Name Recognition

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IPD_Mrs

IPD_Mrs

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Zionsville, Indiana
We NEED Your HELP!!!!!!!!!! We are getting ready to set up our domain name and put these pens online and are "fighting" a little issue here. When we decided to name our woodworking portion of the business again (long story on the again portion here) we chose the name MLK Woodworking because it utilizes our initials Mike / Linda Kennedy. Simple right???? Sure. UNTIL you consider that some folks are ALWAYS going to associate MLK with Martin Luther King NO MATTER WHAT anyone says or does. Now - BEFORE anyone starts go feel the hair on the back of the neck getting raised ;) Linda (the social worker) says "So what?" People are people no matter what and it doesn't matter - but then there is the voice of Linda (the realist) that KNOWS that some of those people who make that association to MLK (King JR)are going to do so in a "negative" fashion. No matter how optimistic I want to be about the state of affairs in the world I KNOW this can cost us sales.

BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS "connection?"

We have been operating under MLK Woodworking for quite some time - however we (until now) have Mostly been doing business with a few wholesalers who already know us and know our work - so this hasn't had to be of any concern. If we are going to start a new line we need input as to how much of an issue this is. Do we change the name and re-register everything with the state? If so we need to do it now before we set up a domain etc????????????

What do you all think?

Mike & Linda K.
 
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I was going to name mine Northwood Arts And Crafty Pens but NAACP.com just wouldn't work [:D]. I never made the association and I doubt others would if looking for pens. Just think, you might get extra business around MLK day [;)]. Interesting little marketing scheme there [}:)]
 
Mike and Linda, I have seen your posts and have never associated or thought of, your name having anything to do with Martin Luther King. Just my two cents.
 
Originally posted by Texatdurango
<br />If you're that concerned over the name, drop off the last name and start operating under M&L Pens. Still has a ring to it!
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The problem with M&L Pens is we do much more than just pens. Would rather do pens as it is still fun to us but none the less we specialize in restoration woodwork for antique furniture. 99% of that work is sold to wholesalers and retailers and we do little to no business with the general public.

Basically we are trying to see what others think when they hear the name as we would prefer to use it. If we see a large amount of people who think in a negative way then we might rethink a name selection, then again if they think that way do we want them buying our pens?

Mike & Linda
 
Like Gary, I never made the connection until you brought it up. You can always have a different domain name than your DBA name (see CSUSA) if that helps any.

I was going to suggest Kennedy Woodworking but I was taught by my Republican parents to never associate with Kennedys. [;)]

Following Brewmeister's suggestion, you could call it MLwoodworking and hope to get drive by business from people looking for "crafts from the Protestant Reformation." [:p]
 
I believe the main consideration is to make it easy for folks to find your site. If people are searching for Martin Luther King and come up with a pen vendor, that won't help business much. Rather than using your name or initials, think about what will help people find you who might be interested in your products. If you are determined to use your name or initials, understanding that you will be trading hits for aggrandizement.
 
Seriously, I think MLKWoodworking sounds very professional. I would think you could look at that name and associate milk with it too. My point in that is that people will associate different things with any name. It really is a good name.

I was joking about the marketing, MLK day thing.
 
Connie here, not Mike... after reading this he asked me about it , and I told him it was my first thought but didn't think anything else, nor bad of it. Figured it was either a memorial name to honor him, or just someone's initials. I would hope in this day and age, it would NOT have negative connotations attached to it!! But I"d disagree with the thought that a search onMLK wouldn't help any--- you never know! Someone might click on it, thinking it IS associated with MLK then be fascinated with your 'pen'manship as how many times do we hear at shows "You MAKE pens"?? Might not sell any, but I'll bet it gets your site extra hits with no effort or keywords involved. IMHO, I'd rather be MLK than JesseJWoodworking LOL MLK has a positive connotation to me, even being from the South-- but there are always hate-driven people in the world so I guess you just never know.

