Bar Method owners nationwide have been fighting to retain our clients and keep our businesses alive in the wake of a global pandemic. Livestreaming classes have been our only lifeline and source of revenue. Self Esteem Brands (SEB) has recently announced replacing individual studio livestreaming with a corporate-produced and enhanced version of Bar Online and prohibiting individual studios from streaming virtual classes. The stated goal is to support local studios, but it will, in fact, have the opposite effect.
SEB plans to roll out their platform 6-8 weeks from now when all of our studios are either still closed or at significantly reduced in-person capacity. According to SEB's plan, once local studios are unable to livestream their own classes, owners will have to direct all clients unable to come to the studio to SEB's online platform. Not only will this divert revenue away from the studios (at a time when income is already down 40-60% due to COVID19), but it will also detract from the client experience. It threatens retention by eliminating one of our strongest differentiators: a community-focused and personalized class experience. The fallout would be devastating and irreparable. To launch this service in the middle of a pandemic, with the real possibility that there may be a second wave, is insensitive at worst and egregious at best.
Even the vague promise of a potential share back will not drive meaningful revenue into our already struggling businesses. SEB will be directly competing with our studios and jeopardizing our only viable revenue stream at this time.
The undersigned Bar Method owners insist that SEB re-evaluate their plan and instead generate a solution that will support local studios in their effort to survive the current pandemic and ensure long-term success.
Thank you!
