6/6: New Open Flag
This is big news. After four years in business, we have finally succumbed to the "Open" flag trend. I've resisted, largely because I dislike those big red, white & blue flags that have all but replaced the other, more traditional red, white & blue flag.
Sometimes we fly the other red, white & blue flag with stars and stripes, especially on holidays, but that has its problems too. For one thing, it might look like you're saying something to the effect of "Yay team, let's build a Disneyland in the Middle East," when in fact you're really only trying to make it look like the place is open.
Why don't I like the usual "OPEN" flags? Let me count the ways while trying not to offend all those OPEN flag-wavers. One: they're ugly. Two: they look like a desperate cry for help- "please come in, we're open, really." Three: so many places use them that we don't even see them anymore. Four: they're ugly.
Do we need an OPEN flag? Well, yes. Despite our neon OPEN sign, our "Come In, We're Open" sign on the door, and yet another Open sign, visitors will sometimes stand in front of our open door saying "Hmm... I wonder if they're open?" Usually the wife is about to step inside and the husband is saying "no, I don't think they are."
I went to our neighbors, a shop called "The Drydock" and asked where they found their beautiful, hand-made OPEN flag. A woman in Vermont makes them, and as luck would have it, the Drydock had an extra one in slightly different colors. So now our end of Main Street looks a bit more festive and cohesive. And, oh yes... open.
Update on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 04:16PM by
isalos fine art
isalos fine art
The other reason OPEN flags don't work? People don't take them down when they're closed. They leave them up to proclaim that they're open in a general sense.
Post a Comment
Reader Comments