roadmap they still reference today.
Nine Years In, Still Acting Like Day One
In the early years, Sandy and Stephanie wore every hat—IT director, HR manager, the person who stayed late to mop the floors. As the business matured, so did their roles. Stephanie describes a pivotal decision every growing business owner eventually faces: learning to delegate.
She recently stepped back from day-to-day project management to empower a team member—freeing herself to focus on high-level growth and her own development as a leader. Today, their studio runs on a team of 16 instructors, a New Client Acquisition Specialist, and dedicated Instructor Mentors responsible for class quality and local instructor development.
But the mindset hasn’t changed. “We never really take off the hat of a new owner,” says Stephanie. “We’re always pretending like we’re brand new to this space, needing to get out there and stay relevant.”
The Framework That Makes It Work
One of the most significant factors in Sandy and Stephanie’s success is how they approach their relationship with the barre3 Support Center. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, they lean into the proven systems provided to them. “That’s why you join a franchise,” says Stephanie. “There is a tool for everything, and there is a person for everything. The Support Center provides the framework, and we provide the hustle and execution.”
That partnership has been particularly valuable in a competitive urban market like Philadelphia. The Support Center’s data-driven marketing and consumer research has helped them sharpen their local targeting and outreach — identifying exactly who their ideal client is and how to reach her. From specialized training materials for new hires to ongoing product development, both women credit the Support Center’s partnership for keeping them ahead of the curve.
Ownership on Your Own Terms
For Stephanie, studio ownership offered something most corporate or clinical roles couldn’t: the ability to grow a family alongside a business. As she prepares to welcome her second child, she’s reflective about what the barre3 model has made possible. “Is studio ownership a 24/7 situation? Yes,” she says. “But am I picking up my son every day at 3 o’clock? Yep. There’s a wonderful balance of being able to do both.”
What Separates Good From Great
When asked what distinguishes the top-tier owners in the barre3 franchise network, Sandy and Stephanie keep coming back to the same thing: an uncompromising commitment to the product.
“Competition will always exist,” says Sandy,” but when we can control what we’ve got—and we know it’s the best class in town and we have the best talent, both as instructors and as a front desk team—we feel like that’s our secret sauce. It leaves the client with truly no other choice than to come back.”
Three principles have guided them from the beginning:
1. Never compromise on the class experience. “People will forgive you if you run out of toilet paper,” says Stephanie. “They won’t forgive a bad workout.”
2. Act like you’re always new. Even after nine years, maintain the hunger of a grand opening. Stay visible, stay relevant, and stay connected to your community.
3. Clarity is kindness. Clear job descriptions, regular feedback, and a culture that celebrates and elevates team members into leadership roles—that’s what produces near-perfect conversion rates and a studio people keep coming back to.
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
Sandy and Stephanie’s journey proves that the right franchise opportunity—paired with the right mindset—can transform your professional experience and your life. If you’re ready to bring barre3 to your community, we’d love to connect.
Learn more about becoming a barre3 studio owner at barre3.com/franchise, or complete our inquiry form to start your discovery process today.
