Barnsley dance enthusiast launches specialist startup

As the busy dance festival and competition season approaches, a life-long dancer has launched her own business in Barnsley in hopes of attracting hundreds of new customers.

Kerry Archer, who has been dancing since the age of three, has opened her specialised store, Dance Zone, on Sheffield Road, which sells outfits, shoes and accessories for youth dancers in all styles including ballet, tap, modern jazz, street dance, cheerleading as well as gymnastics.

The new shop owner has purposely opened the doors to Dance Zone to coincide with the hectic dancing season when Barnsley’s 25-plus dance schools enter a range of competitions throughout the region.

kerry said: “In the past many local people have travelled to Rotherham or Batley to buy dancewear but I am now providing a new shop in Barnsley which they can come to, plus an online service through my Facebook page and website too.”

Smartstart, a Barnsley business start-up programme that offers free business advice, guidance and workshops, supported Kerry throughout the process of setting up Dance zone, similar to the assistance the scheme has provided for more than 200 businesses in the region over the last two years.

Smartstart is managed by Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC), at Wilthorpe, working in partnership with Barnsley Council.

Kerry added: “I know and understand my market after a lifelong love of dance and also teaching dance since I was 18, but I didn’t have any idea about running my own business.

“The Smartstart programme, its mentoring and support, has been fantastic for sorting me out with all that side of things. The programme has made it possible for me to realise my dream and I am now determined to make success of the business.”

Kerry, a dance teacher at the Jill Brookes School of Dance in Barnsley, has already gained a contract to stock the popular Pineapple dancewear range in store from this summer.

James Herbert, BBIC’s Smartstart business development manager, said: “Kerry has combined her passion for dance and excellent knowledge of the local dance scene with her new-found business skills and confidence to launch a new Barnsley business. She knows her customers and her products.

“Through Smartstart we’ve given her advice in matters such as opening a business account and setting up a Streamline chip and pin machine.

“Building a new business is all about having personal vision and ambition; developing the necessary business acumen and putting in the hard work. Kerry has the perfect combination of these and we wish her every success.”