[p1w1]

Hi
Has anybody ever changed there company/trading name and did it cause problems i ask because i'm thinking of changing mine and having a complete revamp new name,logo etc any input or experience good or bad would be helpfull in me making a decision.

Thanks
Paul

[Rob_Mac]

We have just changed our branding and logo.

If you are a one man operation - running one van it can be done quite easily. Remember you have to tell the tax man on your next return that you have changed your trading name.

Cost me a fortune so far - website is being developed as we speak.

Rob

[p1w1]

Hi Rob
How do you mean cost you a fortune is that for re-doing van graphics etc, also can you just change your trading name with the banks. I am a sole trader with 1 van i recently went it alone after starting up 5 years ago with a mate of mine we both have our own areas but are still kind of trading under the same name which doesn't cause any problems i just want to break away from that and focus on all my ideas Just a little worried about changing names with my present customers I don't want to confuse them. Did you send out letters if so could you give me an idea on how it was worded.

Thanks for the reply
Paul

[Clive McDonald]

I remember your old image m clean ( no need to mention it ) and I know you've switched focus, but what did you see as a problem with old brand?

[Rob_Mac]

P1w1

I have more than one vehicle and we had a lot of business literature and business cards changed, uniforms etc.

We basically said in our letter that from such and such a date we would be trading as M-CLEAN UK, the same service, people and quality just a different name.

Discount - I felt that our name was a thing that we had grown out of and people would not be able to link it with what we were doing. If we didn't have the Prestige Cleaning Services underneath yo would not know what we did.

M- CLEAN is my last name McLean - it just happens to have the right word in it for what we do, I also wanted to appeal to a bigger audience, which is where the UK came in. We do operate all over the country now.

Rob

[p1w1]

Cheers for the input rob..

Paul

[Rob_Mac]

Paul

The bank change of name on your accounts might be a letter to inform them - you might have to wait a few days for a new card and cheque book/paying in book

Goo luck and find a name that will grow with you as a business

Rob

[Clive McDonald]

That all makes very good sense. well done.

I have an interest in these type of things and have a book called brand failures, which gives the top one hundred brand failures and why.

I wanted the name of the area I cover, but someone already had it. The someone who already has it drives a clapped out transit(not signed) and is mainly trad. (he's got some kit but tells me custys don't like wfp because it leaves all streaks so he only uses it on his commercial where they don't mind).
I'm pretty sure he doesn't know how to produce pure water properly.

My names okay(it's not discount), but everyone thinks I'm a franchise, which is a bit counter productive.

[Rob_Mac]

Discount

My name is not registered but I think it will be by the end of the year. Most of the companies that we work alongside are big players who don't seem to use any UK or national additions to their names.

We have prtfolios going out when I come back off holiday - a week on Tuesday - I will let you know how the re branding goes.

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

Discount

Where abouts in the Midlands are you

Rob

[p1w1]

Yeah i am going to do it just not going to rush in to it, not like when i first set things up! going to use a little bit of experience now and think it through properly it's not just about changing a name its more about changing the whole image and i want to try and get it right first time if thats possible  

Thanks again

Paul

[Rob_Mac]

You've got it
Good luck

Rob

[Moderator David@stives]

I trade under my own name.

Works for me

[Rob_Mac]

And me - now!!

Rob