Summer Arts Festival Goes By in a Flash

For the umpteen millions of people across the planet that didn’t make the “big for Brookings, South Dakota” gathering of artists and art seekers (aka Brookings Summer Arts Festival), I’m sad to say you missed out. Born with humble roots back in the summer of 1972, the festival is now home to over 400 vibrant artists not to mention all the dozens of unique food both vendors making me gain weight just from smelling. You have to understand something before you can truly appreciate the scope of the festival. Brookings is only approximately 30,000 people and arguably 10,000 or so of that is the university. So my point is the town is not tiny but it’s also still a “town”. In fact, the entire state of South Dakota is home to a modest-sized  750,000 people. So for the festival to draw crowds in the hundred thousand plus is “purrrty darn good” as some say around here.

I say kudos to the festival pioneers for having the vision to assemble such an inspiring gathering. Over the years, while I know the committee has created some strategic promotional attempts, I think word tends to spread organically among the artists and art seekers alike as to whether the festival is worth going to. Ya see?! It never fails. No matter what business, message, event (insert whatever it is you “do” here) you want to promote, there’s nothing more powerful than positive word of mouth advertising. And to get folks talking positively about flash drives in our case, we know we need to first have a passion for what we do. That passion inspires the second essential ingredient to generate buzz among folks out there in search of customized flash drives and that’s to be a flash drive expert. Part of that expertise requires that we keep a pulse on the industry trends, how customers are using flash drives, new technologies (hardware and software) that are being introduced in a flash drive and just about anything and everything having to do with a flash drive.

There’s of course many different factors that add up to help spread the good vibes among the masses, but we think one of the most significant is interestingly enough what’s made the Brookings Arts Festival grow successful over the last three decades – just plain ol’ great people. Great artists and great art seekers. Add to that a beautiful park atmosphere and “on the ball” festival organization and the weekend is truly a sight to see. Sure there’s room for improvement. But the entire event remains strong thanks to the “down to earth, honest to goodness style”.

Born in the same town and even within months of the first-ever Brookings Arts Festival, I’m hoping I can one day look back at CFgear’s growth and give thanks to all the great people – branded flash drive experts and branded flash drive shoppers alike.