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Date: 8/30/2023
WESTFIELD — Starting a business can be intimidating. Amber Champagne-Matos knows it because she started her own, Champagne Apothecary on School Street, more than a year ago. She also knows it because of her other recent startup, the Westfield Merchants Association.
“I want to set businesspeople up for future success so they’re able to come in and live out their dreams — do what they want and provide an amazing service or opportunity to the people of Westfield without having to jump through 10,000 hoops,” she said.
Champagne-Matos founded the WMA over the winter, and it now has 76 members. They meet the fourth Monday of every month. Any business in Westfield can join. Different members host each meeting, and any business owner in the city can host, even if they aren’t a member. There are no membership fees.
Champagne-Matos is trying to make it as easy as possible to join the group, network, share ideas and ask for help.
“As business owners, we need a safe space to talk through issues and challenges we’re having — to support one another, come together and figure out how we can unify for the good of the city,” she said.
Champagne-Matos has never launched a formal drive to boost the association’s rank and file. Even in the early days, she rounded up members through word of mouth and a few social media postings.
“I’m surprised and happy about how quickly it grew. I’m glad people want to come together and make change to improve the downtown and rest of the city,” she said.
Champagne-Matos said she’s not trying to compete with the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. In fact, she wants to forge a relationship with the chamber and its leadership, with both groups working toward the common goals of building businesses and enhancing Westfield’s quality of life.
Striking partnerships in the city is already paying dividends, she said. When weather permits on Saturdays during this rainy summer, the WMA has invited businesses to set up vendor booths on School Street to showcase their wares to new and existing customers.
“What’s great about it is that it’s not just School Street business owners. It’s small businesses from all over the city coming out and providing information about themselves and what’s happening in the city,” said Champagne-Matos.
There is some overlap in membership between the WMA and Chamber of Commerce. But most WMA members aren’t affiliated with the chamber, because they’re looking for a less formal relationship, Champagne-Matos said.
WMA is also building a bridge to ArtWorks of Westfield, discussing how they can work together to have Westfield designated as a cultural district.
“We’ve gotten to know one another really well. We’ll talk about different things we can do, like scheduling events together, tandem marketing and ways to support one another. So that’s a huge win,” said Champagne-Matos.
The apothecary owner describes the WMA as a laissez-faire organization that has no formal source of funding and relies on grassroots support. One member is creating a website. There’s no secretary, so someone volunteers to take notes at monthly meetings. The only reason they check attendance is to expand their contact list.
“We understand small business owners are people with families and lives, so there’s no pressure to attend meetings. They shouldn’t feel like they’re letting anyone down if they can’t show up one month because they have to go to their kids’ soccer game or something. We can’t always be at a place at a given time,” she said.
Champagne-Matos and other members of the WMA are not only focused on building their businesses and supporting their city right now, they’ve also got their eyes on the future.
“I’m not going to be here forever,” she said. “We all hope Westfield becomes this amazing place where everyone visits the city and wants to know what’s going on.”
For more information about the WMA, email Amber Champagne-Matos at amber@ChampagneApothecary.com, call 413-579-5077 or visit the organization online at Facebook.com/groups/Westfield Merchants Association.