We were lucky to catch up with Nikki Roenicke recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nikki, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I can’t take credit for the start of barre3 Lakewood Ranch, my studio was previously owned and although I had a million reasons I couldn’t/shouldn’t buy the studio there was one reason that gave me the courage to become the new owner. I knew in my heart that barre3 Lakewood Ranch could not close and that was the path it was headed if someone didnt’ buy it. I come with zero business background, I was a stay-at-home mom traveling around the US while my husband played professional baseball. We were actually in Taiwan when we started the process of me buying the studio. I had all the negative self-talk thinking there’s no way I can own and operate a successful business, what did I know about running a business? The studio had already been around for five years and had a loyal clientele that depended on us providing a safe space to move, sweat, enjoy community and just find an hour of peace in their day. Myself included! It has been a learning curve for sure but I don’t ever look back and regret my decision.
Nikki, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started taking barre3 classes about 11 years ago, it was shortly after we had our 1st daughter and I was invited by a friend to try a class and I’ve been doing it ever since. This is the only workout I’ve ever been consistent with so I knew there was something special about it. Barre3 does an amazing job of staying up to date with exercise research and we are constantly evolving. For so long we (women) have been fed false narratives of why we need to workout and how we should workout but our brand is working to redefine what success in fitness means. It’s not just about how you look but how you feel. We provide a workout that always gives modifications and layers because we all need different things to feel successful in workout and that may change day to day so we provide options so our clients can honor what their body needs that day. Another aspect that drew me to barre3 was our ability to provide child care. As moms/parents we can often put our self care aside but giving parents the option to drop their kids off and take an hour to themselves is so important.
Have you ever had to pivot?
As business owners I think we all learned how to pivot during Covid. I had bought my studio in November of 2019. So just a few short months later the world was dealing with something no one could have ever imagined would happen. At the same time I was due with our 4th child while my husband was living in Taiwan and we were in the process of buying a house. Life was chaotic to say the least but when you have a supportive family and amazing team standing next to you it makes it a little easier. My team was ready to step in and help in any way they could. I am so appreciative for all they did to help keep the studio running.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
As I try to work less IN the business and more ON the business I always love being in the studio. Whether I take a class or just pop in to hang out, my favorite thing is building community with our clients. I want to know about their families, be there for the ups and downs of life. They also know my family and have seen my kids grow up in the studio. They know who they are supporting and I think that helps create loyalty both ways. I want to be able to provide the best experience for them and to me that also means being present around the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://barre3.com/studio-locations/barre3-lakewood-ranch
- Instagram: @barre3lwr