@ Friar – I like to think that Quebec is rather cool, thank you very much. But tell me, what do you REALLY think of us pompous, arrogant, egocentric, selfish assholes?

On the firm thing , the companies I am thinking of all were built on the reputations of some fairly “substantial” community members, who worked hard to put meaning behind the name. They spent years and lifetimes putting a personal brand and recognition behind the name as an extension of who they were personally, socially , as well as professionally . So in effect, there was deep personal branding there. Just some thoughts.

Janice Cartier’s last blog post…Clean up On Aisle 3

Steph,

It can be done but it’s a lot more difficult. Lawyers leave and the firm name remains if they were “branded” strongly enough, but establishing a distinctive identity is so much more difficult—what’s the difference between Smith, Smith, and Jones, and Moore, Moore, and Johnson? Why would I care? Sure, might as well leave the names there after so and so dies or moves on, because they weren’t adding *meaning* in the first place.

Until later,

Kelly

None of them have gone through rebranding because they were set up to perpetuate.

Something to add to point #1, perhaps: what happens when you’re not doing the biz anymore but you want it to continue and it’s still named after you? Unless you’ve got it covered somehow, won’t the biz die after you leave? I mean, that’s assuming it’s not Tim Horton’s or, you know, like you said, McDonald’s. And imagine having to change the sign and all the advertising and stuff every time a lawyer dies or leaves. Oy.

Good post.

Heh heh. You think I didn’t know today’s post was coming when I wrote that at some other blog?

Naming’s critical. BUT… For an artist, it just ain’t the same. You’re not a “company,” you’re an individual visionary.

Regards,

Kelly

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

or

a rose is a rose is a rose…

Will and Dorothy Advertising Inc.-not the people to hire probably.

Janice Cartier’s last blog post…Clean up On Aisle 3

The challenges of a multicultural world. You can’t win there!

Graham,

I agree. If your name just happens to be, say, Strong, then a well chosen name can become a play on words that can outlast Graham himself.

Lucky man.

Regards,

Kelly