When Caitlin Hoffman moved to Colorado Springs two years ago, shenoticed something peculiar about the area. Although the citysupported some 15 dance schools, dancers had very few options forfinding dancewear.
So the young entrepreneur did something few people her age (21)could even imagine. She secured a small business loan and opened adancewear retail store.
Ballerina Boutique opened the first week during July at astorefront spot inside Sunrise United Methodist Church at 4005 LeeVance View, near Woodman Road and Rangewood Drive. The store,adjacent to Colorado's Youth Classical Ballet, offers clothing formany styles of dance, including items such as pointe shoes, balletslippers, tights, leotards, jazz shoes, pants, tap shoes and otheraccessories.
Ballerina Boutique is Hoffman's first venture into retail, butwhat she lacks in experience she makes up for in sheer knowledgeabout a dancer's needs.
After spending her high school years at Canada's National BalletSchool in Toronto, Hoffman moved on to dance professionally for theTulsa Ballet in Oklahoma. Health issues forced her to exitprofessional dancing, but she never let go of the lifestyle.
'I always enjoyed shopping for my personal dance wear, thingslike finding the perfect pointe shoe,' she said. 'When I bought myfirst pair as 10-year old, I wasn't always happy with the way I wasserved. Shoe fitting is really technical. You want the pointe shoeto feel like it's part of your foot, like one unit.'
Once she determined there was a need for such a service andproducts in Colorado Springs, she noticed she held a true passionfor the shopping process.
'You have to know what people want,' Hoffman said. 'Being adancer, I know what people want. I know how they want to feel andlook and how they want to present themselves. And I knew I had theskill and the ability, so I just went for it.'
Even the depressed national and local economy couldn't stand inher way, although Hoffman admits she never took the economy intoconsideration when deciding to open the store.
'I was confident that people want and need this,' she said. 'Onestore to 15 dance schools is crazy. People usually have choices, butin this case, they didn't. Business is great. It's a win-winsituation for our customers and the business.'
Outdoors retailer survives
Four months after filing Chapter 11, Sportsman's Warehouse Inc.expects to emerge from bankruptcy Aug. 15.
Thanks to a cash infusion from Southern California-based SeidlerEquity Partners, Sportsman's Warehouse garnered approval of itsreorganization plan from a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Thecompany, which operates a location at The Citadel mall, willcontinue to operate all 26 of its stores in 14 states.
Midvale, Utah-based Sportsman's Warehouse specializes in hunting,fishing, camping and outdoor sporting goods.
The retailer's fortunes looked dim earlier this year. The companyannounced plans to close 23 locations and sell 15 others to UnitedFarmers of Alberta, B.C. on March 10. It filed for bankruptcy 11days later.
Help for school woodshops
Colorado Springs Woodcraft Store will donate 5 percent of itsgross profits to area schools for a 45 day period beginning Aug. 15.The campaign is designed to help maintain the quality of localschool's woodshop programs.
As part of the promotion, store customers can dedicate the dollaramount of their purchases to one of 20 local middle and highschools. At the end of the campaign, the top five schools will splitthe proceeds.
Schools that don't fall into the top five will be awardedwoodworking tools and equipment donated by vendors. Call 266-9889for a list of participating schools.
Scott Prater covers retail for the Colorado Springs BusinessJournal.
