Chamber of Commerce kicks off new year
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on January 17, 2014 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year Thursday evening with a new type of business after hours event -- a joint evening between CrossFit Goldsboro and Curves Gym on Parkway Drive.
The after-hours social took on a different look from past events, during which businesses are usually closed, when attendees walked in on a CrossFit class in full swing.
"I will be honest, I had never heard of it until a couple days ago," CrossFit coach Ben Johnson said. "It's a really cool event, as long as they aren't scared. They come in watching people doing crazy pull-ups."
CrossFit Coach Aaron Sanders said the event was great for showing people what they do in CrossFit.
"Anytime you can get people in here that wouldn't normally come in then that's great exposure for your business," he said.
Co-owner Brooks Garrett opened Goldsboro CrossFit with her husband Mike.
"CrossFit is fun, CrossFit is exciting, CrossFit is motivating, CrossFit is tiring," Mrs. Garrett said.
The Garretts got into CrossFit for a new challenge after Mike had become bored with triathlons.
"It's three movements over and over," he said. "With CrossFit I can work on 10 different movements.
Mike said that the gym's oldest member is 74 years old while the youngest is 4 years old.
At Curves, a gym geared specifically toward women, a Zumba class was taking place, letting the participants see what it was all about while indulging on the snacks and beer brought out for them.
"This is going great for the first time this has been a floating event," Chamber Executive Director Kate Daniels said. "And its such unique timing with it being January and everyone saying they are going to eat better and work out, and here it is."
Plus, she said, business after hours events are a great way for members to network across the community.
And with 532 businesses in the Chamber there is no shortage of hosts.
"When we put out the sign ups for every year these are always the first to get snapped up," Mrs. Daniels said.