PHILIP KIVES

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PHILIP KIVES February 12, 1929 - April 27, 2016 The family of Philip Kives is heartbroken to announce his passing at the age of 87. He died peacefully, with his family at his bedside. He is survived by his wife Ellie, of 45 years, children Samantha (David), Kelly (Ryan) and Daniel, and his brother George. Also missing him greatly are his cherished grandchildren, Austin, Lily and Abigail. Phil was predeceased by parents Lily and Kiva, sister-in-law Anita, sister Sophie (Archie), and brother Ted. Philip, owner and founder of K-Tel Int., was a marketing genius and business innovator who redefined the advertising and music industries and created a pop culture legacy. "He went on to write and produce hundreds of low-budget commercials that shouted their way into global consciousness, making K-Tel one of the most successful marketing companies of all time." (Matt Schudel, Washington Post, April 28). However, to those who knew and loved him, we lost the best husband, father and friend anyone could ever dream of. Philip was a dynamic and charismatic man who above all put his family first. He accomplished impossible things in life but, at the same time, could relate to people from all walks of life with a genuine interest and zest to learn from them. He was empathetic and generous, helping countless people in need, expecting nothing in return. The following is a brief account of his earlier years, captured in Philip's own words: "I was born on a small country farm, near the town of Oungre, Saskatchewan. My parents originally came from Eastern Europe, but because of the hardships suffered by the Jewish people, the Jewish Colonization relocated them, first to Turkey and then, in 1926, to Saskatchewan. Here, I was born in 1929, the third of four children. We struggled on our small farm, living on welfare for many years. It was the dirty thirties', where drought, grasshoppers and crop failure made farming almost impossible. We had no power or running water. We would haul drinking water over four miles, as there was always a shortage. I recall milking cows daily from the age of five and whatever we grew in the garden, plus the butter and the cheese that we made, and chicken and eggs that we raised...was what we lived on. I started my first entrepreneurial venture at the age of eight, when I set up my first trap line. Not only did I sell my own furs, but I bought furs from other kids in school and re-sold them at fur auctions. I made just enough money to buy my few clothes. Also around that time, there was a population explosion of gophers, and the municipality was offering a few cents for every gopher tail. I figured out a way to double my money, by cutting the gopher tails in half. It was survival of the fittest. We had very poor land. I looked around at how people were living and I thought I'm going to have a tough time living on a farm for the rest of my life. In 1957, I left the farm for the lights of the big city of Winnipeg. I had various jobs: from taxi driver to short-order cook. Then I tried my luck selling door-to-door, such items as cookware, sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. I had difficulties making sales at first. But, in six months I became a top salesman and ran a crew of sales people of my own. In 1959, I made $29,000. This was like a million dollars to me, as only a few years earlier I was barely making $1000 a year on the farm. By 1961, I made my way to the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. I was demonstrating in the Woolworth Store facing the Boardwalk. I learned quickly that only the strong survive. If you did not produce, you were out of the Woolworth Store in a flash, as other people were waiting to take your place. In the spring of 1962, I returned to Winnipeg and came to the realization that instead of demonstrating to a few people at one time, I could try television, where I would demonstrate to masses of people all at once. I made a live 5- minute TV commercial on a Teflon non-stick fry pan. To my surprise, sales took off at a remarkable pace. I quickly spread the TV advertising throughout Canada and this 5-minute commercial became the world's first infomercial. Unfortunately, Teflon was a new product, and the Teflon peeled off the fry pan leaving a lot of Teflon-coated eggs. However, although this product had problems, I learned a valuable lesson...the power of TV advertising. In August 1965, I left for Australia and within 10 days I was on TV with the Feather-Touch Knife. I was a one-man show, and operated from a hotel room with no staff or office. However, the girls at the front desk of the hotel were nice to me, and were kind enough to answer my business calls and take all my phone orders. By Christmas I had sold one million knives. After the difficulties of farming, I couldn't believe how easy this was. In 1966, I released my first compilation TV record, 25 Country Hits' for the low price of $3.49. I looked at it as a one-time product. But after 25 Polka Greats', which sold around a million and a half copies in the U.S. alone, I thought...hmm...maybe I was on to something. In the late 1960s I incorporated my company and gave it the name K-Tel and the rest is history. My biggest selling product was the Miracle Brush, selling 28 million. My biggest music seller was Hooked on Classics', selling over 10 million. In 1979, K-Tel was operating in 34 countries. By the early 1980s K-Tel sold over half a billion albums world-wide. One of my special moments was being inducted into the (CPSA) Canadian Professional Sales Hall of Fame in 2002. I was honoured for creating the first infomercial and changing the face of advertising world wide. Today we continue to license our music catalogue to other users. We have set up a digital distribution network with companies like iTunes, where our music is sold all over the world." Although Philip was very busy with K-Tel, he had many other interests. He was a passionate owner and breeder of race horses for over 40 years. His K-5 Stables made headlines in both the breeding and racing categories and significantly contributed to the Manitoba Racing industry. His family shared in the fun and excitement visiting the horses, talking to the trainers and observing the newborn colts and fillies. His K-5 Stables was well known at Assiniboia Downs, thrilling racing fans by winning many prestigious races and awards like the Manitoba Derby and Breeder of the Year. The value of his contribution to the racing industry cannot be measured and his presence there will be greatly missed. In spite of all his business accomplishments nothing mattered more to him than his family and he was so proud of them all. Married to his soul mate for 45 years, Ellie and Phil shared a wonderful life together. They had a passion for tennis which lasted their entire married life. Skiing was another favourite sport. In fact, they connected on their very first date at the Pony Corral Restaurant talking about skiing and what an exciting sport it was. Bicycling was high on their activity list taking various bike tours all over North America. Phil could often be seen bicycling with Ellie through Assiniboine Park right up till just last summer. Honolulu was his favourite holiday spot. He loved staying at the same hotel because it was right next to the Cheesecake Factory, his favourite restaurant. He would walk to Diamond Head Tennis Courts and watch the kids play tennis and grab a mixed doubles match with Ellie. Every summer Philip enjoyed their cottage at Clear Lake with the family, some of their most precious times. There too, he would play lots of tennis and go on bicycle rides on the hilly terrain. Phil loved to watch his kids play tennis. He would make up an excuse and leave a very important business meeting just to watch and cheer them on. Phil was so proud of his family and he really didn't want to miss a thing! He always said, his family was his dream team' and his greatest accomplishment. A donation can be made to Health Sciences Centre Liver Cancer Research Fund, phone: 204-787-2022, or a charity of choice.
Publish Date: May 21, 2016

PHILIP KIVES Philip Kives passed away peacefully on April 27, 2016. Funeral services will take place 1:00 p.m., Sunday, May 1, at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, 561 Wellington Crescent. Longer obituary to appear later.
Publish Date: Apr 30, 2016

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2016