Becoming A Savvy Consumer (Part 2)

Knowledge Is Power

The Savvy Consumer broadens their purchasing decision beyond the price.  They factor in the various levels of qualities between competing products, such as unique features, construction materials & processes that account for the price variances.

We encourage taking a moment to educate yourself about the industry standards for production process of outdoor decorative flags.

This knowledge base provides insight to why flag prices dramatically vary from site to site. There is a direct correlation between various price points and the level of quality in construction materials & processes.

Consumer savvy reveals a shrewdness, practical knowledge and ability to make good judgments when purchasing.

Being Consumer Savvy Requires Three Basic Steps

First, Research!  Gather information on the product of interest. Such as price, manufacturing, features & benefits that set it apart from competitors.  A hands-on comparison between features of competing products is ideal, but usually cost prohibitive. So we’ve done a lot of that for you.

Second, Compare and Rank! Organize your newly acquired research results.  Compare and rank products against each other and against the industry standards.  Ranking involves structuring a hierarchy with product features. Your level of importance within your hierarchy may vary from another person’s based your desired use.

Third, Know the Budget! Purchase the highest ranked product within the allotted budget.

We assume you have an interest in our garden products. So, before making a purchase let us share the quality features of our flags that set them above the industry standards of flag production. This information provides insight and confidence to proudly stand behind your quality-driven purchase.

As owners of GardenHouseFlags.com, we needed to do our research and hands-on comparisons of the industry standards in outdoor decorative flags.  We needed to know that we were bringing our customers the best product possible by understanding the construction and processes used in flag production.  Then share that knowledge to help customers make an informed and confident purchase.

Best Fabric For Outdoor Decorative Flags

Let’s talk about the best fabric for outdoor flags. Primarily two types of fabrics lead in the outdoor flag industry – Nylon and Polyester. 

Nylon and polyester possess the qualities of being both lightweight and durable synthetic fabrics. Also, equal when it comes to such properties as easy care, wrinkle resistance, stretch resistance and shrink resistance.

Nylon is a lightweight material that does not last as long as other flag materials. Nylon flags are intended to be flown in light to medium winds, so you need to be mindful of the environment you live in. Although nylon is the most versatile flag material, it is not the most durable. 

While polyester flags display good color quality, their surface can appear more dull and it feels rougher to the touch – compared to that of a nylon flag. Since polyester is a bit heavier material than nylon, the flags tend to need a bit heavier breeze to fly. You may end up paying a little more for a polyester flag than nylon or cotton flags.

While both nylon and polyester dry quickly, polyester has a better water wicking ability. Polyester also retains its color for a longer period of time.

The pro’s for Nylon fabric are it is softer and stronger than polyester, its sheds water in wet climates, its bright lustrous appearance and its ability to fly in the lightest of breezes. 

But in the end the Pro’s for Polyester fabrics have proven it to be the better suited for outdoor flags.  Those Pro’s are as follows: Faster Drying time, Easier to dye, Abrasion resistant, Outdoor durability, Outdoor life span, Excellent high-wind resistance and it held up the best when flown in extreme weather conditions. Also, the open weave of the heavy-duty polyester flag fabric will help reduce the fabric stress.

Beware of Polyester/Cotton Blend Flag Material

Polyester is the best material for outdoor flags, but we need to inform you that there are also cheaper flags that will call themselves Polyester. These are a polyester/cotton blend and really don’t hold up outside – the fibers of cotton or a polyester/cotton blend fabric will breakdown more quickly when exposed to sun and weather elements.  Specifically ask if the flag is 100% polyester or is it a polyester/cotton blend.

Cotton flags are not weather resistant, nor do they wick water effectively. Therefore, they are not meant for extended outdoor use. Also, cotton wrinkles easily, which can require more maintenance than nylon or polyester. Cotton is generally more expensive than polyester and nylon flags.

There is no stronger flag available than the reinforced 2-ply polyester flag. Polyester flags are generally made from a tough 2-ply 100% spun polyester material, designed to hold up in conditions where there are high winds.  2-ply polyester material is the material to look for if you are looking for polyester outdoor flags

In short, the type of flag you buy is going to depend on what you are looking for in a flag and the conditions it will be flying in. 

If you fly flags outside for an extended time period, the better durable choice of flag material is a nylon or polyester. Polyester is the better proven material for decorative garden flags.

2-ply Polyester Flags

2-ply polyester flags with reinforced lock stitching in the seams and fly end give the flag as long of a life as possible. 

Other flags out there use chain stitching which is a weaker seam and will have a zippering effect when one of the threads is compromised.   Lock stitching is the strongest stitching available when it comes to making flags.  Other flags you may find only give you chain stitching on the seams and lock stitching on the fly end.  Our flags give you added durability with lock stitching in both the seams and the fly ends.  They are made of a high quality 2-ply 100% polyester fabric that holds up extremely well in windy conditions.

In Conclusion

We hope this information helps make you an informed consumer on decorative garden flags. And, plants the seeds necessary for becoming a Savvy Consumer. Flag prices vary from site to site for a reason. A cheaper priced flag usually lacks the quality materials and printing processes which extend the beauty and life of a decorative flag. Quality flags should last more than one season and retain their color.

If you missed our blog The Savvy Consumer Part 1 click to read!

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