THis topic causes me to think of how time CAN change a meaning of a common name--or product. Remember all the ads back in the 60s and 70s for a weight loss candy named AYDS? As an AID to lose weight? Where is IT on the market today?? Probably marketed under another name with NO reference to its previous name. But even with that--- that name and one of MLK doesn't compare in my book either. Just a little useless trivia I suppose streaming from my fingertips LOLOLOL

I'd keep it. Its what yall have been and the name with which people associate your business. Would you want to change it, have people ask why, and then say, well, we didn't want to assosciate or confuse our name with Martin Luther Kings--and then have to answer WHY you'd prefer nOT to be associated with MLK?
 
Odd man out:
When I first saw your screen name I immediately thought of Dr. King. As soon as I saw your sig I understand where the name came from.

The association could only be negative if (a) someone were to think you're using that to capitalize on his fame or (b) you're potential customer is in the KKK.
If the former, and they still felt that way after a look at your initials there's nothing you can do -- stupid people exist. If the latter, probably no loss anyway.
I'd keep the name; you thought it was good when you began your venture.
 
I also thought about Dr. King the first time that I saw your name. It didn't have a negative or a positive affect on what I thought you products might be, all I knew was that you did some kind of woodworking. And I assumed that it was probably initials, (I know what happens sometimes when I assume!) [:D] Then I saw your full name and my assumption was right! [:D]
I would keep your name just like it is, that is who you have become. I hope that ramble made sense. [:D]
 
I vote you keep it as it is, MLK Woodworking means you two working together.
Forget what other people may or may not think.
Look at it this way, it will be easier for folks to remember.
 
Keep the name and let people 'hit' your site and figure it out for themselves. Like others here have stated stupidity still exists in this day and age. If someone doesn't like it then you certainly do not need them for a customer as all they will do is gripe, complain, and try to cause unnecessary problems.

Keep the name if it is already widely accepted and avoid the expense of name changes and re-registering everywhere under the sun. [:D]
 
Thank you all for your kind and insightful comments and perceptions. It really helped in our decision. It really never became a consideration until we decided to go with a web site. We will be keeping the name as that is what we really wanted to do, but at the same time we did not know what the general perception would be.

Mike & Linda
 
Hi, I do know the problem with names. I have actually been taking all my pens to snazzy pens because people were saying that they had a parker pen..a Toni Parker Pen. That company to big for me to take on so I try not to push that side of things. and Toni pens well they now are making the Toni Twists so I did not want that one either so I went for something total different then my name is because I did not need any come back on something that is genuinely my name. So I understand the heartache of names
bye Toni
 
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />
Originally posted by skiprat
<br />Gee, the answer is so simple!!![}:)] Just dump Linda[:D][8D]
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Is that where the name skiprat comes from? The rat skipped out on me?[:0]
Click to expand...

Touche....But I guess I asked for that[:D] ( Sorry Linda, I'm just full of these pearls of wisdom. Full of other stuff too[:I] )
 
Originally posted by skiprat
<br />
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />
Originally posted by skiprat
<br />Gee, the answer is so simple!!![}:)] Just dump Linda[:D][8D]
Click to expand...

Is that where the name skiprat comes from? The rat skipped out on me?[:0]
Click to expand...

Touche....But I guess I asked for that[:D] ( Sorry Linda, I'm just full of these pearls of wisdom. Full of other stuff too[:I] )
Click to expand...

I think Linda should dump Mike!!! [}:)][}:)][}:)]
 
Originally posted by angboy
<br />
Originally posted by skiprat
<br />
Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />
Originally posted by skiprat
<br />Gee, the answer is so simple!!![}:)] Just dump Linda[:D][8D]
Click to expand...

Is that where the name skiprat comes from? The rat skipped out on me?[:0]
Click to expand...

Touche....But I guess I asked for that[:D] ( Sorry Linda, I'm just full of these pearls of wisdom. Full of other stuff too[:I] )
Click to expand...

I think Linda should dump Mike!!! [}:)][}:)][}:)]
Click to expand...

Been there done that got the t-shirt then got her back![B)]
 
for what its worth, i thought MLK woodworking was a multinational co. so i would definately keep the name. cheers colin.
 
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