Dec
8
Go Green and Save Money in Shipping Department
Filed Under human resources, my business | Leave a Comment
Go Green doesn’t always cost money, sometimes it can save you money. Last year, shipping stopped buying packaging peanuts and began to use our shreded paper from accounting. We saved $4,000 in shipping supplies and helped the environment. Yeah us. Good thinking guys!
Flag and BannerHome
Jul
6
Another Flag Season Has Come and Gone!
Filed Under Flag News, my business, patriotism | Leave a Comment
Well, with the Fourth of July behind us we have made it through another flag season here at Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com.? And I am happy to report it was a fabulous one!!!? So far this year we have met all our monthly goals and are up almost 15% for the year!
A big THANK YOU to all our wonderful customers!!!
Kerry McCoy
Flag and BannerHome
Jan
26
Recycle vs Sustainable
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When I was growing up we “recycled”. Today Arkansas’ FlagandBanner.com is practicing “sustainable growth”. Whatever you call it I like it and we are doing our part.
Just this week we had Allied Waste Management drop off a big dumpster for cardboard and paper only. This is something we tried to do years ago but no one was offering a small enough service for our amount of paper. So, we got clever and started shredding our own paper and using it as packing materials instead of styrofoam peanuts, but we still had a lot of cardboard. Today no more worries about filling the landfill or cutting down trees …we’re recycling, I mean “sustainably growing”.
Other ways we recyle:
- we don’t use a lot of paper products in our kitchen, we wash.
- we use our leftover banner material to make “give away” banners.
- we use our excess prints to make tote bags
- and I am sure there is more, I just can’t think of it right now.
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Dec
17
I am totally into it…Social Networking
Filed Under advertising business, my business | Leave a Comment
I like the new trends in advertising. No more printing fliers, buying address lists, stuffing envelopes and mailing. Now you can keep your customers abreast of what’s new through electronic transfer of files…facebook, website, twitter and e-mails.
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.
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Dec
2
Even the Turkey Couldn’t Hold Us Back!
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So with the thanksgiving holidays I expected our Weight Loss Challenge to, well… gain weight! But that was NOT the case. We overcame, against all odds, and defeated phase one of the holiday weight gaining season.
With Thanksgiving behind us we can focus on preparing mentally for the challenge of Christmas!? So, if you’re making Christmas cookies, send them some place else!!!
Here is what the Guru had to say about this weeks weigh in -
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Thanksgiving couldn’t keep you guys down! Some fantastic results this week people.
The numbers:
Team Red: dropped 10 pounds for a total of 28 pounds lost from initial weigh in, sitting at 1252 right now.
Team White: Dropped a pound, for a loss of 31 pounds since initial weigh-in, sitting at 1033.
Team Blue: These bad asses are taking no prisoners! Dropped another 9 pounds taking them down to 48 pounds lost since initial weigh-in, sitting at 1092 total right now.
Great job everyone! You proved that the holidays don’t have to be an excuse to gain weight. I’m hopeful that you all had a great Thanksgiving anyway. Some of you were shocked that you actually lost. I contend that once you become keenly aware of what you are eating based on the eating plan I put you on, you make more decisions that you are aware of that limit the amount of fat-gaining calories you would normally consume without realizing it
We are going into the home-stretch to Christmas right now so let’s stay focused on our goals and keep up this momentum. If you can get through this first round and actually drop you will all have a head start on the January resolution crowd. You should all be very proud of yourselves for that accomplishment.
Peace out.
JP
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Oct
13
One Step Forward… Two Steps Back
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So the weight loss challenge is picking up steam… just not in the right direction!? I didn’t post anything last week because, well, the numbers did not look good.? This week? Not much better and it isn’t even the holiday season yet!
Two weeks ago we had lost 100 pounds as a group. This week we back-tracked and are only down 65 pounds as a whole.? We’ve gained 35 pounds in two weeks!
Here is J(the fitness Guru)P’s inspiration for the week -
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The entire F&B staff gained a total of 18 pounds this week. The adjusted initial weigh-in total was 3615 pounds. Today’s total is 3550 pounds, putting the entire staff at a total of 65 pounds lost.
No more messing around. Let’s not make excuses. Take care of your body because it’s the only one you’ve got! Re-read last weeks email that I just sent this morning and make a promise to yourself to be accountable. Get a little notebook that you can journal your intake. I promise that you’ll see results quickly. It’s easy to think you’re eating okay if you’re not keeping a record of it because there are lots of little snacks that you don’t count. No one gains weight while eating a sub-maintenance calorie diet. If you are gaining then you are simply ingesting more than your body’s energy requirement. The numbers don’t lie!
It’s only going to get harder with the cold weather and holidays on the way. Take charge NOW.? Like Kerry has said, take advantage of my offer to help individuals with stalled progress.
Your friend in fitness,
JP
Flag and BannerHome
Sep
29
Company Weight Loss Challenge
Filed Under creative stories, human resources, my business, personal | Leave a Comment
So, about a month ago we started a company wide weight loss challenge.? Every week we have a fitness guru (Jean-Paul Francoeur of JP Fitness) come in and weigh all the participating employees.? We are divided into 3 teams – the red, white, and blue teams.? The team that looses the most weight by the end of the year wins the pot!
