[supernova77]

Hi All,

There seems to be a number of new window cleaners in and around the areas that I work... This doesn't bother me at all - Competition is healthy.

What I have noticed though is that all of them have similar names... Pure this, h2o that etc...

Yesterday I saw a van with flame signage all over it and the company name was Pureheat h2o Window Cleaning... It looked a bit over the top to be honest.

Everyone seems to be jumping on the Pure and h2o bandwagon when it comes to naming their new window cleaning business... Surely this isn't a good thing as it confuses customers when reffering etc...

Thoughts?

Andy  

[magic moments]

It's Just a name , its the glass cleaning and customers on the books that count.

[supernova77]

It's Just a name , its the glass cleaning and customers on the books that count.

Yes, but a good and distinguishable name attracts more customers?

[EandM]

One of I disagreeociates uses the business name: ' James '

[Richard iSparkle]

you're name is not very important at all.  it wont get you any customers on its own.  in fact i reckon at least 50% of our own customers don't remember our name.  when i call them i always have to say...  'its Richard from iSparkle your window cleaners'.  in fact only this month a client we have been cleaning for for over 18 months answered the door, when i knocked to get a gate unlocked, and asked if we were his normal window cleaners.  and keep in mind that our van is fully wrapped, we all wear the same logo d uniform, and we give them a calling slip every 4 weeks with our name on!

[EandM]

Any idea why however I modify my last post and whatever I write it keeps saying:

One of I disagreeociates uses the business name: ' James ' ??

[supernova77]

you're name is not very important at all.  it wont get you any customers on its own.  in fact i reckon at least 50% of our own customers don't remember our name.  when i call them i always have to say...  'its Richard from iSparkle your window cleaners'.  in fact only this month a client we have been cleaning for for over 18 months answered the door, when i knocked to get a gate unlocked, and asked if we were his normal window cleaners.  and keep in mind that our van is fully wrapped, we all wear the same logo d uniform, and we give them a calling slip every 4 weeks with our name on!

I changed my business name just over a year ago.

1. A lot of my customers have commented that they like it - Therefore they do notice.

2. I have gained more work because of it.

3. I have had a few referal customers who phone up and say "hi, is that Andy from Iconic?"

I think your business name and branding have more of an effect than you think...

Andy

[Ian101]

Its a great name but mine nowt to do do with water stands for Home to Office

[Richard iSparkle]

you're name is not very important at all.  it wont get you any customers on its own.  in fact i reckon at least 50% of our own customers don't remember our name.  when i call them i always have to say...  'its Richard from iSparkle your window cleaners'.  in fact only this month a client we have been cleaning for for over 18 months answered the door, when i knocked to get a gate unlocked, and asked if we were his normal window cleaners.  and keep in mind that our van is fully wrapped, we all wear the same logo d uniform, and we give them a calling slip every 4 weeks with our name on!

I changed my business name just over a year ago.

1. A lot of my customers have commented that they like it - Therefore they do notice.

2. I have gained more work because of it.

3. I have had a few referal customers who phone up and say "hi, is that Andy from Iconic?"

I think your business name and branding have more of an effect than you think...

Andy

i wouldnt argue that branding is very important.  i spend a lot of money on it so i have to think it is.  however i really dont believe your name or logo is memorable to anyone except for the business owner.  we'd all like to think it is, but i doubt it.  i have 2 businesses with really great names, and logos etc etc...  but clients just dont really remember them.  some do, but many dont.

[Erithwc]

In what is now becoming a very competitive industry for residential and commercial you need to stand out not just copy every one else because its easy.

If you can't be arsed to think up a different name what effort are you going to put into the rest of your business.

Paul

[supernova77]

In what is now becoming a very competitive industry for residential and commercial you need to stand out not just copy every one else because its easy.

If you can't be arsed to think up a different name what effort are you going to put into the rest of your business.

Paul

Agreed...

I'm not knocking anyone who is established and is called Pure or h2o something or other... I'm just making the point that all the new startups I see have similar names.

In any business its important to stand out.

Andy

[Richard iSparkle]

In what is now becoming a very competitive industry for residential and commercial you need to stand out not just copy every one else because its easy.

If you can't be arsed to think up a different name what effort are you going to put into the rest of your business.

Paul

in my experience...  practically everyone puts a lot of effort into thinking up their company name...  it's the difficult bits of business they 'cant be arsed with'.

but honestly, i am just offering my insight and experience.  take that as you will 

[colin purewater]

I called my pure because I'm a virgin.

[Paul Coleman]

Any idea why however I modify my last post and whatever I write it keeps saying:

One of I disagreeociates uses the business name: ' James ' ??

It's becaUSE OF THE FIRST THREE LETTERS OF THe word you are trying to type.
Americans use those letters to say rear end and the forum's autocensor changes it.

I have the same thing on a football forum that I use.  Our first home game next season is at home to S c u n t h o r p e.  The autocensor has been modified to allow it.

[magic moments]

In what is now becoming a very competitive industry for residential and commercial you need to stand out not just copy every one else because its easy.

If you can't be arsed to think up a different name what effort are you going to put into the rest of your business.


Paul

Think its just a fact that h2o,pure,etc are good names even if they are used by many its how you run your company imo, everyone is different and I don't think customers careless they just want a window cleaner,simples. I'm sure there's people with great names that fail and poor names that are a successful.

[Erithwc]

Im sure ian lancaster and other big residential cleaning companys would say that they get work from being well known and doing a good job.

would they get as much work from being well known if their were other companys with similar names doing a crap job 

Paul

[magic moments]

Im sure ian lancaster and other big residential cleaning companys would say that they get work from being well known and doing a good job.

would they get as much work from being well known if their were other companys with similar names doing a crap job 

Paul

Similar named companys I don't think would suffer as they built there rep,now peoples copying names could have a different outcome

[supernova77]

Similar named companys I don't think would suffer as they built there rep,now peoples copying names could have a different outcome

Near me there is a "Pure h2o Window Cleaning", a "Pure2o Window Cleaning" and now a "Pureheat h2o Window Cleaning"...

If I was setting up now I would choose something completely different from them as potential customers looking for a window cleaner i.e. searching on the Internet would be confused with who they had tried contacting etc...

I just think it's best to be different.

Andy

[magic moments]

Anyhow I'm not fussed I'm going to concentrate hard on my business and not be concerned with others,as long as they keep off my patch

[Steve Sed]

I can understand how business names can gain you more customers. I am stacked out since I changed my business name to Wecleanyourwindowsforfree.