Today we’d like to introduce you to Adelina Dimas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adelina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After graduating with Bachelors in Communication, media, and theater from NEIU December of 2013. I started applying for jobs; I was open to anything, not knowing what I wanted to do or where to start. I was offered a sales associate position a few days after applying at Motion Unlimited Dancewear. I started working part time February of 2014 and became full time after a year. It was a blast working with everyone and learning new things. After my trial period was over, about a month, I started training to fit pointe shoes. My knowledge of pointe shoes before starting was minimal, so I found it a little difficult. After a few months of training I felt pretty confident with what I had learned, I had two really great people teach me what I know today. Starting summer intensive season all of my pointe shoe knowledge came in handy. The store gets very busy with fittings for dancers from all over the Midwest. Here I am, three + years later managing the place that gave me a chance straights out of college. I enjoy what I do and the people I work with. Although Motion Unlimited has something for everyone, every type of dance, and all ages; fitting pointe shoes is still my favorite to do.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve had a really smooth journey here at Motion Unlimited. I started managing mid-September of 2016. Although I haven’t had this position for very long it’s been a learning process. It’s true when they say that you learn something new every day. There are five other employees here so we are a very small group. The owner Greg Begley is very hands on and likes us all to be informed with what’s going on and encourages us to share our ideas. This isn’t just another retail job; it’s a small business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Motion Unlimited Dancewear is a dance wear store located in downtown Chicago. It is located at 218 S. Wabash Ave on the second floor in suite 270. The store has been around for over 60 years and we are most known for our wide variety of dance shoes. The current owner, Greg Begley, took over the store in 1997 after dancing and teaching professionally since the early 80’s. The original owners of the store were Steve and Charlotte Kling who actually manufactured shoes in the building we are in today; they had been in the building for over 40 years. They retired soon after selling the store and stopped manufacturing shoes. Since the store has been here for so many years it’s a big part of the dance world in Chicago. We work with a lot of dance schools in the downtown and Chicagoland area. We have had parents who were fit for their first pair of pointe shoes bring in their own children for dance wear. Schools from as far as Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio come to Chicago for pointe shoe fittings. We pride ourselves on our customer service and quality pointe shoe fittings. We are a one stop shop for first time dancers and professionals. People often come in just to ask us dance and dance wear related questions knowing the history of the store. This is why communication is an important key when it comes to any successful business.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
With online shopping on the rise being in a big city like Chicago has worked to our advantage. There are a lot of dance schools in the area and without them and our customers Motion Unlimited Dancewear wouldn’t be what it is today. Chicago is a great place for business opportunities. If someone is thinking of opening a business in Chicago I would say they are in the perfect place to achieve their dreams.
Pricing:
- Adult Leotards run $18- $36
- Childrens Leotards run $12- 28
- Ballet shoes run $19-$36
- Jazz shoes run $27-$59
- Tap shoes $26.50-$190
- Tights for Children $9 and up
- Adult Tights $13 and up
- Ballroom start at $82
- Character shoes starting at $41
Contact Info:
- Address: 218 South Wabash STE 270
Chicago, Il 60604 - Website: http://www.motionunlimiteddancewear.com
- Phone: 312-922-3330
- Email: Motionunlimited@motionunlimiteddancewear.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/motionunlimited
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motionunlimiteddancewear/
- Twitter: Twitter.com/MUDancewear
Image Credit:
“All Photos © 2017 Taylor Nettnin – taylornettnin.com”
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