What Is A Good Name for A Maternity/Baby Retail Store?

Names + Taglines

I need help naming a Maternity and Baby store. We will have a 730 sq ft store in a popular shopping destination. There is another baby store there, so we have had to change our concept a little so we don’t take away their business. Here are the things we are “allowed” to sell: Maternity Clothes, anything for pregnant moms, baby gear (like pacifiers, teethers, carriers, strollers, etc.), baby gifts (like personalized sippy cups) and baby furniture. We are not allowed to sell any clothing, shoes, socks, etc.

We currently have a website that we have been operating for a year now. It is called Mommy’s Luxuries or www.mommysluxuries.com. Peddler’s Village didn’t like our name, so we need to find another one. Right now I really like Waddlers and Toddlers or Waddlers 2 Toddlers. We are going to limit the things we sell to be from maternity to about 2 years old.

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Jay’s Answer: I strongly suggest that the word “baby and/or maternity” (or a synonym) be in the title to make it obvious what you’re selling. For example, “Waddlers And/To Toddlers” sounds like 1-2 year old things (including clothing).

  • Maternity Home
  • Glow Into The World
  • So, You’re Having A Baby!
  • Enchanted Inner Garden
  • 9 Months And Beyond

How Can I Market To Loan Officers Easier?

eMarketing, Services

I run a membership site that provides marketing tools for loan officers. I recently began performing live demo’s using GoToMeeting.

The demonstrations have been a big hit for me, in that the conversion ratio is nearly 40% (Quite substantial in this industry) and prospects love the idea of seeing a demo before joining.

However, the drawback is that the demo’s are quite time consuming, and hosting demo’s to more than 1 person at a time seems to drastically reduce the effectiveness, as prospects don’t ask many questions, and are a bit withdrawn knowing others are on the line.

So here’s my question:

Could you offer some advice regarding a potential compromise. In this case, an automated demo? Perhaps a flash movie, or a PowerPoint video showing screen shots, with screen capture of a walk-through of the site?

I feel that there are 2 things to consider here:

1 – An automated demo would allow me to capture emails as they “register” to see the demo. This is a plus. Next, it would allow me to distribute the demo on a much more extensive scale, and I of course, could dub some great audio walk throughs to accompany the video.

2 – Here is the “but.” I feel that this method of delivery of the demo would water down its effectiveness. Without the personal attention and live feedback I can provide, I feel the conversion ratio would be diminished, and there is not quite the same level of urgency. There’s something to be said for 1 on 1 salesmanship.

There you have it. My current decision to be made. I realize web metrics come into play, but I don’t have a whole lot of captured data to go off of, as this site was not a major focus of mine for the last 6 – 8 months.

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Jay’s Answer: Consider your positioning. For example, what is the lifetime value of a new client? $1000? $100,000? The more valuable they are to your organization, the more effort you should expend to woo them.

Likewise, does your company tout it’s great personalized service? If so, then a 1:1 demo shows that from the get-go.

You might have people who are interested in your services answer a few questions, and direct them to a prerecorded small demo that focuses on their needs (if you can group your prospects into various categories). Then, schedule a follow up, either via demo or a simple phone call to discuss their specific needs after seeing the video.

What Is A Good Recruting Banner Slogan for Computer Division?

Names + Taglines, Publicity

My company, Meridian Environmental Technology, is going to be attending a few career fairs and we’re developing stand-up banners to provide a visual “booth.” This banner will be 6.5 feet tall, contain information regarding the positions within the computer/IT division (all of them, not only the ones we’re currently seeking), and there will be handouts for the sought positions available from the guys working the booth.

I’ve decided to avoid using a “people” picture on the banner, and instead am looking at using a pair of hands holding multi-colored jelly beans. I’ve come up with a few ideas for a tagline, but I’m also looking for other suggestions.

Idea 1: “It takes all kinds to make a great group”
Idea 2: “We handpick the best”
Idea 3: “Join a great handpicked group”
Idea 4: De-saturate all the jelly beans but one, and have “Stand out from the rest”

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Jay’s Answer: I’d advise against jelly beans, since it doesn’t reinforce your business of weather forecasting and analysis. Instead, highlight your technology: weather maps, pictures of extreme weather, pictures of your clients farms, etc. Technology is more likely to appeal to your prospects than abstract jellybeans.

As for a taglines:

  • Do Something About the Weather.
  • We’re All-Weather Friends
  • We Forecast A Great Working Relationship
  • Our Talent Is All Over the Map

What Is A Good Tagline For A HR Consulting Firm?

Names + Taglines

I’m planning to open a HR Consulting Firm. The firm will be doing recruitment & training.
I need a tagline which is common ie., it should be targeting towards both employer and employee. Kindly help me in this regard.

