2024 Power 100: Amy Chase
Photo | Nathan Fiske
Amy Chase
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Despite her well-known success as the owner of The Haberdash and Crompton Collective in the Canal District, Amy Chase admits to some challenges. It’s been a rough few years for small business owners, Chase said.
“Our staff had to adapt in many ways during COVID and the years following. The fact that we were able to do that is why we are still here,” she said.
Chase may be reserved, but her impact as a trendsetter in the Central Massachusetts small business community cannot be overstated. She was one of the early pioneers in the Canal District before it became Worcester’s trendy neighborhood. As small businesses have struggled in the COVID-era, Chase has been upfront about the issues and advocating on behalf of small businesses, while still finding room for growth.
Chase employs 24 people at Haberdash, her women’s clothing boutique with shops in Worcester, Hudson, and Harwich Port, while Crompton supports nearly 100 small business jobs. These businesses are big contributors to keeping items like furniture and decor out of landfills.
Chase has a unique perspective as an earlier-stage Canal District entrepreneur. When she opened Crompton in 2012, the neighborhood hadn't transformed into the destination it is today. Fast forward about a dozen years, and new development abounds. With the construction and opening of Polar Park baseball stadium in 2021, property values rose at nearly double the rate of Worcester overall. The buzz has posed both opportunities and challenges for existing businesses, including Crompton sellers.
Chase opened her third Haberdash location on Cape Cod ahead of the opening of the ballpark to prepare for a potential lull at the Worcester shop during the summer months. That way, she was able to keep her staff employed in Worcester – her lifelong home, which she loves for its close-knit community.
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