ORLANDO, FLA., March 2, 2009 – Jon DeMott, owner and president of DanceWear Corner, has been named 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year by Dance Retailer News magazine.

DeMott received the publication’s Award of Excellence at the 2009 Dance Retailer News Expo, held Feb. 22 through 24 at the Rio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. The sixth annual trade show featured more than 70 exhibitors that included leading dancewear brands, business seminars and a fashion show premiering this season’s new dancewear styles.

DeMott earned his honor in the award category “Innovation in operations, merchandising, marketing or promotions.” A forward-thinking entrepreneur dedicated to expanding the experience of dance throughout his community, DeMott founded DanceWear Corner in 1996. His enterprise consists of two retail locations in the metropolitan Orlando area, and online sales at www.DanceWearCorner.com.

Innovations that DeMott implemented in 2008 include:

• Updating and streamlining the retail operations’ POS system
• Updating ordering and shipping procedures, accompanied by new procedures for accounting, bookkeeping and online banking
• Establishment of an automated off-site phone answering system to provide improved customer service
• Doubling the inventory storage capacity of retail locations by reconfiguring existing space
• Launching a dance affiliate program that provides dance school owners with special discounts, pricing, and price awards for the school or its owner, for both retail and online sales
• Providing four $250 scholarships for current dance students towards participation in future classes and dance conventions; and sponsored student dancers in various statewide competitions
• Instituting a gift card program

DanceWear Corner also has begun rolling out its comprehensive rebranding, which includes a new logo already in use. Its new Web site is scheduled to launch in March, and will provide improved online shopping, graphics and navigation, as well as expanded social networking capabilities to encourage customers and dance students to build a community around DanceWear Corner as its definitive resource for all things dance.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen for this award,” said DeMott. “My wife Rosemary and I have put in a lot of work to get DanceWear Corner to this point, and have much more to do to achieve all of our plans. Getting this recognition lets me know we’re on the right track.”

Jon DeMott
DanceWear Corner
www.DanceWearCorner.com