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Business Names with no meaning
- Thread starter Billct2
- Start date
Boudica
Back to "educational purposes"
I've noticed a dentist office in town called "My Dentist". I guess it's appropriate, but it sounds stupid. Must be difficult to refer:
" I need a new Dentist, who do you go to?"
"My Dentist"
"Very funny, what's their name?"
......
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
There is a big chain around here called My Eye Dr.
Stacey K
I like making signs
I'm not a fan of "clever" names. Do they name them like that on purpose to create a conversation each time the name is said? I think it's funny the first time but after that it has to get annoying.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
That's what Notareal says to the strippers he pays in the back room.
JBurton
Signtologist
Around here we have the Rusty Needle. Initially he named it Little Pricks, but the city wouldn't issue a business license with that on it. But really, have you ever called a tattoo shop? Do you think a tattoo artist can even blush? Just saying, they are an eclectic bunch...
Zac
Mediocre Designer
I agree, I helped him with an acquisition when he bought another shop a few years ago. Came in and organized all the old files/jobs for the transition. Nice guy, just growing fast has it's challenges.
I always thought 'D-Sign' had the most boring logo and generic name in that area. Some potential there, but you'd think they would put more into their branding.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
No, that's what they say.
Jessica S
New Member
CT finally became legal and i have mentioned our sales team should try to get leads. I'd love to print Cannabis's
chester215
Just call me Chester.
This is where the barter system is useful.
signbrad
New Member
Many trademark lawyers will tell you that the strongest trademarks are marks that don’t “mean” anything. The US Patent and Trademark Office calls these fanciful marks. May this not be also true of business names?
Often, a fanciful mark is a completely made up name with no inherent meaning. Examples are Kodak, Xerox, Verizon, Nike and many others. Names that fall into a similar category are names that are made of letters or abbreviations that are, essentially, meaningless, such as IBM and PPG.
The late Paul Rand, creator of the IBM logo said that the IBM mark has no obvious connection to computers or technology—but that it did not need to.
The job of a mark, or a name for that matter, is to IDENTIFY, not advertise or communicate. A name or logo CAN contain a hint of what a business does for a living, but that is not its essential purpose.
Author and designer John McWade once said that advertising is not the job of a logo—he said that’s the job of a marketing department.
The Nike logo communicated nothing when it was first created, nor did the name Nike. Nike’s success did not depend on an outstanding logo design nor a meaningful name. A name does not need to “explain” a company. Nor does a logo need to make a company “look good.” In both cases, it’s the other way around. The company makes a logo (or name) look good.
Rob Janoff, the Apple logo creator once said that many logo designers try too hard “to put too much in there,” resulting in an ineffective logo design.
The purpose of a business logo or name is not to function as a “customer magnet” or to increase sales. It is an identifier. It should be easy to remember and pronounce. It should highly legible and recognizable. It helps if it’s attractive. It can be “clever” or a play on words—no rule against that. It CAN tell what a business does—but it does not need to. It does not need to “tell a story” or convey the company mission. It does not need to “resonate” with its audience, as some say who pretend to be design authorities. What does that even mean?
Neither a name nor a logo can be a magic wand that somehow increases market share. This is a fallacy that has helped produce design work that is overly complicated.
A name can be tied to a geographical location, or a descriptive feature, or a surname, or it can mean nothing at all.
Whatever it is, advertise it, advertise it. And if you offer a quality product or service, word of mouth with become an even greater marketing force.
Brad in Kansas City
Often, a fanciful mark is a completely made up name with no inherent meaning. Examples are Kodak, Xerox, Verizon, Nike and many others. Names that fall into a similar category are names that are made of letters or abbreviations that are, essentially, meaningless, such as IBM and PPG.
The late Paul Rand, creator of the IBM logo said that the IBM mark has no obvious connection to computers or technology—but that it did not need to.
The job of a mark, or a name for that matter, is to IDENTIFY, not advertise or communicate. A name or logo CAN contain a hint of what a business does for a living, but that is not its essential purpose.
Author and designer John McWade once said that advertising is not the job of a logo—he said that’s the job of a marketing department.
The Nike logo communicated nothing when it was first created, nor did the name Nike. Nike’s success did not depend on an outstanding logo design nor a meaningful name. A name does not need to “explain” a company. Nor does a logo need to make a company “look good.” In both cases, it’s the other way around. The company makes a logo (or name) look good.
Rob Janoff, the Apple logo creator once said that many logo designers try too hard “to put too much in there,” resulting in an ineffective logo design.
The purpose of a business logo or name is not to function as a “customer magnet” or to increase sales. It is an identifier. It should be easy to remember and pronounce. It should highly legible and recognizable. It helps if it’s attractive. It can be “clever” or a play on words—no rule against that. It CAN tell what a business does—but it does not need to. It does not need to “tell a story” or convey the company mission. It does not need to “resonate” with its audience, as some say who pretend to be design authorities. What does that even mean?
Neither a name nor a logo can be a magic wand that somehow increases market share. This is a fallacy that has helped produce design work that is overly complicated.
A name can be tied to a geographical location, or a descriptive feature, or a surname, or it can mean nothing at all.
Whatever it is, advertise it, advertise it. And if you offer a quality product or service, word of mouth with become an even greater marketing force.
Brad in Kansas City
ColorCrest
All around shop helper.
Before AI and before Wikipedia, designers and advertisers often turned to an encyclopedia for inspiration and grounding. In Greek mythology, Nike is the goddess of athletics (among other things), some believe to be the daughter of Pallas and Styx, and associated symbols are "wings" among a few others.
gnubler
Active Member
There's a Japanese restaurant near me called Fu-Ki.
I'd wager that 99% of patrons probably refer to it with Anglo pronunciation, just for fun.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
The names can have a big impact on small businesses. If I'm Google searching, I'm looking at business names for a cue as to what they do. Like if I'm searching a sign company that does lighting repair, I'm likely not calling someone with "wraps" in their name or "studio". Big companies can call themselves whatever, small companies don't have that luxury IMO
gnubler
Active Member
^^Agreed. But I think it was Geneva who once posted that they often get the "Do you guys do wraps?" calls when the word 'wraps' is literally in their business name.
One of my competitors has a horribly corny name but has been in business for 15 yrs or so. I've dealt with several customer who came to me simply because they hate the name of the other shop, some women are actually "offended" by it. Ridiculous, but whatever.
One of my competitors has a horribly corny name but has been in business for 15 yrs or so. I've dealt with several customer who came to me simply because they hate the name of the other shop, some women are actually "offended" by it. Ridiculous, but whatever.