Kaitie Mays – Hair Bows Making a Difference

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By Alyssa Ramsfield

capital medical centerAt first glance, Kaitie Mays looks like any other 11-year-old: a bright smile, her dance studio jacket, and a bow placed in her hair. The bow is what sets this Chinook Middle School sixth grader apart. Mays is an entrepreneur.  Through Kaitie’s Hand-Made Hair Bows, she is creating custom hair bows to fundraise for her dance group.

“I started making bows for fun,” states Mays. “One day we were talking about raising money for a dance competition and I was looking at my bows thinking hey, I can make money at this. People ask about my bows all the time.”

olympia dance team
Kaitie Mays creates beautiful bows to fund her dancing dreams.

So that’s exactly what Mays began doing out of her home.

“The dining room is my workshop,” Mays explains. “My mom and I buy ribbon from the Hobby Lobby when it is on discount. Every other week it is 58% off so we go and buy a bunch. Then, my mom precuts ribbon while I’m dancing. I dance for a few hours every day. If I don’t have to cut the ribbon it usually takes 5-10 minutes to put together a bow.”

Mays has been a dancer for most of her life. “I started dancing when I was three. My grandpa loved to dance and when I dance it reminds me of him.”

“I joined a competitive team around age four,” she explains. “The teams are grouped based on age and ability. We compete regionally and nationally. All of these competitions have entry fees, travel costs, and special costumes. I make the bows to cover these costs for myself and my team at Studio One.”

Sales goals are high for this budding business woman. “I started with a goal of selling 2,000 bows my first year, but I didn’t quite make it. This year, my goal is to sell 1,000 bows so I can raise the $5,000 I need to go to Nationals in Las Vegas. I usually sell bows for around $5 each with $2 of that going towards my dance account.”

During the holiday season, Mays has dedicated a portion of her profits to helping beyond the dance studio. This year, $.75 from each bow sold is going toward buying gifts for children in need.

olympia dance team
Mays’ Studio One dance team competes across the state and around the country.

With a life that revolves around dance, Mays has found connections to her daily life and her favorite activity. “Math is my favorite subject in school. Last year, at South Bay Elementary, I was Math Star of the Year. Dance and math have a lot in common. The counts, staying on task, and being focused remind me of math.”

Mays has dreams beyond the bow selling business and regional dance competitions. “Someday, I want to be on Broadway and dance. Being able to go to these competitions lets me see other dancers. It makes me think, ‘Wow I want to be like them!’ I can’t wait to be as good as they are someday.”

Kaitie’s Hand-Made Hair Bows can be purchased through her Facebook page. A wide variety of local sports teams and popular characters are currently available. Custom orders are also obtainable upon request.

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