Well! The last 24 hours were very exciting around here. Our website is not ready yet, but we wanted to start testing our internal processes, so we put a very scaled down version of the site online in order to print some flags. We decided to create a campaign to give away some free flags to see if the idea works, if people get the concept, and help our printer test receiving and filling orders from us. We budgeted for 100 free flags- customers could choose Garden or House size on a first come first served basis. Each of our Flagologists (team members) sent 25 emails to friends and family offering them a flag in return for test driving the site and liking our Facebook page. Sounds like a flag give away would be easy, right? Oh my goodness – it took us a week just to get the email right- creating links to all of the icons and formatting the email so the images did not get all stretched out. We had to review and make corrections to the test website, figure out a schedule of who would make the flags and create work orders for our printer. Not to mention signing up for a company credit card and setting up PayPal. When you imagine selling flags online, there are a 1000 details that never cross your mind
After sending out our first 60 emails – kablam!! (is that a word?) – 24 hours later we had orders for 29 free flags! I was so excited to give away product – you’d have laughed to see us running around the office chattering about everyone’s first photos! Everyone couldn’t wait to see how their friends and family members chose to put their heart on their flag. We decided to have a contest to see which Flagologist has the most friends to order – and the winner gets a ½ day off on a Friday. I’d give them more time, but we are busy here!!! Amber J. made all the flags today and answered all the customer service calls. Lindsey is off to a wedding- we hope she is having a blast, but we really missed her today. Everyone who called customer service said the same thing “I’m probably your most difficult customer, but….” and we just laughed and said “there is no such thing as a difficult customer”! We’re so excited to have you all here! If you are reading this and have not taken part in the free flag campaign, email us. If we still have any of the promo flags left, we’ll send you the code.
My favorite photo today – and it is very hard to pick just one – is this amazing landscape of an old barn. I’ll post it here. It’s an old family homestead in PA, and I just think it’s beautiful. Landscapes are often emotional – they remind us of a place and that place reminds us of those we love. It’s really amazing to be a part of putting memories on flags. It’s been a great day. Thanks to all of you who were a part of it.
Oh, and we have 55 Facebook likes! Whoooohoooo!
