On the morning of January 2, 2013 I called my local banker, Al Hodge, at Arkansas Capital, to discuss the refinancing of my downtown real estate. He and I had been talking, for months, about using the equity to help Arkansas Flag and Banner get through this recession. That is when he told me the bad news, The SBA 504 refinancing loan was eliminated as part of the Fiscal Cliff‚ negotiations. What? Why?‚ It helps businesses. It is a loan not a grant! I felt angry and helpless. Then decided to make a difference and write a letter to every Senator and Representative. My children and I set up an assembly line and for‚ two and a half‚ days we signed, stuffed, licked, and stamped 550 letters. In addition, we hand wrote a short note on every envelope and letter to try and get their attention. Read our letter here. It was an enlightening process for our whole family. I learned that not just anybody can write to Washington because it is expensive and labor intensive. It cost $500 in stamps and envelopes, you need access to a commercial printer, and it is labor intensive (I knew I had kids for some reason). I will continue to learn as I watch for what kind of results that follow in the next few weeks. I will repost when I find out."
Flagandbanner came from humble beginnings. My mother, Kerry McCoy, started Arkansas Flag and Banner in her sitting room in 1975. By the time I was ten years old I could identify banner hardware from a distance and would maturely complain about incorrect flag display. Few people are as vigilant about flag etiquette as I am, but Flagandbaner is going the distance to educate others with their interactive website, informative videos and flag alerts. One of their newest missions is to make flag display, etiquette and installation easy and accessible to the community.
Display(See images below)
When hanging the flag on a wall, either vertically or horizontally, the union jack or star field should always be in the upper left hand corner. There is often some confusion when hanging the flag on a window in your business. The flag should appear correct from the outside of your building and not from inside the lobby or entrance.
The American flag should always be displayed above the State flag. The State flag should be displayed above any company or city flags with six inches separating each flag on the halyard or rope.
Another arrangement is to display your flags on three separate poles. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs of the same height, the American flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. No flag or pennant may be placed above or to the left of the flag of the United States while within our borders.
I know that the American flag is a shared symbol of our country and patriotism, after years in the flag business I have found that each of us associate it with something different and deeply personal. Some are reminded of the day their loved ones returned from the war. For those who have been abroad it reminds them of home and family. I‚ve had children excited to tell me about the stars and stripes and veterans tell me the journey of the flag they‚ve brought in to be destroyed. As for me, it transports me back to that awful morning on September 11, 2001. I arrived at AFB in shock and scared to find 200 people in line at nine o clock in the morning to buy a flag. I have never been so proud to be an American. I even sold the flag off my desk. You never know what your stars and stripes will inspire in others.
The Arkansas Capital Corporation ran an ad on the back of the Arkansas Banker's Association monthly magazine featuring Kerry and Grady McCoy, owners of Arkansas Flag and Banner! The ad shows a picture of the front of our Historic 800 West Ninth Street location in Downtown Little Rock and a picture of Kerry and Grady McCoy in our second floor sewing room where our talented seamstresses assemble our custom flags and banners. The ad discusses funding both start up and business expansions both things that Arkansas Flag and Banner has had dealings with the Arkansas Capital Corporation and local bankers over our 39 years in business. The heading, "An idea, a flag and a loan" was pretty well spot on! W
"Kerry McCoy, President of Arkansas Flag and Banner visits with Chris Kane, host of Good Morning Arkansas on December 14, 2012. Kerry's message was ""If everyone would buy just $64 in USA Made products then 200,000 jobs would be created.""
Flagandbanner.com celebrates the centennial of the Arkansas State Flag
Posted on: March 1, 2013
On February 26th, 1913, the first iteration of the Arkansas State Flag was adopted by the legislature. It looked much like today‚s version sans the fourth star representing the Confederacy, which was added in 1923. Prior to 1913, the Natural State had no official state flag. Nearly seventy-five years after Arkansas attained statehood, the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a design contest because of their wish to present an official flag at the commissioning ceremony for the U.S.S. Arkansas battleship. The winner of the contest was Miss Willie Hocker of Wabbaseka, a member of the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Arkansas State Flag is rendered in the colors of the American flag. Twenty-five stars arranged in a diamond around the center design represent Arkansas as the twenty-fifth state to be admitted to the union and its status as the nation‚s first diamond-producing state. The two parallel white stars at the left and right points of the diamond symbolize the dual admission of Arkansas and Michigan to the United States. Four blue stars surrounding the state name in the center represent the nations that have owned the land now known as Arkansas: France, Spain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.
Arkansas‚ Flagandbanner.com acknowledges this important milestone of our state flag. The company is proud to be Arkansas-based, employing local people, and providing quality products to the world. Miss Hocker‚s original design, as well as the 1913 and 1926 versions of the Arkansas state flag can be purchased at http://www.flagandbanner.com. 2013 marks the centennial of the Arkansas State Flag. To commemorate this great milestone, Arkansas‚ Flagandbanner.com will make custom historic state flags on demand.
February 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of the Arkansas state flag. Kerry made two TV appearances to promote this piece of Arkansas history. Here is the video from one of those appearances.
