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Post by melanell on Sept 2, 2022 12:07:05 GMT
Something came up here recently that got me thinking about businesses who choose a name that is built around a pun, is cutsie, rhymes, etc. (All business names mentioned here are fake.  ) If your business is a nail salon, or book seller, or a cafe, etc., then I tend to smile at clever or cute business names. But I never stopped to think about how I felt when someone tried to use that same type of name in businesses where their impact on your life is more permanent. We were asking for recommendations to have work done at our house, and while I won't say the business name, I'll say that it was a bigger job. We weren't looking to have gardens mulched, a few few shrubs removed, or a shed painted. It was something along the lines of rewiring a house, putting in new plumbing, replacing a roof, windows, or siding, etc. Something where if there was any issues, it wouldn't just be a small thing that we could ignore or simply pay someone else to come in and re-do for a relatively low cost. And a few people suggested a business with a really punny/cutesie name, and I just couldn't bring myself to call them. I know that the name is not indicative of the quality of work. I know this. The guy who calls himself "Johnson's Expert Plumbing" could be only 2 months into this line of work and he has messed up half the jobs he has taken on so far. Yet, if you are an electrician and your truck says "Mr. Zappy: Don't get ZAPPED! Call Mr. Zappy for all of your electrical needs!" I'm just don't feel inspired to call you. I'm sorry. It's my own quirky hang-up, I guess. (And to any of you who are professionals or tradespeople with a cute/pun-filled name, I apologize for my feelings on the matter.  ) So long story short, does anyone else have a similar hang-up? Or would you be fine calling Mr. Zappy to rewire your house if a few acquaintances suggested him? |
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Post by gar on Sept 2, 2022 12:16:08 GMT
I can totally see what you're saying and I think subconsciously I probably do the same. I don't want a serious/expensive job done by a joker even though I know that doesn't really make sense.
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Post by melanell on Sept 2, 2022 12:22:07 GMT
I can totally see what you're saying and I think subconsciously I probably do the same. I don't want a serious/expensive job done by a joker even though I know that doesn't really make sense. I think that's probably it---that it sounds like you're joking about something really important to me. But I know it's their livelihood, so it's certainly important to them, too. I guess it's just one instance in which my logical side isn't winning the mental argument in my head.  |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 2, 2022 12:35:55 GMT
Like you, I wouldn't be inclined to call a professional company with a cutsey name for major projects. When I see a cutesy business name, I immediately think it's someone who has started up a home based business on a whim. It's the kind of name that I've seen SAHM give their latest business venture. You see them at the local festival/craft shows for a year or two, then they disappear because they've moved on to something else. So for me, a cutesy business name indicates a business that probably isn't going to be around for very long. Which is not what you want when doing major household projects.
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Post by gillyp on Sept 2, 2022 12:38:04 GMT
I like quirky names because they are memorable. I feel that if you are putting yourself out there with an unusual name there is more chance you will be good otherwise people will remember Mr. Zappy was the rubbish one in a list of John Browns and Steve Smiths. iyswim.
A recommendation is more important to me that what someone wants to be known by.
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Post by CardBoxer on Sept 2, 2022 12:38:19 GMT
It can be so difficult to find outstanding contractors, that if neighbors and real estate agents we know highly recommended Pane in the Glass Windows, I’d call them in a heartbeat and enjoy the pun. I’d even call a company with a cringe causing slogan like the #1 Plumber in the #2 Business. Don’t care.
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snyder
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Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Sept 2, 2022 13:10:27 GMT
Guilty. lol As the above poster indicated, it doesn't completley rule them out and especially if someone recommended them. I am also judgey when people use their kids and animals in their ads. Yes, you have cute kids and animals, but they don't belong in the professional side of the business. We have a commerical here for a flooring business and they use their 3 daughters in their commercial. In one, the youngest is yelling out piviot, piviot, piviot to her sisters who are carrying her on a coffee table. I just want to smack her. lol I think to myself, is that how they run their business? Another one I judge was when I was sitting at a stoplight next to a company van and on the back there were 3 different stickers that used the F word. I thought, you know what, I wouldn't call you if you were the last business in the world. So yeah, I'm very guilty.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Sept 2, 2022 13:51:33 GMT
It can be so difficult to find outstanding contractors, that if neighbors and real estate agents we know highly recommended Pane in the Glass Windows, I’d call them in a heartbeat and enjoy the pun. I’d even call a company with a cringe causing slogan like the #1 Plumber in the #2 Business. Don’t care. I agree. Plus I can understand a business wanting a memorable name. In the "olden days" everyone wanted a name that started with an A so they would be one of the first listings in the good old yellow pages. Now you search for a business online and, at least for me, all the names start to blur together. |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 2, 2022 14:05:22 GMT
I see a lot of them on the sides of vehicles when I'm driving to/from work... my guess is that a lot of them came up with the 'punny' names and characters for the memory/sticking factor. Like, there is a heating/AC company and their 'mascot' looks kind of like a cartoonish Albert Einstein, wearing robes and a mortarboard. That sticks in my memory (even though I can't remember the name of the company right now, lol). I don't think I would be totally put off by a pun or 'cute' business name- I would see it more as 'clever' I guess. And yeah, both recommendations and how they acted when they came out to give us the estimate would carry a lot more weight than the company name. |
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Post by melanell on Sept 2, 2022 14:13:40 GMT
I feel that if you are putting yourself out there with an unusual name there is more chance you will be good otherwise people will remember Mr. Zappy was the rubbish one in a list of John Browns and Steve Smiths. That's a very good point!! I definitely didn't think of that. |
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Post by CardBoxer on Sept 2, 2022 14:19:42 GMT
Years ago there was an article about the “don’t squeeze the Charmin” tv ads. Consumers disliked and were annoyed by the ad and Mr. Whipple, but the sales zoomed up because of the sticks-in-your-brain factor, like crimsoncat05 mentioned. |
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Post by malibou on Sept 2, 2022 14:32:57 GMT
I'm not bothered by the name, I only care if they do good job. My Dh has a business with a name that sometimes rankles people to the point that they say they can't work with him. I would guess that 90% of the time they end up coming back to talk to him, as he does his job very well. By and large, people love it and pick him because of it.
