Iowa Small Business Salute - Golden Openings - The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State - March 2020
The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State - March 2020
From the office of the Iowa Secretary of State
In honor of national entrepreneurship week, our #SmallBizSalute for this week is all about Golden Openings, Inc. in Urbandale, IA.
Before opening Golden Openings, owner Kimberly Baeth was working at the North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. She was getting multiple requests to host and coordinate grand opening events for new businesses in the community. Because the Chamber did not provide this service, the new business owners had nowhere to turn.
“Asking myself where I could find giant scissors that really cut is what started it all. It seemed like a simple idea – but it was a unique novelty at the time,” says Baeth. “I drew a pattern and then asked my dad to construct big scissors for my 26th birthday and that’s when Golden Openings began in 1997.”
From there, she mass produced the original giant stainless-steel scissors which are now offered in 100 different styles and sizes that can be customized in several ways. Their product line also includes wide custom ribbon, big bows, keys to the city, groundbreaking items and keepsakes and many unique awards and gifts for special events.
Over the past 23 years, Golden Openings has helped thousands of businesses across six continents. Some of those businesses include Disney, Apple, Target and Facebook. “We are proud to serve our customers and are honored to contribute to our great nation’s growth and prosperity. We are always actively investing in our employees, our infrastructure and our community,” says Baeth.
Baeth’s entrepreneurship, enthusiasm and heart of gold has not gone unnoticed as she and her company have received over 20 local and national awards. In 2017, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognized Golden Openings as the Small Business of the Year. In 2018, Baeth was awarded Small Business Woman of the Year by the National Association Woman Business Owners.
Baeth’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is that “Success in small business is never guaranteed. It takes all the time-tested foundational skills: ambition, drive, leadership, vision, creativity and a strong work ethic. It means getting knocked down and getting back up again, many times.”
