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Date: 8/14/2019
CHICOPEE – For Melaney Houle, having her first brick and mortar clothing store in downtown Chicopee is “an awesome opportunity.”
Melaney and her husband Brandon officially opened the Lotus & Compass women’s clothing store with a ribbon cutting with Mayor Richard Kos on Aug. 8. Melaney explained that in the past three years the family business has been online.
She has been personally selecting every item the store sells and described the collection as “affordable, comfortable clothing for the everyday women.”
She added the collection is designed to make people “feel comfortable in their own skin.” She explained the store’s name has personal meaning as she identified with the lotus, which blooms a beautiful flower even though planted in mud.
“It’s a symbol of my journey,” she said. The word “compass” refers to her husband for being the “logical” member of the partnership.
While Melaney does go to trade shows, most of her work in selecting clothing items comes from relationships she has built online with vendors. She added she always tries to use local vendors, if possible, to support other small business.
The Chicopee native has lived her whole life in the city and is very happy being in the building at 264 Exchange St. “It’s easily accessible and there is so much of Chicopee history in this building,” she added.
Her vision for the store is more than just another commercial enterprise. She explained that with the website (https://lotusandcompass.com) and the store’s Facebook page she wants her customers “to get to know each other.” She views the store as “a place for us to hang out.”
As she noted on the website, “We also offer a complimentary hot coffee bar, with a comfy sitting area to enjoy your brew in between shopping!”
She opened the shop with a soft launch two weeks ago and said the reaction was “fantastic.” She added she received “so much positive feedback.”
She also has received support from other small business in the city.
The hours for the shop are Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. She added that there would be weekend hours starting in October.