The Crew Stop Story

The Crew Stop is a small business based in Upstate New York owned by three sisters: Claire, Jill, and Paige. Their team of four is rounded out by Sue, The Crew Stop’s Marketing & Outreach Coordinator. Since the sisters’ mom, Julie, founded the company in 2013, The Crew Stop has become the number one choice for rowing gloves, having now sold thousands of pairs to over 60 countries around the world.

How it All Started

Julie started rowing at the age of 48, after a friend at her 30th high school reunion convinced her to try it. She quickly fell in love with the sport, rowing indoors before joining a club on the water. She later became a founding member of Rochester Boat Club, coached, and rowed competitively in many local and national regattas. While getting more and more involved with her newfound passion, she began to notice a widespread problem: blisters on her teammates’ hands as well as her own.

As a busy mom of three teenage girls, she didn’t want to be held back by sore and injured hands on or off the water. After an online search for gloves designed specifically for rowing came up empty, she decided to work on her own solution.

Julie's Vision

Julie understood the demands of rowing, from a physical standpoint to all of the specialized equipment needed to excel on the water. An engineer by trade and a creative mind, Julie designed the prototype for what would eventually become our best-selling Scullers. She went on to establish The Crew Stop, named with the vision of creating a one-stop-shop for rowers to find the gear they need.

Following Julie’s passing in 2020, her three daughters came together to continue their mom’s legacy and vision for The Crew Stop. Julie’s friend and founder of Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing (RCiR), Tim Giarusso, graciously offered to teach Claire, Jill, and Paige how to row that summer. That was Paige’s first time rowing and she has stuck with the sport ever since, actively volunteering at RCiR. Six years later, the three sisters remain committed to The Crew Stop and hope to grow the business further by partnering with brands and adding new products of their own, eventually creating the one-stop-shop for rowers that their mom envisioned from the beginning.

Meet the Crew

Claire oversees the inventory, packaging, and shipment of all orders. Her background in Environmental Science lends a unique perspective when it comes to sustainability, spearheading The Crew Stop’s commitment to pursuing environmentally-friendly packaging and manufacturing solutions. She loves the fact that rowing gloves are reusable and help reduce waste of single-use tape!

Jill built The Crew Stop website in college, back when the company first launched; she has been the webmaster ever since. Her graphic design and web development skills as well as experience working at tech startups has helped the business grow while remaining a small team.

Paige’s background in science education makes her a great fit for answering customers’ questions about rowing gloves, and helping people determine the best type of glove for their needs. She also spends free time teaching veterans and folks with disabilities how to row at RCiR. 

The newest member of The Crew Stop team is Sue Holderness. She was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sue played soccer growing up until she tried rowing sophomore year and fell in love. Sue went on to row at Texas where she majored in business management on the entrepreneurship track and a minor in marketing. During her time on the team with Texas Rowing, she won four conference championships, two NCAA Championships, and was First Team All-American her senior year. After college she moved to Craftsbury, Vermont to join the Green Racing Project in the pursuit of making the Olympics. That fall she joined The Crew Stop team as the marketing coordinator and community outreach lead.

Why We Love What We Do

Claire: Having endless opportunities to be creative, whether it’s brainstorming ideas for new products or ways to promote our gloves. Running our own business means the sky’s the limit. Going to regattas and seeing our gloves out on the water is a nice surprise, too! It’s always more than we expect and a fun reminder of how much we’ve grown as a business.

Jill: Learning about the many different long distance races and rowing challenges has been very interesting and exciting! We have rowers who have worn our gloves in the World’s Toughest Row, the Race to Alaska, and a group of rowers wore our gloves crossing the Zambezi River into Mozambique — we never could have imagined the reach our products would have.

Paige: I have loved learning about all of the different and obscure sports in the rowing and paddling world! From dragon boat racing, lifeguard boat racing, gig boat racing, and “batteleku” - there are more types of boats that I could have imagined. I also love hearing feedback from rowers of all ages and abilities that our gloves have helped them continue their sport after an injury, surgery, or extended time away from the water.

Sue: I love talking to customers and hearing how much the gloves have helped and relieved pain in their rowing. It is such a joy to work for Claire, Jill, and Paige as they are so kind and remind me of me and my sisters. They have also been so supportive and accommodating with helping me balance a part time job while pursuing my rowing goals. 

Today, The Crew Stop rowing gloves are being utilized by athletes of all levels around the world. Julie believed that no one should have to choose between enjoying the sport they love and dealing with painful hands. That belief continues to guide every decision we make, from improving our products to supporting rowing and paddling communities around the world. Whether you're rowing your very first stroke, training for a national championship, crossing an ocean, or simply getting out on the water with friends, we're honored to be part of your journey.

Julie Baker’s Legacy

Outside of rowing, Julie lived a beautiful, full life. If she wasn't on the Erie Canal in Fairport, NY, you could find her tending to her beautiful gardens on a summer day. Julie loved live music, dancing, sunny days at the beach, good food, Tito's, HBO, Netflix, and a bargain. Most of all though, she loved her family. She had so much love for everyone around her and she was the heart of her family, her friends, and her community.

When her husband and the girls' father Dick Baker passed away from cancer in 1999, she raised her 3 daughters on her own with the support of her family and friends. Claire, Jill, and Paige have her to thank for the beautiful lives that they have today. She will be forever missed by her family, friends, and everyone that knew her.

Julie's generosity knew no bounds when it came to those in need and still leaves an impact today. In 2021, Julie’s family and community came together to form the Julie Baker Memorial Golf Tournament, which was held in her honor until its conclusion in 2025. Over 5 years, the tournament raised $300,000 for Willow Domestic Violence Center in Rochester, NY, which provides housing, support, and many other life saving services for domestic violence survivors on their journey to a safe and empowered life. Inspired by the momentum from the golf tournament and wanting to honor both of their parents, Claire, Jill, and Paige founded the Julie and Dick Baker Memorial Fund. Through this nonprofit, they award a scholarship each year to local students in the Rochester City School District pursuing higher education in STEM fields. The hope is that this scholarship creates opportunities for future generations, while carrying forward their parents’ legacy of resilience and compassion.

To donate to the ongoing Julie and Dick Baker Memorial Scholarship, visit juliebakermemorialgolf.com/donate/scholarship.

Inspired by the Julie Baker Memorial Golf Tournament, Willow Domestic Violence Center hosted the first annual Willow Classic: Drive for Change on August 18, 2026. They announced their plan to dedicate a space after Julie Baker in their Family Justice Center, set to open this October. They are in need of donations now more than ever. To donate to Willow, visit willowcenterny.org/donate.