Category: Announcements

September 1st, 2025 —

My name is María Eugenia Briones de Maksimow, but I’ve always been known as Ghean — pronounced “Genie.”

My father, Guillermo Briones, was a visionary industrialist in Mexico City. From the age of eight, he taught me how to succeed in business. By ten, I had my first venture, giving up playtime to build something of my own. Over the next twenty years, I worked alongside him, traveling the world to promote Mexico’s industries and culture.

In 1964, I married Walter Maksimow and moved to San Diego, where we raised four children. By 1985, Walter and I decided to start a “bilateral” business, blending our worlds and creating something new: a maquiladora in Mexico dedicated to handcrafting bows.

Those early days were full of challenges and creativity — I even branded myself as “your Genie,” promising to make customers’ holiday wishes come true. We traveled to floral shows and conventions, meeting customers who became lifelong friends. Almost four decades later, Bow Genie continues to thrive, built on those early relationships and the pride of skilled women who craft every bow.

Then in September 2021, I received the surprise of my life. On what I thought was a simple Zoom call, the American Floral Association honored me by naming a Dahlia after me. I was stunned, humbled, and deeply grateful for the recognition.

Looking back on nearly forty years of this journey, I hold close a belief I’ve always lived by: “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.”

September 1st, 2025 —

In 2011, when my father Walter Sr. passed away, I suddenly found myself responsible for a company I didn’t fully understand. I knew production, but had little knowledge of sales or accounting. The business was struggling, and I had to stop and ask myself: What are we truly good at?

The answer was clear. My mother always spoke of the pride Mexican women take in their handcrafts. We were very good at making beautiful bows—and just as good at making them fast and consistent.

With the encouragement of a trusted advisor, we rebranded from Off Shore MFG to Bow Genie, a name inspired by my mother’s lifelong nickname, pronounced “Genie.” By 2013, Bow Genie officially launched, and the company began to steadily double sales and production year after year.

Today, Bow Genie produces millions of bows with quality at the forefront. Our mission remains the same: to provide opportunity for the women who craft our bows, and to deliver unmatched value to our customers.

 

September 1st, 2025 —

When I started in the world of handmade bow production, I realized that the real challenge was not only making the beautiful bow, but ensuring that every single piece had the same quality, detail, and finish. I wanted my clients to receive not just a bow, but an impeccable piece, worthy of representing their products and celebrations.

At the very beginning, each bow reflected the personality of the person who made it. While that gave them charm, it did not guarantee uniformity. That’s when I understood the need to create a clear and precise quality control system. I first established a standardized production process: from cutting the ribbon, to the exact proportion of the loops, as well as the measurements of the width and length of the tails. Next, I implemented inspections at different stages. At the start, we checked each ribbon roll to ensure proper color, texture, and width. During production, every bow was compared to a master model. we then learned how to send each piece through a meticulous inspection before being packaged.

This system has developed substantially since then. But the heart of what I helped develop in the beginning still remains, in each bow we ship.