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Entrepreneurship:  Reinventing my Business Name  |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 11:18:36 AM
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I've come to the sudden realization (as I worked on redoing my website) that my last name is difficult for people to remember and so I really should change the name I've used for the past three years to something more memorable.
Now is a good time to change the name as I have only a few clients that would be affected by the change at all (you lose some with a move out of state!), and I am about to launch a major marketing campaign to build my business BIGGER before DH quits teaching at the end of the school year (somebody has to support us, and I sure ain't going back to that corporate B.S.!)
I'm a graphic designer. I specialize in advertising, logos, marketing campaigns - mostly 2D stuff (I don't enjoy designing web at all). I just can't seem to come up with a name I like. I finally came up with one for our real estate investing that everyone LOVES... but not one for ME, and I need it soon!
I've thought of something involving dogs, like "Good Dog Graphics",or "Blue Dog Designs." Also come up with "Steel Toe Advertising" (you can get business cards printed on a thin sheet of aluminum... it costs a lot at $1/card) "Unstoppable Creative" "Cotton-Pickin' Graphics' (I am in GA, after all). I even thought of "Flea Marketing" with slogans like "something so small can bite so hard" "Bite into your competition" and "Jump Far."
Any ideas? I'm putting together advertising packages to go to design firms in Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga, since I am about an hour's drive from each and if I need to meet in person, I can. |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 11:55:11 AM
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Gosh - I love Summerville. It brings up all kinds of great visual images. Use it somehow.
"Sell cleverness and buy wonder" |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 2:52:58 PM
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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, thats a tough one, am thinking on it.........
Creatively Graphic?
Dog Gone Graphics?
CLAM ( campaigns, logos, advertising and marketing )?
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lurban
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Vermont
61 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 3:52:02 PM
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I love your ideas. You've really got a knack for this.
There is a computer company here in Vermont called Small Dog Electronics and the name has stuck with me from the first time I heard it.
Love the tick thing, though. Cute and a little edgy./>.;';' |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2006 : 09:09:56 AM
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I like Helen's "Dog Gone Graphics" You could extend it to "Dog Gone Good Graphics"
I love the flea marketing ideas....all those slogans are so catchy.
My husband is a promotions director for a local radio station. He has to write this kind of stuff all the time. I'll have him put a little thinking energy your way.
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2006 : 10:47:21 AM
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Lynn .. if your customers are 'southern' .. then .. think southern .. also think about your $$ market .. will your clients tend to be more 'sophisticated' than country .. they might not contact a 'country cute' name thinking perhaps you might "JUST" be a housewife with a small based business .. IF .. you want to play with the 'big dogs' .. you might want something a little sophisticated or 'big business' ...
IF your clientele will be more folksy .. then a 'countri-fied' name might be just the ticket for you.
Also .. you might want for your 'business name' to reflect EXACTLY what it is that you do.
I, too, like the name Summerville .. perhaps
"Summerville Graphics" (by Lynn Last Name).
tells WHERE you are from and WHAT it is that you do .. and the by: tells exactly WHO you are.
I once took a 'dollmaking as a business' class from one of the country's most well known 'artistic' doll makers. elinor peace baily ... her pattern company had been named "Little Old Lady Designs" .. she is anything BUT a 'little old lady' .. and her dolls are very artistic and whimsical and filled with bright colors and humor ...
She suggested to us that if it were possible .. to use our NAME in our business .. because THAT is what we want to 'get known by' .. we want people to know exactly who the DOLLMAKER is. I'm sure this is important in other businesses that are competitive too.
Sometimes .. cute names get all jumbled up .. it is hard to remember WHO is WHAT company ... i think a cute name with YOUR name as a by line is a good idea though if that is the market you are reaching towards.
Often names are so similar .. that clients get confused .. such as:
Blue Dog Graphics
Olde Dog Graphics
Big Dog Graphics
Bad Dog Graphics
it might be hard to remember exactly which graphics firm LYNN from SUMMERVILLE owns.
I have a doll-making friend who does both patterns (cute country/primitive ones) AND she does MAGNIFICENT one-of-a-kind hand-sculpted dolls. Her pattern company name is: JIGGETY JIG ... which bespeaks of the 'style' of patterns she does. I suggested to her that her "one of a kind" dolls that she sells through GALLERIES .. should perhaps have her NAME on them and not Jiggety Jig. She did this .. and is well known in this circle of art by her NAME.
" OH .. that is a VERLENE BROOKS .. rather than 'that's a doll done by an aritist under the name of Jaggety-Jag .. or is it Jumity Jump .. or .. oh i can't think of the name!!!"
bottom line is: Know Your Audience.
True Friends, Frannie |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2006 : 07:18:22 AM
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Okay, I got it!
