Jabs, Cross of Business, Punch and Bunch against Inflation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – August is National Black Business Month and the Black-owned boxing studio hopes to make a difference and set the tone for other Black entrepreneurs who want to enter that aspect of the fitness industry. I’m here.

“Personally, it doesn’t bother me much, but I love it.” Tramaine Crook, Co-Owner of Punches n’ Bunches Boxing Studio in Nashville

The history of National Black Business Month can be traced back to 2014 and its purpose is to celebrate, highlight and empower black-owned businesses.

Crook said his gym is one of about 20 boxing gyms in the Nashville area. According to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, there are about 130 businesses that are gyms in the Nashville area.

Crook said being in a space that doesn’t have many owners like him motivates him.

“There’s a wide variety of people in my gym atmosphere, from fighters to kids,” Crook said.

Punches n’ Bunches is more than just landing a punch or two. There is also a hook.

“We pride ourselves on being a mental health hub fitness boxing gym. We have the advantage of being able to offer all types of people when they come to our door,” Crook said.

The face you sometimes see when you enter their door is Crook, one of the owners.

“It’s definitely an interesting area, because we do a lot of meetings and events in the fitness industry. There aren’t many people who look like me sitting in my seat,” Crook said.

The reason is what drives him to help open doors for others like him in an industry he describes as being primarily a white fitness industry.

“I also like to make sure that Black trainers who want to play a role as Black business owners can get something and just connect with them,” Crook said. Told.

Punches n’ Bunches opened just before the pandemic, but the boxing studio was able to survive by being creative with the support of some of its clients.

“We’ve lost a lot of members, but we’ve had so much fun coming here that some are willing to pay a year in advance to keep us,” Crook said. “It was an interesting time, but we made it through.”

As Jim grows, he faces another battle: inflation.

“The rates we’ve had so far have been a little bit cheaper. We had to increase it a bit, but not so much that we had to sit down and talk about why we were doing it,” Crook said. “They understood perfectly.”

A boxing gym owner gives aspiring black entrepreneurs advice:

“Stay in your lane, focus on your passion and just have fun. You have to enjoy what you do,” Crook said.

He also encouraged people to support black businesses, not just this month.

Earlier this year, the Metro Council approved approximately $20 million to establish the Small Business Recovery Fund. These funds were focused on supporting minority-owned businesses in Nashville, especially North Nashville.

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