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For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ainsley-hightower-7b230133/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=neighborhood-barre-franchisee-ainsley-hightower-germantown-2732086" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ainsley Hightower</a>, the path to business ownership was completely unexpected. With a background in journalism and a long career in marketing strategy and fundraising, the mother of three simply wanted an outlet to find herself amidst the chaos of early motherhood. She started out taking fitness classes and eventually became an instructor at the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands">NEIGHBORHOOD barre</a> in Memphis. When the original owner offered to sell her the struggling studio, Hightower hesitated at first. Thanks to some soul-searching at a yoga retreat&nbsp; and encouragement from her father, owner of multiple restaurant franchises, she realized it was the opportunity of a lifetime.&nbsp;Despite taking over the business at an incredibly busy time in her life, Hightower leveraged her marketing background and the brand's franchise support to completely turn the studio's finances around, bringing it out of the red and into profitability within just seven months. Now, three years after taking the reins, she has driven 30% year-over-year growth. Building on this incredible turnaround, Hightower recently signed a lease to open her second&nbsp;<a href="https://neighborhoodbarre.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=neighborhood-barre-franchisee-ainsley-hightower-germantown-2732086" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NEIGHBORHOOD barre</a> studio, fulfilling her long-term goal of bringing the fitness brand to her home community of Germantown, Tennessee.1851 Franchise spoke with Hightower about her unexpected journey into business ownership and her plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Ainsley Hightower:&nbsp;I went to the University of Mississippi for journalism and had a long career in marketing strategy and fundraising. My path to becoming a barre business owner had nothing to do with what I’ve done in my career. About five years ago, a friend who was an instructor at the studio asked if I would be interested in coming in and doing some teaching. I have three little boys, and I had just had my second child, so I thought it would be great to do something that let me find myself a little bit. I auditioned, became an instructor, and eventually left my full-time career to work freelance from home and teach classes. Then, six months after my third son was born, the original owner of the Memphis studio came to me and said she was selling the studio and offered to sell it to me.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Hightower:&nbsp;When the owner first offered to sell me the studio, I declined because I had a six-month-old and two other little boys. Around the same time, my yoga studio was running a yoga teacher training I completed, and I felt a pull on my spirit. I realized that I did want to own a fitness studio. Two weeks later, the owner came back and said she still thought I should buy it. My husband, who is a commercial banker, looked at the numbers and was hesitant because the studio was in the red. I talked to my dad, who owns a couple of food franchises, and he told me it's not every day someone basically gives you a business. I knew what it took, and I knew I could do it, so I went back to my husband and said, "We're doing it!" He got on board- he knows when I set my mind to something, I won’t allow myself to fail.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Hightower:&nbsp;I honestly didn’t have much knowledge of franchising. Because I didn't expect to be a business owner, I knew almost embarrassingly little information—I didn't even know that I was going to have to pay royalties. However, I will always tell people that I could not have done it if it weren't a franchise. The support, the guidance, and the built-in team are big reasons my business is successful. The resources taught me so much about running my business, making money, and meeting my goals.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Hightower:&nbsp;From a barre lover's perspective, there is no other brand with the variety of formats that our brand has. You don't find that anywhere else. I really appreciate that the brand and leadership are constantly looking to keep that evolution going so that we don't get pigeonholed.&nbsp;It's really exciting that no matter what's trendy or what people are looking for, you can make a client's experience match their needs. I also love that our classes are so accessible. There's a modification and an advancement for every single thing we do, so everyone is making the class their own.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Hightower:&nbsp;We actually just signed the lease for our second studio. People in Memphis kept asking if I was going to open a location in the suburbs where we live. We noticed a space with a "for lease" sign right near our house, and all the pieces fell into place. Opening a second location has been the goal for so long and there’s still so much to do, so that’s still the dream.&nbsp;Beyond that, my main goal is for someone to hear NEIGHBORHOOD barre and know exactly who we are and where we are in my community. I want to build brand recognition around Memphis and for people to associate our studio with an effective, inclusive and all-around fun workout&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Hightower:&nbsp;My best advice for other franchisees is not to be afraid to pay for help and delegate. If you have to pay more for help and take home less so your quality of life is better, it's worth it every time and you won’t experience burnout as often.&nbsp;I also tell people that your franchise is only as successful as much as you are present. People have to know your face and associate you with the business. At the same time, remember it's still just a job. I'm a mom and a wife first, so those things are still top priority. You have to find a good balance of showing up and staying on top of everything, without feeling like you have to do it all and control it all.About NEIGHBORHOOD barreFounded in 2011 by Katy Richardson, NEIGHBORHOOD barre delivers a fresh, modern approach to fitness, one that is welcoming, effective, and rooted in community spirit. With studios across the United States, NEIGHBORHOOD barre combines low-impact, high-result training with an inclusive atmosphere that empowers clients of all fitness levels. For more, please visit <a href="www.neighborhoodbarre.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.neighborhoodbarre.com</a>.

