Where to get a giant car bow for Christmas

Flashback: Lexus is widely credited with creating the big bow trend back in 1999, with its sentimental "December to Remember" advertising campaign, now in its 26th year.

• Other dealers adopted the idea (a big red bow on the hood of a car is a great marketing tool, after all).
• Now more car buyers are seeking that extra holiday flourish, too.

The catch: Handmade fabric bows can cost $500 or more, and dealers are reluctant to give them away.

• Lexus' iconic 38-inch red bow even has an official part number, like floor mats or windshield wipers.
• But dealers only get two per showroom each year, so they typically will lend them to customers for a photo and then take them back.
• They're not for sale, a Lexus spokesperson tells Axios.

There are plenty of other options, however.

• King Size Bows, in Costa Mesa, Calif., makes the custom Lexus bows and sells thousands of other varieties each year. Its largest pre-made bow, at 33 inches, sells for $159.99. A 24-inch version costs $89.99.
• Car Bow Store has 30-inch bows for $38.95, plus smaller options, with magnets or suction cups that attach to a car's roof, hood or windshield.
• Cheaper bows, which sometimes require assembly, are available at places like Party City, Amazon, Walmart and Michael's Stores.

The bottom line: It's the 🎀 that counts.