When Your Dreams Escape Your Car Trunk, Where Do They Land?
Whether that space was in your mind, a room in your home, or in an office space, your dreams have more than likely transitioned into a new space.
Over the last 19 years, we have learned so many valuable lessons from our customers and we have experienced tremendous growth. We are forever grateful for our customers’ support.
We wanted to take the time to share the continuing progression of Ultimate Dancewear & Accessories from birth to current day with you.
We hope our story inspires you to keep pushing to grow your dreams or to go back and water your seeds.
Everyone has dreams. How are your dreams growing?
In the Beginning
It all started in a car trunk and with a growing need for a dance supply store in North Jacksonville.
During this time, there was an abundance of dance studios and dancers located in North Jacksonville, but they did not have access to a dance supply store nearby.
For Ovena, not having a dance supply store nearby was a personal problem.
Having two small grandchildren enrolled in dance classes while having to travel 15 miles across town to purchase one or two items was very inconvenient.
Ovena also experienced this inconvenience over three decades ago when her daughter was enrolled in dance.
With a dream and understanding the need, Ovena worked to develop a business plan to open a dance supply store in North Jacksonville.
Traveling by car during the evening and night to meet the dance supply needs of dance studios and dancers was the beginning of Ultimate Dancewear & Accessories.
Ultimate Dancewear’s First Stationary Space
In 2000, Ultimate Dancewear & Accessories’ first storefront was located in North Jacksonville on Lem Turner Road. Dancers and dance studios finally had access to a dance supply store that was conveniently located near them.
If you were a part of the Ultimate Dancewear family in the early 2000s, you were fortunate to have developed a personal relationship with the owner, Ovena.
By 2004, Neke joined the Ultimate Dancewear team full-time. Did you know that Neke is Ovena’s daughter?
During this time, Ultimate Dancewear also had assistance from a tiny helper, baby A’kera.
It was such a joy having A’kera in the store. The customers adored her bubbly presence.
At the start of this year, A’kera turned 12 years old. Although, she is no longer a baby, A’kera will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Ultimate Dancewear family.
Neke and A’kera were a dynamic duo.
Ultimate Dancewear’s Move to a Second Location
Although Ultimate Dancewear experienced great success at our first location, we had the opportunity to relocate into a new space with a greater frequency of shoppers.
In 2012, Ultimate Dancewear & Accessories moved into its current location in North Jacksonville on Dunn Avenue. Honestly, this move was not easy. During the transition, we lost many customers.
Despite our efforts over the years to spread the news of our move, we still have customers discovering our current location today.
We often hear “Were you located on Lem Turner” or “Did you used to be across from Kmart?” Yes, this is us.
Expansion in Services and Products Offered
Over the years, Ultimate Dancewear has experienced tremendous growth.
Since our doors first opened in 2000, Ultimate Dancewear has supplied a full inventory of dancewear, liturgical praisewear, gymnastics wear, dance shoes, and accessories.
Today our in-store inventory has grown to also include dance costumes, cheer uniforms and gear, and ballroom dance apparel and shoes.
In addition to working with dance studios and dancers, we consult and supply dance and mime ministries at churches, students attending performing arts schools, students in after school dance programs, pageant participants, and school auxiliaries.
However, not only did the type of dancers that we served expand, but our reach to service customers outside of Jacksonville also expanded.
Today, we have customers in multiple cities in Florida and Georgia, and in other cities throughout the United States and beyond.
Our farthest customers reside in the Caribbean Islands! How cool is that?
Celebrating 19 Years of Service & Amazing Customer Support
This year we are celebrating 19 years of service in the dance community!
We are truly honored and grateful.
We cannot go without acknowledging that we would not have experienced so much growth over this 19 year period if it were not for the continued support of each of our fantastic customers.
We cannot thank you enough.
As a result of our customers being so amazing, we have so many new and fun things in store for you.
Please make sure you explore our newly designed website, continue to read and learn from our blog posts, sign up to receive our sales and promotions, and stay connected with us on social media: Facebook and Instagram.
Our Commitment to Continued Growth
In closing, we would like to officially welcome Nekea to the Ultimate Dancewear team. You have most likely had the opportunity to work with her or had the pleasure to meet her in the checkout area.
We are excited that she will be working with us to bring more innovative and creative ideas to Ultimate Dancewear. So, stay tuned.
Please remember that it is our duty to intentionally work to continue to grow and to provide you all with the best services and dance products offered in the dance community.
Ultimate Dancewear & Accessories is family owned, led, and operated by three generations of women—a mother (Ovena), daughter (Neke), and granddaughter (Nekea).
Don’t leave your dreams in its original space. Share with us, how are your dreams growing?
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