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,699
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Post by basketdiva on Sept 2, 2022 14:56:22 GMT
Guilty. lol As the above poster indicated, it doesn't completley rule them out and especially if someone recommended them. I am also judgey when people use their kids and animals in their ads. Yes, you have cute kids and animals, but they don't belong in the professional side of the business. We have a commerical here for a flooring business and they use their 3 daughters in their commercial. In one, the youngest is yelling out piviot, piviot, piviot to her sisters who are carrying her on a coffee table. I just want to smack her. lol I think to myself, is that how they run their business? Another one I judge was when I was sitting at a stoplight next to a company van and on the back there were 3 different stickers that used the F word. I thought, you know what, I wouldn't call you if you were the last business in the world. So yeah, I'm very guilty. I'm with you. We have dentists in my area that send out fliers with their entire family-what does that have to do with the quality of the dentist's work? |
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Post by craftedbys on Sept 2, 2022 16:22:09 GMT
I absolutely loathe businesses that use their lispy, unintelligible children in their ads.
It's not cute, it is annoying AF.
Growing up there was a local furniture store that used their small child in their ads for years; the city watched him grow up, but when he went to school it was hell for him, or so we heard. Prime bully fodder.
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Post by littlemama on Sept 2, 2022 17:06:47 GMT
Im more bothered by things like Kreative Krayons Daycare. Why are you using K's? Is that how you are teaching the children to spell?
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dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
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Post by dawnnikol on Sept 2, 2022 17:48:50 GMT
This thread makes me think of the article I saw in an Alabama newspaper! Here it is: www.al.com/news/2022/08/slutty-bad-ass-wacked-out-weiner-provocative-business-names-stir-debates-in-alabama.html?outputType=ampWould you also skip out on the places mentioned in the article? Slutty Vegan, Wacked Out Weiner, or Badass Coffee? The Coffee place is trying to build near my Mom, so I am going to visit if they open. I’m sure it will surprise no one to hear that the same folks who clutch their pearls at that store name, have no issue with letting the infrastructure down there crumble as they reap more and more money from the huge influx of tourists. That’s another thread though. All that to say: I’m not turned off by puns, the misspellings are terrible though. The biggest thing for me will always be their actual service and reviews. |
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Post by lisae on Sept 2, 2022 17:58:47 GMT
The cutesy name for a serious business would be a strike against them but if I had good recommendations, I might overlook the name.
What I hate are any business names where they change the spelling like swapping a K for a C or a Z for an S. I also don't like names that end in in' rather than "ing" like Stampin' Up! Obviously it has not kept me from spending hundreds of dollars with these people over the years but it still annoys me. I did have a cute name for my original window treatment busines before changing it to something more professional but everything was spelled correctly.
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Post by sideways on Sept 2, 2022 18:23:16 GMT
I never really thought about it before, but I guess I’m the same way. If it’s a business where a certain level of expertise is expected, then a cutesy name turns me off. But then again, I guess nail techs and hair stylists have expertise and a cutesy/pun-like name doesn’t bother me there.
