Comments on: Naming Your Crafts Business

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:58:05 +0000

Hi Alicia, I’m looking forward to hearing more good stuff from you.

I have a question about taxes. Do you have to register your “company” with the IRS?

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 00:49:57 +0000

Thanks Alicia.. That’s a very good point.. I had a very difficult time in choosing a name as well.

Sherry

By: Bettsi

Bettsi — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:05:52 +0000

Hi Alicia, it’s great to see you here. Very good advise. I have to agree with everything you said. I struggled for a couple of years over my business name (and test drove a couple of doosies!). It really does take a while to get it right. Now if only Tender Arts actually had something to sell!

By: michelle

michelle — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:46:27 +0000

I tend to use “Mikao” for everything, my blog and my Etsy business…. it was at one time my “camp name” (and still is to many I suppose!), and I like it. When I worked at camp and parents easily confused it with my real name, I often got asked where it came from, if it was Spanish or what. Every once in awhile I get an email asking if I’m Korean though, I think “Kao” is a last name maybe?

In all actuality, the embarassing fact is “Mikao” is short for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who of course played the character “Michelle” on Full House. :)

Great post Alicia, nice to have such varied content here.

By: mo

mo — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:43:50 +0000

Great advice! I love the comments too- especially “Eclectic’s Ass” Its so true you have to look at it from all angles. My son and his best friend/cousin called each other “Froy” and “Olo” forever- neither could say each other’s names and the sight of them running around in utter happiness calling each other these sweet names was too much! My business really came out of the need to bring money in but desire to stay at home with the kids so Froy and Olo was the logical choice. Sometimes people scratch their heads but once they hear the story they don’t forget!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:53:57 +0000

Great advice, and I’m glad I followed most of it when naming my little bib business/blog/market garden empire (bwah!) I hope I’m still happy with it in six years!

By: Adriana

Adriana — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:01:24 +0000

Great advice, thanks!

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:00:40 +0000

Haha…yes, naming is SO important! I really struggled with a name for my jewelry business. I have been selling jewelry since I was 12, and when I was little it was always “Lindsey’s Links”. But now that I’m so much more “mature” I thought it had to be changed. And I wanted it fairly quickly so I could buy a url. At first I though Lindsey Marcella, my first and middle name, but every jewelry designer does that. So I went with “Linques Design”, kind of a twist on my old name. I went with it after doing surveys w/current customers, and everyone seemed to a agree w/it. However, after I made my bus cards, my stepdad said “what’s lin-quest?” I should’ve known right there…now I get people asking me if Linques if my name! Live and learn I guess. I still like it, but I think it’s a little too diff for some people. And like you, I’m too far in to change it now, bus cards, notecards, magnets, stationary, and of course the famed website! I think I’m going to put an “About my name” section on the site!

By: kathleen

kathleen — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 18:36:34 +0000

You always have such great insight Alicia, wonderful post!

By: emma

emma — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:31:30 +0000

Very good post! Glad to see you here!

I’m going to pass this on to a friend who is in the middle of the what-to-name-her-business process. =)