I only have about 10 or 15 minutes so I am going to try and hit them all. Here‚s the first one, flag etiquette. The US flag always goes on its right.Next we all know the story of how Betsy Ross in 1776, secretly, hand-sewed the first flag for her friend George Washington.‚ And as with everything, there is much debate over whether it really was she or someone else.‚
Prior to this Betsy Ross Flag, an array of flags were used mostly naval like these top two and then the third flag showing allegiance to the motherland Great Britain. More popular and well known flags are the Bennington, the Gadsen made popular by Ben Franklin, and the Confederate Battle Flag and Bonnie Blue.
Currently, this is the 100 year anniversary of our Arkansas‚ flag. Yes 100 years ago the USS Arkansas Battleship was being commissioned and it was noticed we didn‚t have a flag for the ceremony.‚ Arkansas had gone 76 years without a flag.‚ The DAR of Pine Bluff held a state wide contest and it was Willie Kavanaugh Hocker‚s design that was chosen.‚ It is not much different than the flag we fly today. The diamond because we are the only state with diamonds, the 3 stars to represent, France, Spain, and Great Britan, all of which reign over Arkansas at some time.‚ Later the Confederate star was added and the name Arkansas.
Moving on to the next topic on my list‚¦my story, is kinda the American Dream come true.‚ I started AFB when I was just 20 years old, on $400 and I sell the most American product there is‚¦the American Flag. 38 years ago, in 1975 the American Flag was my main product, but since then AFB‚s product line has grown and the business has changed many times over. I did not get into this business for the reasons you may think like I love flags, or I am excessively patriotic or even that I am the smartest person in the world.‚ No rather it was more of a series of Bad Luck.
I had just graduated from school and was ready to start my adult life.‚ When boom the recessions of 1974 hits.‚ There were gas shortages and long lines at the gas pump. It was similar to today‚s recession with expensive gas and jobs scarsity.‚ But you gotta do what you gotta do and I had to have a job I went to Snelling and Snelling, an employment agency and found a job selling flags for Betsy Ross Flag Girls in Dallas TX.
After about 6 months of working I became homesick and with the help of my father and mother, entrepreneurs themselves, I started my flag businesses. Dad gave me a desk and a phone in the back of his office.
I had saved $400 which I used to buy a city permit, print business cards and buy a yellow page ad.‚ I found a flag manufacturer that would supply me, now all I had to do was decide on a name for my new business and start selling. Once a name was settle and business cards printed, I began selling door to door or should I say business to business.
It sounds easy but it wasn't, some of the problems I faced and solved were:
Capital (money) - for the first 9 years I worked part time jobs while I built AFB.‚ Every time I sold a flag I bought a flag for inventory. Another problem,
Staffing ‚ You need help but can‚t afford it. So you must be creative. Not everyone chooses there job based on money. Some people work for flexible hours, health insurance, locale to their home, or for work experience to put on their resume. One of my favorite and most creative work models happened out of necessity; I offered in-house daycare. It was before digital printing, when everything had to sewn I had many seamstresses and we were all of the child bearing age. It was not unusual to see nursing babies at break or to find infants lying on sewing tables.
Growing ‚ you know the predicament, you can't grow without more cash and you can't get more cash without growing. Remember your family and friends. I used a desk in my dad's office. For short term loans, your friends and family are faster and cheaper to establish, But you must keep it lawful with current interest rates and usury laws applied.
In the last 38 years, the business climate in America has been through many changes. AFB has gone through them too. We may have started by selling traditional flags, such as US, State, Foreign, and Historical but we have grown far beyond that. We like to say We're More Than Just a Flag Store‚ with over 20,000 products online, encompassing a wide range of merchandise. Sure we still sell flags and flagpoles, but we now offer, home decorating and entertaining, apparel and jewelry‚¦ all with a patriotic or Razorback theme.‚ In addition we are known around the world for our custom banners, we have adorned such prestigious places as the Smithsonian, Dallas Museum of Art, Fields Museum, Presidential Elections, Olympic competitions.‚ Currently we are making a big splash in the entertainment industry with product placement on shows like 30 Rock, In Plain Site, Top Shot, Extreme Makeover, Snow White, just to name a few.‚ Some of you may recognize this banner recently in downtown Little Rock.
What began in 1975 as a door to door, sole propriety business has grown into a corporation with more than 30 employees and over 3 million in sales.‚ Change seems to be the key to my success and a must for a success in today‚s business world.‚ I have navigated AFB through many changes.‚ The business that began as door to door sales company morphed into a telemarketing business, which changed into a catalog business.‚ We added manufacturing, and a retail store.‚ In 1995 I heard about the internet and I am proud to say we are now a thriving internet company.
Things I have learned:
Strife, builds character.
Necessity, leads to opportunities.
Change is today's business model.
Family, are your best supporters and lenders.
Employees, want home and work balance in their live.
The climate of the flag industry is good.‚ It grew 20% last year.‚ We are a small niche group and if you take the whole of the flag industry, it probably wouldn‚t come to a billion dollars which is why we fly under the radar of corporate raiders and the like.
I have been buying Flags from the same manufacturer for 38 years, Annin and Company. They are a 4th generation family owned, US flag manufacturer, who‚s great, great, great grandfather in the 1800‚s, found a niche in making flags.‚ He noticed when the boats arrived from Europe bearing saleable goods that Americans wanted flags and there were never enough of them.‚ So he converted his tailor shop into a flag shop and the rest is history.‚ In the 2004 election, George Bush made it one of his campaign stops at Annin Flag Co.
