I like social networking for several reasons 1) it is less wasteful of our natural resources, 2) it is easier for the customer to receive info and throw out unwanted info, 3) it is faster to get info to customer, and 4) it is easier to create, so you can offer more promotions.

When I started Arkansas Flag and Banner, in the 70′s, sells were made by going door to door and shaking hands, the 80′s were telemarketing, the 90′s catalogs, and now technology (info on demand). This is my favorite so far.

To get special discounts join FlagandBanner.com’s Facebook page or sign up for our Flag Alerts and receive weekly e-blasts. I don’t know which method to recommend because they are both good, but different. The Facebook page is more personal, it is almost like seeing us in our underwear. And the e-blasts come right to your inbox, very effective time management.

Faith had seen Dreamland Ballroom’s press release about our new nonprofit status and wanted to do a story on the place. Faith and I laughed about it must be a slow news day for her to be calling me at home and that I didn’t need a shower because it wasn’t smell-a-vision. So a time was set for us to meet in the Ballroom for the interview. She is a great women. She works alone with a camera and a mike. She records, writes, edits and narrates her own stories, all while wearing heels and makeup. What a girl!

The story aired Sunday at 5, 10 and 6 the next morning. I think she did a really good job but you be the judge…here it is…

Dreamland Ballroom on Today’s THV

Every year the current President issues proclamations for all the different holidays. It is crazy how many proclamations are made each day. If your interested check out www.whitehouse.gov

DELHI _ A group of 18 to 20 people from Sportsfield Specialties in Delhi headed for the Super Bowl are hoping that on Sunday, they’ll view not only the game, but the goal posts.

The goal posts at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., were custom-made at the Delhi plant, according to Wayne Oliver, Sportsfield Specialties Inc. president.

“We can’t wait to see our goal posts,” said Debbie Oliver, a company employee and Wayne’s wife. “It’s going to be great.” Wayne Oliver said the group would probably have gone to the Super Bowl, but “our goal posts are just another good reason to be there.”

When the ball sails across the end zone, said Michael P. Zambito, modular products business unit manager, he will be thinking to himself, “That is one nice set of goal posts.”

The posts are the Sportsfield Specialties’ AdjustRight model, which are the company’s largest sales volume product, Wayne Oliver said. There are hundreds of the posts installed across the country, he said, including in Delhi on the Delaware Academy and Delhi Central School football field.

“They are the most specified goals posts by far,” Oliver said. “We are the nation’s largest manufacturer of goal posts.”

He said that when the University of Phoenix Stadium was being designed, semi-custom goal posts that could be easily taken down were needed. This was to accommodate the movement of the natural grass field outside, where it could be watered and fertilized and receive natural sunlight.

He said to move the tray that the field grows in, the goal posts must be removed, replaced and uprights adjusted.

Zambito said that because the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals host many televised games, it was essential for them to have perpendicular/parallel uprights on the goal post with the ability to quickly and easily adjust them.

Sportsfield’s AdjustRight provided this capability by a simple adjustment of hardware, versus pulling out roll pins, drilling new holes, adjusting to level then inserting new pins, Zambito said.

Oliver said that when the posts are being constructed, “almost everyone in the factory works on them, so that makes this a neat small-town story that Delhi has a part in the Super Bowl.”

During the construction process, the post had to be painted the distinctive florescent National Football League yellow, Oliver said.

And then it happens. Just when you think you’re sittin’ pretty, Boom–everything changes. Thank goodness I am an eternal optimist. I like what one of my employees, Jason, just said, “Think Big.” And why not? But right now my big thoughts are about Big Losses.

This November’s sales are slower than I have seen them all year. And you’d think it is because of all the fears of recession we keep hearing. But, historically, the economic trends of the country haven’t applied to the flag business. In fact, sometimes they even go in the opposite direction. When people are feeling poorly, they rally around the Flag and the Cross because, emotionally, they can believe in State and Church to see them through. And when other businesses see a slump in sales, they tend to advertise more. And given that Banners are a relatively inexpensive way to advertise, we sell more banners. Maybe I need to buy a banner.

So what gives? I have revved up our advertising and still nothing. I don’t know the answer. What I do know is that come this Friday, if things don’t change, I am going to have to scrub up and get my hands dirty. After 33 years as chief surgeon at Arkansas Flag and Banner, I have learned that you have to stop the bleeding if you want to save the patient, and the faster you do it the better. Dang it. We still have ’til Friday. Maybe we’ll have a great day today(that is my eternal optimist speaking).

There is a fine line a company walks in the information age. I sell a product that requires certain etiquette. People are always confused about the proper way to display a flag and they need advice. Like when President Ford died. “What do I do? What is the appropriate flag etiquette?” Some of my customers call and want reminders and updates on flag holidays via my newsletter and website. But some of my customers, no matter what, never want anything.

From a business point of view, I am lucky to have something that is of value. Something I can send to my existing customers that they like to receive and keep my business’ name in their minds.

Happy New Year!

Posted by kerry

But curiously, would someone have to break the glass to steal the money?