05/07/2026
So I did a thing… 😉
I am officially the new Executive Director of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. (Eek!)
The past 10 days have been a literal whirlwind, and I’m finally getting a chance to sit down and share my personal take on this big move.
After closing our brick-and-mortar at the end of 2023, I found myself questioning a lot of things. I was trying to figure out my “new normal” while also feeling this pull to help other business owners. I kept asking myself: How can I make an impact? How can I help others not have to close their stores?
Over the last couple of years, I’ve continued keeping up with the demand online for Annie Claire Designs and SoSis the best I could, while also working part-time in the corporate office at Willie’s Restaurant. (Side note: they are truly an incredible family-owned business, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow with them. If you’ve never eaten there, you’re missing out!)
Owning a business is HARD, y’all. And honestly, it was refreshing to realize I wasn’t alone in the struggles and challenges that come with it.
What I’ve learned over the past few years has prepared me for this role in ways I never expected. So here I am — excited, refreshed, and ready to GEAUX.
In just a short time, I’ve met so many passionate people who genuinely want to HELP, collaborate, and work together. One of my biggest beliefs as a small business owner has always been community over competition, and it’s the same thing I keep hearing over and over again in this new role.
We truly are better together, y’all. And when you get the right people in the room with the same mindset, really big things can happen.
I can’t promise to change the world overnight, but I can promise that I’m eager, motivated, and ready to shake things up a little. 😉
Here are a few pictures from my first 10 days on the job (and a few of the fam thrown in there).
And as for Annie Claire Designs and SoSis… y’all, those are still my babies (besides my 3 biological ones 🤣). They aren’t going anywhere. Things may just look a little different for a while. Maybe fewer launches, fewer pop-ups, and a slightly slower pace — but when we do something, y’all better be ready!
In the meantime, I’d love for y’all to follow along with the West Baton Rouge Chamber on Instagram or Facebook. There are SO many exciting things happening in West Baton Rouge, and one of my goals is to bring more of that to social media and help educate our community on all the good happening around us.
Thank you for always supporting me — both professionally and personally. Y’all truly feel like family, and I’m grateful to have you along for the ride.
Signed off,
Annie Claire L. Bass
Executive Director
West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