I would be remiss if I didn‚t mention my newest project The Dreamland Ballroom.‚ Everyone knows where Arkansas Flag and Banner is on the I-630.‚ Well on the 3rd floor of that building is the Dreamland Ballroom.‚ This is a really special place for many reasons:
It is the last original building on 9th Street, Little Rock‚s little Harlem
It has a rich history of music because it venue on the famous Chitlin Circuit‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ hosting such greats as the young bb king, Etta James, Red Fox, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole, just to name a few.
And what is great for our city, is Dreamland is one of a handful of ballrooms in America that has not been converted into a restaurant or apartments
It is such a special place, that a history book has been written with the support of UALR. And AETN is making a documentary about its history.‚ On May 1, we will be having a book signing and brick dedication.‚ I have put an invitation on all of your tables and a brick paver form if you want to be part of the brick dedicating ceremony.
In conclusion I would like to say
Leadership - means being strong and making strong decisions in support of your family and good employees.‚
Learning ‚ you can never stop.‚ Whatever your learning style is, do it.
Experience ‚ pay it forward - this comes slowly and is invaluable.‚ If you have it, you‚re obligated to share and teach it.
On that note, I hope some of you have gotten something out of my story.‚ Something you can use today and pay it forward tomorrow.
As the recession lifts so are flags, banners, and pennants created in America by FlagandBanner for some pretty cool people and places across the country and American interests overseas. All of the products are made in America and help to improve the nation‚s recovering economy.
According to recent articles in Advertising Age magazine among others, products Made in USA‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ are starting to gain popularity with both American businesses and consumers. According to one poll of 1000 Americans, 80% of them said they would rather buy American when they could and generally pay more for American made products.
This recent trend not only helps small American businesses that still manufacture in the U.S. but helps to grow the economy and bring manufacturing back home. These orders aren‚t just coming from the average small business, some are quite big names. Recent orders from some bigger (famous) names have included ceremonial banner hangers for popular late night show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ on NBC and flags for Tyler Perry Studio to be used as set decoration in Perry‚s next movie.
In the world of arts and history the Georgia O‚Keefe museum ordered custom banners, Walton Art Center and the Kimbell Art Museum also ordered custom products. The Henry Ford Museum ordered our stock patriotic bunting and American flag pennants. So, if you are planning a trip this summer to those museums then you will be seeing some of FlagandBanner.com‚s work. Perhaps it might drum up a sense of patriotism knowing that these products and these customers kept American‚s working through a tough economic downturn.
Other American companies and government or military facilities working with an American manufacturer to keep jobs in America were Amazon.com, Augusta Golf Course, Lockheed Martin, P. Allen Smith, Anheuser Busch Beverage, Central Park Conservancy, Air Force Academy Society, U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Chief of Naval Air Training, Walmart Distribution Center and Chick-fil-A just to name a few.
Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas‚s FlagandBanner.com, says, It is always a great sign when you see orders like these coming in from around the country. It says things are looking up, 2013 looks to be the year things get back to normal.
McCoy says, It‚s always fun to see your products on TV and it‚s especially nice that all of these items were made right here in America and helped to support American jobs. Arkansas Flag and Banner, Inc., was established in 1975. Its headquarters are in Little Rock, AR with 25 employees.
Need to know when to fly the American flag at half staff? Sign up for Flag Alerts, timely e-mails notifying you when the President has proclaimed the flag to be flown at half staff. Need to learn about flag etiquette and flag history? Visit FlagandBanner.com for helpful documents that will teach you everything you need to know about flags.
For more information about the 22,000 products FlagandBanner.com provides, log on to FlagandBanner.com, become a fan of FlagandBanner on Facebook, or call one of their experts at 1-800-445-0653.
I am probably the least likely person to be addressing a group of soon to be college students. Unlike my friends, I am not very scholarly. When I was in school there was no such thing as attention deficit. You were either a good kid or a bad kid. Guess which one I was."
"No matter how hard I tried I just wasn't very good in school. So of course, when I graduated from high school, I was afraid to go to college."
"But I went, anyway. For one semester, I tried hard but I still ended up with a 1.7. I failed. And you know it didn't kill me or even embarrass me."
"I went home to mom."
"She said, 'Kerry, you love clothes, why not go to a vo-tech school that specializes in clothes. A fashion merchandising school.' 'Wow', I thought. 'Could I do that?'"
"Mom says, 'Look in the back of your Seventeen magazine. There's a school, in Dallas, TX. -- Miss Wade's. Maybe, you could go there, graduate... and become a buyer for a big department store.' "
"Sounded like an opportunity. But, again, I was afraid. That far from home. By myself. In another school of all things. And a vo-tech school. What is that? You know back then nobody had heard of vo-tech schools."
"I wanted to be somebody. Just like you do. I wanted to make some money. Just Like you do. >And it didn't take a genius to figure out it wasn't going to happen to me unless I went for it. Unless, I took some chances. Stepped out of my...... comfort zone."
"You know I went to Dallas, with a scared, empty hole in my stomach. I was so home sick the first month that I thought I would die. Turns out...vo-tech schools move slowly. They take six months to cover one subject. I went a year. I took pre-law, first year accounting, marketing, English, business math, and of course, fashion design. And guess what, I graduated the top in my class. I wasn't stupid. I just hadn't figured out how to learn. And hadn't ever really been motivated."
"Now this is when I should end the story ... 'Then I got a great job and lived happily ever after.' But life is not like that. And it probably won't be that way for most of you. Self made men, really are...self made."