My favorite business name with a play on words is a cookie dough and cookie place. It’s called We’re Dough. I haven’t been there yet, the name really makes me want to try them. That’s a case where a pun totally works for the name.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 2, 2022 18:30:19 GMT
A friend and I share the love for fun names for coffee stands. Whenever we see a new one during our travels we snap a pic and share it.
there are endless possibilities 😄
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paget
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Posts: 7,461
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Sept 2, 2022 18:40:09 GMT
It can be so difficult to find outstanding contractors, that if neighbors and real estate agents we know highly recommended Pane in the Glass Windows, I’d call them in a heartbeat and enjoy the pun. I’d even call a company with a cringe causing slogan like the #1 Plumber in the #2 Business. Don’t care. See, I’d call both of those because they made me laugh and they’re memorable! 😂 I’d hope the owner had a good sense of humor was good to work with. My dh always jokes about wanting to open a curtain store just to call it “it’s curtains for you” 😂🙄 |
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janeinbama
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Posts: 3,257
Location: Alabama
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Post by janeinbama on Sept 2, 2022 19:17:06 GMT
It's catchy, and I do recall seeing a service truck for Schitt's Plumbing, just since the Netflix series started! I do remember it though.
My DH wanted to open a BBQ restaurant and call it Dead Oak BBQ, because of a dead oak tree down our street. I said no, you don't dead and food in the same sentence. He makes great BBQ, but NO to ever opening a restaurant - too much work!
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Post by lavawalker1 on Sept 2, 2022 19:44:02 GMT
I used to see a funny one around the Phoenix area. It was for window blinds. On their van it said “Two Blind Guys. One blind guy driving.” 😆😆. And yes I’d call them if someone recommended them to me.
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 2, 2022 20:25:44 GMT
We have a dog washing place in town called Filthy Bitches and I would take my dogs there because of the name!
I'd probably roll my eyes at the name, but if a business came recommended by someone I know, I wouldn't hesitate to call. People all have different personalities at what they thing is funny, so if someone is reliable and good? I don't care what they call themselves.
And I agree with the person upthread that commented on lispy kids. I personally love lispy kids, but I don't like that people use their kids in their commercials. We have a local auto sale store and in the commercial the wife says, "I used to get the kids in the car and take them down to the carwash to wash them before Joe could sell them. The CARS not the KIDS." Duh. I will never go to Joe's.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Sept 2, 2022 21:39:03 GMT
Sometimes individual people names throw me off for a moment, especially if it's in a business environment.......... names like Kiwi, Froggy, Princess, Cuddles (she works at a local walmart at the guest services desk....not sure if that a real name or nick name, it's on her name tag), etc...
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samantha25
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Post by samantha25 on Sept 2, 2022 22:43:44 GMT
I love this name and their bundts- "Nothing Bundt Cakes"
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Post by melanell on Sept 2, 2022 23:22:48 GMT
This thread makes me think of the article I saw in an Alabama newspaper! Here it is: www.al.com/news/2022/08/slutty-bad-ass-wacked-out-weiner-provocative-business-names-stir-debates-in-alabama.html?outputType=ampWould you also skip out on the places mentioned in the article? Slutty Vegan, Wacked Out Weiner, or Badass Coffee? The Coffee place is trying to build near my Mom, so I am going to visit if they open. I’m sure it will surprise no one to hear that the same folks who clutch their pearls at that store name, have no issue with letting the infrastructure down there crumble as they reap more and more money from the huge influx of tourists. That’s another thread though. All that to say: I’m not turned off by puns, the misspellings are terrible though. The biggest thing for me will always be their actual service and reviews. I'd be perfectly fine with Badass Coffee. I'd only skip Wacked Out Weiner because I don't eat hot dogs. I probably would skip Slutty Vegan. I don't appreciate the use of the word "Slutty". To me it's just one more word used to be derogatory towards women, so despite their explanation about trying to use the word in an empowering way, for me it's still not something I like. So I guess I'm only clutching some of my pearls, not all of them. |
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sharlag
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I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Sept 2, 2022 23:23:47 GMT
The weirder, The better. Unless it’s a healthcare provider.
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Post by melanell on Sept 2, 2022 23:24:57 GMT
Sometimes individual people names throw me off for a moment, especially if it's in a business environment.......... names like Kiwi, Froggy, Princess, Cuddles (she works at a local walmart at the guest services desk....not sure if that a real name or nick name, it's on her name tag), etc... I once worked with a girl with that sort of name. It was her real first name. She actually opted to use her perfectly ordinary middle name at work, though, because it became very apparent that she would never be able to get through any conversation with a customer without having to explain it, which got old for her very quickly. |
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Post by Bobomommy on Sept 2, 2022 23:38:25 GMT
My friend and I went to eat at an Atlanta area restaurant because she loved the name of it. You may have to say it out load to get the reason.
It was called Phu King.
The phu was just ok, nothing special.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Sept 3, 2022 5:53:43 GMT
There’s a truck I see sometimes drive by that says the business name: The Handy Man Can … it makes me smile ☺️
Would I call them?
Sure if they were referred by someone I know.
It doesn’t cause me to be hesitant with the name.
I like pun business names.
Mine’s not.
It doesn’t sound professional either though.
Another one I like is “Nevergreen pools” ☺️
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