Tara Dugan, the founder of worKS in Kennett Square, is one of 20 “power women” of the Main Line and Western Suburbs for 2021, writes Hobart Rowland for Main Line Today.

Dugan opened her first store, Scout & Annie, as a side business. However, the vintage home-goods store soon grew big enough that she was forced to choose between a secure job and entrepreneurship.

She chose the latter and focused on her store.

In time, it led to connections that inspired her to bring together other similarly situated people in an artisan-centered retail collective — worKS.

For Dugan, power means the ability to inspire others.

“The only ‘power’ I really have is in my role as a connector,” she said. “I created worKS to bring artisans and curators together to create a fantastic shopping experience that not only benefits the makers but makes good business sense.”

Her mission focuses on three things: community, creativity, collaboration.

While the pandemic made everything harder, giving up was not an option. Dugan continued her efforts, only with much more flexibility.

“All you can do is your best,” she said.

Read more about Tara Dugan in Main Line Today.