help with name...

[lawnfreak09]

i am going through a name change and was wondering if you guys thought turf surfers sounded to playful. I mean i dont want it to sound like a high school kid with a push mower. just wanted to get some feedback. i think i could have a lot of fun with it.....slogan, truck letters ect.

[ashelton]

I like it, I think that people will remember it. You could def. design a cool logo around that name.

[RodSpots]

Many years ago we had a computer store here in town, Asahel Computer Sales (named for a minor Biblical figure during the life of King David). The owner conducted a public contest, asking his customers and others in the community for suggestions, with the prize of a new computer going to the one whose name was chosen. The name ultimately chosen was The Right Byte - and it served that business well for many years.

Might I suggest that before you commit to a rebranding effort (which, after all, is what a new name really amounts to), that you obtain a copy of Trout and Ries' excellent book, The New Positioning. Your library might have it. Read chapters 14 and 15. Here's an excerpt from Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZukQG-atQC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=eye+vs.ear+trout+ries&source=bl&ots=XMZLuoCYFQ&sig=tT_XhcQpSi92hM9sWfPGLd384NI&hl=en&ei=BR5RSr3WAYyNtgeX95CzBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1

The name you choose is exceedingly important, as it suggests to customers what you want them to think about you. Let me give you an interesting illustration cited by Trout and Ries. They were discussing some experiments conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Loftus of the University of Washington. In one such experiment, two women were rated equal in beauty by a particular group of men; the same two women were presented to a second group of men, but this time they were given names. One was called "Jennifer" and the other, "Gertrude." As you might surmise, this time around Jennifer was rated as being more attractive than Gertrude - yet the only difference was the names they were given.

Anyhow, the book is worth finding and reading before you make your decision and start spending money on letterhead, business cards, signage, advertising, etc., etc.

Would love to know what you finally settle on.

[lawnfreak09]

i read the link and it's some intresting reading. I think it has helped me on what NOT to choose. I wanted to put the turf surfers up here and see what people thought. I put it in another forum and i quikly got shot down. I just thought that it would be a name that people might get a quick laugh out of. In that quick laugh they would remember the name.

[RodSpots]

See next message.

[RodSpots]

I just thought that it would be a name that people might get a quick laugh out of. In that quick laugh they would remember the name.

"Turf Surfers" is both playful and memorable.

If you'll forgive a crude analogy, breaking wind loudly in a crowded classroom or library might also be construed as playful and memorable.

But it would probably (you'll pardon the pun)...backfire.

Memorability is desirable, but first you have to decide what attribute or action you want the hearer to associate with the name of your business. "Surfers" conjures up mental images of Californians on surfboards, riding atop rolling waves and having fun. It's a leisure activity. Recreation, not work.
One might be able to manipulate an association between surfing and mowing, but, I suspect, it would be awkward at best.

What values do you want people to associate with your business? Reliability? Economy or thrift? Artistry or craftsmanship? Expertise? Problem-solving? If you can come up with a name that helps forge an association between that value or set of values (keep it narrowly focused though; avoid trying to be "all things to all people") and your business, super.

Unfortunately, there aren't many words that rhyme with turf. Serf. Surf. Kerf. Perf (short for "perforate" or "perforation"). You'd have much more success trying to find something that rhymes with "yard" or "lawn."

Sometimes names are chosen for their distinctiveness or uniqueness, without regard to a prior association. Google comes readily to mind. There were a dozen or more search engines out there before Google. How many can you remember? Google did such a great job of returning useful results that people started recommending it to friends, and pretty soon their name is a verb, synonymous with online search: "Let's Google it and see what comes up."

G.T.E. (short for General Telephone and Electric) went through a rebranding campaign in the 90's, changing their name to Verizon. What's it mean? Closest I can figure, it's a combination of "verity" or "veracity" (words for truthfulness) and "horizon" (far-seeing). Whatever. The point is, with repetition, they made it stick. And today everyone knows that Verizon is a modern communications company.

The history of brands and their names is a fascinating study. Al Ries and his daughter Laura co-authored an interesting volume a few years back, "The Origin of Brands." You might enjoy it.

Best of success to you in your efforts to position (or reposition) your business.

Cordially,

Rod Schwartz
Pullman, WA