AMBASSADOR LAPEL FLAGS®
Introduction
Ambassador Lapel Flags® (ALFs) is my company's registered trademark for the best-crafted lapel flags in the world. I know, I know, there I go again ... But the truth is we do take more pains than anyone to produce the finest lapel flags: We work according to the latest flag-design specifications; we mix inks to precise color standards for every job, apply them through precisely cut screens, carefully cure each color, and highlight the colorful designs with 3-dimensional bubbles. We screen onto panels plated with pure 24K gold; stock a multitude of panel shapes to meet the logo needs of customers from around the world. A labor of love? More than is wise to admit.
But enough prose. If you're like me, you’d rather see it than read about it. Perfect. Let's go to the color picture below. If you'd like a magnified view, click this image
On the left side you see 6 of the more than 200 TF-100 lapel flags we stock in the "Friendship Collection." The actual size of a TF-100 panel is 1 inch wide by 3/4" tall or 25.4 x 18mm. There are 2 other sizes of two-flag panels, TF-75 and TF-50 [see ALFs (I) and ALFs(II) pages], to accommodate the need for smaller, more discreet shapes -- but please note that these smaller panels are for custom-made orders of 200 or more pieces of the same kind. To clarify: if you need, say, just 10 lapel flags for USA crossed with 20 different countries, we can supply them from stock but only in the TF-100 panel; if you want, say, USA/U.K. in the TF-75 panel you would need to order a minimum of 200 pieces.
• Cyberflagquiz: Cyberflagquiz: Cyberflagquiz: Can you figure out the flags crossed with USA in the 6 examples of TF-100 two-flag panels? Notice the beautiful coat-of-arms on the yellow stripe of the red-yellow-red flag in the bottom row. Do you know its meaning? Would you like to know?
On the right side of the picture above are 2 examples from our vast array of custom-made panels: the Curved C-100 panel featuring the "PORTUGAL" logo (*) and the RE-20 panel (shorthand for: REctangular panel, 20mm wide) with "HECHOS E NO PALABRAS!" (DEEDS NOT WORDS). In real life these panels are 1"x1", or 25.4 x 25.4mm. As you'll see under
ALFs (I) and ALFs (II) pages, we have smaller versions of both the curved and rectangular panels. Naturally, since they are emblazoned with a customized logo, the wholesale minimum run is 250 pieces., although we can accommodate higher-priced "retail runs" of as few as 50 pieces.
Let's answer some frequently asked questions about ALFs:
Q
How much do they cost?A It depends on the item. There are 3 broad groups:
1. TF-100 panel, in-stock Friendship Collection -- meaning USA crossed with a variety of national and state flags, and such special flags as POW-MIA, Betsy Ross, NATO, Marine Corps, etc. A complete listing is available under the "ALFs (II)" page. Because we stock all these, you can "mix and match" any items for most favorable pricing:
_ 1-49 ALFs (any mix) ........ $ 5.50/piece + $10 S&H
_ 50-199 ALFs (any mix) ....... $ 4.35/piece + $15 S&H
_ 200-499 ALFs (any mix) ...... $ 3.20/piece + $20 S&H
2. Custom-made two-flags and single-flag panels without a logo -- meaning, for example, Ireland/USA on TF-100, or France/Egypt on TF-75, or Nicaragua/Poland on TF-50 in two-flag panels. Similarly, for single flags (SF) we have 3 panel sizes and you could order, for example, Kazakstan single flag on SF-100, or U.K. on SF-50, or South Africa on SF-25.
_ 200-350 ALFs (of same kind) .... $ 3.95/piece + $15 S&H
_ 350-500 ALFs (of same kind) .... $ 3.65/piece + $20 S&H
« Prices for single flags are 20 cents lower
Prices are shown for 4 colors. Each extra color = 20˘/piece.
« One-time silk-screening charge = $150 One-time silk-screening charge = $150 Cyberflagquiz: Cyberflagquiz: Can you figure out the flags crossed with USA in the 6 examples of TF-100 two-flag panels? Notice the beautiful coat-of-arms on the yellow stripe of the red-yellow-red flag in the bottom row. Do you know its meaning? Would you like to know?On the right side of the picture above are 2 examples from our vast array of custom-made panels: the Curved C-100 panel featuring the "PORTUGAL" logo (*) and the RE-20 panel (shorthand for: REctangular panel, 20mm wide) with "HECHOS E NO PALABRAS!" (DEEDS NOT WORDS). In real life these panels are 1"x1", or 25.4 x 25.4mm. As you'll see under
ALFs (I) and ALFs (II) pages, we have smaller versions of both the curved and rectangular panels. Naturally, since they are emblazoned with a customized logo, the wholesale minimum run is 250 pieces., although we can accommodate higher-priced "retail runs" of as few as 50 pieces.
