As the SouthCoast counts down the days until Monday, we are hoping and praying that the number of new cases and hospitalizations in the Commonwealth continues to decline, allowing our lives and commerce to slowly return to normal. Each morning on The Rock and Fox Show, we'll spotlight a SouthCoast business leader who is fighting to continue to grow even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Never in a million years did I think that a plague was going to hit and it would change the way I approach my business."  --Lara Harrington, Boutique Fitness

This morning we spoke with Lara Harrington, founder of Boutique Fitness. She said that COVID-19 has been extremely challenging for her fitness facilities, forcing her to lay off a majority of her 25 coaches who work at her four locations.

"We're such a hands-on business, and it's all about building relationships, so it's a little tricky," said Harrington.

One change that she thinks will be made to the Boutique Fitness business model will be that the four locations will not be open at the same time, at least temporarily. She says even if she got the all clear to open up next week, she has no plans to open any of her locations before June.

That being said, Harrington remains optimistic about the future of her business and of the SouthCoast economy.

"If it was happening to one industry, or one town, that would be, I think, a bigger question, but because it's happening to everybody it's almost like we're all going to pick each other up," she said.

Harrington said her members are really enjoying the video sessions that she is offering. In fact, they are so popular that she fully intends on continuing them after the pandemic is over, regardless.

She emphasized that this crisis has forced us all to become innovative, and that is definitely a silver lining.

If you would like to promote how your business is handling the pandemic, please email Michael Rock at Rock@Fun107.com for more information or fill out this form.

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