California company King Size Bows is behind the ginormous bows you can often see in car commercials, but they’re not just for television. NBC’s Joe Fryer has this week’s Sunday Closer.
View on Today.com: https://www.today.com/video/here-s-where-they-make-those-huge-holiday-bows-you-see-on-tv-75109957814
Every December, the holiday classics return to television, mainstay tales like “Frosty the Snowman” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” And don’t forget those commercials where someone wakes up to a luxury car in the driveway on Christmas morning.
Except those ads aren’t just Yuletide fantasies.
Yes, there are people who give a car worth $60,000, $80,000 or more to someone special during the holidays, even rushing into a dealership on Christmas Eve. So many people give costly cars as presents that gift sales can make up 10 percent or more of December sales for luxury auto dealers, brand representatives and dealers say.
Also, yes: Those gigantic car bows are real, and they’re a crucial factor in making the sale.
“Gift cars are about 15 percent of our December business,” Chris Brunner, general manager of Park Place Lexus in Plano, Tex., said in mid-December. “We have seven cars sitting on our lot right now waiting to be delivered on the 24th.”
March 8 marks the 107th International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. As the National Women’s Business Council says, “We run successful businesses and households, give back to our communities, advocate for causes we care most about and nurture other life passions.”
Take a moment to reflect on the grandmothers, mothers, daughters, wives, aunts and sisters who are your neighbors, mentors, bosses, employees, investors, first responders, teachers, partners and friends.
How our world would be different without them!
Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Kingaard and Amber Hughes.
Mother-daughter entrepreneurs Jan and Amber have expanded their 16 -year-old business from cars to causes.
The core mission of their Costa Mesa studio is to help individuals, businesses, organizations and institutions honor, recognize and commemorate the people and occasions that are important to them.
With their small team of family members and experienced bow builders, the teams make huge bows for cars, Gold Star and Breast Cancer Loops, ribbon cutting and building bows, and just about anything you can imagine.
They love the business which gets them to step outside the day-today activity most people are so busy with and pause to enjoy a moment and make it memorable. There are many reasons to celebrate and if you can’t think of one, King Size Bows can.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It took many months for the new owners to learn the tricks of the trade, resources, processes, market and customers. Jan did all the talking the first year while Amber focused on new styles and possibilities. Division of duties came naturally, playing to each woman’s strengths and experience. The growth of the boutique business depends on their growing skills with tools, software, materials, techniques, vendors, equipment, online selling, shipping and handling. So many details that the hours speed by.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the King Size Bows story. Tell us more about the business.
You’ve no-doubt seen their work in the Lexus “December to Remember” commercial; atop a pony on a cruise ship for the California Lotto; throughout the Dolby Theater for America’s Got Talent Holiday Special; on buildings and lampposts throughout the US and Canada, as well as homes, retail stores and auto dealerships. Their unique boutique also ships internationally.
Their line includes “In-Stock” and “Custom” bows. In-stock bows are kept in inventory for shipping immediately; custom bows require time to create. Their classic red Signature Bow was created by the studio’s original owner in 2001, and is now available in red, royal blue, navy blue, silver, white, pink, black and gold. For $50 plus shipping, any vehicle, appliance, home or large gift will provoke delight in the recipient. There’s something about a big bow that shows deep appreciation and thought in gift-giving. The photogenic art pieces are must-have selfie shots to share on social media sites. Bows under 30 inches are made of die cut high quality paper or plastic.
Custom fabric bows are anywhere from 3 feet to 20 feet, depending on the style. For 16 years, King Size Bows has lived up to its name—fit for royalty and huge. Only a handful of businesses sell bows in the US, and most of those are imported and styles are limited. Very few make bows larger than 3 feet, and KSB’s quality and variety are difficult to match. More than half their orders are made to customer specifications. They sometimes make matching wrap to make an exhibit, building or car look like a present.
Their imagination seems limitless. They have made bows for costumes, a stripper, real estate developers, fire trucks, boat, helicopters, motorcycles, washing machines, billboards, state capitols, birth announcements and wedding proposals.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I guess you could say both bad and good luck have played a role in this business. Mother Jan’s business experience spans decades as a startup business and marketing consultant. King Size Bows was one of her clients. The founder of KSB was a serial entrepreneur and when she was ready for her next venture, Jan bought the bow business. Daughter Amber’s career with the Sheriff’s Department as a 911 Operator ended abruptly after a near-fatal car accident left her speechless. She has always been creative, making her prom dresses in high school, and had spent several years in retail and medical industries. Fortunately, she has recovered her voice with surgery and voice therapy, and is the driving force for the business expansion.
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Santa’s got his sleigh. Rudolph his red nose. And Lexus its giant car bows.
Every year, these hallmarks of the holiday season float into our lives, wrapped in red velvet and good cheer, and we herald their arrival with songs, stop-action TV specials and elaborate ad campaigns.
But if the stories of Santa and Rudolph are stitched into our stockings – and the fabric of the holiday season — the genesis of the giant car bow is a bit more elusive. So we enlisted a few automotive elves to help us unfurl 10 little-known facts about giant car bows.
And, that’s a wrap.