“It operates seamlessly in the background, supporting team management without being intrusive. Overall, Breathe is a reliable tool that everyone knows how to use, fitting perfectly with our focus on trust and accountability.”
Who are Chrisanne Clover?
Founded originally as Chrisanne in 1986, now Chrisanne Clover is a dynamic company rooted in the competitive ballroom dancing scene, specialising in high-quality dance fabrics and costumes. Founded by passionate dancers, the company has evolved to become a leader in its niche, committed to quality, innovation, and collaboration.
Their story 📚
Chrisanne Clover was born from the shared vision of two dancing couples who noticed a big gap in the market for dance-specific fabrics. Before they came along, dancers often struggled to find matching materials across different shops, making costume creation a bit of a hassle. This challenge inspired them to create a one-stop solution for the dance community, making it easier for dancers to find everything they need in one place.
How they started 💃
The journey began when the founders, driven by their passion for dance, decided to fill the void in the market.
As Giles Hatch, Executive Director, says, “We realised that creating costumes shouldn’t be a struggle; it should be an enjoyable part of the dance experience.”
By combining their expertise and insights from the competitive dancing world, they set out to provide high-quality, matching fabrics tailored specifically for dancers.
What focus means to them
For Chrisanne Clover, focus is all about keeping a clear vision and making sure their actions match their goals.
Giles puts it simply: “Focus, to me, means always keeping the ultimate goal in mind and making sure your actions line up with it. You might need to change your approach along the way, but the goal stays the same.”
He highlights that this dedication to focus has really helped shape their business strategies and spark innovation.
The challenges 🎯
As Chrisanne Clover grew, they faced a few challenges along the way. One of the big ones was managing the rapid expansion after merging with Crystal Clover in 2015. Bringing teams together and adjusting to the new dynamics required a thoughtful approach to keep everyone’s spirits high and productivity flowing.
“Change can be daunting,” says Giles, “but it also opens up opportunities for growth and improvement.”
On top of that, the competitive landscape called for a unique product that balanced creativity with quality.
“We always have to find that sweet spot between excitement and durability. Our costumes need to hold up to the demands of competition while still looking absolutely stunning,” he adds.
The solutions ✅
To address these challenges, Chrisanne Clover focused on four key areas:
- Quality: They are committed to providing the best products and exceptional customer service.
- Integrity: Honesty and ethical practices are central to their culture.
- People: The company prioritised hiring individuals with the right attitude and passion, recognising that their team is the heart of the business.
- Collaboration: Open communication and alignment among team members encourages a sense of ownership and creativity.
Giles points out a major shift in their management strategy, saying, “A key change in focus happened a couple of years before COVID, and it was all about people and management development. Instead of just training people to fix their weaknesses, we started concentrating on what they naturally excel at.”
He notes that this approach has really boosted productivity and workplace satisfaction, adding, “When people work in their strengths, it not only benefits them but the whole organisation.”
The role of Breathe ☁️
Breathe plays a key role in how Chrisanne Clover runs things day-to-day by encouraging individual responsibility throughout the business. With Breathe, each department can handle its own workflow, which means team members can approve their holidays and breaks without getting caught up in a long approval process.
As Giles puts it, “This autonomy creates a sense of self-responsibility and keeps everyone accountable for what they do.”
On top of that, Breathe gives useful insights into personal data, like sickness reports, which helps keep things clear across the team.
Giles really appreciates how unobtrusive Breathe is, saying, “It operates seamlessly in the background, supporting team management without being intrusive.” He adds, “Overall, Breathe is a reliable tool that everyone knows how to use, fitting perfectly with our focus on trust and accountability.”
The results 📈
The focus on quality has really paid off for Chrisanne Clover. They’ve built a solid reputation in the dance community, known for their innovative approach and dedication to quality.
“We’ve created a brand that dancers not only trust but also feel proud to be a part of,” says Giles.
The customer feedback has been great, consistently highlighting the perfect blend of excitement and quality in what they offer.
The future 🚀
Looking ahead, Chrisanne Clover is excited to keep growing while adapting to the changing market landscape. They recognise that moving towards a more digital approach can be challenging, especially as customer engagement shifts from in-person experiences to online platforms.
Giles is clear about the path they want to take: “We’re focused on enhancing our website and boosting our social media presence to connect with customers around the globe.”
He envisions a future where Chrisanne Clover stays true to its core values of integrity, quality, and collaboration, even after he moves on.
“I’d be proud to know that the principles we’ve built will carry on long after I’m gone,” he adds.
As they navigate the fast-changing dancewear industry, Chrisanne Clover is all about exploring new ways to reach and engage customers. Their commitment to the dance community remains strong, and they aim to uphold their reputation as a market leader while fostering a culture of creativity, responsibility, and trust.
Giles sums it up nicely: “At the end of the day, it’s about making a positive impact in the lives of dancers and creating products that inspire them.”
