Ideas please - For Business Name

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SamApplegate

  • #1
    Hello folks,

    I'm in the early planning stages of a new business venture / part time hobby, but I'm struggling to find a suitably apt name.

    I'll be selling refurbished office PCs to the public (hopefully). Any bright ideas out there for my sales website name?

    I'm looking for something a bit quirky, rather than boring old ApplegateSystems.com, I'm aiming to sell mainly at students, so want something with a little humour perhaps.

    My ideas would involve two separate websites, one more professional for suppliers, and one more original for the buyers.

    Thank you all :wink: .
     
    W

    Webstuff

  • #3
    Competition isn't too important if you can get some of the market - there are big companies in most fields that the average business can't hope to contend with, but so long as you have some customers it all works out...

    Besides that, a lot of Morgans prices are close to store prices. Were you aiming for considerably older machines (a year or more) Sam? Are you looking to advertise more to the fact that the computers are reclaimed or just cheap?
     
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    SamApplegate

  • #9
    Many thanks for all your suggestions...

    Good point by TechFox - I understand there is huge competition out there and appreciate that I should really do something a little different to make myself stand out. I do have a few ideas on this.

    Webstuff - I would be involved in older machines yes, I'd probably be advertising budget machines, and include a subtle note indicating refurbs.

    Again, thank you all for your ideas. Keep them coming!

    I agree.. Fit&Chips is probably the best effort so far.
     
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    Handyhero

    Free Member
    May 23, 2005
    18
    0
    Sutton, Surrey
  • #12
    be careful. My company name is handyhero. Catchy, humourous and memorable but now that I want to expand and I'm advertising my HIGH QUALITY work to the general public (rather than relying on lucrative word of mouth), people expect me to do bargain work and I'm not getting the type of client I want.

    I would avoid any cheap and cheerful names. You work with computers - don't forget that.

    I used to be an IT manager and I promise you, there are too many upstarts trying to be clever whose letters never got further than half way out of the envelope.

    Be intelligent rather than clever. You can always have a strapline that conveys your message which you can change to your hearts' content to reach different customers.

    I have another website for my furniture purely because my registered name is inappropriate.

    Applegate is a great name.

    Applegate Ltd - with straplines like "Affordable Systems" for the poor hippie students or "Price concious systems" for mid aged home users or "Bespoke solutions" for businesses.

    Look around. There are so many understated companies that offer rock solid service but you will find them on industrial estates with a small silver plaque outside like "Gateapple Ltd"- but a client base to die for.

    I'm boring myself now but before I go, I noticed you said something about a subtle note mentioning refurbed machines. If you even think about sly business practice, forget the whole thing. I hope I misunderstood what you said.

    Anyway, good luck and don't underestimate the intelligence of your clients. No offence, but I wouldn't buy a machine from "chips and bits of broken stuff knocked up to look new Ltd"

    If you go for Applegate Ltd, call me. I'm in the market for a new machine.

    Regards

    handy flippin' hero.
     
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    D

    Deleted member 2816

  • #13
    That's an interesting post, handyhero. You said..

    Handyhero said:
    don't underestimate the intelligence of your clients.
    Click to expand...

    and, knowing a lot of Uni students, I'll second that! They are more clued up about computer systems than anyone I know!! And very aware of what's old hat or cutting edge. Apart from booze :D they are more inclined to go into debt over their computer setup than anything else!!

    Middle aged home users are easily bamboozled though - that would not be good practice to do so. Treat 'em right & you'll get loads of business from word of mouth.

    Just my feeble 2p. :oops:
     
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    S

    SamApplegate

  • #16
    Some good points there HandyHero, thank you.

    You have indeed misunderstood my rather ambiguous statement, I would never get involved with sly business practice such as that. Apart from the obvious things, It's certainly not the way to keep a good client base!

    StolenPCs.. that one made me chuckle. Although going back to HandyHero's point, when (if) the time comes to expand, the name might not go down too well.

    Cheers.
     
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    Clare

    Free Member
    Jul 22, 2005
    87
    3
    South East
  • #21
    Hi Sam,

    Interesting post considering I just came across someone who might be in need of a refurbished laptop and doesn't necessarily need anything high end. They don't have a lot of money so even some of the refurbished machines around are too expensive. With technology changing so fast there are a lot of reasonably high spec machines around but then again you can good specs and low prices from most stores these days.

    Think about your target market - will you want to change this in the future as your business grows. I was in a student bar/cafe yesterday and they all seemed to have Apples or pretty high tech machines. Would 'silver surfers' be a good option for low-cost refurbished machines. My parents are more than happy with my old PC as they don't have a requirement for anything too high spec.

    Best of luck,

    Clare
     
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    L

    LittleAcorn

  • #24
    Handyhero said:
    playing with the recycling theme...
    Click to expand...

    I like the recycling theme idea, especially as green-business is really high profile these days.

    However, I've googled 'recycled computers' and most links are for charitable organisations that refurbish old computers and give them away to kids.

    Using the green theme may confuse some people into thinking you're related to e-waste reprocessing/disposal, or you are a charity.
     
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