I have a costume that was supposed to be in our hands from the Design Works Company. We returned a size and have a confirmation for a new size. NOW...no one is returning our phone calls, the message says it is closed for the season and the website is down. HELP!!! We have been calling and trying everything. The recital is SATURDAY and this poor dancer has no costume! It is a crazy fabric that can't be duplicated! Any one know what happened to DESIGN WORKS?

we had the same problem before our baby recital! The woman finally answered a fax and told us her entire staff quit! Gone, they are just gone!

I was afraid of that! NOW WHAT...What did you do? This parent does not want to put her child in the show and we can't make this costume...Pink leapord print!!

we literally called every number and sent a million faxes until she (the owner) finally called us back. She went down to the stockroom and pulled the costume. The only other alternative we came up with was to go to a fabric store and I began to construct a Pinocchio costume. We also called all the other costume companies and plead our case, costume gallery was very helpful. Good luck and if you can just be persistent with the calls and faxes

I had this same issue- except they had not delivered any of our costumes. After leaving numerous messages (some of them propbably not so nice) I receieved a call from the owner - over a week after I was told I would have them (and 3 weeks after my need by date) they arrived. But they were so poorly constructed that a good majority of them had fallen apart during shipping and ones that didn't did as soon as the dancers tried to put them on. Others also arrived with big dirty streaks on them. Very upset and dissapointed - Designworks used to be such a good company, but won't ever be working with them again after this.

If they aren't currently available, check to see if any of the other companies have the costume. Obviously it is cutting it close to recital date and there would be some major rushing, but check out some other costumes companies, see if they can get it to you and assure them if they do they will be receiving your business in the future. The only other thing you can do is try to hunt down the fabric. Pink leopard print is probably more common than you think, but it may not match to what the other girls have. It is worth a try though.

Also, if you have a picture of the costume you could post it here and see if any other teachers or SO's have one they could rush to you.

Good Luck.

What is the costume number/style/page number? I have two types of pink leopard fabric extra that we got from Costume Gallery this year to add some material to some costumes. It might be the same fabric you are looking for. I have my DesignWorks catalog at the studio and can look tomorrow if you can tell me which costume you are trying to match.

Thank you all!!! I found fabric but it is too late. The mom is very upset & understandably so! The dancer is going to dance without the costume & I told her I am going to announce what happenned at the recital. I am going to make a big deal over her & give her a special award!! I am not giving up on getting in touch with Design Works!!!! It is horrible what they did, even in these tough economic times! I will post back after the show!

^^^ This is a good route to go. Honesty is wonderful. Letting her dance and acknowledging it and giving her some "sportsmanship" award is a lovely option. Hopefully, you also reimbursed the mom for her costume $$ as an added "soooo sorry this happened" bonus.

Good problem solving. It's not a perfect situation, but hey, life's not perfect and sometimes we just have to roll with it as best as possible.

As for Design Works...well that's another story. I know I will certainly never use them and hopefully they won't be in biz much longer. Not cool.

I am truly shocked with that company because all the years that I used them I had only positive experiences. To close before the recital season is over is unforgivable and I hope that all of you, as I will, will send them an email stating that.

We had issues with Design Works too. We panicked when we couldn't get a hold of them, ordered some last minute costumes from Liberts (they always get stuff to us fast), and then, of course, the Design Works ones randomly finally showed up. Now we have Liberts costumes just sitting there. They have been added to our "Do Not Order From" List, as well as a few other costume companies.

FINALLY She called me back on Wednesday, the DAY of our dress rehearsal, 10 days after we were supposed to recieve the new costume. She played it off like she did not have any open orders from us (which was not true) and then told me she will ship it out overnight. IF she did not have an open order with me, she would of questioned it more and asked for payment! I had my return auth # and she new all about it! When I asked her how to get in touch with her if my costume did not arrive (I still don't have it) she could not give me any number except the one I have for them...WHICH NO ONE ANSWERS!! She said they are closed unitl AUGUST and she only checks messages. After I questioned that she then told me her husband is very ill. How do you respond to that! If that is the case, I feel very sorry for her or anyone going through that! But, that is not the issue. ANY COMPANY would have a right hand person or staff member to keep things in order. Something is not right! I have used them for years and sadly, they are going to loose buisness over this, IF THEY HAVE ONE STILL! I will keep you all posted when or IF I get this costume! If I don't, than I still have no new contact info for DesignWorks.

What exactly is she going to wear while all the other girls are in matching costumes? I would go to walmart and at least get all the kids matching tank tops and shorts or something, I'm pretty sure day of that you will have a lot of tears from the girl who is the only one onstage without a costume. How big is the class? I even have a bunch of pieces that I could send you. I think even with the special award and announcement, you might save face more by NOT singling her out.

Just an idea. This is horrible but look on the bright side, at least it's not an entire order...

The costume ARRIVED! After all of that, they did finally ship it! I will NEVER use them again! I would of let her be the only one in a different costume because the other parents would not of gone for that. Thank GOD I don't have to worry now. That company should be ashamed!
THANKS EVERYONE

WONDERFUL!

I love that you had a backup plan that had given you some sort of peace. But it's fabulous that you can now fully relax.

Good luck with your show!

you should make a quick decision and move on to other options. this company is known for this.go ahead and get something from another company or shop at mall. dont do like i did and wait it out until you, your staff, students and moms are STRESSED you dont need this now. you can deal with the company after the show.

They screwed me over a few years ago and I won't use them again either. They did end up sending us our money back and sent us replacement costumes but their costumes aren't good enough for me to forgive and forget.

I know a studio that has a show in December and they have been trying to place a $5,000 order since May and nobody will call them back. MORONS!

I had the same situation with Dansco last year. It is a bad situation but hopefully your clients will see and remember how much you care about your students.