Working out can feel cold. Oftentimes gym-goers hustle through their routines with little thought about the people around them.
That’s where Erin and Nicole Bulcher’s emphasis on relationships shines.
The team of sisters opened Bar Method Southlake in 2017 with an aspiration to share the workout that shaped their bodies with locals. As they celebrate their third business anniversary, the sisters serve as an example of how to engage with and make connections in a new community.
Whether that involves punctually attending Southlake Chamber of Commerce luncheons or giving their clients who have their own businesses extra exposure, Erin and Nicole focus on engaging and expanding their local network through the people who also call Southlake home.
But it didn’t happen overnight. The Bulchers’ Bar Method story stretches back to the start of last decade, when Nicole came to the Metroplex to achieve a goal many little girls dream about — to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
FINDING THE WORKOUT
The Bulcher girls, along with their two other siblings, grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. After pursuing dance from a young age and into college, Nicole traveled to the Lone Star State with a friend to audition for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in 2010.
“I was going to be supportive [to my friend],” Nicole says. “But I kept making it to the different rounds and then went into training camp. Somehow, in 2010, I made the team.”
That same year, as part of training camp, Nicole took her first Bar Method class. Despite being in great shape, Nicole says the class made her so sore afterward that she had to take a step back.
The 60-minute class challenged Nicole with its use of isolated, small movements using her own body weight, the ballet barre and small props. These specific exercises, which can also improve stamina, flexibility and posture, are known to exhaust muscle groups and eventually create lean physiques with consistent practice.
“I didn’t go back for four months,” Nicole remembers with a laugh.
Nicole tried again in hopes of improving her skills. This time, it clicked. She spent a lot of time at the Dallas studio and was hired to work at the front desk and worked her way up to manager.
“[Bar Method] definitely prolonged my tenure on the team and kept me in tip-top shape,” Nicole says. “Most cheerleaders don’t last five years.”
Erin joined Nicole in the Metroplex in 2012 and often accompanied her sister to the studio. As a spin enthusiast, Erin says she was first taken aback by how her body reacted to these targeted workout classes. Instead of profusely sweating or losing her breath, Erin enjoyed being able to walk out of class and feel like she could go about the rest of the day.
“I used to have this kill-yourself workout mentality,” Erin explained. “I would burn myself out.”
With both Bulchers invested in the workout, the Bar Method Dallas owner encouraged Nicole to consider instructor training, which Nicole says was initially outside her comfort zone.
“I never wanted to teach,” Nicole says. “I just always wanted to be a part of the team. And now it’s my favorite thing to do.”
MAKING A HOME IN SOUTHLAKE
Eventually, Erin and Nicole decided to open a Bar Method studio of their own. After throwing around the idea of selecting another part of Dallas or a northern suburb as their territory, the Bulchers eventually agreed upon Southlake, their first taste of the Metroplex.
“It was our original home in the area,” Erin says. “We asked ourselves where we wanted to see ourselves in the long term; where we wanted to plant ourselves.”
On January 7, 2017, Erin and Nicole opened the doors to Bar Method Southlake. They offered free community classes in the area to build brand awareness and joined community groups, like the Southlake Chamber of Commerce, which soon after held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome them to the community.
“We got involved in the chamber right away,” Erin says. “We wanted to take our relationships to the next level.”
Business owners throughout the area came to learn about the studio and celebrate the Bulchers’ new venture. Little did Erin know that day would bring more than exposure; she met chamber member and her husband-to-be, Ryan Peabody, who held the ribbon for the ceremony.
“Life really has crazy timing!” Erin says.
Both Erin and Nicole continued to find opportunities to engage with the chamber to expand their networks. Erin quickly participated in Leadership Southlake to meet like-minded business owners and engage with the community. While Nicole admits her comfort zone lives within the studio’s walls, she also saw the importance of making relationships with locals and took part in Leadership Southlake the next year.
“We wanted to dig in and dig in deep,” Erin says.
Southlake Chamber of Commerce President Mark Guilbert knows the sisters’ determination to get involved and embrace the community has helped them be successful in town.
“They are certainly an example of how to leverage your chamber investment and find benefit in it. They are out there hustling, doing all the right things,” Mark says. “They have just become known fixtures because they got involved at a high level and got out of their business and into the community. It’s not an accident they have received recognition for their deeds.”
In 2018, Erin continued her chamber involvement by joining its board of directors. Mark says her voice has been a valued addition to the group.
“She asks good questions and honestly gets stuff,” Mark explains. “She has been a lot of fun and never has an unkind word to say about anyone.”
CREATING CONNECTIONS
While some studio owners rely on employees to manage the day-to-day, Erin and Nicole both know the importance of having individual client relationships. They enjoy taking the time to connect with those who walk through their doors and building lasting relationships.
“We often have people who come in and say, ‘I’m new here, and I don’t know anyone in town,’” Erin explains. “And we’re like, ‘Great, you came to the right place.’”
That’s because Erin and Nicole provide more than a workout. They provide an outlet for people interested in improving their skills and connecting with others.
That goes for entrepreneurs as well. As small business owners, the Bulchers look for opportunities to connect with others in the wellness and lifestyle industries to provide a better experience for their network. Whether it’s partnering with local salons to provide deals for their team or spotlighting one of their clients’ businesses, Erin and Nicole know that their business is built from connections.
Erin and Nicole also find opportunities to join forces with community leaders — like CISD members, city officials and nonprofit volunteers — to both give back and put their brand out there.
This keeps the Bulchers on the go, but they are able to divide and conquer because of their trust in one another. They split tasks based on their own expertise. Nicole is the go-to for studio responsibilities and draws on what she learned as the Dallas studio manager, like the ins and outs of the MindBody scheduling system. Erin, on the other hand, uses her social media and marketing background to create an online presence for Bar Method Southlake.
That trust has especially come in handy over the past few months. Erin went on her honeymoon in November and felt reassured the studio was in good hands.
“It’s our baby,” Erin says. “And I knew that Nicole had it covered.”
Erin will return the favor this month as Nicole celebrates her own wedding and honeymoon. And as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader All-Star, Nicole often travels to represent the team.
Thanks to Bar Method, Nicole has no problem donning the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader uniform almost a decade after putting it on for the first time.
It’s not the glam of being taught by a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader or the sleek studio that has transformed Bar Method into a Southlake staple in just three short years. The Bulcher family business energy runs through the studio. And their engagement with others ensures that all those interested in trying out barre feel welcome. Whether it’s your first time or you are a regular, a trip into Bar Method Southlake always starts with a friendly face. Erin and Nicole make sure of it.