WILMINGTON — Chatting in a relaxed informal atmosphere may mean more local business.

Started last month, Business After Business is a weekly informal networking get-together — 5-7 p.m. Thursdays hosted at TinCap, 59 W. Sugartree St. — that keeps a regularly scheduled time slot for locals to meet and chat about business prospects in the community.

“It’s just showing up, get something to eat, get something to drink, and chat with others in the business community,” said Ruth Brindle of the Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber-supported event offers any veteran or potential business owner in the county to come and discuss not only growing business in the area, but to also get to know one another.

“It’s a great opportunity to connect with people who’ve been in business for a while and those who are new to the business community,” said Brindle.

Brindle believes the casual meet-ups are a great spot for the different generations to come and exchange ideas on ways to run their business.

“It’s really designed more for conversations,” she said. “They are a host of different networking opportunities — the Networking Alliance, Business After Hours — but those have some sort of formal program or focus.

“For example, we just did Business After Hours out at Southern State with their art show. It was a networking opportunity, but it was also centered around this other thing already happening, while (Business After Business) is an opportunity for casual conversation between whoever happens to be there that week.”

She hopes that these informal weekly meetings will cement themselves into people’s schedules, and if they can’t make it to one, they’ll be able to attend the next ones.

The crowd size, so far, has been fairly small, but she attributes that to them not having many opportunities to promote it as much.

“The October Network Alliance would’ve been a great opportunity, but that program ran so long that there was no time for announcements. So, it’s just taking us a while to get the word out there,” she said.

She hopes that having a specific focus while maintaining the casual vibe at the meetings will help draw in the crowds more —such as this week’s, where they’ll discuss the Joint Rec District Levy.

Brindle indicated that future meetings with a central focus will take place after the holiday season due to hectic and crazy schedules.

The meetings take place every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at TinCap, 59 W. Sugartree St., Wilmington.