my town still has a tv salesman/repairman. his storefront is a couple blocks from my moms house. tv's from japan are cheaper to buy at wal mart than to repair. when he dies or retires, nobody will do what he does anymore.
the sharping guy lived in my old neighborhood. he died and chineese...
yyou recieved a lot of good advice. i have only one thing to add.
you might want to check with your local concrete supplier and ask about fiber reinforced concrete. a little higher inprice but well worth the investment.
i know this thread is kinda old but i found it interesting so here's my two cents.
go to events that cater to your interests, locate the promoter and ask for any promotional items that might be left over. they will usually let you have them to keep from having to take them down themselves...