And what is in the pot you might ask? Well, to begin with it was a nice wad of cash that Arkansas Flag and Banner put in to seed-the-pot.? Each week if you, individually, gain any weight from the previous week you have to put in a dollar.
And I’m proud to announce that to-date we have lost a combined 100 pounds!? But we have a long way to go to reach many of our individual goals.
JP is good about sending us motivational emails after each week’s weigh in… I thought I would start sharing them with you.
Here is last weeks, and NO… I’m not dressed like a hooker!
************
AFB CREW – Looks like we’re getting back on track. If last week helped let me know. Don’t be shy about emailing me questions either. If you’re okay with everyone else benefiting from my reply just send to “all.” If you prefer to ask questions privately I’ll respect that too. I want to see a major loss this week!
Somehow (I don’t know how) Red team held on to their lead, but only by 3 pounds. Blue is hot on their heels. Red actually gained a pound last week, as did White team. Blue had the most loss this week with a drop of 6 pounds!
The numbers:
Red: 1382 (up one pound from last week and down 34 pounds from initial weigh-in)
White: 1217 (up one pound from last week and down 28 pounds from initial weigh-in)
Blue: 1240 (down six pounds and down 31 pounds from initial weigh-in)
Total amount lost from the entire staff since the weigh-in is back on track at 93 pounds. Congratulations F&B crew!
I want to issue a challenge this week. I think that if every person in this contest were to drop at least one measly pound we would have a 20 pound loss. IF you guys can lose a net of 20 pounds, Kerry has agreed to spring for a nutrition lecture by yours truly. And Kerry will dress up like a prostitute and walk downtown at lunch for an hour and try not to get arrested. (Just kidding on that last part)
Here’s how you can do it. It’s a simple matter of caloric restriction. Follow the guidelines I sent you last week but in addition to that, drop your regular serving size portions in half, and skip all dessert and beer for one week. Just try it for one little ol’ week.
Blue team, you’re only 3 pounds off… Every time you sit down to eat remember that you could pass Red this week and take one for the team! White, get back in the game. No more taking up the rear. Show ‘em that you’re still a contender.
I’m out… eat trout,
JP
**************
Flag and BannerHome
Aug
17
Getting your GSA contract number is nothing to sneeze at. It is down right hard to fill out all the paper work and the government people you have for help well, they’re government people. But after years of talking about it and a solid year of applying, I have been accepted into the elite group of GSA contractors.
Funny thing is now that I have completed all the forms and jumped through all the hoops, the actual bids are easy to complete. I get a new bid via email almost everyday and it is so easy to fill out. Luv it. It has only been a few weeks but so far so good, I think it was all worth the effort.
Flag and BannerHome
Jul
17
Lucie Marie Hamilton
Filed Under human resources, my business | 3 Comments
Lucie Marie Hamilton’s funeral is today at 2:00
I never new Lucie as David, she applied and was given a job at FlagandBanner.com as Lucille Hamilton.? Lucie made no apologizes for the way she was and we did not expect one.? I am proud of my employees for being so accepting of all American citizens, and a contributing American citizen she was…she worked, shopped and paid taxes.? And like so many young people she was enrolled in college in the Fall.
I can only speak, intelligently, of the job Lucie did for me, which was; she was a good, dependable, and smart employee and she took a leadership role in her department. ? To address the Voo Doo issue, I know Lucie was very spiritual; she was always giving and asking for prayers, just read her Facebook page.? Lucie was also a practicing Catholic who was active in her religious community.
Lucille Marie Hamilton was a good person who lived the American dream of Freedom.
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Jun
29
Dreamland Ballroom by Kerry McCoy
Filed Under Dreamland Ballroom, creative stories, my business, personal | Leave a Comment
I first fell in love with the Taborian Hall from its outside appearance, a stately, three story, red brick building, standing alone on I-630, abandoned, with a huge hole in the roof, letting in the sun and rain. I always envisioned, my company, Arkansas Flag and Banner, housed in a building of such grandeur.
After driving by many times, I finally got up the courage to come inside. Stepping over debris and skirting the homeless people, I worked my way to the third floor and… it was beyond love at first site. Because the roof was missing, birds were flying around and the sun was illuminating. Staring across the open hole, in the floor, to the Dreamland stage and box seats, I had a feeling that was indescribable, a kind of euphoria. It could have been because I was pregnant, with my third child, and my nesting instincts were heightened, but whatever it was it sent me on a chain reaction that I have never regretted.
I love this old building and have had many offers to purchase it, renovate it, make a club of it, or some apartments but I keep to my original vision. Maybe not the best business decision, but a decision of the heart; to renovate the Dreamland Ballroom into an event center to be shared with the whole community.
If you are ever lucky enough to go upstairs and see the Dreamland, I think you will feel its magic too. I have become accustomed to it aura but people tell me, upon seeing it for the first time… it still feels indescribable.
Follow along with Dreamland’s progress by joining our email, snail mail list, or become a fan of our Facebook page. We don’t Twitter, yet.
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