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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
PostPosted: Wed May 31, 06 7:14 pm    Post subject: The importance of a Trading Name? Reply with quote
    

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
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Wed May 31, 06 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Wed May 31, 06 7:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
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Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Wed May 31, 06 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed May 31, 06 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 06 5:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 06 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes, you're right about the banks, they're a bit funny about things like that

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