Cardio Barre featured in Houston Chronicle

Cardio Barre was recently featured in an article in the Houston Chronicle, entitled “A New Year, A New You.” The article was composed from our pitching efforts and the information we provided to the reporter, Jessica Belasco. The article discusses the hot new fitness trends of 2011, and Cardio Barre was included as a major example. Below is a portion of the article and it can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here.

A new year, a new you
Apps, weights and other workout devices will help you get in shape
By JESSICA BELASCO

BARRE WORKOUTS

Ballet barres aren't just for dancers anymore. Barre training, inspired by dance and Pilates movements, will be a popular way to sculpt your body in 2011.

The Los Angeles-based Cardio Barre program, which combines barre work, light weights and floor exercises, will hit Texas, including San Antonio and Houston, this summer, according to a company spokeswoman.

At-home barre workouts will also be available on DVD, says Marie Guinto, executive producer of Acacia, which produces fitness DVDs. No need for a barre in your living room — just use a chair.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Michele Mosler

Franchisee Name: Michele Mosler
Franchisee Location 24422 Chestnut St., Newhall, CA 91321


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Q: Where are you from originally?
A: Michele’s roots are in the L.A./San Diego area.

Q: Before franchising, what did you do?
A: Michele worked in the music business for seven years as a production manager. She also started her own skin care business, which she’s operated for 12 years.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: As a teenager, Michele was involved in a life-threatening car accident that left her on life support for a week. People put down her quick recovery, but it sparked a life-long passion for fitness and healthy living. She rowed for the crew team in college and has always taken dance classes. When Michele first started taking Cardio Barre classes, she says she could feel her left arm, which was severely injured in the crash, getting stronger. Michele fell in love with the program and began speaking with Richard [Giorla] about the possibility of becoming a franchisee. Even though the economy was shaky, she says she had gained a lot of confidence running her skin care business and felt she could handle any challenges that may come up.

Q: How do you see yourself connecting with the community?
A: For Michele, owning a Cardio Barre isn’t about the money. She got such amazing results from the program that she felt the need to share that with the whole community. “It’s such a great way to step aside from the everyday stress of our lives, and I’m happy that I can help people do that,” Michele says.

Q: What are your future goals or development plans?
A: After seeing enrollment at her Santa Clarita location explode, Michele is now considering opening additional studios in San Diego and Santa Barbara.

Cardio Barre featured in the Patch Studio City

Cardio Barre was recently featured in the Patch Studio City with an article entitled “Cardio Barre Creator- A Studio City Rags to Riches Tale.” The article is a complete feature on Richard’s entrepreneur story and the creation of Cardio Barre. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Cardio Barre Creator —A Studio City Rags to Riches Tale

With the holidays here and the New Year looming many people will start to have one thing on their mind —"Why the hell did I eat all that junk during the holidays?!"

Okay, maybe they won't think that, but it is a known fact the the number one New Year's resolution revolves around diet and exercise (and getting back into those size 6 jeans).

So, when my editor, Mike Szymanski, asked me to meet Richard Giorla, creator of the Cardio Barre workout sensation, I thought, "What are you trying to say, Mike? You think my column makes me look fat?" (Read More).

Cardio Barre recently featured in an Austin Business Journal

Cardio Barre was recently featured in an Austin Business Journal feature entitled ““Frequent the 'barre' and get healthy.” The article was composed from in-depth interview with Richard Giorla and discusses the Cardio Barre franchise and its expansion plans to Austin. In addition, it discusses its franchise opportunity and its ideal franchise candidate. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Frequent the 'barre' and get healthy

A Southern California exercise studio — popular with many female celebrities that centers its workout around the ballet barre used by ballerinas in training — wants to open a location in Austin.

Named Cardio Barre , the studio has six locations throughout Southern California and is now looking for a franchisee in Austin to open the first location in Texas in 2011.

