Celebrating International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day! At Self Esteem Brands, we’re fully committed to supporting women’s rights initiatives and furthering the cause for much-needed change. In honor of #IWD2022, we’re taking a closer look at the fight against gender inequality and celebrating our inspiring women-led businesses.

International Women’s Day 2022

March 8th, 2022, marks International Women’s Day — a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also stands as a call to action for accelerating women’s equality worldwide, and it originated well over a century ago with its first gathering taking place in 1911. This international day of awareness and action is supported globally by various industries, governments, educational institutions, community groups, professional associations, women’s networks, charities and non-profit bodies and more. 

IWD strives to create a gender-equal world; one that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. This year’s theme centers on working together to forge women’s equality and collectively #BreakTheBias that limits the inclusiveness we all seek.

Our Commitment to the Cause 

At SEB, we’re on a mission to improve the self-esteem of the world. In fact, it’s what drives us each and every day. We view IWD as an important opportunity to do just that while showcasing our investment in women’s equality and celebrating women’s achievements.  

As the parent company of Anytime Fitness (the world’s largest fitness franchise), Waxing the City, Stronger U, Basecamp Fitness, and The Bar Method — to name just a few — we’re proud of our partnerships with entrepreneurs who share our desire to make the world a better place. Together, we strive to enrich the lives of all of those who interact with our companies, which span nearly 40 countries on seven continents worldwide. That includes our consumers, vendors, employees, franchisees and the surrounding communities where more than 5,000 of our independently owned and operated franchises are located.  

Leading with a culture anchored in the values of people, purpose, profits and play, plus a charitable focus through the HeartFirst Foundation, SEB envisions a world where all human beings can rise from their challenges. We’re also committed to listening to your needs so that we can better serve our communities through our brands. 

The concept of self-esteem, of course, must also include self-reflection. What more can we do? What steps can we take today to make our world a better place tomorrow? It is our sincere belief that International Women’s Day brings with it a necessary reminder that there is much work left to be done — and we’re certainly up to the challenge.

Spotlight on Women-Led Businesses at SEB 

Women lead everyday at SEB, bringing their unique and valuable viewpoints to the table alongside their male counterparts. The Bar Method and Waxing the City are just two of our women-led businesses that manage to break the mold while shattering the glass ceiling.

The Bar Method

Founder Burr Leonard, an avid lover of ballet and jazz classes, discovered the Lotte Berk Method while living in New York in 1981. She quickly became a devoted student to the routine and noticed an incredible transformation in her body.  

In 2001, Burr and her former partner, Carl Diehl, opened the very first flagship studio in San Francisco, California. Their loyal clients loved the workout and sense of community so much that they started asking to open their own studios — helping women all across the country fulfil their dreams of owning a business.  

The popular, low-impact fitness franchise is still going strong today with close to 100 studios across 30 states and Canada.

Waxing the City

Spurred on by their loyal clientele and the belief that waxing is a lifestyle, not an occasional treat, the founders of Waxing the City followed their hunch that a dedicated waxing studio was a good bet. Spoiler alert: It was!  

This women-backed business encourages women to enjoy little moments of self-love on the daily. It’s their mission to build others up by helping them to feel and look their very best. Most importantly, they demonstrate the incredible power of women supporting women.  

From the start, the founders were committed to hiring the best and making them better. We couldn’t be happier that they chose to partner with SEB to offer their world-class concept and entrepreneurial drive to franchisees across the country.

How You Can Help #BreakTheBias 

International Women’s Day represents more than the goal of a single organization. Instead, it is a day that belongs to all of us on a mission for good. In the words of Gloria Steinem, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” 

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day? What steps are you taking personally to make the world a better place for women everywhere? We’d love to hear how you’re working to #BreakTheBias — and we stand with you in solidarity.  

Share your stories along with us on social media using #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias to encourage others to commit to helping forge a more inclusive world.