Business Name Suggestions

[Mylexia]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking into creating a business soon - you may have seen me asking for advice here before - but I don't have a clue of how to come up with a name or logo design!

Our idea is to build a cupcake business from home at the moment, and hopefully build it so that we can bring our main idea once we (or IF we) get a shopfront. This main idea is a pic 'n' mix style cupcake shop where customers can choose flavours of sponge, buttercream, and toppings. Originally, we wanted to be called The Cupcake Factory as it encompasses what we do - putting things together - but I've noticed that there are many companies called that, and I thought it doesn't sound like we do things from scratch.

At the moment though, we'd like to start branding our business - looking at all the beautiful stationery and things are making me want to get a good start on it all!

SO! How did you create your business name and logo? Any suggestions of what to think of?

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[Toby Willows]

I’d go with “Closing down sale” as the cupcake fad died about four years ago.

 

[Mylexia]

Well, that was useful. Could you not have given me some advice rather than shutting things down straight away?

I beg to differ with this. I know numerous bakeries who bake cupcakes and sell out every single day. Finch Bakery is one for sure. Social media plays a huge part in success, along with personalisation, being able to order things, and also doing other things alongside it.

I also bake cakes and birthday cakes, which are in high demand. People want decent quality, especially nowadays as conscious consumers. Fudge is also incredibly popular, especially with different toppings and flavours.

I'd appreciate some constructive comments rather than just being plain pessimistic.

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[fisicx]

Mylexia Bakery.

Doesn't need to be anything more complicated than that.

Don't bother with a logo or stationary. you aren't even close to needing these yet. Get the business plan sorted, get your licenses and food hygiene certs, insurance quotes and the zillion and one other things necessary to set up a food business. Once you know the business is viable and you have the marketing funds then you can think about getting branding.

 

[Mylexia]

We're sorting our business plan and all the rest of it, and only planning to start small with social media advertising and going to markets to sell our wares. We're not running into it blind and we know that it may not work out. However, we're going to need business cards, flyers, things like that, so I just wanted to look into it, especially since there are so many logo designers out there.

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[fisicx]

You don't a logo and you don't need business cards.

And social media advertising may get you lots of likes but very little business. What you need to do is sell locally, do home deliveries, attend fetes, village events, farmers markets and push to get your products in all the local garden centres and so on. This will start to get your name known and your customers will do your social media marketing for you.

 

[Mylexia]

But surely some form of business card or flyer would help when attending fetes, village events, farmers markets? I went to the Cake and Bake Show recently and each stall had flyers to put in with products and also for those people who were just browsing. On the flyer, they had a Facebook for customers to get in touch with them. Is this worthwhile?

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[fisicx]

Flyers yes, business cards no. Even better, a price list and order form.

And they may have a facebook but do you want people to like your pictures of cupcakes or do you want then to visit your website and buy cakes which you then deliver or they pick up from your house?

Think on this. I can go to my local supermarket and pick up cupcakes on the way home from work. Can you offer the same sort of service?

 

[Toby Willows]

I know numerous bakeries who bake cupcakes and sell out every single day. Finch Bakery is one for sure.

Think about that, and you’ll eventually get the light bulb moment and realise why you are unlikely to succeed.

Do start with markets to get a feel, but a successful market stall won’t guarantee a successful shop, not by a long way. If you do well doing markets I’d stick with that.

 

[Mylexia]

I know that selling out every day isn't great in the long run - it's going well for them during the past few years of opening their shop - but ideally you want to have enough stock to last.

I would like to have a successful market stall, but I also know that it doesn't mean I can go straight to opening a shop. I figured start with markets as they are quite low risk, and see what happens after that. It has been suggested on here to have some sort of food van where you can bake on-site afterwards. Going from baking and taking to market stalls, to baking on-site, and seeing from there.

I don't have my head in the clouds, and I'm not looking to open this for a long time yet, but I'm just doing some planning and some reading around. I've got books to go through and I'm asking for advice here so that I can understand exactly what needs to go into it.

Flyers, price lists, and order forms all sound great - thanks for the advice. Perhaps a website would be more efficient that a Facebook page. I will definitely think on those questions though, thank you.

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[Toby Willows]

I know that selling out every day isn't great in the long run - it's going well for them during the past few years of opening their shop - but ideally you want to have enough stock to last.



Thanks,
Mylexia

Now ask yourself why they don’t have enough stock to last.

Also consider where you are seeing cupcakes being sold.

 

[DG web consultancy]

I can't remember what you call this but here's one process I can think of for coming up with names and ideas:
Come up with a word and then take the last letter of that word to come up with another word starting with that letter. So for example, "cupcake, elegant, tempting" etc.

Another process I might follow is looking for synonyms related to your industry,

Whatever I come up with I would search for their domain names and if they're available there's a good chance you'll have something unique.

 

[Mylexia]

The thing is, they're doing quite well. They have a few members of staff and do multiple charity events. They have queues out of the door. I'm aware that they do wedding cakes too though, so that does help.

I'm only really looking to do this on the side at the moment as I'm finishing my PhD, but I wanted to see how it went. Otherwise it's the what if question, and it's something I love to do. There were stalls selling just fudge at the show, and it did really well, especially with samples, so that's something I can turn my hand to as well as the cupcakes and cakes.

