2023-09-15 15:51
Want to peek behind the veil of Cuba’s secrecy? Well, here is your chance.
The post Cuba’s Secret World appeared first on Kerry McCoy's Blog Read More
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Bannerisms - Kerry Mccoy's Business Blog
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A 40-year veteran entrepreneur of a multi-million dollar flag company offers advice, tips and information about running a successful business. Kerry McCoy is owner of FlagandBanner.com and publisher of Brave Magazine.
2023-09-08 17:31
For a person who likes change, I’m in a rut.
FlagandBanner.com is over 45 years old, I’ve been married for over 35, and I’ve lived in the same house for three decades. This… Read More
2023-09-01 15:03
The most important stories are the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.
The post Stories appeared first on Kerry McCoy's Blog Read More
2023-08-25 15:00
When my daughter, Meghan, called the AMFA to enroll herself and my granddaughter in an art class, she was told, because of their age difference, they couldn't take a class together.
The post… Read More
2023-08-18 20:07
I wanted to wait a week longer to tell everyone the good news but, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I can’t keep a secret, especially a good one.
The post It’s a Family Trad… Read More
2023-08-11 16:11
This is an unexpected trick I stumbled upon that has added some pizazz to my marriage and that I've shared with a few friends. Surprising to all of us, it works. (And, no, I am not tal… Read More
2023-08-04 16:31
Excited and shaking in my boots describes how I felt while on my way to Russellville, Arkansas to speak to 400 bright Arkansas Governor's School students. I didn’t know what to expect… Read More
2023-07-28 20:03
Problem solving in groups is one of my favorite things to do. I’d like to think I’m good at it and, usually, people like the things they are good at.
When I read about crime in L… Read More
2023-07-21 13:21
Being a flag maker of 40+ years, I’ve witnessed a lot of redesigning of country and state flags. For instance, a few years back when all the confederate flag hullabaloo happened the so… Read More
2023-07-14 16:25
It is 9:00 AM on Friday, July 7th, 2023, when the well-groomed young man, Mr. Jack McCoy, enters a meeting room in the horticulture department of Ohio State University. Three hours later, th… Read More
2023-07-07 17:08
I consider myself lucky that I no longer have to travel on holiday weekends. When my kids were young, vacations had to be planned around their school breaks, which always coincided with a ho… Read More
2023-06-30 16:50
Sometimes I feel like I am shouting (my metaphor for writing) into the wind. Therefore, when I get a reply of any kind on my blog, I like it. It is nice to know people are reading my weekly… Read More
2023-06-23 20:34
After losing our Brave Magazine editor to retirement, I wondered if Flag and Banner (FAB) would ever have the chutzpah to publish it again. I say that because making a magazine is hard work… Read More
2023-06-16 16:14
Our family doesn’t need a reason to get together, because we do it all the time, but this past weekend we did it with spiritual purpose; It was for baby Arthur’s Christening cere… Read More
2023-06-09 16:53
Though I did not vote for her, I am trying to like Arkansas’s new Governor, Ms. Sara Huckabee Sanders, but sometimes it is hard to understand her decisions. Stay with me as I explain m… Read More
2023-06-02 15:39
When I saw this Memorial Day party picture and heard about the wheelbarrow full of babies, I knew I had to use it in this week’s blog.
The post Babies in a ‘Barrow appeared first… Read More
2023-05-26 16:05
How much can one really manifest through the power of positive thinking? According to all the self-help books I read, it is a lot.
The post The Power of Positive Thinking Doesn’t Work… Read More
2023-05-19 18:08
It’s nice to recognize all the moms on Mother’s Day and all the dads in June. I did a little research on the origins of Mother’s Day and found that it wasn’t until wh… Read More
2023-05-12 19:50
Anyone who knew me in high school might never have thought that one day I would be giving tips on how to be successful. From what I can recollect, I barely got out of high school.
