For Keep it Local: Sports month, we’re speaking with Carolyn Hern, the owner of Pure Barre locations in Winston-Salem and Clemmons. In addition to offering unique workouts utilizing elements of ballet, pilates, and more, they are focused on creating a supportive environment that promotes well-being. 

What is Pure Barre and what do people enjoy about it?

Pure Barre is a fitness class that utilizes the ballet barre. Each class is a mix of yoga, pilates and ballet. During class, participants focus on small, isometric movements utilizing the bodyʼs own resistance. The goal is to get your muscles to their maximum fatigue so they literally shake. Then you hold the exercise for the duration and stretch after each major section of class. This creates a strong, long, lean muscle.

Our Mission Statement at Pure Barre Winston-Salem and Pure Barre Clemmons:

We are team of committed, motivated, and focused people who are always striving to be strong, balanced, and caring. We will work to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors is treated like family and leaves with a smile on their face. We will challenge our clients to learn their true strength while achieving their fitness goals. We believe that working out should be fun and that Pure Barre helps us live a balanced life which allows us to be our best selves.

Why did you decide to open a business in Winston-Salem?

I grew to love the community and entrepreneurial atmosphere of Winston-Salem when I attended business school at Wake Forest University to get my MBA. When I had the opportunity to open my first studio, my vision for the business was to be in Winston-Salem in Reynolda Village.  And … we’re there!

How do you stay engaged with your followers and your community?

I have an amazing team of women, teachers, and front desk associates, that fully embrace our Vision, Mission, and Culture to create the best possible experience for our clients. My team and I live what we promote, meaning we take classes and live the fitness-focused lifestyle we seek to develop with our clients. Therefore, it’s extremely important to everyone to perform at their best and follow our Culture, which is found below. We aren’t trying to be the best workout in town. We are trying to create the best client experience and build a community—there’s a difference. Our goal is to “wow” our clients by giving them a highly personal experience where everyone feels like family, loves to come to the studio, and hates to leave.  

We use a lot of tools to stay connected with our followers including free Pop Up community classes, advanced classes for our long-time clients, and an extensive Social Media presence. But while we are very active on Facebook and Instagram publicly posting pictures and videos about what we’re doing in the studio each day, our private Facebook group is a highly effective way to keep in touch with our most loyal clients and enhance the community experience. Check out what we’re doing everyday @purebarrewinstonsalem and @purebarreclemmons

The Chamber’s Keep it Local initiative promotes community support for local business ventures. Spending locally creates a strong economy and a sense of place which gives our town its unique lifestyle. The Keep it Local campaign will feature a different segment of businesses each month in 2018. March is Sports Month.