Help name my bike shop!

[Zop_man]

I accidentaly clicked on cafe... Disregard lol. I like the first one or something like "bloody knuckles bike shop" lol. Its not a project til you bleed.

[gdb069]

Hi Dave
I was Director of Marketing for an International Customs Brokers and would like to offer a few basic suggestions:

1. These days 90% of businesses are found through a website/internet search and 8% through yellow pages and the rest through ads and referrals so web is critical.

2. Since websites can provide multi descriptions the actual company name does not need to reflect product or service. ie what are Starbucks, Walmart, Google however the name should be differentiated so its more important to be unique rather than descriptive. Branding the name can include location for geographic/demographic segments ie if you are local to an area that might help improve hitrate for your local area.

3. Make sure you have a good website and that you have it optimized for search engines (inexpensive for a local market)

4. You want your website found so make sure you have a blog or newsletter and you update it often: say weekly at least.

A lot of company owners like their name in the company name but don't be tempted. One of the reasons you should start a business (unless its a charity) is to make money. This includes the disposition of the busineess. A business that icludes a personal name selles for lees due to the goodwill assosciated is unless the next owners name happens to be Dave he is likely to consider a name change and that means the cost of signage, website changes invoice/letterhead etc.

So the trick is trying to be unique/specific but general enough to attract eyes to the website. Something like Nashville Cycle Repair or Nashville Unique Cycle might be a start. You can include info about DIY on the website but have not restricted your clientele to DIY only.

Remember to do a web search first to see what name are being used because although registering a unique name is difficult but you may end up with a registered name slightly different than the Brand name ie I have registered a company DynamicSYS Consulting that is branded as Dynamic Systems Consulting (too close to a trademarked Microsoft product to be registered)

G.

[invalidsession]

"The Bike Works". Simple, clean and encompasses your goal.

Chris.

[Saor]

+1 for "The Bike Works"


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[MikeB]

My thinking is like that of gdb069, above. The name should be easily searchable to get the most hits. If maintenance and repair classes are going to be a regular feature of your offerings (which sounds to me like a very good idea, BTW) I would call the place something both whimsical and attention-getting, such as "Dave's Do-It-Yourself Motorcycle Shop and University."

[DarkAero]

I think you should name it "The Garage," or "Your Garage" That is where people go to work on their bikes. It's clever and people identify going out to the garage with working on things. With a clever advertising slogan that name would work great IMHO

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[Fellenz]

Originally Posted by Saor

+1 for "The Bike Works"


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+2 for The Bike Works....its in the works, until it works. if ya follow that

[davelisowski]

you guys are so awesome!!

this is great advice and just makes me more excited to get this off the ground!

once again, i appreciate all the feedback and your input.

[vito]

Rusty Nuts

[1234thunder]

I love this idea. My cousin ran a similar business in Denver for years but it was for cars. He had eleven bays and loved to teach. In the end liability issues drove him out of business.

I think the name is the least of your problems. You will have to make your money on the parts sales which means financing the stock as well as the building as well. And solve the liability problem. If you want help with the plan, PM me.