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Jay’s Answer: Who’s going to pay for your services? That’s who the tagline should be geared towards.

Job seekers are looking for great opportunities that compensate them well.

Companies are looking for pre-qualified, talented staff that fit into the business culture.

  • Great Jobs For The Right People
  • Job Search Made Easy
  • Employee-Employer Matchmakers

What Is A Good Name For A Mural / Faux / Scenic Painter?

Names + Taglines

Need a catchy name for a new business I am starting that will include mural, faux, and scenic painting services for individuals, theatres, hospitals, nurseries, churches, retail. etc. I will also be doing theatrical design and drafting for the theatre.

I’m looking for an “oh I get it” concept for a name that would include all services. Some silly, some elegant. I do currently have a business name under DoveGraphics, inc., but it involves architectural drafting, illustrating, and animation and I don’t know if I should, or could, do both business under the same name.

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Jay’s Answer: Keep the names separate, since you’re marketing to different audiences. Also, I’d be inclined to keep the B2C segment (individuals) different from the B2B segment (other businesses) – since again you have different audiences needs.

  • Murals Faux All
  • Decorative Spaces
  • Custom Artistic Effects
  • Painted Transformations
  • Mural-mazing

What Is a Good Event For a Video-Game Distributor?

Publicity, Starting Out

I am doing a pitch to a company who distributes computer and console games. The company is purely a distributor but in a recent press release stated that they would like to be transparent to gamers even though they do not sell directly to gamers, they have started a gamers-club but I feel that there is more they can do. The gamers-club invites members to take part in competitions etc. I need to show them the benefits of hosting an event at various game shops – since they sell directly to these shops they would obviously not lose anything as it will promote the stores which sales rising. The biggest problem I’m facing is how to prove to a distributor that getting their name associated with games will increase their sales. Shops do promotions regularly because they sell directly to people but will this work with a distributor who sells to stores and not consumers? Also, what would a event entail? This is also my first pitch that I will be doing so any pointers on what I need to present them with would also be a great help.

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Jay’s Answer: If the distributor’s games target a similar demographic or category, then you have an opportunity for presenting “…if you like that, then you might also like this game…” (or “…people who bought this, often buy this game…”).

However, if the distributor simply has a wide inventory, then their name won’t mean much, and probably isn’t worth building on.

Holding events at game shops may bring awareness to a single title of theirs, but given the effort it’ll take to promote each of these one-shot events, it’s unlikely to result in the ROI they’re looking for.

Instead, have the distributor have a contest for best new game idea (in different categories). The winner would get a gift certificate for a selection of games and perhaps a meeting with a game company or two’s principals (to pitch the game itself). Something like this could easily go viral and result in the name of the distributor being mentioned frequently.

Are Donating Door Prizes Good For My Business?

Publicity

Are there any do’s and don’ts to offering a door prize? Do they do any good at all – good will is about all I can figure; maybe a listing in a event program no one will read?

I work for a luxury spa and we typically give a service gift certificate. There is a 50/50 chance the gift will goes to someone who is not new client potential.

The only door prize I remember (having won several) is from a casino. I drink out of their coffee mug every morning. I still don’t play there.

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Jay’s Answer: Instead of door prizes, donate your services for a silent auction. Everyone will see your advertisement, and those that are interested will bid. You could award your services to the top 3 bidders. It’s a win-win: the charity benefits from the auction, you get a ad, and you get people who are interested paying attention to you.

What Is a Good Idea For A Construction/Repair Listing Advertisement?

Publicity, Services

I’m developing a business plan for a new business and am looking for an ad campaign/marketing angle for 30 second radio spots.

Our company will sell categorical listings of construction/repair companies whom we have pre-screened, and whose work we determine to be consistently above average, to homeowners and business owners who are actively looking for someone to hire. The price of a listing is still being considered, but we thinking they’ll start below $30 for the cheapest categorical listing (probably be handyman/small jobs and repairs) and could top out around $100 for the most expensive listing category (maybe home building/extensive remodeling general contractors).

The benefit of using our service will be that customers are not shooting blind and gambling with an important decision and a major investment. The company’s working name is Bravo Company – Independent Referral Service.

I’m looking for an ad/angle that appeals to people who
a) try to be careful with their money
b) realize that there are good contractors and bad contractors out there
c) are trying to get the best work for the best price
d) cannot afford to pay for the premium, top-of-the-line contracting companies

I know that many times people find good contractors through word of mouth, but sometimes they can still be hard to find. Also, our company follows contractors through job after job to evaluate their usual results, whereas word of mouth referrals are generally based on one or two people’s experiences.

