having troubles coming up with a new name

[pollyann]

We are purchasing an existing frame shop that has been closed for approximately 4 months,due to the previous owners death. We had planned to move it to a new strip mall being built, but during the process of writing our business plan and going through the previous owners records we have decided it's to big a risk for us to take. We have decided to stay at it's current location and change the name and put our own touch on the place. My problem is coming up with a new name, it seems everytime I do a search on a name I would like I find it's already been taken. How big of an issue is this? I do know that several frame shops in Green Bay share the same name as shops/gallery's in other states but are in no way affiliated with them. If there is another shop on the other side of the US with the same name would you still use it? What are your thoughts on this, or better yet, anyone have a unique name for a frame shop in a very small town/village?

Pauline

[Sherry Gray]

How long was the existing frame shop in business? How good was business? If these are positives, I would be hesitant to change the name. In 1995 I bought a business that had been in existence since 1974 and had a good reputation. Even though I hate to say, "Yesterday and Today" everytime the phone rings; and I hate being last in the yellow pages, I couldn't justify changing it. We still have customers asking after the original owners.

[pollyann]

The frame shop was only open for 2.5 years and his records show that he was selling way below normal. I do think we have to change the name and create a new look and if any of his previous customers come in we will have to re-educate them as to why our prices are higher. At first we were not sure we would even want to use his mailing list because we can not match his low prices, but I feel once I get them into the door I can convince and prove to them why things are different now.

[Cliff Wilson]

First, I'M NOT a lawyer!

You should check with a local lawyer about your state rules. Around here, a dba (doing business as), must be unique within the state. Were you have trouble is copyrighted or trademarked names.

Corporate names usually need to be unique nationally. Often, using a personal name will be allowed even if used. So Polly's Folly might work. smile.gif

Having a name similar or the same as one in another state wouldn't bother me as long as it couldn't be shown as deliberate copying.

I will add that starting a shop name with "Frame.." could be a good idea. Believe it or not, I have recieved a few calls from customers who called 411 and asked for a frame shop. Although there are more than a dozen int he immediate area, mine, "Framed In Tatnuck," was they only one that came up when the operator typed FRAM**. "ART..." might do it too??

[Paul N]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/cabernetguy/Framesbypauline.jpg

I bet nodbody has such a nice name in town!

[Dancinbaer]

PAULINE'S PHRAMES OF PULASKI

[Tim Hayes.]

I do think we have to change the name and create a new look and if any of his previous customers come in we will have to re-educate them as to why our prices are higher. I would simply explain that the former owner went out of business because he was not making enough to keep the store open.

I just changed the names of my two stores from
"the Framing Guild" to "Art & Framing Guild" so that people will realize that we sell art and I recently hired some one as a corporate sales person. In addition my new name gets us listed at or near the top in directories and also in programs for charity events.

[B. Newman]

What about "Pollyanna's Frames - Simply the Happiest Frames Around!"

[pollyann]

Thanks for the suggestions. We do have plans to add more gallery pieces and gifts (handcrafted jewlery, pottery ect) so we would want to include gallery in the name. For some reason I have a hard time using my name, although being in Pulaski, Polly's Polish Frames may work. All kidding aside, one we were leaning twords was Weathered Woods Framing and Gallery or Art happens Framing and Gallery. Who would have thought this would be so difficult!

Pauline

[j Paul]

Originally posted by pollyann:
one we were leaning twords was Weathered Woods Framing and Gallery
Pauline I would be careful with that one UNLESS all you do and want to sell are rustic frames. Sounds very limiting.

[Elaine]

Just a note from my experience...

people did not like the fact I had Gallery on the name of my store - it derived a different perception (more expensive). Also, people noted that they would not come to a "Gallery" for custom framing (too expensive).

I took the word gallery off, and people still write the checks to Long Lake Gallery - Can't win!!

my 2 cents, for what its worth

Elaine

[pollyann]

This is exactly why I joined the grumbler, thanks for the different perspectives. Elaine, your comments really made me start thinking, and I agree with you completely. This town is way to small and to conservative for us to use "gallery" in our name. Back to square one!

Pauline

[Frame Lady]

I would change the name of my store in a heartbeat, if I could, but I can't. It was Lake City Forest Products, originally a lumber yard from the 50's to the 70's. The latter ten years he sold more frames than lumber. We took over in 1989 and changed it to Lake City Picture Framing, four words, much too long for business cards, stationary, answering the phone, etc. Internally we are LCPF. Short and sweet and easy for us internally, but the customers have no idea who lcpf is. And since the business has been in operation since 1951 you can see why we can't change.

With that said, I would try to keep it to three words or less if possible, pick your logo now, pick your font style now,pick your colors now, think of what image you want to present. When I see big companies they are always one word or two, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, (you would think I am from Seattle!) and easy to remember,
gosh do you think there is a reason for that?
Lots of frame shops have the same name regardless that they are in separate states. My mind keeps coming back to image and what you want to express. Yes, it is hard isn't it, but oh so well worth it!

[Paul N]

Pauline's Frames & Fine Arts

Pauline's Frame & Art

Don't forget, you need to stand out a bit also.

How big is this town, by the way??

