New Jersey is home to many ambitious and talented women who juggle family, career and home. A select few of these women are also extremely busy building their own companies to help better manage the whole work-life balance. At NJ Mom, we want to highlight these extraordinary women building NJ businesses and learn the secret to their success.
Booty Sculpter & NJ Mompreneur: Jen DeMarco
Jen DeMarco is the NJMompreneur and owner of a fitness studio called Local Barre based out of Hoboken, NJ. She has been (very) busy building her business and taking care of 3 little ones here in New Jersey. For over 5 years, Jen has been helping women sculpt their booty, boost their confidence and feel strong. NJ Mom had the opportunity to ask Jen a few questions about her business and herself; here’s what she had to share.
NJMOM: What do you offer to your clients and how is it different than other professionals in your field?
Jen: Local Barre is a luxury experience that women treat themselves to, it’s not an item on their to-do list for the day. Clients come to Local Barre not only for the strongest core workout in town, but also to be surrounded by the most dynamic women, first-class amenities, and the impeccable design of our studios.
NJMOM: How did you come up with the idea for your business? What inspired you?
Jen: Just a few short years ago, I was working for a leading hedge fund in NYC and living in Hoboken. I would rush out of work in order to get to my barre class in Manhattan and found myself thinking – why doesn’t Hoboken offer this type of workout? I figured there must be other women in Hoboken who would be interested, so I took a leap of faith and opened Local Barre in 2010. There are now three Local Barre studios in Hoboken, including the 2014 opening of Wheelhaus, our first indoor cycling studio.
NJMOM: Who is your role model?
Jen: I haven’t thought much about this question until now. I definitely draw my inspiration from everyday people. Especially with Facebook and other social media outlets, I have access to a constant feed of mentors. There is a distinct difference between inspiration and competition, and the face-to-face connections are still most important. In our one square mile walking town of Hoboken, I am constantly running into the women who inspire me most as a mother and an entrepreneur.
NJMOM: Do you have a favorite quote you live by?
Jen:
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside of you that is greater than any obstacle.” Christian D. Larson
NJMOM: What is your favorite part about your business?
Jen: The favorite thing about my business is being surrounded by so many inspiring women. I am grateful to have the most amazing network of staff, clients, and local business owners to share in the joys and struggles of running a business. Most days I have the best of both worlds in that I can enjoy the best hours of the day with my kids and afford myself the flexibility to work in the downtimes.
NJMOM: What are your favorite things to do in NJ with your family?
Jen: My favorite thing to do in New Jersey with my family is hit the parks! It is not uncommon for us to hit several parks in one day. Living in Hoboken, we are spoiled with a park a few blocks away in any direction. We enjoy riding bikes, climbing the tallest slides, and playing in the sand and water. We have even terrorized the skate park. Especially in the summer, we will stroll to Jersey City or take a ferry into Manhattan to explore new parks.
NJMOM: What are your favorite businesses in NJ?
Jen: Blue Apron! It’s an online meal delivery service with corporate office is in Soho but operations are in Jersey City. A refrigerated box arrives at my doorstep with the recipes and ingredients for three meals. The ingredients are fresh and seasonal and perfectly pre-measured so there’s no waste. I am introduced to specialty products that would be hard to find on my own, and recipes are never repeated within the same year. I still do all of the cooking, but without the planning and food shopping. As someone who is constantly juggling three children and a business, this is perfect for me–and my five year old loves to help!
What is the best part about being a mom for you?
Jen: The best part of being a mom for me is experiencing the essence of life through my children. They are so genuine and lighthearted; so passionate and forgiving; they enjoy life to the fullest everyday. It is my job to guide them and yet they continue to teach me so much. I love their abounding energy; their passion for the simplest things in life; their creativity; their sense of humor. I love their sense of wonder. I love their propensity for adventure and their lack of inhibitions. I love their genuineness; their smiles and their laughter. I love their innocence; the way their eyes twinkle in the sunlight; the way the sunlight shines on their fine golden locks. I love their relationship with each other, the way they lose themselves in each other. I love rediscovering these things in myself when I am with them.
NJMOM: Anything else you’d like to tell moms in NJ?
I followed my husband to New Jersey, kicking and screaming to leave Manhattan…
I followed my husband to New Jersey, kicking and screaming to leave Manhattan, and I haven’t looked back! Hoboken offers all of the things I love most about the City: culinary experience, boutique fitness, and performing arts, but most of all, dynamic people. Hoboken offers a strong sense of community that I didn’t embrace in Manhattan. Now I’m off to enjoy another beautiful beach day at the shore with my family!
To learn more about how Jen can help you reach your fitness goals, visit localbarre.com or stop into the Local Barre studio located at 1180 Maxwell Lane, 720 Monroe Street Suite C300 and 44th Hudson Place, 4th Floor in Hoboken, NJ.
