See all the news from IDS, and about IDS in the media
News & Views - Spring & Summer 2012 Newsletter
May 2012
IDS Wins Ecmod Direct Commerce Award 2012 for Best B2B Business Award in the £5-£10 million Category
March 2012
For the second year running, and forth time in total, IDS won the ECMOD Award for Best Business in the B2B £5 - £10 Million Category.
The award ceremony was held at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 27th March and was attended by Anne, Jillian, Jonathan, Allison and Emily.
IDS shortlisted for Ecmod Best B2B Business Award in the £5-£10 million category
March 2012
For more details, visit www.ecmod360.co.uk/awards
Dance Supplies: Good Moves
December 2011
Anne Walker yesterday picked up a NatWest Everywoman Award at the Dorchester Hotel in London – the only manufacturer to emerge victorious.
The 56-year-old entrepreneur designs, makes and supplies dance equipment from leotards and tap shoes to ballet dresses and costumes to customers around the world.
Victorious: Anne Walker makes and supplies dance equipment
Based in Devon, her company International Dance Supplies is the UK’s largest wholesale dancewear supplier with turnover of £8million and 60 staff. Exports make up 15 per cent of the business, with customers as far afield as Australia, and the company has been endorsed by ballet dancers including Darcey Bussell and Francesca Filpi.
Having launched in the US two years ago, IDS recently won the contract to supply the American Ballet Theatre.
‘We are very proud to manufacture in the UK. It is challenging but we are continuing to grow and we are ahead of last year', said Walker. 'We have lots of plans for further growth both in the UK and overseas.'
‘We only launched in America two years ago and there is lots of potential to grow there.’
Walker started out at the age of 17 when she opened a dance school in Liverpool. From the outset, she supplied her students with leotards and shoes, and soon went into full-time production.
Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2071319
Inspirational Anne is recognised with a national business award
December 2011
A Devon businesswoman who started her career teaching dance in church halls has been awarded a national business award to recognise her role as an inspiration for women aged 50-plus.
Anne Walker, chief executive of the Newton Abbot-based International Dance Supplies, has been named winner of the everywoman Hera Award, sponsored by Bluefin.
The award was one of several handed out at the Dorchester Hotel, in London, on Thursday, to celebrate women in business.
IDS supplies dance-related products including costumes and footwear nationally and internationally. Anne started out making costumes for her pupils, but soon saw the business potential in her designs and graduated to a second hand industrial sewing machine thanks to a £50 loan from her mother.
Exports now make up 15 per cent of IDS sales and, to counter recruitment problems, Anne has designed and set up a university accredited distance learning qualification to develop future talent.
Wendy Manfield, relationship director at overall awards sponsor NatWest, said: "Working with Anne has been truly inspirational and this award is testament to her drive behind a successful business."
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Inspirational-Anne-recognised-national-business/story-14101523-detail/story.html
Role Model Entrepreneur Shortlisted for NatWest everywoman Award
November 2011
Anne Walker’s route to business success is the stuff of legend. Written off by her convent school she knew she had a passion for dance, but nothing else. She began her career teaching dance in a church hall and today heads International Dance Supplies (IDS) the world-leader in wholesale dance supplies, an international, multi-million pound operation whose endorsees include Darcey Bussell, Wayne Sleep and Francesca Filpi. The Devon-based businesswoman is named today as a leading contender for this year’s NatWest everywoman Awards, one of Britain’s most revered prizes honouring British entrepreneurial success. More information...
News & Views - Autumn/Winter 2011 Newsletter
October 2011
International Dance Supplies wins major US contract
May 2011
Devon-based dancewear specialist International Dance Supplies have secured a major contract to supply the USA’s national ballet company, American Ballet Theatre.
The firm will supply the official dance uniform for the prestigious company’s training programme. IDS currently sells more than 8,000 theatrical costumes and dancewear to dance teachers and schools in nearly 40 countries, including the USA.
The contract with the US came about after IDS founder and CEO Anne Walker and Development Manager Andrew Ward, visited the ballet company in New York to watch a warm-up class. An informal chat with ABT’s Executive Director Rachel Moore followed, and the word has developed from there.
Anne Walker, who is also a CatEx Advisory Board member, said, “More and more, we find ourselves on the world stage. We have over 30 years of experience in the dancewear business, providing quality products, but the key to success is working with companies that share the same brand values as yourself. With ABT, we have a true partnership - strong, supple, reliable and without fuss!”
http://www.catalogueexchange.co.uk/catalogue_exchange_news_details.asp?id=249
News & Views - Spring/Summer 2011 Newsletter
May 2011
Catalogue of success
April 2011
INTERNATIONAL Dance Supplies has beaten major retailing brands to take a top accolade.
The Newton Abbot-based dancewear catalogue company has been named as one of the best at the ECMOD Direct Commerce Awards.
The cream of the UK's multi-channel retail sector gathered at the Lancaster London for the awards, which are given to companies that show flair and commitment in the catalogue and multi-channel sector.
The ceremony was presented by Sky News anchor Dermot Murnaghan.
IDS clinched the top spot in the category for best all-round business or brand with annual sales of between £5million and £10million.
Founder and company boss Anne Walker received the award from Mr Murnaghan. She was joined by IDS systems and production manager Jillian Bamsey and Emily Antrobus the company's finance manager.
Ms Walker said: "I couldn't quite believe it – to win in such a highly sought-after category really does put us on the map and will inspire me to take the company to the next level."
Dance business nets Anne an MBE
February 2011
A SUCCESSFUL South Devon businesswoman has been honoured by the Queen.
Anne Walker, the chief executive of Newton Abbot-based International Dance Supplies received an MBE for services to business.
IDS is the UK's largest dancewear supplier with an annual turnover of over £7million and a 12,000 customer base of dance teachers and shops. Ms Walker started the firm with a £50 loan from her mother in 1978. It is now one of the country's leading companies and its boss has been recognised with accolades from inside and outside of her industry.
And now she has been handed the cream of the crop. She travelled to Buckingham Palace where she was presented with her gong by Prince of Wales.
She was joined by her husband Ian Ferguson and her fellow IDS work colleagues Jillian Bamsey and Kate Ellis. She said: "I was nervous but the smile I received from Prince Charles certainly made me feel very much at home."
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/regionalnews/Dance-business-nets-Anne-MBE/article-3237747-detail/article.html
CatEx Advisory Board Member Anne Walker receives MBE at Buckingham Palace
February 2011
Catalogue Exchange Advisory Board member Anne Walker has been presented with an MBE for services to business, at a glittering ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Anne, CEO of Devon-based International Dance Supplies, received her award from HRH The Prince of Wales. She was joined by her husband Ian Ferguson and IDS colleagues Jillian Bamsey and Kate Ellis.
Anne said: "Of course I was nervous but the smile I received from His Royal Highness certainly made me feel very much at home. At that very second I was reminded of a motto, 'people do business with people'. If you get on with someone you will do good business with them. I now see His Royal Highness in a new and affable light."
http://www.catalogueexchange.co.uk/catalogue_exchange_news_details.asp?id=223
American Ballet Theatre names International Dance Supplies as the Sole Supplier of the Official Uniform
December 2010