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Jay’s Answer:

Child’s voice:
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
Pick a contractor by the toe.
If he hollers let ’em go.
My mother said to pick…

Voice over:
No clue on who to hire for your next home repair? Bravo eliminates the guesswork. Our pre-screened contractors will save you time and money, and most of all, worry. Call 1-800-555-1212.

What’s A Good Name For A Massage Business?

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

I want to start doing massage in my spare time, after work and on the weekends, i want to work from home, or go to clients houses. I wouldnt mind if i could get in, is to work in a day spa, or a salon or something like that.

I have these plans but i need to come up with a business name and a slogan, i would like it to be based on vitality, mind body soul, something along those lines. I also want it to be modern and something that is catchy. Please help answer my question as i have a passion for Massage.

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Jay’s Answer: You’re asking about a name/slogan, but you first need a marketing strategy. Without one, you’ll wind up with generic name/slogan and not get any results.

In our culture, most people’s goal for a massage is either a relief from pain or stress. That’s your key benefit.

Who are you targeting? Men and Women? Ages? For pain relief? Stress-relief? Demographic?
Next, how are you different from the rest of the massage practitioners out there? Do you have special training? Do you love working on children with MS? Geriatric Men?

These are just some of the key marketing strategy questions you need to answer before you launch your business. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting time trying to find customers, instead of creating an effective message that has your ideal clients finding you.

Note: if you’re selling your services in a day spa or salon, you don’t need a business name/slogan, you simply need to find one in your area that fits your skills and “approach” (so your services are complementary to theirs’). The advantage to spa/salon (or even chiropractor’s office) work is that you don’t have to do any marketing, but you likewise get paid less (which might be acceptable).

Not knowing the answers to my strategy questions, here are a selection of name/slogan options:

  • Massage Alive: Make Your Body Stronger and Healthier
  • Pain Management Massage: Relieve Your Aches Naturally
  • Integrative Massage: Relax Your Mind. Heal Your Body.

What’s A Good Tagline To Attract Donors?

Names + Taglines

I am the director of the Foundation for Teen Health in Houston, TX which raises awareness and funds for a network of 7 clinics. These clinics provide free or low cost health care and education to indigent young men and women ages 13 – 25. We are affiliated with a major medical school but do not rely on them for funding. We receive federal and state grants as well as money from private foundations and individuals. The Foundation is the community outreach arm of the clinics doing things like finding businesses to donate furniture and equipment for the clinics or writing a grant proposal to secure funding for a nurse’s salary. We hold an annual luncheon to raise funds and awareness of the work of the clinics and we recognize someone committed to the health of young people at this luncheon. I would like to brand the Foundation for Teen Health so when the public hears the phrase they know it is about giving free health care to those who need it most. FYI – it is almost impossible for a teenager to qualify for medicaid, particularly young men so they often go years without going to a doctor. Presently our logo is a globe circled by abstract figures touching hands. The message I used in our year end solicitation letter was all about giving a hand up not just a hand out because we not only provide health care(fullservice from physicals and immunizations to testing and care for STD and pregnancy) but we provide education to help these young people make healthy positive choices about their lifestyle. I like the idea that we are empowering our patients to make good decisions on their health and lifestyle choices. I just can not come up with a good tagline that we could use to identify our goals and incorporate it into our luncheon and community award. The Foundation for Teen Health is 501(c)(3) as are the clinics and though we work hand in hand we are two separate entities.

We are trying to attract donors – we have the teens covered. We have health fairs, small sporting events, group sessions that spreads the word to potential patients. We want to build awareness and educate the giving community to the huge need we have in Houston. We have one of the best medical centers in the world yet we have a huge population that have no health insurance and really no place to turn for health care. For example, we have a clinic in 2 high schools where (at both schools) 95% of the kids do not have insurance and did not seek care until we opened on campus.

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Jay’s Answer: The key questions in your tagline that you need to answer are: “Why should I (as a donor) care? These kids aren’t mine, they made some bad choices, and how do I know that my donation will fund the problem and not the symptom. After all, I don’t want to fund Band-Aids!”

Your one page summary addresses these points indirectly: better health has some correlation to crime, teen pregnancy, and drop-outs. However, you’re asking for a altruistic leap of faith that what you do works.

Here are a number of choices. Perhaps one of these will inspire you:

  • Their Future Requires a Strong Foundation (repeats the word “Foundation”)
  • Make Them Healthier, Wealthier, and Wiser
  • Be Their Teen Angels
  • Your Future Generation Is Calling.
  • Their Future Isn’t Yet Written In Stone
  • Help Them Have Better Choices
  • Everyone Deserves A Second Chance
  • They’ll Do Better When They Know Better