Meet Judy Jamieson- Goff | Owner of June’s Dancewear

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judy Jamieson- Goff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judy, what do you attribute your success to?
Many of my customers and friends have asked what is the most important factor behind my successful business of 56 years. So, I have thought how I would answer that question. I truly believe the most important factor would be communication. Now, it is easy to understand that we need to communicate with our customers, but it goes beyond our customers.
As a business owner I need to communicate with the people I work with. I currently have an employee that has worked full time with me for 23 years. I must communicate to her, how I want her to approach my customers and how we need merchandise sold, and how interested I am in her as an employee and my friend. Our communication has helped my business grow financially and in popularity.
Second, we must have strong communication skills with our vendors and manufacturers. It is amazing how important they are when they show us new items that are available the next year, and the cost and creative ways to sell these items for profit. Many times our sales representatives have saved us money and valuable time with a simple phone call or text. They are invaluable.
But the most important form of communication is with our customers. My store, June’s Dancewear, is more than a walk in retail store. It is a teaching store. Dancewear is a field of retail that many entrepreneurs will avoid. For example, every time a customer arrives we begin teaching and communicating. Questions like, “Where do you Dance?”, “What are your studio requirements?”, and “Does your teacher have specific recommendations?” open our line of communication. We teach the parents about the types of shoes, leotards, and tights they need, and show them how they fit and perform. Perhaps, the most lengthy and difficult shoe to fit is our pointe shoes. This takes about 45 mins, patience because they try on 20+ pairs, and knowledge and intelligence from the fitter, because it is a skill few in the business become qualified.
Definitely after 56 years in business, I can say the most important factor to grow a successful business would not be money or education, but the ability to communicate in the field. Open communication with employees, sales reps, and of course our customers has made June’s Dancewear a successful business for 56 years that has grown from a one room store in our family home, to encompass the entire building with leotards, tights, dance shoes, and dance supplies.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What I love most about my business, June’s Dancewear, is its location. My store for over 56 years has continued to be in the original family home on East Abram St. My parents bought the house in 1949, raised 5 kids, and opened a small business, June’s Dancewear in 1970 in the same building. Early in the business June ran the store during the week, and I worked on weekends because I had a full time job teaching with the Arlington public schools. As the store grew and my family grew I left teaching to work full time to work at June’s and have been there every since.
So, I get up every morning, leave my home in South Arlington, and drive to “My Home.” I’ve been that drive “home” for 56 years. And it has been my home for 77 years. It’s truly the “House that Built Me.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
“Oh the Places You’ll See” in Arlington Texas!
Arlington is known as the entertainment capital of Texas. If it’s high end classy fun you’re looking for, their is AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas cowboys and incredible concerts, 6Flags over Texas, Rangers Stadium, National Medal of Honor Museum, Hurricane Harbor, Texas Live, UTA Planetarium and too many more to mention. Likewise, there are great places to eat Texas BBQ that melts in your mouth and many Mexican restaurant to have a great meal of enchiladas and toast to a fun week with a local margarita!
But, those friends that really know me, a plant lover, collector, and crazy craft lady, like to go with me to Texas Thrift. No, it’s not a dirty old store with junk in it. It is a clean well organized resale shop. I actually had visitors from Cali and that store was on their list to visit before they left town. You never know what you find. It is the hunt that is so fun! I usually purchase items like ribbon, yarn, fabrics, hangers for macrame, and flower pots, and maybe a “Beanie Baby!”
If I need a “Walking Dead” or 50’s Costume, I can find the perfect or accessory there. It is so much fun!
Arlington is a great place to live and own a business and I should know, I have loved it for 77 years.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give my shout out to Miss Persis School of Dance. In the late 60’s my mom, June Jamieson taught ballroom for her best friend Persis Forster, in downtown Arlington. As the story goes Persis mentioned to my mom, “We need a dancewear store in Arlington.” Well, that put a bug in my mom’s ear, because my parents recently bought a house in west Arlington and now had an empty house in East Arlington on Abram Street. June took her small budget, went to market in Dallas, and in about a year later opened a small dancewear store using only the front former living space as her store; June’s Dancewear established in 1970.
But that did not stay for long! As Persis studio grew, new studios were starting, and 6Flags Over Texas added live shows, June’s Dancewear expanded. Now the one room store grew to overtake the entire building.
So, I want to give a loving “Shoutout” to Miss Persis Studio of Dance and big thank you for encouraging June to become and entrepreneur. Both Miss Persis Studio and June’s Dancewear have been in business over 55 years. Her daughter and myself are good friends and successful business women now running our mother’s businesses.

Website: https://www.junesdancewear.net

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Image Credits
Tamara – Employee. No Credit Needed, lol.