# Barre3: Sadie Lincoln (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-11-05
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017

## Summary

Sadie Lincoln, founder of Barre3, explains how she and her husband Chris pivoted from high-level careers at 24 Hour Fitness to launching a boutique fitness franchise in Portland, Oregon, after feeling disconnected from the industry's rigid formulas. Lincoln details the company's unique franchise model, which empowers owner-operators to adapt the workout rather than copy a rigid method, and her decision to pause rapid expansion to protect the company's culture and values. The episode also features a postscript on Alexander Harik, who turned his mother's za'atar recipe into Zesty Z: The Za'atar Company, successfully getting his product into 450 Whole Foods locations.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=0) Introduction: Sadie Lincoln and Barre3
- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=68) The Spark: Selling Everything to Start Barre3
- [3:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=232) Lincoln's Unconventional Upbringing and Early Career
- [8:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=494) Working at 24 Hour Fitness and Meeting Chris
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=726) Realizing Fitness Was Failing Her and Moving to Portland
- [17:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=1058) Designing the Barre3 Concept and First Studio
- [26:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=1608) The Franchise Model and First Partners
- [33:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=1992) Navigating Celebrity, Marketing, and Company Culture
- [36:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=2208) Pausing Growth and Choosing Sustainability Over Scale
- [44:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-11-05-barre3-sadie-lincoln-2017#t=2660) Postscript: Alexander Harik and Zesty Z: The Za'atar Company

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Barre3 (product)
- 24 Hour Fitness (company)
- Mark Mastrov (other)
- Core Fusion (company)
- Physique 57 (company)
- Pure Barre (company)
- Zesty Z: The Za'atar Company (product)
- Alexander Harik (other)
- Whole Foods (company)

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- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Nikki Seaman of Freestyle Snacks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-10-founder-feature-nikki-seaman-of-freestyle-snacks) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Meet the Bone Broth Protein Bar with 20g Protein & No Protein Powder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-21-meet-the-bone-broth-protein-bar-with-20g-protein-no-protein-powder) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Erica Groussman of Trubar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-12-05-founder-feature-erica-groussman-of-trubar) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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