"I graduated from that vo-tech school in 1974. The year of the recession. Not a depression but similar. When the economy is bad and people are broke, the first thing they give up is dining out and buying clothes. Just my luck. My new industry was hit the hardest. No one was hiring. In fact they were cutting back."
"Well, I had to have a job. So I went to a temporary employment agency. They said "I have a job for you. Selling flags for a company named...get this... Betsy Ross Flag Girls. Again, I'm afraid. Selling flags? I've never done anything like that before. But what could I do. I needed a job. I want to be somebody."
"Well I show up ready to learn how to sell flags. For a few days I set with the secretary who tells me everything she knows about flags. On the third day the boss man comes in, points to a map of Dallas on the wall and says 'Now drive out there and every time you see a business with a flag or a flagpole, go in and ask them if they need to buy another flag.' "
"Me...a 19 year old girl, is suppose to go...alone...to an area, cold call and sell flags door to door to business people I've never met before. Yep, I'm scared. But I went anyway. I wanted to be somebody."
"You know, it wasn't that bad. Thinking about it was the hardest part. I worked for Betsy Ross Flag Girls for 6 months. I learned so much about myself, about business, and about other people, that I started my own flag company. Now I make that sound easy but it wasn't."
"My boss at Betsy Ross flag girls turned out to be...not so great. So I was feeling kind of blue when, I came home to Little Rock to see my brother get married. Again, my mom, she says, 'Why don't you move home and sell flags for yourself.' "
" 'Could I do that?' 'Why not? You've been doing it in Dallas. All you need is a $15.00 city permit and a state sales tax number.' 'Cool!' (We used to say that word back then too.)"
"We looked in the yellow pages under flags to check out the competition. There was none. We called the secretary of state's office, a few schools and churches and asked where they bought their flags. Some said California. Some said Missouri, some order out of catalogs."
"Could I really do this? Was it really going to be that simple? Of course not."
"I was afraid. But I was going for it anyway. I went back to Dallas. Gave my resignation to Betsy Ross Flag Girls. Packed all my worldly possessions into my 1971, fast back, yellow Camaro...and moved home."
"Starting a business really was quite easy. Mom and I got to think up a name. We knew we wanted it to start with an A. Because flags weren't readily available in Arkansas, I had wanted to name it...Available Flag and Banner Company."
" 'No Daughter of mine is going to be named Available anything!' "
"Hence the name Arkansas Flag and Banner."
"With my savings of $400.00, I bought a city permit, printed up business cards, made long distance phone calls to find a flag supplier for my new company."
"Again, just my luck. I missed the cut off date for the 1976 phone books and had to go all year without my company name in the phone book or in the yellow pages. But, no problem. I was back to my roots...door to door flag sales. Only this time for myself."
"Staying in business and making money was a lot harder than starting the business. For 9 years I worked part-time jobs to help supplement my income. At this 9 year marker, I decided to go for it. Either make it or break it. I bought Yellow Pages ads in the seven surrounding states in the hopes of increasing my sales."
"I was afraid. Maybe not totally, afraid...but pretty nervous about loosing my money. A year later, It had paid off."
"I moved AFB out of my house, where I had been operating as a small mail order business while my daughter was young, into a small store front in downtown North Little Rock."
"Nervous again. What if sales dropped off? Of course they didn't. Sales stayed good. In fact, too good. My suppliers couldn't keep up. So when the business was 12 years old I bought our first sewing machine and began to manufacture."
"When fast signs came to town, I got in the computer graphic banner business to keep up with them and the changing times. And when the Persian Gulf War broke out, in 1990, the demand for flags was so high that, I started a screen printing division to try and meet that demand."
"If you were to ask, 'What is the secret of AFB's success?' "
"I would have to say 'We listen to life.' We see everything as an opportunity. Even our failures. We don't let fear be part of our decision making process. We make decisions based on facts. And the fact is if you don't try, you will never know."
"I challenge all of you to step our of your comfort zone. To go where your life leads you. To take advantage of the opportunities that are everywhere. To take some chances. And. try and be somebody.... somebody you don't even know yet."
How to "Dress a Ship" with International Code Signal Flags
Posted on: May 31, 2013
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) May 29, 2013 Summer national holidays are coming up and so are many regattas and events for ship and boat enthusiasts. During these special occasions, ships and boats often dress ship‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ with‚ International Code Signal flags. International code flags are used to signal messages between two ships or between ship and shore. Also called signal flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used alone or in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three substituters or repeaters. Only a few colors can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: red, blue, yellow, black, and white; and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately. You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue. When dressing a ship with International Code flags, the ship or boat is dressed at 8 a.m., and remains dressed until evening hours. The vessel is dressed while at anchor only, except for during maiden (first) and final voyages, and participation in a marine parade or other unique situation. When dressing a ship, the national ensign is also hoisted at the stern staff (and the Union Jack may be displayed at the bow staff on government vessels).‚ The rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the water line forward to the water line aft, by way of the bowsprit end (or stem if there‚s no bowsprit) and the masthead(s). Flags and pennants are bent alternately, rather than in any indiscriminate manner. Since there are twice as many letter flags as numeral pennants, it is good practice, as in the Navy, to follow a sequence of two flags, one pennant, two flags, one pennant, throughout. The sequence recommended here provides a harmonious color pattern throughout: Starting from forward: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater. You can purchase International Code of Signal flags to dress your ship at FlagandBanner.com. Call their Flag Experts at 1-800-445-0653 to answer other nautical flag display questions, or find more supplies to dress your ship or boat, or even have personal ensign made. They even carry‚ nautical flagpoles with yardarms!FlagandBanner.com is more than just a flag store; they are Flag Experts with more than 38 years in the flag
Flag Day was a great day at Arkansas' Flag and Banner. We had Veterans, American Legion, Firefighters, Boy Scouts...so many men and women in uniform! We love seeing our military men and women here at our store, especially on such a great day as Flag Day! It was a hot and sunny June day as should be expected in Arkansas but that didn't deter everyone from enjoying the FREE food and drinks and patriotic theme. We received a letter this week from American Legion event organizer Keith Dover, about our Flag Day event June 14, 2013.
