Flags flying in celebration recently have been the Netherlands, Germany and Japan.
When Obo is not shipping an order they usually fly one of three Obo flags, Barnett says. In keeping with their colourful products and premises, they have three brightly coloured Obo flags in magenta, blue and lime green.
The All Blacks flag is flown when the men in black are playing and the New Zealand flag during elections.
As a young man, Barnett would go past Allflex, a prominent exporting company in Tremaine Ave. It would always have six flags flying of the countries it sold its products to.
Barnett says he had great respect for the globally oriented company based in Palmerston North. He was motivated to go into the export market in part by Allflex.
A few years after setting up Obo, when he could afford a flagpole and flags, he thought he'd do the same as Allflex and what inspired him as a young man.
Having fun is one of Obo's values and Barnett has been known to ask new staff to carry a flag on a special cushion to the flagpole outside the company's office and factory in Mihaere Drive.
Flag flying adds colour, flavour and humour to what Obo does, as well as showing respect to customers, he says.
• Thank you to all the flag flyers who let us tell their stories and to those readers who told us where to find flags. Our next series will be quirky and ornate mailboxes. If you know where one is in Manawatū, please email judith.lacy@nzme.co.nz.