Jun 22, 2018 3 min read

Cicci Dance Supplies Inc. (Dance Costume Maker)

724-348-7359

724-462-9630 (Margo’s cell)

George or Margo

3594 Washington Ave. Finleyville 15332

My dad and I (go by maiden name)

Over 65 years, probably — not sure when started. My GM started Jane Vella Cicci

Vella Dane -studio side and her sister Louise — Canonsburg; way back GM started basement of house in Finleyville.

This always Cicci — GF George Cicci Sr. a coal miner. GM lessons 25 cents in her basement. She started to make dance sotumes. Purcghaze lerotard and decorate irt.

Her sister needed sostumes too. Word got out. Little by little became Cicci Dance Supplies.

Event. needed more sewing machines. Moves itno dgragage next to house. Eventually grew enough to purchaser bldg. in ow.

 When dad little, GM give him order, go PO, get weighed, find out how much to ship, home to tell GM, go back PO. He helped to grow the business exponentially.

This is American Dream kind of thing. GM female business owner. Dad.

Earliest catalogs don’t have dates, hard to say when started. Started around 1950.

I’ve been around all the time. Grad HS, college in Md., eventually came back about 14 years ago.

Co-owners. He’s main.

We’re not taking orders anymore. We’re manuafcaturer. Take orders only studios and schools. Pretty much everything made to order. Had all orders for year. Now in liquidation phase. Costumes, favricrs, tights, trims, sequins. Did not deal directly w/public — although had small retail store w/public long ago. Local studio owners dealt with us.

Basicallty, uyears ago, whole dance costume uibndruty fam owned or individuasls. Some cos bought by inversments groups ofr  ifn. backing,. Taking manu ioverseason. Much lower cost there than manu. here. Eventually cost to masnu here. Cdnt compete w/good being impiorted from say China, Pretty much wiped us out.

7-8 years ago approachddby fin group inter in purtrch us. Dad amnd I talked and decided not to sdo. Proud made in Amdrica in town my dad and I grew up in. We’be been stape li nin our community.

We didn’t want to lsoe control fo that and that have great quality product. We really pride outrsleves. Once start outscouring, you lose control fo that and people lose their jobs.

Sad dcdnt keep going but uif someone bought, people still wdved lostjobs becae owner wd go overseas.

Got to point you really cant compete with that. Really sign of times. Kind of like Amazon mentality.

Ringgold class ’94. dad grew up Fin, married lived Finleyville and moved.

When up and running, employed up to 75 people. Pretty impressive. Shipped all over country and Canada and Australia.

20198 catalog was out for recitals happening this spring essentially — came out Sept. 17. Hopeful cd hang in there. We worked 19 catalog, worked on photo shoot ansd designs. But it just wasn’t in the cards.

Somewhat seasonal, lay off late summer, then operate FT and OT and Saturdays.

Now the pmnat is basically is closed. Have just abt. 7-10 employees depending on what we’re doing.

You — good question. Not really sure. I feel have good options. The emotion l investment, it wouldn’t be fair to look into something else wright now. If start looking into something else right now, I wouldn’t be giving it my all.

Bldg. listed for sale.

We had more than 65 wonderful years. Blessed w/ emnokioyeers and generatuions fo employees. GHad literally generations of fams work here. HaD AMAZING CUSTIMERS. aBLE TO CLOESE ON GOOD NOTE, WITH our integrity and dignity.