Using an acronym for a business name

[Simon.P]

Hi

A friend is trying to decide on a trading name (self employed initially) for his plumbing business.

He has a few ideas although the one he seems to be procrastinating over is using the acronym(s) of each key word he is selling his services on.

as an example, if his key words were: reliable, through - trading as RT Plumbing Services

Any suggestions, links appreciated as i anticipate he may be doing a fair bit of research on this.

Cheers
H

 

[Lloyd N8N]

If he is going to trade as RT Plumbing Services, why not his name… i.e.. Terry Smith could be TS Plumbing Services.
I like memorable things… for example there's an electrical recycling co called Green Bee and the logo is a big green and bee - can't miss it or forget it!

 

[David Griffiths]

Get a Scrabble set. Put the tiles into a bag and pull out two. Job done

(You might want to take out the blank tile(s)! )

 

[Excel Expert]

I would suspect that using an acronym like that is going to make a rod for his own back when it comes to marketing. No one is going to have the first clue what the RT stands for or means and most people will just believe it is his initials. What he has done is made his name longer, harder to remember and it blends in to the background with all the other plumbers using their initials.

When it comes to marketing he will have to get people to remember the full name.

Go for something more original like the green bee idea. Even "Speedy Plumbing Services" or "town name Plumbing Services" are easier to remember.

 

[Anonymouse72]

perhaps he's got a little bogged down in the name & research? the plumber we've used before was 'fastfix plumbing services', does what it says on the tin type thinking!

 

[That Bates Girl]

Established thinking is that you 'get' to use an acronym as a name once you're already well established with a full name. IBM didn't start out as IBM they started out as International Business Machines.

Of course tradespeople have been using 'initialised' names for decades, but they were mostly AAA Plumbers, or A1 Plumbers, or A1A Plumbers, and the sole purpose was to be at the top of the list when a customer was calling everyone in the phonebook.

In other words, I'm in agreement with everyone else on this thread. The more you overthink a name, the more likely it is to confuse your potential customers.

Lyds

 

[Simon.P]

Many thanks for all the posts. I agree he has been procrastinating for too long!

Something relevant and memorable is what it should be.

Thanks
H

 

[vvaannmmaann]

"ITUOTAPACWIQ"
A name all plumbers should consider.

 

[Lloyd N8N]

There's a plumbing co in London called or branded as "U Benders" - haha!

 

[fisicx]

'The Procrastinating Plumber' would suit him.

 

[Anonymouse72]

perhaps some ideas here, there's some real crackers!

 

[NickGrogan]

nobody cares and nobody will remember - harsh but true.

Like everyone I know, when I want a plumber or tradesman I ask friends for recommendations and use one of them. If none of my friends can recommend anyone I'd go to one of the sites like rated people and check out reviews there.

At no point would his trading name make any difference.

 

[DazRave]

nobody cares and nobody will remember - harsh but true.

Like everyone I know, when I want a plumber or tradesman I ask friends for recommendations and use one of them. If none of my friends can recommend anyone I'd go to one of the sites like rated people and check out reviews there.

At no point would his trading name make any difference.

Not completely true...

If you're just starting out, a catchy name might be the ONLY thing customers can go off. Once the ball gets going and word of mouth marketing kicks in, then yes, your name really doesn't matter but a catchy or even comical name along with a great service will do better then just a great service.

"i had this plumber in the other day, his company name was really catchy and made me laugh, in fact, he didn't do a bad job either, i'd recommend him!"

 

[Anonymouse72]

i'd definitely remember the name of one of those in the link i posted, i'd love Bonnie Tiler to have a go at my bathroom!

 

[That Bates Girl]

my plumber is called Ken, he's in my mobile phone as:
First Name - Ken
Second Name - The Plumber

 

[NickGrogan]

Not completely true...

If you're just starting out, a catchy name might be the ONLY thing customers can go off.

"i had this plumber in the other day, his company name was really catchy and made me laugh, in fact, he didn't do a bad job either, i'd recommend him!"

Did you choose them just because of the name?

 

[DazRave]

Did you choose them just because of the name?

No, but that wasn't my point.

My point was that a catchy name, or simply just a memorable one, would do nothing but help word of mouth advertising. It certainly wouldn't do it any harm since as others have pointed out, the name is not important.

So since it has hardly any negative impact but could potentially have at least a little bit of good... it's worth thinking of something half decent. Nothing to lose.

I'll agree that spending too much time on the matter is overkill, though.

 

[Simon.P]

Sorry people, just catching up with things.
I haven't seen my friend so for all i know he has decided and all set to go. Thanks for all the postings.

As for the comments about it doesn't matter - i beg to differ as its not just a trading name he would need similar domain names too - which is another can of worms i can foresee!

 

[fisicx]

As for the comments about it doesn't matter - i beg to differ as its not just a trading name he would need similar domain names too

No he won't. Domain doesn't have to have any connection with the business name.

 

[Simon.P]

No he won't. Domain doesn't have to have any connection with the business name.

but surely, (and this is a question not a statement) his trading name published to invoices, professional insurance etc - he is going to want a domain with something either the same or very similar?

Cheers
H

 

[That Bates Girl]

Not necessarily - b&q use the domain diy.com

Lyds

 

[Simon.P]

Not necessarily - b&q use the domain diy.com

Lyds

very true, thanks for pointing that out!

Cheers
H

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

wasn't that purely down to someone holding the domain for some daft ransom of £50mil when the t'internet first hit our businesses and homes though?

With regards to names though... I've heard of a Mal Pipe from Wales who has a plumbing business and when his son was born he was named Dwaine...

There's a lad I use to go to school with who use to write for the local observer (not sure if he still does as it goes...) called Wayne Ankers... Now... I'm sure you'll all guess what that signs as...

People will remember company names if they're catchy, although some of the snobs down south (no offence to all southerners... ) would they really use a company with a catchy name, or would they consider it to be too "childish".

With all due respect to anyone and their business name, if it does what it says on the tin expect calls... if you call it something that people don't know what you do... expect questions rather than business calls.

 

[Simon.P]

wasn't that purely down to someone holding the domain for some daft ransom of £50mil when the t'internet first hit our businesses and homes though?

With regards to names though... I've heard of a Mal Pipe from Wales who has a plumbing business and when his son was born he was named Dwaine...

There's a lad I use to go to school with who use to write for the local observer (not sure if he still does as it goes...) called Wayne Ankers... Now... I'm sure you'll all guess what that signs as...

People will remember company names if they're catchy, although some of the snobs down south (no offence to all southerners... ) would they really use a company with a catchy name, or would they consider it to be too "childish".

With all due respect to anyone and their business name, if it does what it says on the tin expect calls... if you call it something that people don't know what you do... expect questions rather than business calls.

ha ha! my old neighbour went to school with James Bond!