Overview

Under my management, Arkansas Flag and Banner has grown to be a multi-million dollar company with 25 full-time employees. Embracing the Internet, technology, SEO and Google advertising, multi-media advertising, 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 priceless landmark and piece of history in downtown Little Rock. She shares the inspiring story of Dreamland Ballroom in countless community speeches. She 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.

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.