Small Business Spotlight: Zin Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge

BY MARGARET DAMGHANI

Zin Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge

Website: zinyogawine.com

Address: 1411 Aversboro Rd Suite 309

How long have you been in the Garner Area?

Over five years.

What inspired your business?

My passion for people, helping people, educating people on pain management alternatives to medicine.

 My two passions...Yoga and wine. Yoga is healing for the body and soul. I love teaching and sharing the powerful healing practice of yoga. At Zin Yoga, the classes are open to everyBODY, to everyone. Completely separate business is my wine. I offer a unique boutique selection of wines.

Wine tastings are offered multiple times a month, as well as virtual wine tastings. NO WINE WITH YOGA.  Probably the one most misunderstood part of my business for those who have never been here.

How did you adapt to changes with the pandemic and closures?

I am grateful for the technology of ZOOM. Yoga classes moved to this online live streaming format. Then I decided to offer wine tastings/discussions online as well. 

People love them!! Learn great details about the featured wines. Have awesome discussions and share thoughts on what we are tasting… and we get to have the community and socializing in a safe social distancing way.

What have you had to do to comply?

It has now been over five months since I have taught yoga in my beautiful studio. Zin yoga studio offers classes outside under the porch as well as virtual classes.

How did this affect your employees?

Unfortunately, no work.

How did you use the award from the Garner Small Business Resiliency Fund?

RENT!!!  The grant was a true blessing.

What does the future look like?

I have Faith that my business will survive this crisis because of this amazing community. The people of Garner support small business. I feel so blessed I opened this business here in this community.

Small Business Spotlight: Barbra Galavotti, Body Wellness Massage Therapy

BY MARGARET DAMGHANI

Body Wellness Massage Therapy, LLC

Barbra Galavotti

Website: bodywellnessnc.com

Address: 1428 Aversboro Rd, Garner, NC 27529

How long have you been in the Garner Area?

Lived in the Garner area for 24 years, and started Body Wellness 11 years ago.

What inspired your business?

My passion for people, helping people, educating people on pain management alternatives to medicine.

How did you adapt to changes with the pandemic and closures?

I’m not sure anyone can fully adapt to the changes and especially closing.  Being in a “people focused” industry, worry extends to your employees, especially the single parents, and your clients who rely on what we do to manage their pain. 

Staying in touch with clients and encouraging them to do self care, while educating them on how to, gave hope they would be encouraged as well.  I also stayed in touch with employees to hopefully provide them a sense of “we are going to be ok” and all have jobs to go back to.

What have you had to do to comply?

I had to close my doors to comply with the executive order.  This meant $0 revenue flow, however all of the bills still needed to be paid. 

How did this affect your employees?

It forced my employees to file for unemployment. 

How did you use the award from the Garner Small Business Resiliency Fund?

The fund was helpful and contributed to rent for 1 month.  It was humbling knowing our small community was willing to help out like that, especially when all of the bills that needed to be paid, no one reached out including rent, utilities, banking, software companies.....the list goes on. 

Not one company reached out to say let us help you.  I wasn’t looking for a hand out, but was hoping some of the businesses I know are far larger than my own would have offered for at least a deferment on bills.  A very disappointing moment for me so the Resiliency Fund put a little faith back into me that there are still folks that care about what we do for the people.

What does the future look like?

 I wish I knew what the future looked like.  It is so hard to tell.  Although we were given the go ahead to open our doors, the expense has greatly increased due to protocols that need to be in place in order to have clients walk through our doors. 

Not to mention, many folks are still hesitant about coming back in.  I haven’t been able to bring all of my staff back yet and our operation hours and days have reduced greatly due to the numbers being low coming back at this time.  The slow start makes it even more challenging to catch up financially from the loss.

Small Business Spotlight: Linda Wallace, Garner Florist and Gifts

BY MARGARET DAMGHANI

Garner Florist, Linda Wallace

Website: garnerncflorist.com

Address: 1140 Benson Road, Suite 104, Garner NC, 27529

How long have you been in the Garner Area?

I have owned the Florist for the past 34 years. 

How did you adapt to changes with the pandemic and closures?

I sanitize daily, and when someone comes into the shop. 

What have you had to do to comply?

All suppliers wear masks, and up until last week left flowers at the front door.

How did this affect your employees?

My long time delivery person still is not back to work. I have worked mostly by myself.

How did you use the award from the Garner Small Business Resiliency Fund?

I used the funds to pay for one month rent and utilities. It was a life-saver. 

What does the future look like?

Not sure what the future holds for the flower industry. So many weddings have been delayed. Funerals are nothing compared to the past.

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