Late night inspiration brought be to Inspiration Advertising. Well every dot.com with "inspiration" and anything to do with graphic design is taken. So I tried a bunch of other things by looking through an online thesarus. Far, far down was an entry for "blue sky"
"Blue Sky Design Group" will be the new name of my business. I'm buying the domain later today: www.blueskydesigngroup.com
I'll post some of my ideas for the new business cards, logo, letterhead, etc. later today.
Here is the businesscard - I need to look for a new photo yet, I plan to spend Saturday with my camera, driving all over Creation looking for the right tree and the right field... but this is close:
And the cover for the brochure - this will be full page 8.5 x 11 size when folded closed as it is here. I'll design the inside soon, displaying some samples of my work:
I do want "blue sky design group" to be centered in the picture on the card too. Not sure yet if I want a logo, or if I should just be text... I may dabble around with a logo I guess, they can be fun to make.
Thanks for all your help! |
Edited by - greyghost on Jan 12 2006 12:59:06 PM |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2006 : 07:37:25 AM
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I love that....it brings a nice picture to mind and is easy to say. Good choice!!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2006 : 12:34:43 PM
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| Yep, like it too :) |
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Judes
True Blue Farmgirl
156 Posts
Jude
OH
USA
156 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2006 : 4:53:50 PM
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Ladies...I am having a dilemna with my business name as well. For many years I have waited for the perfect business name, and still can not decide upon "the one". Most recently it was called JAC Designs, but that felt cold to me. Not at all warm & fuzzy & full of color and love like most of my stuff is. When creating my blog & shop on etsy, I had an epiphany that the blanket name for all of my endeavors should be called "School Street" because of a street from my youth which had a kaliedescope of wonderful things (a puppet theater, a trolley bridge, a playground, a library, the beach, a candy store, and my grandparents house) My creativity tends to go in tangents, so I thought, okay...School Street will allow that. (School Street, as a name for my line of accessories, just doesn't sound right. It reminds me too much of Sesame Street) But now I am trying to design business cards and set up my own website, which require me settling down on a name. Usually, my life is very serendipitous, so I keep waiting for the right name to come along. I see all of these wonderful websites with names like "One Good Bumblebee", "Little Dear Handmade" and things like that, and that is the kind of name I'm looking for. To give you an idea of the things that I make....they are usually colorful, childhood and nature inspired, and whimsical (just a tiny bit, enough to make them sophisticated and also satifsy the silly kid inside) I spend alot of time choosing the right materials, and looking for unique & vintage materials. I'd love any ideas or brainstorms!
LOVE
J
PS LYnn...I love your design! It looks fantastic.
http://schoolstreet.typepad.com
www.jac.etsy.com |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2006 : 6:17:32 PM
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Well, one word in your post struck me: kaleidoscope. It's not a commonly used word - so what about incorporating that in your name?
Kaleidoscope Creations
add a color to it:
Red Kaleidoscope Creations
or an adjective:
Bright Kaleidoscope Creations |
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bubblesnz
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
helen
New Zealand
291 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2006 : 6:20:16 PM
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The Treasure Cupboard ?
Handmade with Love ?
Hopscotch House?
All the best, with getting your name.
LYNN, Yours came up great!!
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 07:39:39 AM
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Judes,
The first time I went to your shop I thought "School Street Studios" was one of those wonderful names I wish I'd thought of first. I still think it's fabulous. I don't think it sounds too "Sesame Street" at all. It's wonderful to have an emotional attatchement to something like that, too. I would stick with it.
Annie
Visit the Bramblestitches store: www.bramblestitches.etsy.com
Visit me at my blog: http://bramblestitches.blogspot.com/ |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
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Judes
True Blue Farmgirl
156 Posts
Jude
OH
USA
156 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2006 : 10:11:54 AM
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Aw, thanks ladies! I loved it when I thought of it....then I began to overthink it. Myself and my endeavors are so everchanging that it's hard to commit to a name. It has to be able to change and grow with me. Little Leaf (because I am little, and am turning over a new leaf, and it sounds like an indian name ...i have american indian ancestors) was another idea. I was also thinking of the School Street ArtBarn, because having a non profit art barn for kids is my biggest goal. I love making things, but most importantly, want to make a difference. I think if I had the right logo, it would help my ideas. Last but not least, I have another name which I love...but it's one of those "_____&_____" names. I love it, but there seem to be so many out there. It's comprised of the two names that I want to name my daughters someday (if I have em) There is a big part of me that wants to name it that, because the inspiration behind having my own business is having a family someday, and being able to be a stay at home mom & work out of my studio. Thanks for the votes of confidence about School Street!
http://schoolstreet.typepad.com
www.jac.etsy.com |
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Entrepreneurship: Reinventing my Business Name |
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Reinventing my Business Name
