2020 has brought a lot of changes for me. Married, a baby, a house, and a new direction for my business, Bubbles ‘n Stitches (now Cobblestone Alpacas). We were already heading in a new direction BEFORE all this COVID craziness began. So we took advantage of the fact that there were no festivals to start hunting for a new name and start changing everything over.
Creating a new name that fit was not an easy task. A lot more went into it than just picking a random name. I’d like to share with you my process and give you tips on naming your business.
Just a heads up, some of my links are associated with an affiliate program, which means if you click the link and purchase the item I can get a small commission. Feel free to read all the boring details here.
What goes into a Business Name?
If you own a business or plan to start a blog/business this is such a HARD question. You think it’s easy coming up with a name for all your awesomeness, but it’s really not. There is so much thought that goes into it.
You have ask yourself a lot of questions first.
- Do you want to have a website? If so, is the url already taken? Is there something similar that could work that is not taken?
- What are you selling? What is your blog about?
- Are you planning on changing in a different direction later? Will your name suit your new direction?
- Do you like your name?
- Is your name easy to remember? Easy to spell?
Do you want to have a website? If so, is the url already taken? Is there something similar that could work that is not taken?
I had that problem with my original original name, way back in 2015. When I first started, I was making cold process soaps and sewing a lot of baby things along side yarn products. When thinking of all my products I wanted to name my business Suds & Stitches. I thought it was a super cute name.
Well, someone else thought so too. If you want to know if a name is taken, just type it into google search. Any website with the name or associated with the name, will pop up. Or you’ll get the happy, no search results and can do the happy dance.
I knew I wanted a facebook page and a website eventually down the road so I checked. Suds & Stitches was already a business. Not sure what they make and sell, but the name was taken so back to the drawing board.
I really really really liked the sound of Suds & Stitches so I tried to work with it. That’s when I figured out Bubbles ‘n Stitches. Not quite the same, but not super different from the original name I wanted. I thought it worked so I stuck with it and that is how my business got it’s first name.
What are you selling? What is your blog about?
Do you want your name to reflect what you are selling? I do!
What better way to help customers remember your name than to have a name similar to the products you’re selling. For me I was selling soaps (Suds) and hand sewn items (Stitches). Little did I know then that I would be a completely different business later.
Are you planning on changing in a different direction later? Will your name suit your new direction?
Which brings us here. I honestly didn’t know where my business was headed in the beginning because I had NO PLAN.
I highly recommend creating a business plan or at least a 5 year and 10 year goal list. This will help you focus on what is important and what you want to accomplish with your business/blog. I recently sat down and did this and was surprised at my answers.
I know I want Bubbles ‘n Stitches to grow into an alpaca farm with a farm store and possibly family fun farm activities. Eventually, if we buy enough land with our future farm, I’d love to host our own festival or create a seasonal (fall) event like pumpkin picking. I have so many ideas for what I’d like to do in the future but it all depends on what I do now. Which means, focusing on building an audience and building up this blog.
After taking a look at all my future plans and goals, I discovered Bubbles ‘n Stitches doesn’t really suit where I am heading. So I returned to the good old drawing board to take a look at creating a new business name, Cobblestone Alpacas.
I decided to go with a more general name rather than what I specifically make. I know Cobblestone Alpacas will allow me to grow in any direction I want to.
Do you like your name?
This is such an important question to ask yourself. If you don’t like your business name, how will that motivate you to keep going?
Honest, I didn’t really love Bubbles ‘n Stitches. It was the name I settled on after I couldn’t have Suds & Stitches. It never really inspired me. And I had a hard time coming up with business branding. Should I have bubbles everywhere? Or should I have snowmen since I sell colder weather items? It was so hard coming up with a color scheme.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the name Cobblestone Alpacas. It is SO me!
I volunteered at the Cobblestone Museum in Albion, NY many years ago and fell in love with the architecture. It is absolutely beautiful and makes me think fall. If you haven’t noticed, creating a brand for Cobblestone Alpacas has not been hard at all. FALL.
I love the fall, I sell cooler weather items, and cobblestones make me think of falling maple leaves. So fall colors and fall in general is my brand, if you haven’t caught on by all the fall themed images around here.
And of course Alpacas. I love helping out at Stoney Meadows Alpacas when I can. As soon as I have a property where I can have alpacas, I am getting a small herd. I hope one day to have a decent size herd with all the yarn and alpaca products in a farm store.
Is your name easy to remember? Easy to spell?
Think of all your potential customers and readers. You want to make sure your name is something they can recall easily. For some businesses going the silly, outrageous route is the way to go.
Clever, silly names are easy to remember and so much fun. Some examples:
The Stink Co. (Bath & Body Products)
Bar Stool Printing (They have a HUGE Bright Orange bar stool as their logo. They sell all things printed)
The outrageous name is always fun for customers. And with outrageous, you can brand like crazy! Some examples:
The Purple Painted Lady (Chalk Paint and More, EVERYTHING in her branding is purple and over the top)
Buddha Belly Soaps (Bath & Body Products. There are always Buddha statues everywhere, so fun)
Or you can go a more traditional route that is clean and simple and easy to remember.
Cobblestone Alpacas (Fiber products and more)
Stoney Meadows Alpacas (Fiber products and more)
Stone Mountain Looms (Continuous Strand Weaving Looms)
Eartherella (Bath & Body and Candles)
Laura’s Raw Honey (Honey, obviously)
*As I remember more names I will add them, so be sure to check back occasionally to get some ideas!
Test your new Name
After you come up with your genius name, test it out before you commit!
Believe it or not, I had Bret help me come up with Cobblestone Alpacas. But before we settled there was another name on the table; The Barnyard Fiber Farm. I thought it was quint and would include other fiber animals than just alpacas. I intend to have a herd of Leicester longwool sheep in the future too.
We tossed the two names around for a week or two before we decided to put it to you! I posted a survey on the facebook group and you all responded. Cobblestone Alpacas won by a landslide!
I was leaning towards Cobblestone Alpacas. The vote just helped me be more confident in my decision so thank you! And it wasn’t hard to come up with a new logo afterwards either.
Just walk around saying your name out loud. Yes, you will look insane. Yes, you’re neighbors will give you funny looks. It’s all in the name of creating something you love and can grow with. Take your time, and make sure you really really really love your name because it’s hard to rebrand yourself later.
Names are Important, Don’t screw it up!
No pressure, right? This is only the name that will be associated with you and your business… FOREVER. So take your time, don’t rush it. It is okay if it takes a few weeks to find that just right name.
Don’t be like me and decide a few years in, to change your name. It’s hard for you customers to remember who you are. Not to mention all the price tags, promotional items, and more that I have to go back and change now… Good thing I had a year off of shows to make this all happen…
I’d love to hear how you came up with your business name! Any suggestions on how to find that perfect name?
Hello! I’m Ashli!
Fiber artist extraordinaire, soaper, and founder of Cobblestone Alpacas.
Here you’ll find information on weaving, knitting, crochet, sewing, felting, yarn dying, spinning, cold process soap making, candle making, and more.
I also provide helpful tips of the trade for creative business artisans and vendors to help grow your business where you want it to be!