Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

124 / 164

| | 18 - WIB
Nicole Wallen
When nancy Meyer and
Nicole Wallen joined forces to
open Barre Evolution in 2010,
there were no other barre studios
in Charleston.
“People thought you had to be
a ballerina,” Wallen joked.
Meyer had recently moved with her family from New
York City, where she’d worked in
marketing, and met Wallen in a
barre class at Wallen’s Pilates studio. The two entrepreneurs
saw the opportunity to combine their strengths and open
the first Barre Evolution studio. Part of their success lies in
the fact that they have a shared vision and a similar passion.
They both come from business backgrounds and agree that
while the work is intense – 12-to 14- hour workdays – they
would never go back to a 9 to 5 job.
“The secret is that there is no secret,” Wallen laughed.
“Running a successful business is recognizing that it’s not
about you. It’s about our clients and the health and strength
of the business.”
The biggest challenge of being a female-owned business
is managing people, and part of what distinguishes Barre
Evolution is their commitment to the ongoing development
of their staff.
“We work hard to figure out the most effective way to
motivate our instructors without being discouraging,” said
Meyer.
After teaching dance for 10 years, instructor Jess Ross
came to the Barre Evolution Method two years ago.
“I love working for BE because they let me be the best
version of myself,” she explained. “I am the happiest when I
am teaching. Watching clients grow stronger, become more
flexible and do something they couldn’t before is one of the
most rewarding parts of my job.”
As women and moms, Meyer and Wallen have a greater
understanding of the changing needs of their staff and strive
to work around these needs, including pregnancy and fam-
ily emergencies.
“You might not get this flexibility in a workplace run by
a man or larger corporation. As a result, we have had a very
high retention rate with instructors,” Meyer said.
A lot has changed in the last six years, and there are now
four Barre Evolution studios, including a Greenville loca-
tion. Their latest studio opened this spring in North Mount
Pleasant, and, while continued growth is part of their plan,
the women are committed to maintaining the boutique feel.
“We work hard to foster a community of women that is
diverse and supportive,” said Wallen. “We love seeing how
impactful barre and Pilates can be in people’s lives. Our stu-
dents feel better about themselves, and they reward us every
day by coming back and bringing their friends.”
Tips for enTrepreneurs:
• Location is key! Spend time to research your location.
Spend time and money to be an expert in your field. Con-
tinue your education so you can innovate.
• Be prepared to reinvest everything you make in the first
few years so you won’t have to take on debt.
• Don’ be afraid of change. Tweak your business plan as
needed. Don’t stick with something if it isn’t working.
• Hire good people. Don’t hire teachers just because they
have the cute “girl next door” look. Be picky and wait for
the smart and genuine candidates to come calling.
• Don’t skimp on hiring a CPA, attorney and bookkeeper.
These people are your best business advisors.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Wallen.
Barre Evolution
320 W. Coleman Blvd.
Mount Pleasant
843-654-9045
By AMy MerCer
Nancy Meyer
Photo courtesy of Nicole Wallen.
www.