Central MA Up + Comer: Crompton Collective Owner Amy Lynn Chase

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Amy Lynn Chase is living the dream, complete with pups, chickens, and an antique vintage store.

GoLocalWorcester presents Central MA Up + Comers, a weekly profile of a member of the next generation as they are making their mark on the Central MA workforce and community. Join us every Thursday for a look at the careers and lifestyles of the local digital generation. If you have suggestions for a profile, please email [email protected].

Amy Lynn Chase is the owner of Crompton Collective (consisting of Haberdash Vintage and The Swapaholics) at 138 Green Street in Worcester. The Collective, an antique and artisan mall features vintage, retro and handmade items. Actively involved in the Canal District where her stores are located, she helps run the Canal District Farmers Market and serves on the Marketing Committee at Destination Worcester. Her mobile vintage shop was featured on The Today Show.

A conversation with Amy Lynn Chase

SW: What made you decide to open The Crompton Collective in the canal district?

ALC: I grew up in Worcester. I drove down Green Street every day on my way to school. In 2008 when they started the streetscape project, I started looking at retail spaces in the Canal District. I fell in love with Crompton Place. I didn’t end up renting space that year because my clothing swap company was talking off in Boston. I remained very close with the property owners and knew that I would call The Canal District home some day.

SW: What does your business offer visitors to the Canal District?

ALC: Besides awesome handmade gifts and creative antiques? I like to think we offer a refreshing shopping experience. Our shop is a hub for artists, antique collectors and fashion lovers. We offer up classroom space for people that have a skill to share with the community. We love our neighborhood and we do our best to add value to it better every day. We are currently working on bringing the Canal District Farmers Market in to our event space for people to enjoy all winter long!

SW: What is the best thing about your work?

ALC: The customers! Crompton allows me to interact with hundreds of people every day. People that love to collect stuff, make stuff, people that love Worcester and appreciate its history.

SW: Can you describe a day in your life?

ALC: I wake up, I feed the mini farm we have. I answer emails and Facebook questions, I run errands. Then open the shop. At the shop I help customers, make sure everything is visually appealing, try to get some marketing and event planning done then move on to the less fun stuff like paperwork and then run home cuddle with our pups.

SW: What is your dream job?

ALC: This one…I always knew I would own a business! I never took direction well and have way too many ideas to have to answer to someone else.

SW: What is your favorite piece of technology, book, movie, and music?

ALC: I love nerdy business books; sometimes I read 3 a week. Which is weird because I never finished any of our required summer reading in school. Where was Seth Godin when I needed him?

SW: What is your favorite social networking site? Why?

ALC: Instagram. I love visuals and Instagram let’s you follow people that do creative things every day and it’s very inspiring. And nothing breaks up your day like photos of other peoples cats.

SW: What do you do away from your career?

ALC: I spend a lot of time with my family; I have a 9-year-old brother who is pretty awesome to hang out with! I also love to travel and I absolutely have to get my NYC and California fix every year.

SW: Are you involved in the community? If so, how?

ALC: I like to think so. I help run the Canal District Farmers Market, I am proudly on the Marketing Committee at Destination Worcester, the shop is a member of Worcester Local First and we just became a Woo Card Venue, which we are really excited about.

SW: Who or what is the biggest influence in your life beyond immediate family?

ALC: I always try to surround myself with creative and talented people. I totally buy in to that “birds of a feather” philosophy and I want to make sure that all of my influencers are doing innovative and positive things.

SW: What is a fun fact few people know about you?

ALC: I raise chickens…lots of them.

SW: Your favorite quote?

ALC: "Trust yourself. Think for yourself. Act for yourself. Speak for yourself. Be yourself. Imitation is suicide." It was a Marva Collins quote that hung on the wall in my college English class. It’s still the only thing I remember from that class.

SW: Any thoughts about how Worcester can better support entrepreneurs?

ALC: There are a bunch of good resources that the city provides for small business, but it took me a few years to find them. Maybe they could be more proactive at reaching out to the new startups and entrepreneurs.

SW: What do you think creates success?

ALC: Hard work. There will always be people that are smarter then me, but people can only work harder then me if I let them.

SW: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

ALC: I love to create and see big ideas turn in to reality. So I’m sure I will be still chasing dreams.

Susan Wagner is the president of Susan Wagner PR. In this challenging economy, she has begun a new division to offer affordable start-up packages to new and emerging small businesses and non-profit organizations that include professional writing services, websites, collateral, marketing, social media, grassroots outreach and PR campaigns.

Related Slideshow: Check Out The Grades: Massachusetts Hospitals Report Card

A recent survey released by The Leapfrog Group assigns a Hospital Safety Score, using the report card system of A to F to each of the hospitals in Rhode Island. These grades are based on expert analysis of injuries, infections and errors that cause harm or death during a hospital stay.

Let's see how each of Massachusetts' hospitals were graded from highest to lowest:

Central MA Up + Comer: Crompton Collective Owner Amy Lynn Chase

A conversation with Amy Lynn Chase

Related Slideshow: Check Out The Grades: Massachusetts Hospitals Report Card

Addison Gilbert Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Anna Jaques Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: B

Baystate Franklin Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Baystate Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Berkshire Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Milton

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: B

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Beverly Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Boston Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Cambridge Health Alliance: Cambridge

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Cambridge Health Alliance: Whidden

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Cape Cod Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Carney Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Charlton Memorial Hospital: Southcoast Hospitals Group

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: B

Emerson Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: B

Hallmark Health System: Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Hallmark Health System: Melrose-Wakefield Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Harrington Memorial Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Holy Family Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Jordan Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: C

Lahey Hospital and Medical Center

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Leonard Morse Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Lowell General Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A

Spring 2013 Grade: A

Marlborough Hospital

Fall 2013 Grade: A