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NEIGHBORHOOD barre Franchisee Ainsley Hightower Expands in Tennessee

1851 Franchise

Starting as an instructor as an outlet outside of motherhood, Ainsley Hightower took a leap of faith to purchase the Memphis studio and is now preparing to open her second location in the suburbs.


‘It’s Not Every Day Someone Gives You a Business’: How This Franchisee Turned an Unexpected Opportunity into a Multi-Unit Success with NEIGHBORHOOD barre

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Working Mom and Former Corporate Chief of Staff Transitions to Business Ownership With NEIGHBORHOOD barre Franchise in Apex, North Carolina

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Lifelong Friends Bring Sales and Coaching Experience to Rumble Boxing Studio in Lithia, Florida

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<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/franchise">CycleBar</a>, the leading indoor cycling brand under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.extraordinarybrands.com/">Extraordinary Brands</a> umbrella is celebrating two of its franchisees achieving a full decade of wellness in their communities. Their starts in the franchise world looked different, but their experiences share the same core: a genuine care for people, the grit to push through tough times, and a firm belief that boutique fitness is here to stay.<h2>A Leap of Faith Turns Into a 10-Year Legacy in Beachwood</h2><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyclebarjoe">Joe Purton</a> changed course 10 years ago. After nearly two decades in healthcare finance, where he had worked his way into leadership and toward a chief financial officer path, he decided to leave and build something of his own.“I had worked for the organization for close to 20 years, and it really gave me the opportunity to do some soul searching,” Purton said. “I decided that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk. I wanted to do something I enjoyed, something I was passionate about, and I wanted to own my own business.”That passion led him to open one of the earliest&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands/why-invest-now-2731440">CycleBar</a> studios in the country (just the sixth location systemwide) in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/beachwood">Beachwood, Ohio</a>.From the outset, Purton chose franchising. “When I decided to start my own business, I knew I didn't want to start from scratch,” he said. “I wanted something that was more of a plug-and-play type model… something where I could start with a road map that already existed.”Purton’s studio now has around 500 active members, and many have stayed with it since the beginning. As the business has moved through corporate transitions, changes in the category and the strain of the pandemic, he has stayed focused on building and protecting that sense of community.“They really didn't talk a lot about the community that would come out of opening a CycleBar,” he said. “That's one of the most fulfilling and great things that have come out of all of this.”That sense of community proved critical during the pandemic. “We rented out all of our bikes in the studio. People took them to their homes, and then we would film classes every day,” he said. “We kept everybody together while apart.”Now, as he looks ahead, Purton is focused on continued growth and working more strategically within the business. “We're already around 500 members and we want to surpass that,” he said. “I think we could easily get to 700.”Purton was direct about what it takes to make the model work: “Don't expect to be passive. You have to be willing to get your hands dirty and work hard… It will be successful if you put effort into it.”<h2>Revitalizing a Studio and Rebuilding Momentum in Berkeley</h2>While Purton built his studio from the ground up,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morningstarryan">Ryan Morningstar</a> took a different path — acquiring and revitalizing an existing CycleBar location in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cyclebar.com/location/berkeley">Berkeley, California</a>.After spending 15 years in the tech startup world, Morningstar was ready for something new. “I've been an operator and an entrepreneur in the tech space, growing operational units and teams, so I really care a lot about people, management and culture,” he said. “I felt it was the right time to take on something of my own.”The chance came in 2023, when Morningstar acquired a struggling CycleBar studio. Since taking over, he has lifted revenue 20% year over year and nearly doubled membership.For Morningstar, success starts with a people-first philosophy — something he credits as the foundation of his growth. “Every single time you come to our studio, everyone tries to know your name and what your goals are to serve you to the highest degree,” he said.That focus extends to both members and staff. “Spend time, energy, and focus on your people — everything from hiring to nurturing,” he said. “You have to be a person and care about people and their growth as a whole.”Morningstar also sees franchising as a powerful model for scaling local businesses while maintaining individuality. “It provides this umbrella that has a lot of the tools you need to be successful,” he said, “but it allows you to operate on a micro-level in individual communities.”As the Berkeley studio approaches its 10-year anniversary, Morningstar is thinking ahead to expansion. “I'm already looking now at other opportunities and I think I'll start the next two locations myself,” he said.<h2>A Brand Built on Community, Ownership and Longevity</h2>Beachwood and Berkeley tell a similar story. In both markets, the studios have lasted because their owners stayed involved and built strong local ties.“I’m a big believer in the power of fitness to change lives,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriklein">Lori Klein</a>, president of CycleBar. “I also believe in the power of this business to sustain both the entrepreneurs who invest and the communities they serve. As a leadership team, we remain committed to ensuring our franchisees have the strongest possible foundation to build thriving businesses in the boutique fitness space.”For more information on franchising with CycleBar, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands">https://1851franchise.com/extraordinary-brands</a>.

Franchisees Joe Purton and Ryan Morningstar reflect on the power of community, resilience and hands-on ownership in building lasting fitness businesses.

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‘It’s Not Every Day Someone Gives You a Business’: How This Franchisee Turned an Unexpected Opportunity into a Multi-Unit Success with NEIGHBORHOOD barre

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