The post W… Read More
2023-05-05 16:41
Such is the nature of a busy life, when you must travel 2,000 miles to northern California to make time to see neighbors and friends that live two blocks from you in your hometown of Little… Read More
2023-04-28 17:16
It seems like it has been a while since I have written about the business of entrepreneurship.
My daughter-in-law, the newest entrepreneur in the family, has hung up her apron as manager of… Read More
2023-04-21 19:49
Last week, I wrote about how buying myself a Tesla was, in some small way, investing in my grandchildren’s future. This week, while pushing the stroller with our family’s newest… Read More
2023-04-14 16:18
To be a good grandmother and expand my grandchildren’s world view, I took them to New York City over spring break. When I returned home, I found a lot had changed.
The post A Tesla for… Read More
2023-04-07 17:01
On the afternoon of March 31, 2023, I sat at my desk while sirens blared a warning that a tornado had been spotted. For their safety, my employees were sent to the first floor to hunker down… Read More
2023-03-31 20:24
I’m a big proponent of change and believe that if your business or personal life are not evolving, then you are being left behind. But change can be difficult, emotional, and controver… Read More
2023-03-24 21:57
Why, why, why, after six years and over 300 interviews, do I continue to mess with Up in Your Business? Every time I think, “okay, it may be time for me to stop interviewing successful… Read More
2023-03-17 20:06
Salespeople are a lot of help. I know they are often stereotyped as a nuisance, as robocalls are (which aren’t real people), but a good salesperson is more like a secretary to their cl… Read More
2023-03-10 21:11
Have you been wondering what ever happened to the restauranteur Rodney Ely, founder of Satellite Coffee and Rodney’s Chicago Dogs that used to be in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Well, I foun… Read More
2023-03-03 17:27
What does an entrepreneur, her daughter, and a long-time friend of the family do when they get together in Miami? Put on funny socks and take pictures of their feet.
The post Mother, Daughte… Read More
2023-02-24 17:24
Have you heard the term Harlem Renaissance when describing the prosperous lives of negros between the Civil War and Desegregation? No, me neither, until son Matthew uncovered the term. Recen… Read More
2023-02-17 17:32
“Thank you for letting us, all of us, share in your dream tonight.” That is what Dancing into Dreamland judge and actress Joey Lauren Adams said to the man who, at the end of a d… Read More
2023-02-10 17:30
I am living my own version of Netflix’s “Seven Days Out” mini-series. If you haven’t seen this show, each episode is a documentary and witness to the excitement and d… Read More
2023-02-03 17:29
At least once a year, I need a little motivation and reassurance that I am on the right life-path. I find such encouragement in self-help books. Much of who I am today may well be accr… Read More
2023-01-27 17:35
In preparation for my Up in Your Business interview with local celeb Lisa Fischer, I listened to several of her Lisa Fischer Said podcast episodes and learned that Lisa is a sufferer.
The po… Read More
2023-01-20 23:34
It is not every day you hear “Help! Help! Help!” screamed from your basement by a workman. But that is what happened this week.
The post A Traumatizing Visit for My Plumber appea… Read More
2023-01-13 20:53
In 2007, I turned 50. For my mid-life crisis, I pondered a facelift, a boyfriend, or a new car. I opted for a used, 5-speed, convertible Mini Cooper. Driving it, with the wind blowing in my… Read More
2023-01-06 18:14
Why is New Year’s Day so full of optimism? It’s just another day on the calendar; or is it?
On New Year’s Day we close the books on business, Christmas, and the Winter Sols… Read More
2022-12-30 18:09
Like everything in my Libra life, there is the constant balancing of the scales. Before Christmas, I worked hard; during Christmas, I played hard; and afterwards, I crashed hard.
The post A… Read More
2022-12-23 17:46
I didn’t just turn into a Grinch; I’ve always been a Grinch.
It is not the family and fellowship that makes me Grinchy; I love that part. But rather, it’s the consumerism a… Read More
2022-12-16 18:48
In my COVID fever fog last week, I heard through an open window the non-mechanical hacking of Grady splitting wood for our fireplace.
