Help With Name Change

[PAMELA DESIMONE,CPF]

My manager has been bugging me to do this. We are dropping art, so Hampshire Frame and Art seems an inappropriate name for my second location. We are debating two names. Your input would be appreciated.

[Rick Bergeron - CPF]

Pamela,

We just went through a similar drill. Short name, to the point, must say what you do. Hampshire Custom Framing says it all. Don't make the mistake of taking a year to make the decision. One thing that we underestimated was the costs and some headaches associated with a name change. We ended up at the bank for $$$ to finance the change but have not regretted anything.

[Sherry Gray]

You might think about adding "Picture" in there somewhere, otherwise some people will assume you frame houses.

[Framing Goddess]

I agree with Sherry... i always thought that "Custom Framing" (other than not really saying specifically what we do) sounds very late-seventies-do-it-yourself -ish...
fwiw...
e the fg

[Dermot]

How about.......... ABC or what ever "Bespoke Picture Framing"

[ArtLady]

"& Frame Design" is kind of upscale if you are looking for that market.

[ERIC]

I was told by some very experienced marketer ; "you can name it what ever you want because people are going to call it whatever they want"

His point is not to sweat the subleties of it, tell them who you are and what you do. Over time your identity will evolve and maybe then you can cut it down to a simple tag. But at first the mor you can tell them the more they will know about you - you got one chance

[Susan May]

Once apon a time, in 1977, a family started a business. (Ok, so it was my parents!)

We started a craft store. We named it Family Crafts, Inc. The reason we named it Family Crafts, was it was a store that carried crafts for the entire family. (Not because it was run by a family.) In 1986 we added custom framing. In 2000, we had to close the store. (Don't ask... long story.) In 2001 my Mom and I re-opened the store... a little different this time. We are now a frame shope, that also carries art and needle-craft supplies.

We had to let our old customers know that the quality that they rememberd from our old frame shop was available to them again, so we needed a name they would recognize. So... our new name?

Family Crafts' Frame Shop

It has it's good points and it's bad points. Many people still are asking us for silk flowers, and doll parts. But even more are glad that we have the "same" name... that is the ONLY way they would have found us again.

Name change can be good, just remember to give your customers a name they can recognize.

[PAMELA DESIMONE,CPF]

I haven't been on line for a while, and just checked the results. Thank you so much for your input. You've made some good suggestions, and gave us a few things to talk over. Much appreciated. Pam D.