Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamia Ramsey.
Jamia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
To understand the origins of Blendz, I must take you all the way back to my childhood in Atlanta, GA, where at the tender age of two, I began dance lessons with dancers who looked just like me. Our attire often consisted of pink tights and pink ballet shoes. Due to these limited options, we had to spend countless hours and money on pounds of make-up, shoe sprays, and dyes attempting to match our tights and shoes to our skin. This process continued throughout my dance training and career.
Twenty-five years later, I started my own dance academy, DanceMoves, at a recreation center in my hometown. Just as I did throughout my dance career, my dancers and their parents went through the grueling time and money consuming process of finding, spraying and dyeing dancewear and shoes to match their complexions. More often than not, as a Director, I found myself frustrated with the end result… tights and dance shoes that never matched each other or the dancer!
Through research and more media attention from dancers regarding this concern, I found that many dancers and directors across the country were also frustrated with the process and the outcome. We were all desperately seeking other alternatives.
With such a huge need in the industry, I finished up my final year at the academy and devoted 100% of my time, energy, and focus on creating a dance apparel company. I wanted to make sure the core products were manufactured for dancers whose skin tones were not being reflected in the market. From this birthed the creation of Blendz….
Blendz offers an inclusive selection of high-quality, professional fleshtone dance apparel and shoes in various shades and styles. We have been in operation since our launch in March 2018 and have increased our revenue significantly year over year. Today, post COVID – we have increased our sales 4900% and are expanding into dancewear stores throughout the country and abroad!
We are pleased to know that so many dancers and directors are loving and embracing our products worldwide! We have shipped to over 45 states and three continents. Blendz has truly found a home within the dance community.
Has it been a smooth road?
Creating Blendz has definitely been a bumpy ride for us! We have gone through many trials and obstacles along the way! From raising capital to manufacturing and shipping delays, it has been quite a roller coaster. One thing for sure is starting your own company is not for the faint-hearted. It takes a whole lot of guts and even more courage to be persistent and persevere through the good, the bad, and the ugly!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Blendz Apparel Inc story. Tell us more about the business.
Blendz creates fleshtone dancewear and dance shoes in a variety of shades and styles. We have launched our initial collection of ballet shoes, jazz shoes, tights, and contemporary half-soles online and in stores, Not only are we known for our superb service and care for our customers; it’s the quality of our products and the true brown shades that continue to set us apart and keep us one step ahead of the competition!
As the founder, I am most proud of all of the many roadblocks we have overcome while forging forward. I am proud of the beginnings of my brand that started humbly in my garage and is now a brand that so many have now come to know and love! To hear the hundreds of stories from our customers about the confidence and inclusiveness, our brand brings to the dance world is truly heart-warming! It is those messages and emails that continue to make waking up doing what I do a true joy!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I definitely see more inclusive products hitting the market. I am sure there will be many innovative and contemporary products coming out as new technology and research emerge. It will be exciting to see what the shift will be in the next five years!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2414 Herring Road SW
Box 42632
Atlanta, GA 30311 - Website: www.blendzapparel.com
- Phone: 770-823-5592
- Email: info@blendzapparel.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/blendzdanceapparel
- Facebook: facebook.com/blendzapparel
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