Thank you for the advice on choosing a name! I'll definitely take a look into it.

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[Davidincognac]

hi Mylexia

I like what Major Clanger says about "Mylexia Bakery"
and you can use a strapline "the cupcake specialist"

 

[kernow24]

Well, that was useful. Could you not have given me some advice rather than shutting things down straight away?

I beg to differ with this. I know numerous bakeries who bake cupcakes and sell out every single day. Finch Bakery is one for sure. Social media plays a huge part in success, along with personalisation, being able to order things, and also doing other things alongside it.

I also bake cakes and birthday cakes, which are in high demand. People want decent quality, especially nowadays as conscious consumers. Fudge is also incredibly popular, especially with different toppings and flavours.

I'd appreciate some constructive comments rather than just being plain pessimistic.

Thanks,
Mylexia

he does have a point though, very few cupcake businesses make it in the long term.

now as you mention cakes etc that would be a better main line to do with cupcakes as a purchase people will do if they come to order or collect a cake etc, or a coffee shop with all 'handmade' cakes and pastries etc there's a really nice place close to me that does great made to order cakes and do a daily range of cupcakes, only a small amount of them, different flavours etc daily and i'm sure the cupcakes alone cover the main daily overheads in the small unit they are in.

But a cupcake shop, I think that side of things has had it's day.

 

[youngtrepreneur]

Bit of advice...

Don't go and open a shop.
It's an unnecessary expense and all your profit will go into paying such expenses.

If you're absolutely determined to set this up, I would advise trying some kind of mail order model.
Plenty of food related mail subscription examples out there that do well.

Less overheads.
You don't make the cakes and hope they sell, you make only what you have already sold.
Easily scalable: market country wide online as oppose to just the local community.

Make a number of cupcakes of different colours, tastes, etc, then post out on a monthly basis.

Food for thought.

 

[SH247]

As mentioned above, there are already other people in your area doing what you want to do, why not try to find a niche? I'm certainly not someone who would spend money buying pretty little cupcakes but I know there are lots of people out there that would...

Why not make cupcakes for dogs and call them Pupcakes? Posh people with too much time and money love that sort of thing don't they?

 

[Mylexia]

Hi everyone, and thanks for all of your feedback!

Davidincognac; sounds like a good idea.

Kernow24; I don't mind the feedback that it's perhaps not the best idea, but it's just the way it's said really. I was liking the idea of a coffee shop as I follow one on Instagram which has homemade cakes and cupcakes, and I do like the idea of slices of cake with a drink, etc. Thanks for the comments; definitely something to think about!

youngtrepeneur; I am kind of going off the idea of opening a shop - at least until things get established, if they ever do, or if we get a coffee shop - but I'm not sure how mail order stuff would work, especially with cupcakes. I've not really seen a company who has been able to send cupcakes and not have them squashed. Things like brownies and fudge go well in the mail but not so much cake.

SH247; Yeah, I know a fair few people who enjoy buying cupcakes, especially with personalisation. Also, I work in a bakery and there are a lot of people who order cupcakes and ask for certain things to be done to them (i.e. icing left flat for their own decoration, or icing without toppings, etc.) so all things that people want. I have actually looked into making "Pupcakes" and it seems like a really interesting idea, so I will definitely have to try that out.

Thanks everyone!
Mylexia

 

[Socio South West]

I think the consensus that you start from home, and build from there on the back of your existing baking business is correct: In that way you have few committments that will cause you grief if you decide its not a goer.

However, be careful about letting the business take over home - you will never get away from work, so make sure you do something away from home regularly.

Social media has its uses, but look at your business and its likely trading pattern: Your type of business is likely to have very few customers more than maybe 15 miles away, so concentrate on membership of the local FB groups to spread the word about your products. If you use Twitter/Instagram etc make sure you add local county or town tags so the likelihood of it being seen by potential clients is increased.

A name? Try not to use anything that points to specific products - you never know what you may end up producing and selling. If you can find an abstract word, great.... try translating a few words with Google translate.... Cake Maker in Spanish for example is 'Pastelero'... in Polish 'Ciasto'

 

[fisicx]

Consider also that there may be restrictions on what you can do at home and the neighbors may complain about the traffic.

 

[Mylexia]

Socio South West; thanks for that. I think home is the way to go along with farmers markets and such. Good thinking with the name; it does keep it open for more products if you don't focus it down too much.

Fisicx; I don't think I'd feel comfortable having people coming to my house a lot so would probably look into delivering instead. I know there are some restrictions on the amount of floor space you use for your business but I think just kitchen is fine.

Thanks,
Mylexia

 

[fisicx]

Running a delivery only service can eat into your profits. You could end up doing a two hour round trip for 6 cup cakes. And while one of you is out doing the deliveries they are non productive.

Selling in markets, shopping centres, at fetes and other events will be far more profitable.

If you don’t want people coming to your house maybe you can go into business with a local cafe or delicatessen.

 

[Mylexia]

Yes, markets and such are going to be my priority, and the idea of doing things with a cafe seems good. Especially since they are doing a lot of the selling for you, if you supply their cake! Definitely a lot to think about. Thank you!

Thanks,
Mylexia