What if letting go was the secret to leveling up?

This week, I’m sharing a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what happened when life forced me to step back—from my inbox, my to-do list, and even my studio. Between moving my home and performing in a ballet (yep, at almost 50 💃), I barely opened my laptop… and yet, my business had its biggest week ever.

Inside this episode, I’m breaking down:

✨ How delegating led to record-breaking results
✨ The mindset shift that helped me really trust my team
✨ Why studio owners often cling to “doing it all”—and how to stop
✨ 3 simple ways to start letting go without everything falling apart
✨ What freedom really looks like when you run a studio on your terms

If you’ve been trying to grow your studio while carrying the entire business on your back—this is your sign to loosen the grip.

Because when you stop doing it all yourself, that’s when real growth happens.

🔥 Ready for accountability and smart strategy to help you delegate, grow, and actually enjoy your business?
Check out LEVEL UP —the mastermind for studio owners who are done doing it alone.

Your GO-TO LINK for all things Melissa Rose-: Level UP : Your Business, Your Life, Google Business Profile Workshop, Visibility Workshop, Hire Newsletter, & Referral Partners.

Love today’s podcast? 🙌

1. Take a screenshot and share it to your IG stories. Tag me @brickandmortarvisibility
2. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast!
3. Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast.

In 2009, Melissa Rose started her business, The Dancing House, in the basement of her home. There, she taught the art of dance to students of all ages while her babies were right along with her, in the pack and playing. With passion, resilience, and tenacity - she created a business that has become "The Highlight of Your Week" for her tribe, her team, and her community, along with running a successful brick-and-mortar business and an online dance membership.

When she’s not teaching pliés or hitting publish on a podcast, Melissa coaches other brick-and-mortar business owners to become the only option in town—using smart, sustainable SEO strategies like Google Business Profile optimization, blog content, and simple marketing systems that actually work. Off the clock? You’ll find her chasing her five amazing kids, hiking her favorite trails, or getting her hands dirty in the garden.

If you're a studio owner who’s tired of spinning your wheels on social media and wondering how to actually get more clients in the door… this episode is your roadmap.

I'm pulling back the curtain on the one strategy that changed everything for me: SEO.

As a single mama of five (yes, five!) running a local brick-and-mortar business, I needed a marketing strategy that worked while I worked—and even when I didn’t. So I doubled down on optimizing my Google Business Profile and creating content that kept me visible and trusted in my community.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why SEO is your best friend as a studio owner
• How I started (imperfectly!) back in 2016 and never looked back
• What you can do TODAY to attract more of the right clients, with less hustle
• How visibility fits into building a studio that works for your life

And if you're ready for accountability, strategy, and a no-fluff community to grow with—check out my LEVEL UP mastermind. Because running a studio shouldn't mean running yourself ragged.

Your GO-TO LINK for all things Melissa Rose-: Level UP : Your Business, Your Life, Google Business Profile Workshop, Visibility Workshop, Hire Newsletter, & Referral Partners.

Love today’s podcast? 🙌

1. Take a screenshot and share it to your IG stories. Tag me @brickandmortarvisibility
2. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast!
3. Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast.

In 2009, Melissa Rose started her business, The Dancing House, in the basement of her home. There, she taught the art of dance to students of all ages while her babies were right along with her, in the pack and playing. With passion, resilience, and tenacity - she created a business that has become "The Highlight of Your Week" for her tribe, her team, and her community, along with running a successful brick-and-mortar business and an online dance membership.

Melissa's also a visibility coach and consultant for other local brick + mortar businesses. Providing direction by leveraging SEO best practices, encompassing Google Business Profile optimization, blog writing, and email/text campaigns. When not inspiring or empowering, Melissa's a mama of five kiddos, enjoys long hikes and playing in her garden.

In this episode of the Brick and Mortar Visibility Podcast, we’re stepping beyond the studio and into the world of boutique retail. Whether you're running a Pilates, yoga, or music studio—or any class-based business—there’s a good chance you’re also selling something on the side. From merch to gear, retail is a powerful revenue stream, and it’s time we treat it like one.

Our guest, Sarah Kowal, knows this firsthand. She went from broke to building two thriving businesses and now mentors and markets for retail brands nationwide. Sarah shares her real-talk wisdom on marketing for small businesses, particularly those running brick-and-mortar or boutique retail operations.

Plus, we kick off the episode with a quick check-in about Profit First—because it’s Q3, and if you’re following the method, it’s time to take that 50% profit and celebrate your progress!

Tune in to hear:

• Why boutique retail deserves a real marketing strategy
• Simple shifts to increase your retail sales
• How to think like a retailer inside your service-based biz
• A dose of inspiration from Sarah’s journey and hard-won lessons

🎧 Press play to learn how to make your boutique retail space more profitable—without the overwhelm.

More about our guest:
An entrepreneur, Sarah Kowal went from broke-a$$ to owning two successful businesses. She has spoken at numerous business forums (various chambers of commerce, the MN Retailers Association, other business groups, and as a mentor with Twin Cities SCORE) and serves as a judge, mentor, and marketer for business pitch competitions. She has made a difference for thousands of entrepreneurs. Her startup, WeatherVane Creamery, was recognized by the American Cheese Society for its innovation in dairy retail. She hustled to generate funding from over 70 private individuals, pitched to Howard Shultz of Starbucks (and over 10,000 Starbucks shareholders!), and generated a ton of media coverage, including FOX Morning News. Currently, she is the Founder and Master Biz Hacker of Project Biz Lab, an online business academy, and Owner/Operator of InSIGHTful Low Vision, LLC, a boutique marketing agency.

Your GO-TO LINK for all things Melissa Rose-: Level UP: Your Business, Your Life, Google Business Profile Workshop, Visibility Workshop, Newsletter, Referral Partners, and more.

Love today’s podcast? 🙌

1. Take a screenshot and share it to your IG stories. Tag me @brickandmortarvisibility
2. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast!
3. Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast.

In 2009, Melissa Rose started her business, The Dancing House, in the basement of her home. There, she taught the art of dance to students of all ages while her babies were right along with her, in the pack and playing. With passion, resilience, and tenacity - she created a business that has become "The Highlight of Your Week" for her tribe, her team, and her community, along with running a successful brick-and-mortar business and an online dance membership.

Melissa's also a visibility coach and consultant for other local brick + mortar businesses. Providing direction by leveraging SEO best practices, encompassing Google Business Profile optimization, blog writing, and email/text campaigns. When not inspiring or empowering, Melissa's a mama of five kiddos, enjoys long hikes and playing in her garden.