Tri-State Man Builds Business Bottom Up During Pandemic

Tri-State Man Builds Business Bottom Up During Pandemic

Heavy lifting for businesses -- trying to keep the doors open.

From lost revenue and laid off employees -- to those that have had to call it quits - all together.

But what about starting from scratch-- building a business from the bottom up --- just as the health crisis was about to hit.

It certainly is no - walk in the park.

And yet -- one evansville man -- is proving perseverance can beat the pandemic.

44news reporter megan diventi sat down with man --who turned his life around --- and made what has a been a difficult year--into the best yet.

"i knew what i was bringing was going to be different."

It's in his gym along north main street in evansville--- charles hamilton--is living out his dream--- "i've been doing the management of gyms for years now.

I've been a fitness manager, operations manager.

So i already knew how to run a gym."

But little did hamilton know-- his plans to open chamfit---would be during one of the worst times possible---- " so i already had pre- sale numbers, people ready to go and i just had to say we're ready.

So, february i opened up and i had 70 members."

During this pandemic---local businesses all across the country have taken a brutal blow--- "covid hit, and that changed the projection of where i would be in 3-4 months before then, but i knew already where i was at on numbers as far as that goes and paying bills i was good."

But for this owner---covid-19 was another bump in the road to success--- "so when covid happened, i've been through a lot worst situations than prior to that."

"my route was a little bit different, i had to stay in my car for a couple of years, live out of my car, but i had a goal everyday, i knew exactly what i wanted to do.

I was still putting myself to work every single day even though i was living out of my car for a couple years, it was tough."

But despite the challenges--- hamilton says he's been making it through the last few months okay.... "so, it didn't affect me because i already had a game plan prior to that not knowing what the future was going to hold."

And despite the fact--he's not sure what the future holds--he continues to inspire others--- going through a similar experience--- "innovate.

Be different.

This is the time to be different.

Offer different things."

Reporting in evansville, md, 44news.