Again, thanks so much for making both of this year‚s Flag Day events a huge success, and for helping to promote Americanism and Patriotism in our state and local community‚¦as well as the ideals of The American Legion. Have a great rest of the week and please let me know if there is anything I can ever do to assist you as our The American Legion Department of Arkansas is here when you need us! Sincerely, George (Keith) Dover Public Relations/Flag Alliance Chairman American Legion Department of Arkansas
We were also on live with Dave Elswick from KARN News Radio from 2pm until 6pm that evening as well. Here is Kerry McCoy, president of Arkansas Flag and Banner visiting with them:
FlagandBanner.com Introduces New Products to Celebrate Women's Rights
Posted on: July 12, 2013
In honor of the women who fought for the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote and the women who still fight for the Equal Rights Amendment (just 3 votes short of ratification) FlagandBanner.com has rolled out a new women's rights product line.
Little Rock, Ark. (PRWEB) July 12, 2013
Women‚s Rights Day 2013 will be on August 26th marking 93 years of women having the right to vote in America. Despite this win for women, the United States of America does not have an‚ Equal Rights Amendment for women. The original Equal Rights Amendment written by Alice Paul was sent to Congress in 1923, 90 years ago this year but the ERA has not become a part of America‚s Constitution. The media focused on ERA YES buttons and placards and the Bra Burning‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ protests in the 1960's and early 1970's but there are still women today working to get the Equal Rights Amendment passed again and Ratified. The original Ratification expired but was only short 3 states to gain approval. A recent discussion about the ERA disturbed Kerry McCoy, a female entrepreneur and president of FlagandBanner.com. McCoy identifies with the women who have fought for equal rights in America. In honor of those women, her company, FlagandBanner.com has designed a new line of women's rights products, 4 new flags based on historical designs such as the ERA YES flag, Suffragettes flag, feminist and feminine anarchy and has added‚ educational information graphics to their website for anyone to use.
Kerry McCoy, president of‚ Arkansas‚ FlagandBanner.com started her business in 1975 during the time the ERA was being put to states for Ratification. Kerry reflects, I was just the right age, at the right time, to see all the changes happening for women in our national news.‚ As I was graduating from high school my mother, speaking from her generations perspective, asked me, what did I want to be: a secretary, nurse, or school teacher?‚ I was in shock! Limitations had never occurred to me and I didn't want to be any of those things.‚ Thank goodness for the women like Barbara Walters, Gloria Stein, and Hillary Clinton who opened the doors for us to walk through.
New video: Craft Tutorial-How to insert ribbon loops into wreath
Posted on: October 9, 2013
We did a fun tutorial for those that forgot or haven't had time to dress up an their door wreath for the upcoming 4th of July this week. Materials list for project:
Pipecleaners (use a color that matches the overall color of your wreath if you can)
Sharp scissors
Stapler (for thin ribbon a regular desk stapler is fine, for thick velvet ribbon use a heavy duty stapler)
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) June 25, 2013 Since Christmas 2012. FlagandBanner.com has run a monthly contest on their website, on Facebook and in their showroom. Each month they have offered a different product to appeal to a broad audience among their various customers which include both businesses and consumers. The current contest is a judged decorating contest, where Facebook fans will choose the winner. Other recent contests have been a‚ patriotic gift basket worth $150, won by Sue in Missouri and on Flag Day an onsite Flag Retirement event at their showroom offered a random drawing to attendees to win a free flag and flag pole. Janet of Roland, Arkansas won that prize. According to advertising research, many consumers see advertising as an annoyance but they look at contests differently, Kerry McCoy owner and president of FlagandBanner.com tends to agree. Originally the contests were a way to grow our Facebook fan base. In December 2012, we had around 833 likes‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ on Facebook. Since the monthly contests were added to our advertising strategy our likes‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ on‚ Facebook have grown to more than 1200. While this is not a huge number it is an improvement and has helped to improve our interaction with customers on our Facebook page. It makes us look more approachable to our customers, which is always a good thing. When running a contest, businesses have to follow certain rules and regulations but they are relatively simple. All contest and promotional games must clearly and conspicuously disclose each of the following:
All the rules, regulations, terms and conditions of the contest itself
The maximum number of puzzles or games that may be necessary to complete the contest and determine winners
The maximum amount of money, including postage and handling fees, which a participant may be asked to pay to win each of the prizes offered
The date(s) the contest will end, and the date(s) when all prizes will be awarded
The exact nature and approximate value of prizes must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously when they are offered
Misrepresenting in any manner the odds of winning any prize is prohibited
All prizes of the value and type represented must be awarded and distributed
FlagandBanner.com requires entrants to agree to be part of their‚ mailing list but does not require payment nor do they require entrants stay on the mail list. The mail list does provide opportunities for future contests, discounts, online coupons and flag alerts for half staff days so many enjoy being a part of the mailings. FlagandBanner.com does not sell their mail list or share it with other entities and they tend to send around 5 to 8 e-mail blasts‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ per month. Contest winners have been very positive about the products they have received and the company has gotten many letters from their winners about the quality or products they have received. Winner Mark M., said he loved his patriotic flagpole kit he won that was almost a $200 value, and Jeff who won the Gadsden contest wrote to say, Wow! I don‚t think I‚ve ever won anything like this. I just wanted to write and say thank you!‚" FlagandBanner.com's first winner, Pamela won a handmade patriotic Christmas wreath showcasing patriotic Christmas ornaments. She has been a very active member on FlagandBanner.com‚s Facebook since winning and often shares FlagandBanner.com posts with her Facebook friends. These Social Media interactions get customers to share with their friends and provide old fashioned word of mouth advertising, one of the best forms of advertising a business can get. Businesses and consumers are encouraged to call FlagandBanner.com Flag Experts at 1-800-445-0653 to answer flag display questions and things such as what size flag should fit their pole and so on. Etiquette and other information can be found on their website:‚ FlagandBanner.com where they are more than just a flag store; they are Flag Experts with more than 38 years in the flag business."
Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com Flag Day Celebration 2013
Posted on: October 9, 2013
Flag Day was a great day at Arkansas' Flag and Banner. We had Veterans, American Legion, Firefighters, Boy Scouts...so many men and women in uniform! We love seeing our military men and women here at our store, especially on such a great day as Flag Day! It was a hot and sunny June day as should be expected in Arkansas but that didn't deter everyone from enjoying the FREE food and drinks and patriotic theme. We received a letter this week from American Legion event organizer Keith Dover, about our Flag Day event June 14, 2013.
Again, thanks so much for making both of this year‚s Flag Day events a huge success, and for helping to promote Americanism and Patriotism in our state and local community‚¦as well as the ideals of The American Legion. Have a great rest of the week and please let me know if there is anything I can ever do to assist you as our The American Legion Department of Arkansas is here when you need us! Sincerely, George (Keith) Dover Public Relations/Flag Alliance Chairman American Legion Department of Arkansas
We were also on live with Dave Elswick from KARN News Radio from 2pm until 6pm that evening as well. Here is Kerry McCoy, president of Arkansas Flag and Banner visiting with them: Find more great photos from the day on our Facebook!
"FlagandBanner.com in cooperation with the American Legion of Arkansas and the Boy Scouts of America will host a Flag Day event on June 14, 2013. This event is for proper flag retirement. We encourage our customers to bring in their old tattered, faded or torn U.S. flags to be given an honorable and proper retirement. The Boy Scouts will be on hand to perform the ceremony which earns them a badge. Dave Elswick from KARN will be broadcasting live from the event. There will be popcorn, hot dogs and other refreshments available at this family friendly patriotic event. Prizes will be given out during the event and customers who bring a flag to be retired will receive a coupon for $5 off your new flag purchase. Check out our‚ flyer for more information!
"Dress a Ship" with International Code Signal Flags
Posted on: October 9, 2013
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) May 29, 2013 Summer national holidays are coming up and so are many regattas and events for ship and boat enthusiasts. During these special occasions, ships and boats often dress ship‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ with‚ International Code Signal flags. International code flags are used to signal messages between two ships or between ship and shore. Also called signal flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used alone or in combination have different meanings. The flags include 26 square flags which depict the letters of the alphabet, ten numeral pendants, one answering pendant, and three substituters or repeaters. Only a few colors can be readily distinguished at sea. These are: red, blue, yellow, black, and white; and these cannot be mixed indiscriminately. You will notice, for clarity, the flags shown are either red and white, yellow and blue, blue and white, or black and white; besides plain red, white, and blue. When dressing a ship with International Code flags, the ship or boat is dressed at 8 a.m., and remains dressed until evening hours. The vessel is dressed while at anchor only, except for during maiden (first) and final voyages, and participation in a marine parade or other unique situation. When dressing a ship, the national ensign is also hoisted at the stern staff (and the Union Jack may be displayed at the bow staff on government vessels).‚ The rainbow of flags of the International Code is arranged, reaching from the water line forward to the water line aft, by way of the bowsprit end (or stem if there‚s no bowsprit) and the masthead(s). Flags and pennants are bent alternately, rather than in any indiscriminate manner. Since there are twice as many letter flags as numeral pennants, it is good practice, as in the Navy, to follow a sequence of two flags, one pennant, two flags, one pennant, throughout. The sequence recommended here provides a harmonious color pattern throughout: Starting from forward: AB2, UJ1, KE3, GH6, IV5, FL4, DM7, PO Third Repeater, RN First Repeater, ST Zero, CX9, WQ8, ZY Second Repeater. You can purchase International Code of Signal flags to dress your ship at FlagandBanner.com. Call their Flag Experts at 1-800-445-0653 to answer other nautical flag display questions, or find more supplies to dress your ship or boat, or even have personal ensign made. They even carry‚ nautical flagpoles with yardarms!FlagandBanner.com is more than just a flag store; they are Flag Experts with more than 38 years in the flag
- First of all, what is an infographic? The term stands for Information Graphic. You see them everywhere. Definition of‚ infographic Syllabification: (in‚·fo‚·graph‚·ic)Pronunciation:‚ /‹’inf…‹†grafik/ noun a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data:a good infographic is worth a thousand words
Origin: 1960s‚ (as adjective): blend of‚ INFORMATION‚ and GRAPHIC Often seen in text books, magazines and newspapers, infographics have become extremely popular online in the last few years. Since so much information about our history is tied to the flag business, as an additional resource to our customers, educators and others interested in learning more about your nation's rich history we have decided to offer a series of Infographics on our Website. All of FlagandBanner.com infographics come with 2 options. A standard JPG image or a PDF‚ file usually created to fit standard printer paper such as 8.5"x11", 8.5"x14", and 11"x17" for ease of printing for classroom use. We have made the graphics easy to share via Facebook or using an embed code in your website or blog. Our first infographic is about the 4th of July or Independence day. This infographic provides facts and figures from various sources including the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. News &‚ World Reports among others. Information you might learn:‚ What year was the first official Independence Day celebration? Why is July 4th significant in Denmark?‚ The answer just might surprise you. The next one posted was for today, which is Flag Day! A very underrated holiday in our opinion and it in fact kicks off Honor America Days which Congress passed in 1998. The 21 days between today and the 4th of July are days in which to honor our nation. Check out the infographics and use them to educate and entertain.
