“We’re business-to-business and we’ve done business with 40 of the 50 top Fortune 500 companies. Some of the fun ones have been at the White House for the First Lady, Lady Gaga, movie sets, Hollywood props and the big grand opening scene for the 2014 ‘Annie’ coming out,” said owner Kimberly Baeth.

“We’ve worked with Warren Buffett, Donald Trump, Apple and Facebook. We also work with local business owners a few times each week, like with grand openings. Snowtel/Mowtel had us decorate in orange and white with a snow theme and we fixed s’mores. It was neat. Every day, hundreds of boxes ship out of here with multiple things in each box to help people with their events.”

The company was recently named the 2013 business of the year by Grimes Chamber and Economic Development. Baeth also has penned event-planning books. Business owners purchase and utilize the tip manuals to host their own events with her expertise and supplies.

“We’ve sold our custom-designed scissors to 7,000 chambers for their ribbon cuttings. We have ribbons, bows, balloons, rental items, tables, everything you want at an opening we can make, deliver or have on hand,” Baeth said.

Baeth talked with The Des Moines Register about her business.

Q: Why did you decide to open your business? A: I went to Iowa State University, majoring in public relations and journalism. I was heavily involved in campus activities and the Greek system. I’d always been a leader and with a dad who had his own construction company, entrepreneurship was always in my blood.

Q: How did you develop the 3-foot scissors? A: I worked for the North Hennepin chamber that serves Maple Grove and other areas in Minnesota. That’s when I developed the scissors. I was tired of showing up with desk scissors and hair ribbon when you have media and officials there for ribbon-cutting events. So for my 26th birthday, my dad made the 3-foot wood scissors that everybody loved. Company officials like those from 3M and General Mills wanted to buy them. I started renting them out. I invented big scissors and the key to the city. We have the patent and trademark to ours. In fact, other people are copying our products and trying to copy our business model. We had an engraver who bought our scissors then tried to make his own, but since ours are patented and trademarked, he had to change his.

Q: What are your books about? A: They are how-to books covering events like ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. We sell those four or five times each week on the Internet in a downloadable or print version. People will still call us with questions after that. In fact, we were hired by Buffalo Wild Wings to create their own grand opening guide for new stores that we wrote from scratch, covering everything from the ordering of carpet to their TV size. It’s very, very thorough.

Q: What products do you offer?
A: We have more than 1,000 products and services, including new business banners, official ceremonial ribbon, decorations, catering, large inflatable balloons, mailing labels and more.

Q: What other award have you received that stands out in your mind?
A: We were given the best kept secret award by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Q: Did you help set a record?
A: Golden Openings was proud to partner with Cutler Bay, Fla., to set a world record for the longest ribbon cutting as they opened the Lakes by the Bay Park. A 4.5-mile long ribbon was created. It took 750 people to hold the ribbon as it encircled the park and weaved through the athletic fields. The old record was 4.19 miles set in the German city of Schwabisch Hall on March 31, 2011.