Connie Popwell and Her Pure Barre Success

By now, most fitness gurus have tried a Pure Barre class or have at least heard of the fitness phenomenon. Pure Barre became a franchise in 2009, and is now the largest, most established barre franchise in the nation, with over 200 studios across the country. Connie Popwell is the ambitious, dedicated woman who brought the phenomenon to Athens, Georgia. Popwell inspires women everyday with this workout by making it an experience rather than just a monotonous workout. Pure Barre is revolutionizing the fitness world, and Popwell is one of the women to thank for that.

Popwell became hooked immediately on Pure Barre in 2011. At the time, she was working for an insurance company in Atlanta, Georgia. “The best way to find a job is to consider where you spend the vast majority of your time,” Popwell says, “For me, that was going to [Pure Barre] every day at 5:30.” In 2013, Popwell went to Pure Barre corporate with her application, and three months later the Athens studio opened. This set the record for the fastest studio opening.

Popwell graduated from the University of Georgia in 2010, before the franchise existed. “I knew if I had had it when I was in college it would have revolutionized a lot of things about my college experience. It was something I could see all my friends doing,” she says.  Popwell was originally approved to open her studio in Atlanta, but the she chose Athens instead and has no regrets.

Popwell’s favorite part about being a studio owner is her relationships with her instructors and clients. “There is nothing cooler than being able to see one of your clients come out or in and be over joyed with changes they’ve seen in themselves. Watching people see results and the workout work for them is really rewarding,” she says.

The different Pure Barre studios find success in different ways. It is up to each studio owner to decide how to make her location stand out. Popwell sets the bar high in terms of the way her team teaches. She holds weekly meetings to discuss ways to improve in all aspects. “I like to be around making sure we’re always being the best we can be, or if there are ways we can be better, we are making those changes,” Popwell says, “I’ve tried to make Pure Barre somewhere where people can go for more than just a workout. It’s more of an experience.”

It is evident to anyone listening how much Popwell loves to talk Pure Barre. She discusses her job and studio with fervor and a huge smile on her face. Everyone in the studio is dressed head-to-toe in yoga pants and colorful workout tops and shares the same excitement about discussing the business. 

Lindsay Brush is one of these instructors. According to her, “Connie is the perfect mix of a best friend and serious business woman, and I admire her a lot.  I go to her for advice about all aspects of life, and we work very well together when it comes to hiring and training other instructors. Her love and dedication for the technique is contagious and makes work extremely rewarding,” Brush says.

Popwell and her instructors are a tight-knit bunch. You can see them giggling at the front desk with each other between greeting clients as they walk in, and this energy gets the clients excited for class.  

Olivia Shoemaker is another one of Popwell’s bubbly instructors. She also loves the relationships formed within the Pure Barre community. “Connie takes the time to get to know her clients and her employees. She knows what is going on in their lives and what motivates them. She truly wants to see each person succeed,” Shoemaker says. “This value that she places on her clients and customer service has helped drive her business to success. Connie is able to convey her passion for Pure Barre in a way that excites even the most unexcited person. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and it is impossible to not care about Pure Barre after talking with her for just two minutes. It also doesn’t hurt that she is very diligent at making sure she has everything planned out and in order everyday,” Shoemaker says.

Ali Diehl, a student at the University of Georgia, has been taking Pure Barre classes for three years. “I have taken classes at over ten studios, and nothing feels like home like Pure Barre Athens,” she says. “There is a great sense of community bringing together college students and Athens locals alike. There is no judgment from anyone, and everyone loves to see their ‘tuck buddies’ reach their goals.”

In regard to the future success of Popwell and the Pure Barre franchise, there is a lot to look out for. Popwell is opening a second studio in Tallahassee, Florida. As for the franchise at large, “Anything that continues to generate results like Pure Barre does, there is no reason for it to fizzle out. When the results stop, people will stop coming,” Popwell says, “As an owner, I would be shocked if there wasn’t a new concept entering the market, but it’s my job to continue to make the brand relevant to the market. We keep new trends in mind when shaping our programs and monitor what’s going on in the fitness world so we can continue to innovate.”

[To get a glimpse of what a Pure Barre workout is like, check out our teaser online, featuring Popwell instructing the pre-class warm-up.]