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) June 17, 2013 Civil War historians and general history lovers have been looking forward to the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the pivotal battles of the‚ American Civil War. This historic battle took place on July 1-3 of 1863. The three day battle was a major turning point of the war because the North was able to turn away a Confederate advance on the 3rd day of battle. Unfortunately, it was also one of the costliest battles of the Civil War with about 51,000 casualties and around 7,500 dead. FlagandBanner.com will mark the occasion with a special Historical Civil War flag kit that will be available for sale starting June 10th. The kit will include two tangle free flag poles, a‚ 34 star Union flag (1861-1863) and the‚ Confederate Battle Flag. For those historians who know that‚ West Virginia was admitted to the Union in June 1863 making it the 35th state, the star itself was not added to the Union flag until after the Battle of Gettysburg on July the 4th 1863. The Civil War was the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. Some estimates say that more than 600,000 soldiers from both the North and South were killed and more than twice that were injured in the war.
It could be said that the Civil War was a costly lesson. Does growth and change in our society have to be won or lost with weapons?‚" Kerry McCoy, president of FlagandBanner.com said. With so much recorded history to learn from, it is good to remind ourselves of our past, so we don‚t repeat ourselves in the future.
"Earlier this month, the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association in New Rochelle, New York were told they could not fly the Gadsden flag because it was seen as an offensive‚ Tea Party symbol. The Gadsden flag is the bright yellow Don‚t Tread On Me‚ flag that has been seen most recently at Boston Marathon bombing memorials. The Gadsden flag ironically represents freewill against oppression. The Gadsden is not a symbol of the Tea Party or any other political group. While the Tea Party group does use the Gadsden flag at rallies and political events, it is not their symbol. The Gadsden has been in use since the Revolutionary war. The Navy and Marine Corps first used it in 1775. Ships on the sea at a distance could easily see the bright yellow color. The original flag was designed to show Great Britain that the American Colonies would no longer accept being walked all over‚ said FlagandBanner.com president Kerry McCoy. The colonists were angry about taxation and the very idea that a King who had never stepped foot on American soil could control their fate. The Gadsden flag has been used throughout American history as a symbol against oppression or in the last few decades, as a symbol to show the world that the American people will not be cowed by terrorism. Labeling the flag as a certain political parties‚ flag would be an incorrect assumption. The human race has used flags for more than 4,000 years according to researchers. The first flags were made of metal and then about 2000 years ago, fabric was added as decoration and then continued to evolve to the flags we know of today. In medieval times, knights carried flags into battle so that the soldiers could tell friend from foe during the confusion of battle. Likewise, modern soldiers have flags sewn on their uniforms for easy identification during battle. Today, every nation in the world has their own flag, with symbols or colors representing their nation. The American flag for example has 13 stripes to represent the original 13 colonies and 50 stars to represent the 50 states. In America, every state has their own flag and many groups and corporations also have their own flags. The Olympic flag is a good example of a group using symbols as representation of their goals. The Olympic flag has 5 rings that represent the coming together of people from five continents in friendly competition. Flags can represent many things at once including messages, identification, or just used for beautification. One flag may represent many different things to different people and one flag may have many different styles or uses. In fact, the Gadsden flag itself has several more connotations from history, the snake against a white field, or a red and white striped field. You can see examples at FlagandBanner.com."
