From our modest beginnings 40 years ago with our Founder, Ghean Maksimow (the original “Bow Genie”), Bow Genie has developed into America’s premier handcrafted bow manufacturer. Decades of hand tying bows has taught us how to perfect many styles of bows for the floral industry, wreath makers, the gift packaging industry, and special events. Many of our bow makers have remained with us since our beginning!
Our mission from the beginning has been to inspire the use of bows throughout the floral and gift industries, promote the benefits of a perfect finishing touch on any gift, and offer a premium quality product that stands out from the rest. Along the way we’ve learned to take care of our workers, community and make the world a little bit of a better place.
Let Me Be Your Gheanie
Ghean Makismow was always a pioneer. It came from her father who was a visionary industrialist, whom she travelled the world with for 20 years. This was a brochure she created way back in the 1960s, long before bows. What began as her personal vision of creativity and service in Mexico City eventually came full circle, inspiring the name of our company years later.
Ghean Meets Walt Sr.
You'd never guess our founders met through the Singing Cowboy himself - Gene Autry - at LA's Intercontinental Hotel. Gene owned it and Walt Sr. was his maître'd and a go-to man. Well, Ghean came to see about some conference space. Walt Sr.'s charm was too much. And that, friends, is how it all began.
The Company Is Founded
Walter Sr. and Ghean started their business together after a few training sessions with a big outfit at the time named The John Henry Company. They were in need of handcrafted products. OffShore Manufacturing (later to become Bow Genie) happily stepped in. Walt & Ghean fast became one of JHC's best vendors - known for delivering high-quality products at great value. Especially admired were their handcrafted bows.
Rapid Production Growth
What started as a small workshop quickly transformed into a high-speed, high-volume production plant. The first major breakthrough: an order for 350,000 florist bows for Safeway supermarkets. To meet it, they mass-hired and trained over 100 women, turning the factory floor into a space of opportunity and empowerment. Things were absolutely humming along.
Crisis Hits & Walt Jr. Brought In
Unfortunately, the John Henry Company bowed to economic pressures of the time and shifted production overseas. At nearly the same time, Walt Sr. & Ghean lost their factory lease. Refusing to give up, Ghean purchased land and set her sights on rebuilding. She called Walt Jr.’s boss and said family needed him. With no prior experience in bows, Walt Jr. joined up. The first thing he did was build - by hand - the Tecate, Mexico facilities that still house production today.
New Accounts are Landed
It was't long till OffShore Manufacturing was back into form. Bow production eventually scaled up past 1 million bows per year. Eighty handcrafting experts were provided employment. The company also began to supply a large segment of the U.S. floral industry: floral shops, supermarkets, and distributors. Customers across the United States came to depend on our bows and our on-time delivery.
A Creative Partnership Blossoms
With the bow business steadily growing, Walter Jr. married Patricia Maksimow, who would later become Head Designer and Production Manager at Bow Genie. Patricia brought creative and operational excellence to the company, helping to expand our design capabilities and streamline our production processes. Many from her early team are still here.
New Challenges and Transitions
The world financial system crashed in 2009, and we were not unaffected. OffShore Manufacturing fell into trouble. Walter Jr.'s younger brother moved on after eight years. Walter Jr. and Patricia stayed on, with minimal salary, determined to keep customers supplied and orders fulfilled. But there were thoughts of walking. These were erased when Walt Sr. passed away. His example of perseverance reminded us all that quitting wasn't an option.
The Bow Genie Era Begins
By late 2012, the company officially began operating as Bow Genie. In preparation for its industry re-entry, Walter Jr. sketched out a vision for a trade show booth — a simple drawing on paper that would become the blueprint for their return. Just a few months later, Bow Genie unveiled its new brand at a major floral convention.
The show was an overwhelming success. Customers, distributors, and floral professionals were drawn to the fresh look and renewed energy.
Christmas Bows Go Big
Not long after the Bow Genie rebrand, Walter Jr. asked himself: “What are we truly good at?” The answer came one night driving past a house decorated with bright red Christmas bows. He knew then that Bow Genie’s future would be built on perfecting what the family had always done best: making bows that bring joy to celebrations. Bow Genie soon began shipping large-scale Christmas wreath bow orders - exceeding 50,000 units - which set it on the path of becoming America’s largest holiday wreath bow supplier.
Smooth Sailing
With Walter Jr.'s bet on Holiday Bows having paid off, Bow Genie got to expanding its business back into other categories, and serving a variety of verticals. Sales began to rise in grocery floral, in Mother's Day sales, in packaging, and even a considerable side business in special events bows. Bow Genie's dedication to premium handcrafted decorative bow design has since gained attention from the likes of Estee Lauder and Kate Spade.
WW I Centennial Ceremony
It's been a long and rewarding road for Bow Genie. Something came together for us when we were honored to receive a historic commission from Susan Davis International in 2018: to create a wreath bow for every U.S. state and territory to be displayed during the World War I Centennial Ceremony in Washington, D.C. What began so long ago in Tecate as a mission to empower women, and craft beauty for everyday life, was standing center stage in a ceremony of true historical importance. It was a day we said: Good job, Bow Genie.
AFA Names Flower for Ghean
in September 2021, Ghean Makismow was summoned by her kids to what she thought was a simple zoom call. It was the American Floral Association, who informed her she had been honored with the naming a Dahlia flower after her - to commemorate her years of leadership in the industry. Ghean said, looking back on almost 40 years: “All we truly take with us are the results of what we’ve done for others - the common good. Always keep faith, honor, and integrity at the heart of everything you do.”
40 Years of Purpose-Driven Work
We have sooo much ahead of us here. Recently, we enjoyed collaborating with a pharmaceutical company to design cancer awareness bows for a big event. We've also been invited into a few exciting projects we'll announce soon. But one thing we've realized in forty years of business is that 'purpose' shines through all that we do - every order we fill, every job created, each customer served. Thanks to those who've been with us all these years, and to those starting in now.
Move the Red Bar to Scroll the Timeline!
Our leadership team is hands-on and accessible – we’ve been making bows all of our lives! We’ve supported many national seasonal programs and quick-turn orders for independents, so we focus on what matters: clear pricing, practical material/packaging guidance, and honest lead-time updates.
Walter Maksimow, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
Patricia Maksimow
Head of Operations & Customer Success
Myriam Ruiz
Production Foreperson