Blessed to Bless
Ron Bongiovanni believes that it was truly divine intervention that he became the owner of BonJon LLC, the parent company of Celebrity Tuxedos and BonJon’s Tuxedos wholesaler. The company he now owns was formerly called Gary’s Tux Shops and Bongiovanni had been working as an employee there. One day, while at work, he received a disheartening phone call.
He was told that the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was pulling out of Hawai‘i; they were to begin a liquidation process. At the time, one of his bosses realized that the cost of shipping the tuxes to the mainland was more than what they were worth. That’s when Bongiovanni inquired, “What would they want for them?” The process continued as Bongiovanni prayed continually, “God if you want this, keep opening the doors.” The deal closed on April 15, 2004.
When I arrived at the BonJon office in Kapolei, I was greeted by a friendly staff and Cesar, the supercute family dog. The space is beautifully decorated and homey, for which Bongiovanni credits his wife, Rowena Akana, an OHA trustee. One of the first things Bongiovanni did was take me on a tour of the facilities. As I walked through the back door into the plant of BonJon LLC and Celebrity Tuxedos, my eyes marveled at the brilliant assortment of tuxedos hung in a very organized manner. We made our way to the dry-cleaning and pressing area, passing a huge selection of bows and neckties. I asked Bongiovanni how many varieties there were to choose from. “Thousands,” he replied with a big smile and continued to lead me around, introducing me to many of his employees, including his daughter, Toni, who recently put together a new catalog for the business using local models and the beautiful Makaha Resort as a backdrop.
Excellence is something Bongiovanni strives for in his business. That is why he chooses to house the dry-cleaning and pressing of the tuxedos, even though the cost is higher than outsourcing the process. When someone orders a tux, it gets freshly pressed right before it goes out, coming to the client at its best. “It’s a quality standard that’s unique to us on the Island. It costs more, but I’ll never give it up. It’s a heartfelt thing for me.”
Bongiovanni incorporates his heart in many ways in business, especially in the program “Blessed to Bless.” As a devout Christian, Bongiovanni institutes the biblical principles of tithing with every sale that the company makes. “It is by far the most rewarding part for me,” he said. A bride and groom’s home church is given 10 percent of their total sale and if they don’t have a church to sponsor, the company picks one at random. Now in its fourth year, Celebrity Tuxedos, through its “Blessed to Bless” program, has donated over $150,000 to various island churches.
This past October, Bongiovanni was presented with an opportunity to buy Selix Formalwear out of bankruptcy. Selix is based in Hayward, California and is one of America’s oldest and finest formalwear companies. Opened in 1906, the company maintains 10 locations and more than 200 wholesale accounts.
Buying out the company was a big deal for Bongiovanni and there were moments when it didn’t seem possible at all. “At one point we thought we lost the deal completely. I even went in the back and announced to everyone we wouldn’t be acquiring the company. That’s when we saw God at work,” he said. A deal to acquire finalized in January, making BonJon LLC one of the largest privately-owned tuxedo wholesalers in the nation. His advice for other young professionals breaking into their own field: “Cold and hot both have a purpose but lukewarm doesn’t, so swing for the fences.”
Ron Bongiovanni Owner Celebrity Tuxedos & BonJon LLC 808.682.2421 celebritytuxedos.com
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