North Charleston Manufacturer: Allegiance Flag Supply’s Success Story
In 2018, Allegiance Flag Supply, a North Charleston-based company, sprung from an idea to manufacture American flags solely within the US. Today, that idea has propelled the company from its humble beginnings in a garage to a full-fledged operation in a 24,000-square-foot facility, employing approximately 60 individuals.
Max Berry, Katie Lyon, and Wes Lyon, three college friends, founded the company with the belief that the American flag should be made inside the 50 states it symbolizes. Each founder contributed to the less than $5,000 seed fund that set the company in motion. From creating just a handful of flags per day, Allegiance Flag Supply has grown dramatically, producing between 1,100 and 1,200 flags per day, signifying a hundredfold increase since its inception.
Recently, the company announced plans for another expansion with a value of $6.3 million in Charleston County, showcasing continued growth and dedication to its mission.
Flag Production and American Supply Chain
Each flag begins its journey with a 200 denier nylon fabric from Hickory, North Carolina. The fabric is then sent to Upstate New York for dyeing and treatment. After treatment, the fabric returns to Charlotte, where it is divided into even rolls and sent to the Charleston facility for final assembly. Here, the 13 stripes are attached to pre-made embroidered Star Fields from Greenville.
The company ensures every stage of production happens within the country, contributing to a 100% American supply chain. Max Berry, co-founder of Allegiance Flag Supply, highlighted the importance of this commitment, stating, “If there was one thing that deserved to be made here in America, it starts with the American flag.”
Growth amid the Pandemic
While numerous small businesses faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Allegiance team credits much of its growth to the resulting shutdown. With people confined indoors, e-commerce sales boomed, significantly benefiting Allegiance.
Katie Lyon, co-founder of Allegiance Flag Supply, considers it an American Dream to have grown from a garage to the current 23,500-square-foot building, acknowledging, “I think there’s a moment of ‘we’re all in this together,’ and I think people rallied around the flag in that way for a brief time during the pandemic.”
Supporting Military Families and the Future
Beyond its manufacturing success, Allegiance also supports military families. Their first customer service agent and current customer service lead is a military spouse, highlighting the company’s commitment to providing remote employment opportunities for those tied to military deployments.
Although Allegiance’s success primarily revolves around the manufacturing of American flags, the company has also introduced a Betsy Ross flag with the traditional 13-star circular motif for a limited time. With the majority of their products being sold to Texas, Allegiance has also begun producing Texas state flags in response to multiple requests.
As the company continues to expand, this North Charleston manufacturer remains dedicated to its original mission: to produce a symbol of American unity right where it belongs – in the heart of America.
