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Flagging
a need
 Adam
Wyatt of Norfolk has always had an artistic streak.
Even though he became a dentist, he never lost his flair
for the arts.
"I've
always searched for some type of way where I could express
my artistic endeavors and make it profitable,"
he says, adding that he wanted to do something that
benefited the community. He finally came up with an
idea that allows him to employ his creativity while
celebrating his African-American culture - designing
decorative flags and banners with African-American themes.
The
popularity of decorative flags has taken off in the
United States in the past few years, Wyatt says, but
he noticed that none of the available flags depicted
black culture. Last year, Wyatt and his wife, Beth,
launched Blakflagz Inc., which sells Wyatt's flags online.
"I could do paintings, but [I thought] this would
be more effective." Though still in its infant
stages, Wyatt says Blakflagz has piqued the interest
of those who've heard about it. In its first two months,
the company sold nearly 50 flags. Currently, the company
has more than 60 designs ready for release. Hoping to
make each flag a collectible, each design is limited
to a production count of 10,000.
The
28- by 44-inch flags sell for about $30 plus shipping,
and are designed to be used either outside as flags
or inside as banners. Customers can purchase the flags
through the company's Web
site. Moreover, the site serves as more than just
a place to buy merchandise. Blakflagz.com also provides
information about African literature, history and culture.
-
Leila Marija Ugincius
Return to Virginia Business - February
2002
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