About

 

History of IDS

At the age of only 17, Anne Walker opened her own dance school in Liverpool. From the onset Anne supplied her students with leotards and shoes having persuaded a local shop to supply her at a discounted price. By the age of 21 she had her own dance premises and gradually the product side was turning into a small business.

Anne Walker, Partner IDS with the original 1930s ‘Singer’ Industrial Overlocker

As the school developed, Anne decided to try and make leotards for her students herself. She persuaded her mother to lend her £50 to buy a very ancient industrial overlocker, she enlisted the help of the older students who cut out the garments, and with the help of one of the mums they went into production!

Other dancing teachers soon started buying leotards from her and before long her friend's attic bedroom was turned into a small production unit. Eventually the dancewear manufacturing and sales needed to become a separate business to her dancing school. Thus in 1978, Harlequin Dancewear was born.

In 1985, Anne moved the business to Devon. She rented a small industrial unit where she and a couple of outworkers did all the work. Some time later, Anne's husband joined the business. He dramatically expanded the customer base and eventually it had to be split into 2 companies Harlequin Dancewear continuing to manufacture, and International Dance Supplies selling to dance teachers and shops.

IDS Shortlisted for Technology in Business Awards – Dawlish 1996

On 10th October 1997, IDS’s new factory, warehouse and offices at 5 Shutterton Industrial Estate, Dawlish was officially opened by Mrs Ninette Hartley, Editor Young Dancer Magazine. This move was just across the road within the same Industrial Estate but provided the much needed extra 600 sq ft of space.

IDS moves next door to new premises – October 1997. Left to Right, Anne Walker IDS Partner, Mrs Ninette Hartley Guest of Honour and Ian Ferguson IDS Partner.

In 2003, IDS made a huge leap forward and moved to its current purpose-built premises in Newton Abbot. The 15,500 sq ft of state of the art warehouse and office space is nestled in a new industrial estate opposite Newton Abbot’s railway station.

Warehouse Staff in 2007

In 2004, IDS launched its own brand of dancewear under the label 1st PositionTM targeted at the young and ambitious dancer. IDS also gained the coveted Investors in People standard in the same year. In 2005 IDS won the prestigious ECMOD award for Best Catalogue.

Customer Service Team in 2007

Year on year the company continues to grow and on 24th August 2007 IDS launched the 30th Birthday Diamond Book Catalogue - the biggest IDS has ever produced. The 228 page catalogue is packed with over 2,500 products. Everything you can possibly imagine from dance shoes, tights, leotards and costumes to accessories and stage props. IDS is the UK’s largest wholesale dancewear supplier with an annual turnover of over £6 million, and a 10,000 plus customer base servicing dance teachers and dance shops with quality dancewear from as far afield as Australia. IDS now employs almost 60 people and it is their commitment and dedication that keeps us ahead of our competition.