Richard Giorla, a former professional dancer, is hoping to expand the brand nationally with up to 25 locations. He’s targeting cities where health and fitness awareness is already a big part of the culture, such as Austin. (Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Suzanne Caffey and Nancy Montgomery

Franchisee Names: Suzanne Caffey and Nancy Montgomery
Franchise Location: 1581 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, CA, 90041


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Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: Sisters, Nancy and Susan grew-up in the San Fernandino Valley and were both involved in different fields prior to joining on to the Cardio Barre Franchise. Nancy was an art manager for an advertising agency for over 13 years and then moved on to opening her own furniture company. Suzanne is a legal secretary and is still doing this while being a small business owner as well.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: Suzanne started working out and taking Richard Giorla, founder and CEO, class when it first opened in 2001. Suzanne immediately fell in love with going and taking the Cardio Barre class that she started dragging her sister, Nancy along as well. Around 2007, Nancy and Suzanne sadly lost their father. The two remembered how he had always dreamt of owning a family business. They saw the great business opportunity right in front of them, cardio Barre, and decided that with their father’s inheritance they would fulfill his dream of opening a small family business. Cardio Barre of Eagle Rock opened in December of 2008.

Q: Why was this brand the right fit for you?
A: “We felt empowered as women in the Cardio Barre class and knew that this brand could also be an empowering business opportunity as well. Cardio Barre is so unique and so motivating, and that translates perfectly to us as business owners as well.”

Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: “The Eagle Rock community is a very up-in-coming area. It is getting very trendy and Cardio Barre is going to be a great addition to both the culture and the economic development here.”

Q: What are your future goals? Development plans?
A: Suzanne and Nancy have the same vision and dreams for the Cardio Barre brand as created by Richard Giorla and plan to continue the development of Cardio Barre throughout the region.

Franchise Profile: Denise Cohen

Franchisee Name: Denise Cohen
Franchise Location: Cardio Barre - Hollywood; 6464 Sunset Blvd., Suite 150; Hollywood, CA 90028



Something Interesting About Denise Cohen’s Story…
Denise has always led a very active life. As a child, she ice skated, rode horses, swam, played basketball and ran track. When she grew older, she continued her healthy lifestyle, regularly going to the gym despite working a full time job. Denise said she loves not only the physical benefits from workouts, but the state of mind a healthy body promotes. Much of her confidence in Cardio Barre comes from the fact that in all her years of going to the gym she has never experienced a workout as thorough and successful as what Richard Giorla has created at Cardio Barre. In fact, she’s so confident that she has signed on as a franchisee of the business.

What Denise Cohen Did Before Cardio Barre…
Denise worked for an airline for seven years before entering corporate America. After 10 years working for Qwest, she decided it was time for a change of pace and went to interior design school. For the next 16 years she owned her own design company in Denver. Now, fueled by her passion for working out, Denise is becoming a Cardio Barre franchisee.

How Denise Cohen Specifically Found Out About Cardio Barre…
Denise has had a lifelong passion for exercise. When a friend in L.A. introduced her to the Cardio Barre program, she was skeptical at first, but just a few minutes into the class she realized what an amazing workout Cardio Barre offers and was soon hooked, even bringing her husband, Warren, along. After meeting the Cardio Barre founder, Giorla, Denise decide opening her own Cardio Barre location would be an interesting and fun endeavor, and decided to take the challenge.

Why Denise Cohen Became and Loves Being a Cardio Barre Franchisee…
Denise is so confident about Cardio Barre because she believes in the product; a low-impact, high-intensity workout that has developed a cult following because of the success participants experience. Denise even said that, unlike so many other workout programs, she never feels like she’s dragging herself to the gym, even after working out at Cardio Barre for three years. Denise isn’t alone in her love of Cardio Barre. She said ever since plans for her Hollywood location became known she has received emails every day asking for more information about the franchise and her location.

Cardio Barre targeting Birmingham

Cardio Barre was recently featured by Birmingham Business Journal in an article entitled “Cardio Barre Targeting Birmingham.” The article profiles an ideal franchise candidate and also names other cities for development. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Cardio Barre targeting Birmingham

A West Coast fitness craze is looking to land in Birmingham.

Richard Giorla, owner of Cardio Barre, said he’s targeting the Birmingham area and looking for local operators to open several exercise studios here.

The recently launched franchise has sold out in Los Angeles, its home base, and negotiations are ongoing with franchisees to open locations in several cities across the country, including Chicago and Las Vegas, said Giorla.

The ideal operator would be someone passionate about dance and fitness and wants to run the business hands-on. He didn’t specify the exact number of locations the Birmingham market could hold. (Read More)