The post From COVID Delirium to Cocktail Party appeared… Read More
2022-12-09 21:29
Prior to emails and the internet changing our lives, English teachers worried that writing was going to become a lost artform. Ma Bell had turned all of us into voice communicators, making l… Read More
2022-12-02 18:06
Has your Christmas cactus forgotten how to bloom?
Though this may sound like a metaphor for one’s aging brain, it is not. It is a serious question, pondered by many persons this time o… Read More
2022-11-25 15:00
Little Rock, Arkansas has a wonderful and long running non-profit called Quapaw Quarters Association (QQA). Founded in 1968, in response to urban renewal teardowns, the QQA has fought to pre… Read More
2022-11-17 21:32
Many things are coming back; like the return of shopping catalogs in my overflowing mailbox, conventions are making a comeback, too.
The post We’re Back from NIFDA and Historic Charles… Read More
2022-11-11 20:56
Gran Ann and Daddy Mac are the grandparent-names given, by my children, to husband Grady’s parents.
Last week, against Daddy Mac’s objection, we planned and invited friends and n… Read More
2022-11-04 20:05
As the election grows nearer, like everyone, I worry.
People often think election years are good for the flag business but, in truth, most retailers (except media ad men) post low sales duri… Read More
2022-10-28 16:46
In past years, voting day has been akin to a neighborhood block party. Everybody knows everybody. As we all stand in line chit-chatting, we talk about dog-walking, the weather, and who&rsquo&hell…Read More
2022-10-21 19:45
A “girl’s girl” is not a usual descriptor for me. But, one night a month, I attend a Girls Night Out (GNO). I have been dining with the same group of ladies for years, real… Read More
2022-10-14 16:48
Amazon is putting the squeeze on small businesses in ways you might not have thought of. Everyone knows Amazon sells everything cheap (remember when they only sold books?). But another… Read More
2022-10-07 17:43
I can’t say I have always agreed with our local newspaper, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette. During Little Rock’s famous newspaper war of the ‘80s, I was impressed by the Demo… Read More
2022-09-30 17:01
God luv 'em. That’s all I could say after last week’s disappointing ending to the Texas A&M vs Arkansas Razorback football game.
The post Trying to Call the Hogs, I Learned t… Read More
2022-09-23 17:42
So often I think of the Royals as fodder for the tabloids. But after learning about Queen Elizabeth II, her job description, and watching the ceremonial funeral and pageantry on Monday, Sept… Read More
2022-09-16 20:15
Need to get your party started? Call the McCoy Clan.
Ever wonder what that smooth-talking son of mine looks like on the radio? Meet son Grady McCoy IV who, with the rest of his family, is ha… Read More
2022-09-09 20:51
As the smell of Fall fills the morning air and the end of another year approaches, I begin to let my mind wander. One of my weirder thoughts is, “What’s going to be this year&rsq&hell…Read More
2022-09-02 20:00
What a week. School started, traffic increased, my baby had a baby, my kitchen remodel culminated in my house, we had sweeping staff changes at FAB, my husband got mad at me, I interviewed a… Read More
2022-08-26 19:23
Another “McCoy Boy!”Meet Arthur Ellis McCoy, weighing in at 8lbs. 3 oz. on Tuesday, August 16th. He is beyond precious.
The post He’s Here! appeared first on Kerry McCoy's… Read More
2022-08-19 17:26
In the years before Covid, everyone’s dance card (so-to-speak) was full, and high-society-photographer’s evenings were busy as they party-hopped, taking pictures. But not anymore… Read More
2022-08-05 19:59
In high school, Pat Matthews had a compulsion to create and his talent was evident by the art competitions he entered and won. But, alas, he knew the career of a young artist was uncertain… Read More
2022-07-27 21:40
We’ve had backyard chickens for years. We first got them when the boys were still living at home. Taking care of pets is a great way to learn responsibility. After the kids left and th… Read More
2022-07-22 20:16
“Baby Wedding” is the name son Jack coined for this past weekend’s whirlwind of baby showers and parties.
