Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Bulcher and Nicole Bulcher.
Nicole took her first Bar Method class in Dallas in August 2010. She was a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at the time and took at the behest of a teammate. She was so challenged and sore for days after that she swore she’d never go back – ha! After a few months, she was finally convinced to try again. She had struggled with weak knees most of her life up to this point – gym workouts, running, heavy lifting had been her go-to. During her rookie year on the DCC, she eventually tore both hamstrings. She knew she needed something that was going to keep her in shape but keep her safe. She recommitted to Bar Method and eventually sought out a part time job at the studio. Never did she think her part-time summer job would turn into a full-time Studio Manager position or that she’d be sent to teacher training. After 5+ years of managing the Bar Method Dallas and teaching for nearly 4, she agreed she was up for the challenge of opening her own studio with her sister, Erin, in the Dallas suburb of Southlake.
Erin was introduced to the Bar Method when she took her first class while visiting Dallas in July 2011 when Nicole had just started working there. She had no idea what ’boutique’ fitness was and had done gym workouts, running, and yoga since college. Fast forward to moving to Dallas in 2012 and she became a client immediately. She was inspired by how strong, lean and agile the women in class around her were. The workout itself was as mentally challenging as it was physical, and she began to see changes when she finally (after nearly a year of being a ‘slacker’ as she says) committed to making Bar Method her primary workout. Bar Method changed Erin’s posture, her body, how she approached work, colleagues, social situations, all of it. Bar Method is a lifestyle and Erin is so thankful this method not only gave her the toned arms and abs she thought she could ‘never have,’ but a community and now a livelihood.
Erin and Nicole opened their studio on a cold, snowy January morning in 2017. Their mission is to make strong women and brave men the best versions of themselves from the inside-out.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a fairly smooth road. Nicole was well-prepared to open a new location because of her 5+ years of running The Bar Method Dallas. Erin’s background in social media marketing and advertising paired perfectly with Nicole’s in-studio experience. The main struggle they faced was keeping the design/build firm on track with a budget they seemed to disregard every step of the way. Their advice to anyone who has to build a space for their business is to figure out how to stay on track and save money before the doors are even open. Also, use your voice and do not be afraid to question every decision of your contractor. Speak up! When you’re going over budget and paying rent before your doors are even open, it makes a big financial setback right at the beginning. Surround yourself with wise experts in their fields. Hire a trustworthy accountant, lawyer, commercial real estate broker, and banker. Take notes, be involved, and learn the business of your business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bar Method Southlake – what should we know?
The Bar Method just celebrated 17 years as a brand. The sustainability of our workouts is what sets us apart from other fitness concepts. Our highly efficient, full-body workouts are expertly taught by teachers who are trained over the course of 3-5 months. It’s not ‘easy’ to become a Bar Method teacher, hence why our retention of Instructors is one of the highest in the industry. They learn hands-on adjustments, anatomy and the psychology of coaching and motivating, which ensures you’ll get a quality and safe experience every single time.
The Bar Method is designed under the guidance of physical therapists and incorporates interval training – so you get cardio, muscle toning and deep stretching all in one hour. The exercises work deep in the muscle and work it to exhaustion – then to realign the body and improve mobility, we deeply stretch the area just worked. With special attention given to alignment and form, most clients find relief from knee, hip, shoulder, neck and low back pain within a few months. Posture improves, metabolism improves and overall quality of life is enhanced. That, and you get sculpted muscles that your friends and family start to notice! 😉
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
We think that boutique fitness has been a catalyst for women business owners. Most, if not all gyms are dominated by men and it makes it uncomfortable for most women (us included!) to be consistent and feel motivated to go. The community that the Bar Method continues to build is what keeps you coming back as much as the results you get from the challenging and motivating workout. Women need to support other women – and what better way than in fitness? From being single to getting married, having kids or not having kids, wanting to have more energy, less stress, dealing with ‘aging’ – I think women nail it when it comes to being business owners in the fitness industry.
As for barriers – oh yes! We found pretty fast in dealing with design-build firms and other professionals that it’s easy for (some) men and even women to not take you seriously. That being said, assert yourself, be prepared and introduce yourself with a firm handshake and direct eye contact.
Pricing:
- New Client Special – $99 for 30 days of unlimited classes – available year-round!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2211 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 550, Southlake, TX 76092
- Website: www.barmethod.com/locations/southlake
- Phone: 817-329-0050
- Email: southlake@barmethod.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/barmethodsouthlake
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/barmethodsouthlake
Image Credit:
Oakwoods Photography – Heather Weaver
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