I just started my own business atkinsonirishproducts.com selling Irish and Highland dance supplies in October. Then my dance instructor told me about studying to get my TCRG through WIDA(World Irish Dance Association). I thought, well, the test is in November 2012 in Canada, I have time to study! Well, the studying is going fine! I have the 6/8 set dances all memorized, working on the 4/4 or Hornpipe set dances now. I have been teaching for 4 years so I have experience and the exam should go well, however, I'm stressing about my business. Should I spend more time studying, or working to build more customers? I have been shipping all around the U.S. for orders, however, I get about 1-2 orders a week. I know it's a new business and a lot of people don't know about me. The only place I advertise is here on Dance.net. Otherwise, I have sent e-mails out to schools with no response. I have had a few families through where I teach and take dance, and a few have found me on google. What I'm struggling with is, do I focus more on my new business, or more on my exam? Like I said, I am on my 4th year of teaching, but I would love to teach as a certified instructor! Maybe someday teach for a great school or make my own, but I struggle with, I now own my own business supplying Celtic dance supplies to both Irish and Highland. I find myself starting one thing and finishing with the other. Any advise? Should I just try to balance both, stick with just the business or put the business behind the studying? Have you been in a situation between work and dance and had to pick which to focus more on?

I can't speak to the TCRG portion but I can say that in my experience, the vendors that I shop from are generally the ones that attend our local feiseanna. This isn't to say that I wouldn't buy from other vendors, or yourself, but just that to me, it's the best form of marketing. I can see a majority of their products physically, and they can provide their expertise in picking the right shoe for my foot, etc. And once I go home, if someone asks me where I got my shoe, or my blister pads, I refer them to the feis vendor as it's at the top of my memory. I know you just started, but do you plan on attending any competitions?

On the Highland side, I've noticed that there are no Highland dance vendors at any of the competitions that I've been to in California. I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but if that's the case, maybe it's an untapped area that you could take advantage of? I would love to see Highland supplies at more of the games, etc.

Just my two cents. Good luck with your business! I'll definitely keep you in mind when I next need supplies.

P.S. I noticed you have the blister booties. Those have been a hot topic on these boards! I swear by them.

Your site is up!

I agree with the other poster- going to competitions is the best PR. Especially with well-stocked stalls. I hate going to a vender booth/stall, and they only have one product/one shoe type.

This is a bit off topic- but you have a few typos on your website. (Megan Full Had wig). Also, I like when you can click on an image and see bigger pictures and/or more pictures of the product. That's just a personal thing though. I REALLY like your site, btw. It's very navigable. Some irish dance supplier sites are hard to read and navigate (and thank you for not having music autoplay!)

currently I'm SORT of int he same boat you are. I have to juggle work and dance. I've committed to going to worlds, which is VERY costly for me. Without working i can't afford that, but dance takes up so much of my time that it's hard to get jobs in (i do contact work stuff). Speaking from personal experience, it's always easier for me to focus on dance. BUT, I have to balance the both, right now. Really, as long as your site is live, you could probably have enough time to focus on studying for your TCRG! Obviously it's going to be a very personal decision though.

Good luck!

Go out to feiseanna, get your name out there (vendors fees aren't that high it's worth it), also maybe call or email local dance schools again and see if you can come in and sell shoes, or possibly offer volume discounts or some kind or loyalty program (eg buy a pair of soft shoes and a pair of soft shoes and get bubble socks half price, add a wig get free socks). Anything to draw them in in the beginning.

If your customer service is there they will return.

As for studying I don't know what the WIDA exam is like in comparasin to the CLRG exam. I'm sure it's fairly similar.

Thanks for the tips! Yes, the test for WIDA exam is almost identical to the CLRG, so I have a lot to memorize, and I'm listening to hornpipe music right now memorizing set dances, I've never been so sick of listening to the accordion LOL

I plan to try to contact the schools again in my area and send another batch of e-mails out. I'm also going to look into setting up a table at the Highland competitions, apparently there aren't a lot of vendors that do.

I fixed the spelling on the wig, thanks!!