Overview
Under my management, Arkansas Flag and Banner has grown to be a multi-million dollar company with 45 full-time employees. Embracing the Internet, technology, SEO and Google advertising, multi-media advertising, manufacturing and direct-buying techniques, Flag and Banner has become a nationally recognized force in the flag and patriotic merchandise market.
Community
Kerry McCoy restored a historic West Ninth Street landmark, the Taborian Hall, with its famous Dreamland Ballroom. In 2009 she founded the Friends of Dreamland whose mission is: “Friends of Dreamland celebrates the community of historic West Ninth Street, shares the legacy of Dreamland Ballroom, and preserves the original intent of Taborian Hall.”
Kerry also worked and shared her archives with AETN to create an educational docu-drama about the history of the Taborian Hall, the Dreamland Ballroom, and the business district on West Ninth Street known as The Line. Her son, Matthew conducts tours of FAB to school children and clubs. FAB is a member of Rotary, and Little Rock and North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. Kerry McCoy is a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
Awards
Mass Mutual Blue Chip Enterprise Award, NIFDA’s Betsy Ross Award for outstanding service, and 2019 Outstanding Stewardship Award in Historic Preservation from Preserve Arkansas.
Professional Experience
President and Founder at Arkansas Flag and Banner
1975
Began Arkansas Flag & Banner in 1975 with a capital investment of $400. Started by cold-calling on businesses.
Worked part-time jobs for the first 9 years to supplement income while growing the company.
1984
Hired a salesperson.
1985
With a $20,000 loan, placed Yellow Page ads in the seven surrounding states and moved into a commercial property on Main Street in North Little Rock.
Implemented a small, commission-based, sales force.
1989
Purchased the first sewing machine and developed a sewing department.
1990
Purchased a computer graphics machine and began to sell vinyl, computer-generated banners and developed a graphics department.
Due to demand for flags in response to Operation Desert Storm and a broken supply chain, began to screen print flags and banners out of an old warehouse on 6th Street.
1991
With the profits from Operation Desert Storm demand, bought and renovated the current headquarters, Taborian Hall, on Ninth Street.
1993
Purchased the first office computers and computerized the sales and accounting processes.
1995
Purchased the name FlagandBanner.com and began to reinvent the business model.
2000
Upgraded all software in sales and accounting. With a $500,000 loan, upgraded the infrastructure of FlagandBanner.com into the 21st century.
2001
Began a retail storefront. This involved renovating, merchandising and purchasing trips. All gifts and accessories published to the website.
2004
Doubled the size of the retail store, now 2,500 square feet of retail space.
2005
Installed fiber optics, a new phone system and IT hardware for hosting the website in-house.
With the help of UALR, published the history book about Taborian Hall, Temple of Dreams, by Berna Love.
2006
Experimented with overseas purchasing in the Asian manufacturing market to buy direct. Determined travel expense and time away from the office made it ineffective at this time.
2007
Restructured the advertising budget and focus —less money spent on print ads and Yellow Pages, more money allocated for web advertising.
2008
Doubled the warehouse space and implemented a new warehouse code and procedures for better inventory management.
2009
Started the nonprofit, Friends of Dreamland Ballroom, dedicated to bringing back the music, the history and party to the Dreamland Ballroom.
2010
Received the TAAC matching grant to upgrade technology and the website.
2012
Launched new and improved website with updated coding.
2014
Published the first Brave Magazine inspired by our FAB customers. Each week during Monday Morning Meetings, we took note of so many customers’ stories about the flags and banners they bought. Boom! — the birth of Brave — a magazine about brave people, small and large.
2015
Our efforts of saving Dreamland were recognized in a documentary released by Arkansas PBS “Dreamland: Little Rock’s West Ninth Street”.
2016
Began weekly radio show and podcast, Up In Your Business with Kerry McCoy, a mentoring and biography show. Each week, successful people are interviewed who tell their story. It is inspiring and encouraging to hear even successful people have bumps in the road.
2017
Upgraded mobile friendly website.
2019
Received NPS Civil Rights grant and facilitated the construction of an ADA accessible elevator, building addition.
2020
Expanded Kerry McCoy Enterprises to include OurCornerMarket.com, an online retailer of memorials, plaques, and address plates.
Acquired AboutFlags.com
2021
Acquired Freedom Flag & Banner in Miami, Florida.