Overview
Kerry McCoy is the founder and president of FlagandBanner.com, one of America’s leading manufacturers and retailers of American flags and patriotic merchandise. Under her leadership since 1975, Arkansas Flag and Banner has grown from a $400 startup into a multi-million dollar company with 45 full-time employees and national recognition in the flag industry.
McCoy transformed the business from door-to-door sales into a multimedia enterprise operating through catalog sales, telephone orders, third-party partnerships, retail storefront, and e-commerce. By embracing internet technology, SEO, Google advertising, advanced manufacturing techniques, and direct-buying relationships, FlagandBanner.com has become a nationally recognized force in the flag and patriotic merchandise market.
Despite decades of growth and technological advancement, the company’s core mission remains unchanged: selling American flags made in America.
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, a nonprofit organization 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.”
After years of dedicated fundraising and advocacy, Friends of Dreamland secured nearly $1 million in African American Civil Rights Preservation Grants from the National Park Service in 2018 and 2020. These funds enabled the Public Access Project—adding an elevator, ADA-compliant bathrooms, HVAC systems, and window restoration. In 2021, an additional $498,000 grant launched Phase 3 of the renovation, focusing on authentic historic restoration including recreating the original tin ceiling tiles, restoring the stage and plasterwork, installing historically accurate lighting, and refurbishing the hardwood floors.
Kerry worked with Arkansas PBS (AETN) and shared her archives to create an educational documentary about the history of Taborian Hall, the Dreamland Ballroom, and the business district on West Ninth Street known as The Line, titled “Dreamland: Little Rock’s West Ninth Street” (2015).
The McCoy family is actively involved in educational outreach. Kerry’s son Matthew McCoy conducts tours of Taborian Hall and the Dreamland Ballroom for school children and community groups. Her son Gray McCoy creates educational content through Flag Facts, a video series educating viewers on proper flag etiquette, flag history, and patriotic traditions. Kerry’s daughter Meghan McCoy Pittman produces educational tutorial videos and is active in the National Independent Flag Dealers Association (NIFDA).
FlagandBanner.com is a member of Rotary International and both the Little Rock and North Little Rock Chambers of Commerce. Kerry McCoy is a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
Awards
Kerry McCoy Personal Awards
- 1995: Blue Chip Enterprise Award from Connecticut Mutual (now Mass Mutual)
- 2015: Betsy Ross Award from the National Independent Flag Dealers Association (NIFDA) for outstanding service to the flag industry
- 2019: Arkansas Preservation Award – Special Recognition of Outstanding Stewardship Award from Preserve Arkansas for her work preserving Taborian Hall and the Dreamland Ballroom
- 2019: Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative French Hill for efforts to preserve Arkansas history
FlagandBanner.com Company Awards
- Blue Chip Enterprise Award from Connecticut Mutual
- Arkansas Business of the Year Finalist (two-time recipient)
- Arkansas Advertising Federation Bronze Award of Merit (1997)
- ADDY Outstanding Achievement Award
- 1st Place Commercial Sign Design Contest
- 3rd Place International Sign Contest
- Multiple honors from military units
Professional Experience
President and Founder at FlagandBanner.com
1975
Founded Arkansas Flag & Banner with a capital investment of $400 in life savings, embodying the American Dream through entrepreneurship. Started by cold-calling on businesses and conducting door-to-door sales.
1979
Pivoted from door-to-door sales to telemarketing and catalog strategy in response to rising gas prices, accelerating business growth during challenging economic times.
1984
Hired first salesperson, transitioning from sole proprietor to employer.
1985
With a $20,000 loan, placed Yellow Page advertisements in 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, establishing in-house manufacturing capabilities.
1990
Purchased a computer graphics machine and began selling vinyl, computer-generated banners, developing 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.
Grady McCoy joined the company, making Arkansas Flag and Banner a true family business.
1991
With the profits from Operation Desert Storm demand, purchased and renovated the current headquarters, Taborian Hall, on historic Ninth Street in downtown Little Rock.
1993
Purchased the first office computers and computerized the sales and accounting processes.
1995
Acquired the domain name FlagandBanner.com, becoming the first flag retailer online, and began to reinvent the business model for the internet era.
2000
Upgraded all software in sales and accounting. With a $500,000 loan, upgraded the infrastructure of FlagandBanner.com to compete in the 21st century e-commerce marketplace.
2001
Opened a retail storefront in Taborian Hall. This involved extensive renovating, merchandising, and purchasing trips. All gifts and accessories were published to the website.
2004
Doubled the size of the retail store to 2,500 square feet of retail space.
2005
Installed fiber optics, a new phone system, and IT hardware for hosting the website in-house, giving the company greater control over online operations.
With the help of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (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 that travel expense and time away from the office made it ineffective at that time.
2007
Restructured the advertising budget and focus—less money spent on print ads and Yellow Pages, more money allocated for web advertising and digital marketing.
2008
Doubled the warehouse space and implemented a new warehouse code and procedures for better inventory management.
2009
Founded the nonprofit Friends of Dreamland Ballroom, dedicated to bringing back the music, history, and cultural significance 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 for better user experience and search engine optimization.
2014
Published the first Brave Magazine, inspired by FlagandBanner.com customers. Each week during Monday Morning Meetings, the team documented customer stories about the flags and banners they bought. This inspired the creation of Brave—a magazine about brave people, both well-known and everyday heroes.
2015
Preservation efforts for Dreamland Ballroom 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 entrepreneurs and business leaders are interviewed and share their stories. The show provides inspiration and demonstrates that even successful people encounter challenges on their journey.
2017
Upgraded to a mobile-friendly website to accommodate the growing number of customers shopping on smartphones and tablets.
2018
Friends of Dreamland secured significant African American Civil Rights Preservation Grant from the National Park Service to begin the Public Access Project.
2019
Received additional National Park Service Civil Rights grant and facilitated the construction of an ADA-accessible elevator and building addition to Taborian Hall.
2020
Expanded Kerry McCoy Enterprises to include OurCornerMarket.com, an online retailer of memorials, plaques, and address plates.
Friends of Dreamland secured additional National Park Service funding, bringing the total preservation grants to nearly $1 million.
2021
Acquired Freedom Flag & Banner in Miami, Florida, marking the company’s expansion beyond Arkansas. The Miami operation is now integrated into FlagandBanner.com operations, giving the company two locations.
Friends of Dreamland received an additional $498,000 grant to launch Phase 3 of the Dreamland Ballroom renovation, focusing on authentic historic restoration.
2025
Closed the east wing of the first floor of Taborian Hall in October 2025 in anticipation of opening the Dreamland Lounge, a cocktail and coffee bar honoring the legacy of Taborian Hall as a major entertainment and commerce space on Little Rock’s historic Ninth Street. Opening anticipated in 2026. Read more: A New Dream at Taborian Hall.
Additional Information
Business Philosophy: Kerry McCoy has come to understand that business is creative. Her tour de force has been the creation of FlagandBanner.com, Brave Magazine, Up In Your Business radio show and podcast, and the preservation of the Dreamland Ballroom—all operated from the historic Taborian Hall in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
Education: North Little Rock Northeast High School; Miss Wade’s Fashion Merchandising College (now Wade College), Dallas, Texas
Family Business: Husband Grady McCoy joined the company in 1990. Children Matthew McCoy, Gray McCoy, and Meghan McCoy Pittman are all involved in various aspects of the family business and educational outreach.