The importance of a Trading Name?

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The importance of a Trading Name?

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sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Wed May 31, 06 7:14 pm Post subject: The importance of a Trading Name?
Am considering switching webhosting packages after my recent fiasco uploading a shopping front to my site. Currently, I use a 'myname'.com approach, but I wonder how many of you traders find that a non-personal trading name is an advantage?

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Wed May 31, 06 7:25 pm Post subject:
I think it depends a little on what you are selling. I think you might be an exception to the usual rule that a trading name is very important.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed May 31, 06 7:29 pm Post subject:

Not really sure that mine is a non-personal trading name

but just about everything has the name "Rosewood" here, it started with the cattle herd, then the sheep, farm, business & finally, the website. Only the pigs don't have the same name (because the BPA wouldn't let me). I don't know for sure, but I have always assumed that it ensures easy recognition for [potential] customers, based around building up a good reputation to go with the name.

sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Wed May 31, 06 7:57 pm Post subject:

jema wrote:

I think it depends a little on what you are selling. I think you might be an exception to the usual rule that a trading name is very important.

That was my thinking, I do sell 'stuff' but I also sell my 'academic wossname', and that is very much based on my name. Makes it a bit confusing at times though.

I'm tempted to get a seperate domain/trading name for the pointy hats so we can be the Pointy Hat People at festivals, but thats an indulgent thought rather than a real business plan at the moment

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed May 31, 06 8:40 pm Post subject:

My guess is that for most traders on here a 'trading name' isn't important, or even necessarily appropriate. If you're selling artisanal, small producer stuff (and my feeling is that that's a big part of the USP for most of our traders) then customers like the sense of connection that a 'real name' gives them. Obviously if you're intending to roll out a global pointy-hat-making franchise then a trading name might be handy.

sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Jun 01, 06 5:36 am Post subject:

sean wrote:

a global pointy-hat-making franchise .

ooh, tempting!

That would look so good on my tax returns

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:29 pm Post subject:

For a small scale, sole-trader part time business like yours I would think sticking with just your name would be good. The main reason I chose one is that I thought people would make fewer mistakes writing out cheques for "Rosewood Farms" rather than "P.R. & R.F. Rose".

You could have something like a "brand name"... from Sally Pointer[.com], and authorise the bank to accept cheques with the brand name on in case people do get confused.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:33 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

You could have something like a "brand name"... from Sally Pointer[.com], and authorise the bank to accept cheques with the brand name on in case people do get confused.

Thats a good idea, though I'm hoping to get away with using an old personal account for as long as possible. Asking the bank to alter the names might make them sniffy about personal/business accounts mightn't it?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:52 pm Post subject:
Yes, you're right about the banks, they're a bit funny about things like that

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