Contact: Andrea Shoemaker, owner of Boro Bows by Andrea, (513) 545-8026, borobows@yahoo.com, or search Facebook
History: Andrea Shoemaker has always been creative. At the age of 6, she was making potholders and decorative seat cushions. About three and a half years ago, she was shopping at her favorite outlet store in Franklin and saw colorful ribbon. She saw many possibilities on those shelves of vibrant satin strips. At first she made bows for her daughter, other cheerleaders, and neighbors. Then someone suggested selling them.
Quote: "I saw the ribbon and thought, 'how fun!' I was always very artsy," said Shoemaker, who has a 10-year-old competition cheer squad daughter, Lauren, to model her products. "In June of 2008, I consigned with the Springboro Fan Store. There was high demand from the very start."
Products: Springboro: Blue bows with white panther paws, blue hair bands with white panther paws or "Boro" spelled out, and smaller hair clips.
Centerville: Same as Springboro products, only black and gold with Elks logos.
Also available: Alter High School bows, and scarlet and gray bows embellished with a buckeye in the middle for Ohio State University. Baseball bows with “Take me out to the ballgame” ribbon and tiny baseballs. Gingham bows with flower clips, headbands with feathers, and flip-flop bow clips.
Cost: Price range is $2 to $10.
Availability: Also sold at these Springboro locations: The Cake Ladies, Hand 2 Hand Acrobatic Training Center, That Music Place, and Adventures Through Learning. Her products also are available at EmbroidMe of Centerville.
Customer comment: "She does so many neat little things with her bows. What's really cool is that you know she really loves what she's doing," said friend and neighbor Marie Zaremba-Kmucha, who has two young daughters and two older stepdaughters. "My stepdaughters go to Huber Heights schools, and she took the time to look up the colors and make bows and headbands specific to their schools."
Future plans: Shoemaker would like to partner with more retailers, expand her product base, and eventually hire assistants.