[pollyann]

the town's(it's actually a village) population is appx. 3000. It's a very rural area, it's 20 minutes from Green Bay, population 102,000. Green Bay has more frame shops than I care to count. Pulaski growth is very steady as people are moving out of Green Bay, there is very little room in Green Bay for new housing. Pulaski is also know for it's excellent school system. I think the retail industry will grow in Pulaski, but it will be slow.

[trofeo]

Hi Pauline,
i had a name snafoo that almost put my whole business in jeopardy, so be careful with big companies. What happened to me was:
On the day before I signed my lease three years ago, I got an email from a huge local chain corp/ framing company. They not so nicely informed me that i was using a name they had an "intent to use" on. This was BIG news to me, as I had searched the online databases the D.O.R. told me to search, purchased the name, trademarked it in the state of Wash., spent BIG bucks on beautiful biz cards/letterhead/etc.., and ton's of time designing a great logo.. all of which was washed down the toilet b/c I couldn't afford to fight them on it. They basically bought the rights to use a name, but weren't actually using it, so it never showed up anywhere!. ( I'm assuming thats why they call it an "intent to use", but I'd never heard of that.) When I searched for available names, I didn't search federal lists, b/c I thought I'd never be doing business anywhere else but here... And as well all know.. federal trumps state. I had to change my name in one day. Not fun!
So, just a word of caution, even if you don't expect to, you may want to check the federal lists too.. just in case.

As for the name, I think deciding who your target audience is, and then thinking about aspects of framing you enjoy might lead to names that are a little less generic. Something that has the right feeling, and is also interesting. I do agree that some clients need to see FRAMING in neon before knowing what you do, but because you are doing soomething in addition to framing, (art, pottery, etc), maybe it should be something that encompasses all of it..?
Because I also am a photographer and have an art gallery in the space, i didn't want to alienate any one part of the business. I wanted something kind of vague, but art related, and nice to say. I don't know if it hurts me or not, but most clients say they dig it...

Let us all know what you come up with!!!!!
Good luck to you!

[Dancinbaer]

Originally posted by pollyann:
All kidding aside, one we were leaning twords was Weathered Woods Framing and Gallery....
Pauline,
FYI, there is a company in Clintonville named Weathered Wood Products. He does a nice job on custom frames cut from old barn board. He made me a custom shadowbox frame. He even added a dado on the face of the frame for me to staple rusty barbed wire in.

[RoboFramer]

I hate the name of our shop "Angmering Framing & Stitches" Right mouthful.

Has your store got an upstairs? If I had an upstairs I would call it "Another Storey"

PS did a double-take at this topic heading in the Forum summary. :eek:

[Dancinbaer]

West Pulaski Street is the MAIN drag through Pulaski, how about Main Street Framing? graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[pollyann]

Denny,
I think you already know the answer to that one!

Pauline

[Richard Darling]

In all your pondering, don't forget that if you plan to have a website, your name should be easy to remember AND spell, plus short enough that customer don't have to type for 10 minutes to get there.

[pollyann]

We do plan to have a website so we will definitely keep the length of the name in mind. Thanks

[SkyKing]

Originally posted by pollyann:
We are purchasing an existing frame shop that has been closed for approximately 4 months,due to the previous owners death. We had planned to move it to a new strip mall being built, but during the process of writing our business plan and going through the previous owners records we have decided it's to big a risk for us to take. We have decided to stay at it's current location and change the name and put our own touch on the place. My problem is coming up with a new name, it seems everytime I do a search on a name I would like I find it's already been taken. How big of an issue is this? I do know that several frame shops in Green Bay share the same name as shops/gallery's in other states but are in no way affiliated with them. If there is another shop on the other side of the US with the same name would you still use it? What are your thoughts on this, or better yet, anyone have a unique name for a frame shop in a very small town/village?

Pauline

[Rude Dog]

This one may be taken but...

"The Village Framery"

I've always liked the "Framery" as part of a name I think it evokes a freindly atmosphere.

[GUMBY, GCF]

Also just to make it harder!~ Think a head!~ Your successful but ready to retire!~ Who wants to buy Pauline's frame& art?
They would be more enticed to by Pulaski Frame & Art or may be the name of the county, state, Monet's Art & Frame
Just some thoughts!~

[Val]

My first shop was "Valorie's Custom Framing". Blah. I hated it. But it was a small town, everyone knew me, and it worked. I still, after years away, pick up the phone and start to answer that way.

Now it's "Heart & Home Framing and Gallery", I inherited it. Still not crazy, but too much trouble to change. Also, there's a wood-burnig stove business in town named "Hearth and Home". I often get calls like "Do you deliver and does it heat as well as ...." and I have to stop a minute and realize they're probably not asking me to burn my picture frames!! I'm sure they get strange calls too!

If I could change, I'd change it back to "Valorie's Custom Framing.". Short, to the point, and descriptive. Some have tried to get me to call it "Valorie's Gallery"....AACK! Sorry, like "Polly's Folly", the rhyme thing doesn't get it for me.

[Rick Bergeron - CPF]

We had a bit of potential trouble with our original name when we found that someone owned the federal trademark to the name, we owned the state trademark but did not want to find out which trumped which the hard way.

We ended up slurring our initials to form a word and then googled the name, checked the state and federal trademark registries.

RKB's..... Rockeby's

We can now honestly answer, when the telemarketers ask for Mr or Mrs Rockeby, that the person is not present, is not expected in for quite some time.....AND that is the only person authorized to make decisions.