Let's answer some frequently asked questions about ALFs:
Q
How much do they cost?A It depends on the item. There are 3 broad groups:
1. TF-100 panel, in-stock Friendship Collection -- meaning USA crossed with a variety of national and state flags, and such special flags as POW-MIA, Betsy Ross, NATO, Marine Corps, etc. A complete listing is available under the "ALFs (II)" page. Because we stock all these, you can "mix and match" any items for most favorable pricing:
_ 1-49 ALFs (any mix) ........ $ 5.50/piece + $10 S&H
_ 50-199 ALFs (any mix) ....... $ 4.35/piece + $15 S&H
_ 200-499 ALFs (any mix) ...... $ 3.20/piece + $20 S&H
2. Custom-made two-flags and single-flag panels without a logo -- meaning, for example, Ireland/USA on TF-100, or France/Egypt on TF-75, or Nicaragua/Poland on TF-50 in two-flag panels. Similarly, for single flags (SF) we have 3 panel sizes and you could order, for example, Kazakstan single flag on SF-100, or U.K. on SF-50, or South Africa on SF-25.
_ 200-350 ALFs (of same kind) .... $ 3.95/piece + $15 S&H
_ 350-500 ALFs (of same kind) .... $ 3.65/piece + $20 S&H
« Prices for single flags are 20 cents lower
Prices are shown for 4 colors. Each extra color = 20˘/piece.
« One-time silk-screening charge = $150 One-time silk-screening charge = $1503. Custom-made panels with a logo underneath the flags -- meaning any of the round, rectangular, square, curved, etc. panels in stock with any two flags and your precisely reproduced logo (we also have panels for 3 flags and 4 flags -- please see the "Ambassador Flag Accessories" page and note the watch with the 3-flag UTEL logo and the tie bar with the 4-flag "Union" logo; while there, note the 9 flags on the tie tack and the badge with 12 flags!).
_ 50 logo ALFs (any size/panel) ...... $ 5.75/pcs + $10 S&H
_ 100 logo ALFs ................................. $ 5.25/pcs + $15 S&H
_ 250 logo ALFs ................................. $ 4.15/pcs + $20 S&H
Prices are shown for 4 colors. Each extra color = 20˘/piece.
« One-time silk-screening charge = $175
Q
How long does it take produce an order?A For in-stock ALFs from the Friendship Collection
, 1-2 business days from receipt of order and payment (VISA or MasterCard = OK).For custom-made ALFs or logo ALFs, 14 business days from receipt of order, final specifications, artwork, and payment. Faster service available at a rush-order surcharge.
We normally ship domestic orders by UPS Blue Label for guaranteed second- day delivery. International orders we ship by DHL at additional S&H charges. Please inquire about specific shipping questions.
Q
What kind of art work do you require?A
The larger and clearer the better, since we need to photograph it. Camera-ready art is always nice, but we can work from business cards, letterhead, advertisements, emailed JPEG images, etc. We don't need color-separated art, just good originals and Pantone references, if you have them, for the various colors in your logo.Q Do you do only flags? What about other designs?
A
We can manufacture any kind of design and shape, as you readily see from the group of badges shown under the "Ambassador Flag Accessories" page. It's just that the Flagman is far-gone nutty about flags so we tend to show mostly these in our ads (Betsey: Don't transcribe "far-gone nutty," the old man will blow a fuse; say something like "really fond of"). Have you thought about your family's coat-of-arms for a special family reunion?Q What happens if I need a new shape/panel for my design?
A
That is no problem at all. If you cannot use one of our flag panels or the many round, square, triangular, rectangular, oval shapes in stock from our 55+ years of manufacturing, our toolmaster can readily reproduce the precise shape you need. The cost is $225-625, depending on complexity, and you need to allow for 8-13 additional business days.Q What is the correct flag order or protocol?
A If you recall the color image above, note the position of Old Glory: on the left, from the observer's viewpoint. "Left" is the position of honor in 2-flag arrangements. This protocol holds for any country in the world. For example, a Briton on Chinese territory would be wise to wear or offer lapel flags with the Chinese flag on the left, that is, China/U.K. For an American in Paris the proper protocol would be France/USA, for a Dutchman flying into Moscow, Russia/Netherlands, and so on.
The flag of a state or province is always subordinate to that of sovereign country, so that California/USA would be the wrong protocol, as would be Bavaria/Germany. For our New Milford flag, the proper protocol on a 3-flag ALF would be, logically, USA/Connecticut/New Milford. It gets a little complicated with 3 or more flags of several countries -- let me know if you have any specific questions. (Betsey: I saw CS's "far-gone nutty" crack. He's right. But no, I won't blow any fuses, I don't have that many left!)
Q Any other special thoughts on protocol?
A Yes. One in particular: Please DO NOT place your logo above or defacing the flags of sovereign nations. For that matter, unless you are in the protest business, common sense should keep you from defacing any flag. As you see in all our designs, your logo should be placed beneath flags, with a clean break between logo and flags. That shows proper deference and respect for the flag of a country or state. I know there are some commercial designs with panels placed across flags -- they are misguided and dead wrong, plain and simple. The protocol is straightforward: hoist your symbol above that of a defeated adversary; deface a country's flag to express protest or disrespect for that country. Why on earth would you use your business symbol in that manner?
Well, cyberfriends, this probably is about as much "Introduction to ALFs" as you can safely stand at one sitting -- and probably more than you bargained for when you clicked on. Hope I answered most questions and have not overstayed my welcome . The next 3 pages will show you the great variety of panel shapes and sizes we have developed over the years [ALFs (I) page], special-markets ALFs we could use your help with [ALFs(II) page], and a wide array of accessories.