Affinity Plus loves helping members get their businesses up and running, which is why we are highlighting Affinity Plus business member, Sue Gallo, for National Women’s Small Business Month.

When looking for a way to bring smiles to people’s faces, Gallo decided a good way to do that would be sending someone a flock of birds – plastic pink flamingos. And so her small business, Flocks of Flamingos, brought a unique alternative to greeting cards.

“Flocks of Flamingos all starts with a bunch of happy pink flamingos and most people add a few words,” said Gallo, a member at Affinity Plus for her personal banking since 1981.

This idea wasn’t new to Gallo. When she belonged to a bicycling club years ago, another member bought a box of plastic yard flamingos at a garage sale. Throughout the years, the flamingos would just show up at different houses for different events. Eventually, the club disbanded and the beloved flamingos disappeared. Gallo said she’s wanted to get more flamingos ever since, to drum up that same funny, surprised joy. And she finally decided to do it – this time, opening it up to others.

“My first flamingos started showing up this past June in the summer of 2021. I’ve done about 7 or 8 yards and it’s been a great start for me,” said Gallo.

This business is a creative outlet for Gallo. She’s done flocks for birthdays, anniversaries, welcome homes, and other occasions. For each flock, she likes to incorporate a theme with the words to go along with the pink flamingos. Gallo has 50 yard flamingos and has fun coming up with different ideas of how to set them up in yards and what messages to accompany them with.

“I think Flocks of Flamingos makes people smile and makes people around them smile,” said Gallo.  “When I’m setting up yards, people stop and say, ‘this is such a nice gesture,’ they drive by and honk or shout ‘hooray!’ Neighbors even peek out their windows.”

Not only does Gallo’s business make an impact on the people who receive or send the flocks of flamingos, but it also makes an impact on childhood cancer patients. Of her profits, 10% are donated directly to KOA Care Camps – a summer-camp experience for kids with cancer. For her full-time job, Gallo is a nurse and it means so much to her to be able to use her small business to help others in so many ways.

When Gallo was getting her business started and thought about banking for her business, she knew she could trust Affinity Plus. Gallo has been a personal member of Affinity Plus for 40 years now.

“I’ve been with Affinity Plus since 1981 so it didn’t even dawn on me to go with anyone else,” said Gallo.

The flamingos are a way to channel good, Gallo said, and it was important to feel confident in her business banking as she started her business. Banking with Affinity Plus gives her the peace of mind she needs so she can focus on doing what she loves – spreading joy one flamingo at a time.