kaseytraeger Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Hi everyone, My husband and I have bantered back and forth trying to come up with a name for the business we are trying to start. I'd like to open up a web development business (big surprise there, since everyone seems to do follow the web dev craze!) but can't seem to come up with a name that really "sits with me." I'm would like to use our last name -- Traeger -- in the business name because to me it implies a sense of professionalism. I've been tossing back and forth the following ideas... Traeger & Associates: because I'm hoping that there will soon be more than just my husband and I in the business The Traeger Group: it sounds cool to me Traeger Industries: because hubby thinks it's more open-ended, allowing us to expand into more than just the web dev industry Traeger Consulting: seems kind of bland to me, but don't a lot of web developers use the term "consulting" in their name? Traeger Enterprises: because hubby likes Star Trek, and also because it is more open-ended (lik the Traeger Industries suggestion) Traeger Technologies: I think this one sounds cool because of the aliteration, but I think it might prevent us from expanding. What do you think? I don't know what to do, so I want your input. If you have any business name suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Or, if you like one of those in the list, which one do you like, and why? I don't want our name to sound like a law firm, but neither do I want it to sound like a fly-by-night business. I'd like the name to connote professionalism without seeming too "corporate America." (We will soon be moving to a much more rural area that doesn't take kindly to the big-city West Coast / California folk who have slowly encroached and taken over their small town. We would be just another "rude big city" transplant.) Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Quote
Head Guru Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 The Traeger Group Sounds like a business, not a ma and pop shop. Plus TTG Naughty I can picture TTG in a fancy logo, top left part of business card. Quote
Deverill Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Traeger Designs - sounds like artists only though. Traeger Solutions (or Traeger Web Solutions) - more open ended. I'd avoid consulting. It's over used and has a negative connotation in some folks minds. Traeger Tech's pretty neat sounding. Remember you'll have to pronounce these on a phone and you'll want it to be easy to say and memorable. Traeger & Associates sounds like a one-man show but wants to be a big shot. (to me anyway) Or you could go totally wild an make someting like Tragerville where you can get anything you want for your computing delight. Ok, I guess you now know why I'm not in the marketing field! Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 I like The Traeger Group Sounds professional. Quote
btrfld Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Count me in on the Traeger Group bandwagon. It allows expansion into other things, and implies an association of related ... uh ... Groups. Quote
kaseytraeger Posted March 4, 2004 Author Posted March 4, 2004 Wow, to be honest, I'm amazed at the positive response towards "The Traeger Group." This is good info, folks, because it lets me see the world in a different light from my normally dim 15W bulb! I also feel honored to have received a comment from HG as my very first reply! I really like the visualization of TTG initials in a logo on a business card. An excellent point -- It starts to make the business seem real instead of just made up in my head! So far, it looks like there is a big consensus that The Traeger Group is the stand-out favorite, but I still want to hear what others have to say. So come on, people ... speak up!!!! woooot Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention ... Rock Sign My fav-o-rite web host!!! Thumbs Up Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 The Traeger Group Reason: Not much to add than the others have already done. Quote
schussat Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 First, the one I wouldn't go with: Traeger and Associates. The shortened version, T&A might attract the wrong clientele. Nudge-nudge. Second, the suggestions that weren't on the list but should be added and then crossed off, just for the sake of due diligence: Any permutation of Traeger + Cyber + Extreme. Example: ExtremeCyberTraeger. Third, my real choice: The Treager Group. My only reservation is that, well, it sounds just a little bit stuffy. I'm thinking of investment bankers and CPAs when I hear that one. Now, this isn't at all bad, especially if your clients will be CPAs and the like; those guys stick to similar organizational forms like, well, like things that are sticky, so the name will attract them. But it might not be quite right if your client base will be more general and (in particular, I think) more technically-savvy themselves. In that case, I think Traeger Technologies or something like Traeger Communications, both of which seem sufficiently general so as to allow lots of expansion, might be a better fit. Just my two cents. Quote
bellringr Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Traeger & Associates: Nah - sounds pretentious, plus the T&A thing just wouldn't work as someone pointed out! Makes me think of a law firm The Traeger Group: I like, but it does sound big-city, like an investment firm. Hard choice there. Traeger Industries: Sounds too blue collar for what you want to do Traeger Consulting: Consultants charge too much Traeger Enterprises: I personally like this one. It doesn't sound haughty and it can cover alot of things. Traeger Technologies: It's ok, but overused IMO. Plus it is limiting. My quick 2cp before I head home for the day. Quote
