Banner year for flag-makers

Singapore's 50th anniversary is proving to be a boom year for flag suppliers.

Local flag supplier R A International Marketing said it has sold more than 80,000 state flags, to be hung outside homes as part of the National Day celebrations this year.

It usually sells about 40,000 to 50,000 state flags leading up to National Day, its sales manager, Mr Wise Ang, 39, said.

The spike in orders also extends to pennants and banners, with a 10 to 20 per cent increase in sales. Its SG50 flags and red-and-white pennants are sold out, he added.

Its clientele has also grown this year.

"We have roughly 100 to 200 new clients per year but this year, we have had over 300 new clients," Mr Ang said.

They include building management corporations and industrial companies.

The owner of the home-grown family-run business, Mr Robin Ang, 70, told The New Paper in Mandarin that the sales increase was expected because of the SG50 celebrations marking our 50th year as an independent nation.

Mr Wise Ang is Mr Robin Ang's son.

Other flag-makers and suppliers also reported brisk business.

The boss of FBN Enterprise, who gave his name as only Mr Lim, said: "I'm really busy with orders. I don't even have time to eat and sleep. I sleep at about three to four in the morning."

The owner of Nam Hoe Industry, who gave his name as Mr Lau, said the demand for its state flags has increased by 30 to 40 per cent.

He has sold about 15,000 state flags so far this year, he said.

SG50 LOGO POPULAR

Amico Technology, a signage company which also sells flags and banners, said its flag designs bearing the iconic SG50 logo are outselling the normal flags.

"As it's the golden jubilee, our clients are more inclined to get the SG50 logo flags," said sales coordinator Kwek Jin Cheng.

The flag suppliers said that grassroots organisations are increasing orders not just because of SG50, but they also want an extra patriotic celebration in memory of Singapore's first prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who died earlier this year.

When contacted, a spokesman for the People's Association said it had received feedback from many residents that they wanted to fly the Singapore flag to celebrate National Day this year.

As a result, some grassroots organisations have included Singapore flags as part of the SG Funpacks that are being distributed to residents, said the spokesman.

- Additional reporting by Teresa Lo

kerrihyp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 20, 2015.
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