This Week On Making It In America:

We are proud to speak with Dale Coots of Annin Flagmakers.

Q. Please tell us about yourself.

I began working at Annin Flagmakers in 1983 in the Customer Service Department, from there I moved into Sales and eventually into Marketing. I have been Marketing Manager since 1998. Presently I provide creative direction for Annin’s sales literature, packaging and web sites. I also give presentations about the history of the American Flag and get involved with much of Annin’s Public Relations.

Q. Why is making it in America (manufacturing) important to you?

By keeping our manufacturing in the U.S.A. we have more control over the materials we use and the supply chains that provide them. We purchase our raw materials from domestic companies and we dye our own nylon in our South Boston, Virginia manufacturing facility . Nylon accounts for the majority of the fabric Annin uses to manufacture flags. Our Starfields embroidery plant in Cobbs Creek , Virginia produces tens of thousands of star fields every year. All of these sourcing strategies allow us to maximize efficiencies. Keeping American Flags made in the U.S.A. is also important to the American consumer as well. History has shown that most Americans reject foreign manufactured U.S. flags sold domestically. This public preference has fueled retailer support for Made In the USA.

Q. In what ways have you and/or your company made it in America?

Annin is a family-owned business that has proudly been making the U.S. flag since 1847. Annin flags were carried by the Union Army during the American Civil War, draped President Lincoln’s casket, flew at Iwo Jima, decorated the George Washington Bridge and accompanied the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon in 1969. Dedication to quality and superior service have been the hallmarks of Annin’s business model for over 160 years. In addition to being America’s oldest flag company we are also the largest.

Q. How have you and/or your company expressed a passion for manufacturing in USA throughout your lifetime (or history)?

We like to say that the threads of Annin’s history have been interwoven in the fabric of America and that sense of history is important to us. We make flags for Americans by Americans. All of the materials that go into the manufacture of our flags are also manufactured in the U.S.A. We continually invest in technologies that help us with manufacturing efficiencies and provide the service and support that our customers need to thrive. Annin employs over 600 people at our four locations. In addition to the two plants in Virginia, mentioned earlier we have a manufacturing facility in Coshocton, Ohio and our corporate office headquarters is in Roseland, New Jersey. All of our employees take pride in making and our nation’s symbol and bringing it to market.

Q. What is your favorite quote? How does it affect you in your efforts to support manufacturing in the USA.

“The elation of low price is soon lost in the bitterness of poor quality and service”

I like this quote because it reminds me to have faith in the American people. This quote reiterates what every consumer inherently knows to be true. When given the opportunity, an educated consumer will choose to pay a little more money to purchase a product that is well made and is sold by a company who maintains a high standard of customer service. Annin Flagmakers produces millions of flags a year and maintaining our domestic manufacturing gives us a greater degree of product quality control and enables us to react quickly if we need to respond to an increase in demand or replace merchandise for a dissatisfied customer.

About the segments:

‘Making it in America’ is a place where individuals who are passionate about work in America can collectively share ideas, insights, and experiences relative to American manufacturing. Participants will be asked to share the ways in which they are ‘making it in America’ within their respective fields & present ways that we too, can help make a difference with work in America.

Past Guests

KNEX CEO Michael Araten.
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
Channellock VP of Sales & Marketing Ryan DeArment.
Makers Row - founding team Matthew Burnett, Tanya Menendez, Scott Weiner.
Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey Producer/Filmmaker Josh Miller.
Quabaug CEO & Owner Kevin Donahue
Tervis - Rogan Donelly
Tito`s Vodka - Owner Tito Beverige
Country Music Artist Amanda Watkins
Annin Flagmakers - Marketing Manager Dale Coots
All American Clothing Co. President BJ Nickol

Thank you.

Thank you to The Made in America Movement, The Darke Journal, All American Clothing Co., and to all participants for your support.

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in being interviewed on Making it in America, please send inquiries to Boomer Beam at logan@dekkerdevelopment.com

About the Host:

Boomer Beam is a next generation writer, spokesman, advocate, & marketing professional. His career began in 2011, when he attended his mother`s 25th class reunion, who graduated from high school in 1986. She couldn’t go because she and his father had just moved. So Beam, who was studying Communication Studies at Wittenberg University at the time, went in her place. The rest is a humble beginning... Read more

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