The post Baby Wedding Weekend appeared first on Kerry McCoy's Blog… Read More
2022-07-15 20:08
You know how, when you go to parties, the ice breaker between strangers is either sports talk or what-show-are-you-binging? It seems we are all looking for tips on something new to watch, an… Read More
2022-07-08 17:08
I am so tired of the “F” word being overused. I feel like it has been stolen from me. It used to be one of my favorite words; the flair in which I used it was an artform, or so I… Read More
2022-07-01 15:40
What a week. After the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe vs Wade that has ALL women reeling in their emotions, I went to Florida to work.
The post What a Week appeared first on Kerry McC… Read More
2022-06-24 17:07
Son Mattie's time is about to get more precious.
Did I tell you that, in August, I am going to be a grandmother, again? It has been 12 years since we have had a new baby in the family and ev… Read More
2022-06-17 20:47
Have you heard of the 10,000-hour rule? It was made popular by author Malcom Gladwell, who wrote the bestselling book, Outliers: The Story of Success. Mr. Gladwell said you need 10,000… Read More
2022-06-09 19:43
No longer having mouths to feed at home, I was able to travel to Connecticut this past weekend to see a long-time friend of mine’s daughter get married. It was fun. The weather was pic… Read More
2022-06-03 16:45
Young people often ask me, “What was your favorite age?” My answer is always the same: “Now.”
The post Practicing Gratitude appeared first on Kerry McCoy's Blog Read More
2022-05-27 20:21
Everyone laments about all the negative news these days, but you can’t really blame the media. They are only serving up what we humans like to hear. I must admit, when CBS’s Nora… Read More
2022-05-20 19:35
The Dallas Cowboys football team is about as close to a pro sports team as Arkansas gets. We Arkansans relate to them because their current owner, Jerry Jones, and their former coach, Jimmy… Read More
2022-05-13 17:52
At the end of a long Mother’s Day, Grady said to me, “Sorry you had to work so hard.” My reply was honest and simple: “I enjoyed it.”
The post I Prefer to Work… Read More
2022-05-06 16:09
I’m old enough to remember life before birth control, when abortions were illegal, and when women died from breast cancer. We have come a long way in women’s healthcare and lifes… Read More
2022-04-29 21:23
This summer will be my 50-year high school reunion. Like all reunions, it snuck up and surprised me. But it didn’t surprise me as much as the phone call I got, later.
The post Prepari… Read More
2022-04-22 19:43
After traveling, I’m burned out on eating out and, yet, bored with my own home cooking. I’d love a plain-old BLT, but tomatoes aren’t in season. Currently, very little is i… Read More
2022-04-15 20:03
My mother always said, no matter how old her children got, she wanted to see where they lived. That it made her rest better. And now, that is the way I feel, too.
The post Miami to Ohio appe… Read More
2022-04-08 19:09
From the looks of things in our Miami sewing department, cruise ships are back in business.
The post Cruise Ships are Back appeared first on Kerry McCoy's Blog Read More
2022-04-01 20:28
Not to be part of the sheeple, but if everybody else is, I guess I, too, must weigh in on the Smith/Rock altercation at the Oscars.
The post My ‘Will Smith’ Academy Recommendatio… Read More
2022-03-25 19:53
Whether you’re running a small company in America, starting a war in Ukraine, or defending your property, the requirements for success are the same.
