All posts by Jay

Name Our Kettle Corn Business

Names + Taglines

Hi…My name is Karen Miller, my partner’s (business and romantic)is Bruce Gaspord.  We are starting a kettle corn business and want to set up our booth at State Fairs, farmer’s markets, festivals, etc.  Our plans are to build a booth that mimics a covered wagon (wood sides and a canvas top).  We need a catchy name for our business (a western flair to it).  Do you have any ideas?

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Jay’s Answer: How about:

“Covered With Popcorn” – which connotes the covered wagon & the avalanche of popcorn?

-or-

“Wild West Popcorn” – which might be a bit corny, but is along the lines of your request

-or-

“Pop Your Corn” – a cowboy phrase meaning “Say what you have to say/speak out”

-or-

“Popcorn Trail” / “Trail of Popcorn” – connoting both the wagon trail / a long line of popcorn.

Tradeshow Theme

Publicity

Hello – I am looking for ideas for our trade show. The theme of the trade show is “Think out of the box, Leave the box behind”. It is for our local Apartmnent Association. Our company is a staffing agency that caters to the apartment industry. Also, FYI our company celebrated our 15th anniversary. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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Jay’s Answer: What does the theme mean? Instead of trying to get too caught up in echoing the theme for your booth, focus on your goals for the show. Are you trying to attract new business? Remind people you’re around? Hire people? The fact that you’ve been around for 15 years is nice, but it isn’t the reason that people hire you. What is? What makes your lots better than the competition? Focus on this message in your booth.

Name For an Intimate – Lingerie Store

Names + Taglines

I am desperate to find a good name for my new lingerie and pajamas store…It will be a high-class target and small store…I´ll have two lines of intimates: one is for teenagers, it’s a fun/colorful and kilt clothes, and the other one, is going to be more expensive and made by fine fabrics… especially, for brides and honeymooners…

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Dreamwear
  • Undies

Name My Photography / Design Business

Names + Taglines

I do photography work, but I also do graphic design. I enjoy each of them equally well.

For a business name I have been thinking of: (Example) “Jane Smith Studio” and under that having two branches “Jane Smith Photography” and “Jane Smith Design”.

I could use any variant:
Photography & Visual Communications;
Images & Design
Photos & Art
Pix & Visual Art
Photography & Graphic Design

Do you have any thoughts on the matter? I would appreciate hearing from you if you do have some ideas.

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Jay’s Answer: It seems pretty straightforward to me, if you’re committed to a single business name. My only suggestion would be to use “Jane Smith Graphic Design” to clarify what type of design (clothing? Web? ) you do.

From a strategy perspective would the same group of people be interested in both your photography and design businesses? If not, then I encourage you to create separate businesses for each (as a minimum, with their own websites). Why? Because on your website, when people arrive to your home page, what message will you quickly show them? If you’re talking to 2 different audiences, half of them will quickly feel that you’re not talking to them. Then they’ll likely move along.

How Can I Improve My Business?

Starting Out

I would like outside direction. A simple 1-2-3- step in moving an established business forward.

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Jay’s Answer: Unfortunately, there’s not a “one-size-fits-all” set of steps to move your business forward.

But it starts by deciding what your specific goal is: more repeat sales, higher value average sales, more customers, selling your business, mail order, expansion, increased PR, etc.

Once you’re clear on a measurable goal (it’s vital that you choose a goal that you can measure the effect of your efforts, otherwise you have no idea how well you’re doing to reach it), then you need to pick appropriate strategies to achieve the goal (using the resources you have: money, manpower, networking, etc.).

Next, you monitor the ROI of your efforts to achieve the goal. What’s working? What’s the better way to achieve your goal?

Marketing And Advertising A CPR Training Business

Publicity, Starting Out

I have recently started a CPR and First Aid training business where I teach on site classes to health care professionals like dentists offices, physicians, chiropractors. I also teach for day care centers and home health agencies. I would like some help in finding the best marketing outlet to use and advertising that will bring in the best response. I have had some success in cold calling and sending letters and I am about to send out my first (over-sized) postcard mailing to 2500 Dentists in the surrounding area.
I am also using a graphic designer and marketer to create my postcard which will have a picture of me performing CPR on a training dummy along with a special offer on the front and all of my information on both the front and back of the card which is full color. My Call to action is to Visit my website and to Call today to schedule a class. What other ideas could i use to reach and build my clientele???

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Jay’s Answer: Ensure your marketing materials tell a personal story. Everyone knows that they should learn CPR and keep their certification up-to-date. But they often don’t. They know the could probably call the local Red Cross Center for trainings as well.

So, tell people why your classes have saved lives. Specific testimonials from past students would be a huge plus here. Instead of a photo of you with a dummy, why not a past student with the person whose life they saved?

Also – is your program certified (i.e., can you offer CEUs or the equivalent for health-care providers)?

Starting A Clothing Line

Starting Out

I need to understand the market of the business when starting a clothing line so I can incorporate in my class business plan

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Jay’s Answer: Start by identifying who exactly is your ideal customer. Where are they located? Male or female? Age? Purchasing power/frequency? Preferred style? Reason for dressing a specific way (professional? relationship? personal statement?). That’s who. Then figure out why your clothing – what makes your clothing the right choice for them (especially given your competition). That’ll give you a good start…

Name My Marketing Business!

Names + Taglines

I work as a consultant with new businesses and existing freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners (average of 0-20 employees) to develop and execute their branding and marketing strategy. While I have clients from many industries my largest segment tends to be freelance photographers, graphic designers, and writers, and small businesses like coffee shops and local restaurants for example. Several years out I would like to have a few employees in house, right now I refer out to other freelancers that offer services that my clients need.

My goal with each client is grasp who they are and what their business goals are and then develop a workable plan for execution as many of them are incredible at what they do but have no idea how to brand themselves or bring in clients.

While I’m good at what I do I’m finding that I have absolutely no gift at coming up with names!

I would like a name that is relatively short and preferable ends in a strong consonant. Professional but not corporate sounding. Once of my big selling points is that I’m very eco-friendly (ie, marketing pieces are on recycled paper with eco-friendly inks, digital instead of printed records, we compost all paper waste, percentage of profit donated to different non-profits or charities every month, just a few examples) and while not necessarily a deal breaker a name that has an earth connection would be a positive.

While I love the sound I would like to stay away from marketing industry buzzwords like ‘integrate’ and ‘elevate’. One of my favorite names which is already in use is ‘Taproot’ to give you an example. A name that is easily spelled is also important. I would also be open to names that are more abstract.

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Deeply Rooted (Marketing)
  • Branching Out (Marketing)
  • First Blossom (Marketing)

 

A New Salon Name?

Names + Taglines

The current salon has bad reviews on the internet. So a name change is important with the change of ownership. It is a unisex salon with hair, nails and facials. I am not sure what is the current client age group. I would like to target the 20 to 30 year olds. The emotional benefit for coming to this salon: feel good, look great.

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Jay’s Answer: Are you simply hoping to avoid the bad online reviews, or are you doing something to remedy the problems the reviewers mentioned?

  • New Leaf Salon
  • Who Does Your Hair?
  • Pump Up Your Volume