!!blue Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 (edited) I like Traeger Web Solutions myself (as suggested by TCH-Jim), Traeger Group sounds like a group of lawyers or something. Traeger Technologies sounds like maybe you make, sell or distribute computer parts to me. Traeger Communications... hm.. maybe.. kinda makes me think of cell phones, but people do communicate over the web. Toss up between Traeger Web Solutions and Traeger Communications. Why not Traeger Web Development? you said so yourself: I'd like to open up a web development business hope that helps, !!blue Edited March 5, 2004 by !!blue Quote
Bunni Posted March 4, 2004 Posted March 4, 2004 Kasey, I'm leaning towards Traeger Enterprises although I admit it's not very descriptive. It does, however, leave you open to further business development. !!blue's suggestion of Traeger's Web Solutions is good too, but then again it seems a bit restrictive in the event you want to expand into more than just web development. My initial reaction was to endorse The Traeger Group but somehow after mulling it over in my mind it sounds too "corporate America". Of course, what do I know? I'm a Star Trek fan too! Just my 4 cents worth. I'm easy but not cheap. Quote
Virtual Imager Posted March 5, 2004 Posted March 5, 2004 Are you sure you want to keep your name in there? It's not always a plus (not your name in particular, but the use of an individual's name). Often the use of one's name keeps things seeming very small or limited. Think "Kish Hosting Company" ... would we all really be here? The use of an individual's name does not give one a sense of a large operation with full-time support, and things like longevity and continuity are not implicit. One tends to wonder what happens if the principal gets sick or needs a vacation. The other thing to consider is that building a business is building an asset. The value of a business is very much dependent upon its marketability as a transferrable asset. In the event that you build up a considerable client base with the associated goodwill that goes along with that, you may at some point have a very saleable commodity and you might want to retire or sell and remove the equity you've built up in this business. At that point, having your name on it would be considered a minus... It would be much harder to sell. You can sell your client list, but I can tell you from experience (I sold my accounting practice a few years ago) that that is not as good a deal for the seller. Client lists are generally sold on a 'retention' basis and the only thing that will keep them with 'Traeger and Associates' or 'The Traeger Group' is Traeger. Clients of a firm like "TotalChoice Web Design" (as an example) are more likely to stay with the firm through a change of ownership... they know going in that staff of the company is subject to change. It's not a conscious thing, but the effect is real. At least in my experience. IMHO you should re-think your basic premise... VI Quote
kaseytraeger Posted March 5, 2004 Author Posted March 5, 2004 These are all very good suggestions, especially the comments that have caused me to stop and think. First, the T&A thing ... definitely a no-go. Sounds very womanizing! Yikes!!! Thanks for pointing this out. Boy, can you imagine what some potential clients would think if we were to use T&A as our "nickname" or abbreviated business name?!? Heavens!!!! Second, I hadn't really considered the thought of selling the business, but now that I think about it from a different perspective (and dredging up some information from books I've read in the past), business people definitely need to think about an exit strategy when forming a company. Virtual Imager has made a very good point. OK, so that leads to a new question. If I leave the Traeger name out of the business name, this clearly opens more options and more chances for *creativity*. Please, help me get my thinking cells going. What do you think would be a good name if I refrain from putting my last name in the business name? We'll be moving to a mid-sized town in Montana. Perhaps something that attaches to the Montana mind set ... e.g., wilderness, nature, the Rocky Mountains, etc. Just a thought. I'd like to come up with a name that strikes a nice balance between being a business professional and being an approachable, not-to-"corporate" business person. My husband grew up in the area and although there are a lot of people moving into the region and bringing their businesses with them from the urbanized west coast, the people of the area still seem to like to do business with companies and individuals they perceive as approachable and competent. Believe it or not, contracts are still sealed with a handshake, and a person's word is as good as gold. Wow! Quote
Virtual Imager Posted March 5, 2004 Posted March 5, 2004 With a little tweaking, any of the names you were considering can be used with "Rocky Mountain" or "Wilderness" replacing Traeger. For example: Rocky Mountain Technology Associates... Wilderness Consulting (that kind of sounds like a survival camp seminar for business people!)... Wilderness Web Solutions, etc. Quote
kaseytraeger Posted March 5, 2004 Author Posted March 5, 2004 I think I'm going to take some of the more popular names that were chosen and try fiddling with inserting other words where "Traeger" would be. I'll probably be putting up some of the ones I think up for everyone to comment on. Thanks for all the input folks! Quote
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