To project the power needed to attr… Read More
2022-03-18 20:26
March marks the two-year anniversary of the Covid pandemic. I’m torn between writing about the past two years of Covid’s grief, relief and yes, even joy, or about the rise of cul… Read More
2022-03-11 21:48
In preparing for my UIYB interview with Cole Rodgers, I read his book, School of Man. In this self-help book, Cole talks about man’s human frailties, and I am reminded of my own. He sp… Read More
2022-03-04 18:21
It is hard to believe, in this day and age, that small men with big egos are still willing and able to wage war on innocent women and children. If you could get through his carefully narrate… Read More
2022-02-25 21:13
At the funeral for a friend’s father, I thought about the deceased. How he had affected my life. How, on my desk, still sits a folder with his name on it, and how I had successfully ex… Read More
2022-02-18 21:43
The idea of a dancing fundraiser came from a young party planner named John. That’s all I remember about him, other than that he had short, blond hair. In 2009, he had followed a girl… Read More
2022-02-11 18:29
In my mind, the term "dust bowl" no longer creates images of the Oklahoma drought of the 1930’s, described by John Steinbeck in the book Grapes of Wrath. Now, it describes my current w… Read More
2022-02-04 19:07
After 40+ years in business I had my first ever mandatory evacuation by the Little Rock Fire Department.
It was late morning on Tuesday when everyone in our conference room started smelling… Read More
2022-01-28 20:44
How do we come back? Or even, do we come back? And, if we do, when and how do we come back?
After a two-year hiatus that started with the first Covid outbreak, these are the questions that t… Read More
2022-01-21 20:39
Have you heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking?” I only recently heard it and, when I did, it rang true.
The post Sitting is the New Smoking? appeared first on Kerry McCoy… Read More
2022-01-14 21:12
My son, who posts my blogs to the web, often criticizes my rambling way of writing. I don’t care because it is authentic and I remind him of all the criticism Hemmingway got for his wr… Read More
2022-01-07 21:17
Driving to work one crisp morning, I saw a home whose front yard had been rolled. Though I know, from experience, it is a mess to clean up, I still found it endearing. The graceful flowing o… Read More
2021-12-31 16:56
After a year of good citizenship, social distancing, and following the vaccine protocol of the CDC, we McCoy’s decided it was time to resurrect our family’s annual Boxing Day Par… Read More
2021-12-23 19:32
We often hear people lament about “the good old days.” But I remember those days. There was Polio, a high infant mortality rate, breast cancer was a death sentence, there were fe… Read More
2021-12-17 18:35
I know it is late for a Christmas gift idea, but I was late in finding out about this one.
Deciding to shop local for some last-minute gifts, I went into Dandelion Home and Garden a newly op… Read More
2021-12-10 17:49
Arkansas doesn’t have a pro team, but it feels like we do. The University of Arkansas Razorbacks are our state’s passion. In sports bars and restaurants, alike, fans show support… Read More
2021-12-03 21:04
I realize that the thought of getting older is not usually an item on one’s gratitude list. But it is on mine, and not because I am a cancer survivor, or anything. It is much simpler t… Read More
2021-11-24 17:12
It has been almost three months since FAB expanded to Miami and many of my readers have asked for an update. I am happy to report that the Miami team met their sales goal in both September a… Read More
2021-11-18 16:42
There is no scientific proof that war is ingrained in human nature, according to a study by Brian Ferguson, professor of anthropology at Rutgers University-Newark.
But I don’t ne… Read More
2021-11-12 20:31
I’ve been a longtime proponent of a global economy. But after the glaring absence of China from last week’s world Climate Summit, my opinion may be changing.
The post Is it Time… Read More
2021-11-05 19:48
My little cancer baby on the end of my nose surprised everyone but me. I was awake through the whole MOH out-patient surgery. With my nose numb, the cancer surgeon took a dime size divot off… Read More
2021-10-29 15:18
Well, I finally did it. I’ve talked about it, dreamt about it, and needed it for years; I hired an assistant!
The post It’s Been Long Overdue: Meet Amie appeared first on Kerry M… Read More
2021-10-22 16:58
Now, I am a person that goes to the dermatologist every year. For years, my doctor has recommended a preventative, deep-facial peel for the sun damage done to my fair skin during my youth. T… Read More
2021-10-15 22:12
In less than two months, I have recorded three new radio interviews, torn my home up in a remodeling frenzy, bought a work-in-progress business in Miami with new travel expenditures, and hap… Read More
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