Where did the name “The Funky Banana” come from?

As Skip and Kristi deliberated over what to name their business, they quickly tossed aside all of the boring possibilities such as S&K Shirts, etc. Skip blurted out numerous, ridiculous suggestions but finally blurted out: “The Funky Banana!” Kristi expressed how dumb she thought that was, but determined Skip pressed on that he had “always had that name in the back of his mind” that no one would EVER forget it. That was just it.


The company was named.

Four years later, a customer was in the store just before Easter – talking about their grandchildren attending an Easter egg hunt. Skip shared, that his grandfather – they called him “the banana man.”

Skip’s face went pale, as though he had seen a ghost. The story unraveled as to WHY the name “The Funky Banana” had always been in the back of his mind: Each Easter his grandfather would hide bananas about the yard for them as children. Which ever one of them found the painted banana – the FUNKY BANANA – would get $5.00.

Hence, The Funky Banana and Skip’s long-time nickname “BananaMan.”


Did we develop our own logo?

Yes.

An occasion arose that they had to go to Jackson and needed to be clad in business attire. Kristi developed the monkey and logo in approximately 15-20 minutes. They had shirts pressed and were out the door in less than 45 minutes.

While in Jackson, they were stopped in public on six different occasions with people inquiring WHERE they got their shirts. (Now how often does that happen to you?) After the fourth mention, they eyeballed each other and decided they might be “on to something.”

Kristi has done graphics for many, many years… spending hours upon hours on some projects. But what she called her “15-minute monkey” appears to be “the claim to fame.”


Are we a franchise?

No. But we will be the corporate headquarters TO franchises in the near future.

The business began as a sole-proprietorship in the fourth bedroom of the Halsey home – mainly as a tax write off. It was started with the intention of doing custom t-shirts for sports teams, businesses, etc… and print shop work. The unexpected, overwhelming response to the logo gear added to the growth acceleration to the point that both were working “day jobs” and not sleeping much trying to keep up with the business.

Kristi turned in her resignation from her 15-year marketing and promotions position and the actual “store front” came to life on November 5, 2005.

Individuals from all over the nation were randomly calling inquiring about purchasing a franchise location. These requests have led the company to begin the procedures to offer that opportunity. The company incorporated April 1, 2006, and filed for federal registered trademark on the logo in October of 2006. Other necessary procedures are in progress, while the trademark is still pending.

To date, plans are to open the first location as a corporate store while remote connection issues are developed and streamlined. After an estimated six months of corporate operations, the satellite location will be “turn-keyed” to the first franchise owner.

A list for more than two dozen potential locations is awaiting franchise availability.