Crystal Lake man finds a way to flag your message
Brad Rogers, like many Cubs fans, dreams of a winning team.
He took his aspiration a step further and developed it into a business.
Rogers, a Crystal Lake resident, woke up one morning thinking about the "W" flag that flies over Wrigley Field when the Cubs win. Fans often hold up their own W banners in the stands as well.
Rogers thought of a new, fun way for fans to support their team. He created a mountable three-inch plastic flag with the W to attach to the brim of a baseball cap. He calls them CapFlaggers.
After coming up with the idea, Rogers, who two years ago started a distributorship selling promotional products, changed the focus of his business, Precise Promotions Inc. He now manufactures promotional products. The CapFlaggers are manufactured in McHenry.
Rogers attempted to sell the patent-pending product at Wrigley Field. However, trademark issues involving the W flag are forcing him to put that flag on hold. "I'm waiting to hear feedback from the Cubs," he said.
Meanwhile, Rogers created other flags with other messages in an array of colors.
The pink breast cancer awareness ribbon printed on the CapFlaggers has become popular and often worn by groups of women participating in fundraising walks to support the disease. Messages such as "for my mom," or "for my sister" are printed on the flag as a dedication.
Rogers has also created patriotic American and Canadian flags. He's working with companies to have their company logo placed on the flag as well as high school logos. He added that he's negotiating with area high schools to have the mini-flags ready for football season.
The cost of a standard flag is $1.16. The price varies pending on the amount ordered and if it's customized.
Rogers recently participated in a show in Las Vegas where he won "best new product" award.
The entrepreneur continues to work full time as a business development manager for a Rhode Island Co. He grew up in Crystal Lake where he and his wife, Michele, are raising three children.
For more information, call (815) 301-2098 or check out www.capflaggers.com.
In shape for summer: Lisa and John Shanahan are launching Fitness Together at 168 S. Northwest Hwy., Barrington.
The franchise, established in 1996, offers every single customer one-on-one instruction with a personal trainer.
The business, expected to open in July, offers private training suites and nutrition counseling.
There are more than 400 franchise locations with another 98 set to open.
Top honors: JSH&A Public Relations, a boutique public relations agency specializing in consumer lifestyle programming, was awarded multiple honors in the Publicity Club of Chicago's 2008 Golden Trumpet Awards program.
The Oakbrook Terrace-based company's strategic media campaigns earned the agency a Golden Trumpet Award and two Silver Trumpet honors.
The company's year-long campaign supporting the 100th anniversary of the iconic Hershey's Kisses brand chocolates brought the honors.
Dive right in: Big Kahuna Scuba recently opened in Hainesville at Routes 120 and 134.
The business provides an array of scuba education and certification for those looking to take the first plunge on up to the divemaster and instructor training.
Certified instructors Mitch Sjolin and Curtis Flory own the business that features an on-site classroom accommodating group and individual education programs with flexible scheduling.
The shop also offers a variety of equipment, gear and accessories including Genesis, Akona, Sherwood, Speedo, Apollo, Fourth Element, Olympus and Bottom Crawlers.
Services include gear rental, tank fills for air and mixed gases, plus a full-service equipment inspection and repair shop.