"Watch the Arkansas Razorback Cheerleaders demonstrate how to best utilize a spirit flag during a football game. The flag featured in the video was made by Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com
Recently, I was asked to chair the Red Cross Blood Drive for my Club 99 Rotary group and I couldn‚t have been happier.‚ I have always liked the Red Cross. ‚ Part of my duties was to inform and invite our members and to solicit volunteers to help.‚ I started thinking about what I knew about the Red Cross.‚ A host of memories began to flood my mind.‚ My favorite memory, and the one I decided to tell, was one of my father‚s.‚ After you read my short speech below you will again be reminded of why they are called The Greatest Generation‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ. My speech went something like this: Everybody has heard of the Red Cross and knows they collect and distribute blood exceptionally well.‚ And that there name seems to be synonymous with disaster relieve.‚ ‚ But they are more than that. Can you remember the first time you heard or learned about the Red Cross?‚ Can you remember what you thought? I can. My father was a prisoner of war during WWII.‚ Shot down in Germany in 1944.‚ He spent 2 years in Stalag 13.‚ Yes, it was the same Stalag number as Hogan‚s Heroes, but it wasn‚t like the TV show. Like so many war veterans, my father didn‚t like to talk about the war.‚ He didn‚t want to think about the hard times and the people he killed, or the people he saw killed.‚ But as time went by he healed and became proud of his service, the colorful war stories, and his purple heart. I was about 12, when at the dinner table, father began to talk about the end of the war and how he was released from prison camp.‚ That is when I heard about this magical organization, called the Red Cross.‚ Dad said, The day the war was over, we were released from prison, and walked out the prison gates to a Red Cross truck loaded with coffee and donuts. They were the first Americans we saw. We were so happy. At the time of my father‚s release from prison, he weighed 90 pounds. The Red Cross story was the first positive thing my father ever told me about the war.‚ I believe there are many more Americans with similar stories of hope brought by the Red Cross. I hope you will all join me in supporting our local chapter.‚ ‚ ‚ This month we will be having a Rotary Blood Drive for this great organization."
Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas' FlagandBanner.com was recently featured on IdeaMensh.com a community for entrepreneurs to share their stories about building their business. You can read the full interview here: http://ideamensch.com/kerry-mccoy/
On the morning of January 2, 2013 I called my local banker, Al Hodge, at 
The 
On February 26th, 1913, the first iteration of the Arkansas State Flag was adopted by the legislature. It looked much like today‚s version sans the fourth star representing the Confederacy, which was added in 1923. Prior to 1913, the Natural State had no official state flag. Nearly seventy-five years after Arkansas attained statehood, the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored a design contest because of their wish to present an official flag at the commissioning ceremony for the U.S.S. Arkansas battleship. The winner of the contest was Miss Willie Hocker of Wabbaseka, a member of the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Arkansas State Flag is rendered in the colors of the American flag. Twenty-five stars arranged in a diamond around the center design represent Arkansas as the twenty-fifth state to be admitted to the union and its status as the nation‚s first diamond-producing state. The two parallel white stars at the left and right points of the diamond symbolize the dual admission of Arkansas and Michigan to the United States. Four blue stars surrounding the state name in the center represent the nations that have owned the land now known as Arkansas: France, Spain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.
Arkansas‚ Flagandbanner.com acknowledges this important milestone of our state flag. The company is proud to be Arkansas-based, employing local people, and providing quality products to the world. Miss Hocker‚s original design, as well as the 1913 and 1926 versions of the Arkansas state flag can be purchased at 
I am probably the least likely person to be addressing a group of soon to be college students. Unlike my friends, I am not very scholarly. When I was in school there was no such thing as attention deficit. You were either a good kid or a bad kid. Guess which one I was."
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) May 29, 2013 Summer national holidays are coming up and so are many regattas and events for ship and boat enthusiasts. During these special occasions, ships and boats often dress ship‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ with‚ 
Flag Day was a great day at Arkansas' Flag and Banner. We had Veterans, American Legion, Firefighters, Boy Scouts...so many men and women in uniform! We love seeing our military men and women here at our store, especially on such a great day as Flag Day! It was a hot and sunny June day as should be expected in Arkansas but that didn't deter everyone from enjoying the FREE food and drinks and patriotic theme. We received a letter this week from American Legion event organizer Keith Dover, about our Flag Day event June 14, 2013.
Women‚s Rights Day 2013 will be on August 26th marking 93 years of women having the right to vote in America. Despite this win for women, the United States of America does not have an‚ 
Little Rock, Ark. (PRWEB) July 30, 2013 Each year consumers are inundated with back to school advertisements starting in mid-July. Most of these ads focus on the students' needs such as clothing and supplies but administrators and teachers are also heading back to school, too. Schools from pre-K to collegiate level have varying needs throughout the school year for items not found on the traditional back to school list. FlagandBanner.com has noticed that the needs of the educator are a little different depending on the age group involved or their educational niche. For the first time. 
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) June 25, 2013 Since Christmas 2012. 
First of all, what is an infographic? The term stands for Information Graphic. You see them everywhere. Definition of‚ infographic Syllabification: (in‚·fo‚·graph‚·ic)Pronunciation:‚ /‹’inf…‹†grafik/ noun a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data:a good infographic is worth a thousand words
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) June 17, 2013 Civil War historians and general history lovers have been looking forward to the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the pivotal battles of the‚ 
Earlier this month, the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association in New Rochelle, New York were told they could not fly the Gadsden flag because it was seen as an offensive‚ Tea Party symbol. 
Recently, I was asked to chair the Red Cross Blood Drive for my Club 99 Rotary group and I couldn‚t have been happier.‚ I have always liked the Red Cross. ‚ Part of my duties was to inform and invite our members and to solicit volunteers to help.‚ I started thinking about what I knew about the Red Cross.‚ A host of memories began to flood my mind.‚ My favorite memory, and the one I decided to tell, was one of my father‚s.‚ After you read my short speech below you will again be reminded of why they are called The Greatest Generation‚ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ. 
Kerry McCoy, owner of Arkansas' 