Changing business name - opinion needed

[Helen B]

I'm facing a situation at the moment where my business is expanding (hurray!) and I am bringing in two new staff as sub-contractors, with a view to offering them partime/fulltime positions in 12 months time.

Up until now I have traded under my own name:

Helen Bryen : Designer

Simple, does what is says on the tin :-)

My thought at the moment is that with this expansion, I need to acknowledge the contribution of my two new staff, which isn't achieved by continuing to trade under my own name.

So, I guess at this stage I'm after your thoughts. Should I develop a new business name, or continue to trade on my name?

I have a solid client base who know me well, so I can't see any issues as far as reputation goes - and the announcement of the staff could go hand in hand with the announcement of a name change.

Appreciate all your thoughts!

Helen.

[paul]

You could just switch to

Helen Bryen Design

So you preserve your brand capital (mostly) but indicate you are a design agency rather than a sole designer.

Then if you really wanted to drop your identity from the name do another iteratation:

HB Designs

This might be a less jarring transition than a complete name swap, but it really depends how much brand capital you really have out there.

[gareth_concise]

hey

Depends what your long term goal is. Do you plan to sell your business in the future? Do you want to be known in 10 years time?

[mike@engagemarketing]

Hi Helen,
how about Bryen design? It does not sound 100% like its attached to a specific person so it allows for any avenue you take with your business as Gareth has suggested below.

Do you think that by having a name like this or HB Designs as Paul has suggested, clients will be less inclined to think that they are reliant on the availability and skill of a single person, rather than a team?

[Adam Randall]

Ive got one word to say to you - Dick Smiths

[Helen B]

Originally Posted by Adam Randall

Ive got one word to say to you - Dick Smiths

Actually, that's two Adam, but I totally get your point :-D

Mike - I did think of Bryen Design, my concern was that there is another designer who moves in the same circles as me, and she goes by Brine Design - too close for comfort.

Do you think that by having a name like this or HB Designs as Paul has suggested, clients will be less inclined to think that they are reliant on the availability and skill of a single person, rather than a team?

That is the ultimate aim, taking (for want of a better term) my ego out of the name to acknowledge that there is a team not just me.

Gareth - I do intend to be around for a good while, and although not part of the plan at the moment, being bought out is a nice retirement plan.

Paul - I avoided Helen Bryen Design initially as it's been done to death 'my name + design' (no offense meant to those who use that - it's just always jarred with me for some reason). Granted, Helen Bryen : Designer isn't a large leap from that, but at least it's something different.

Thanks for the answers so far. I'm not too concerned with the 'what' to call myself at the moment (I understand and appreciate where the suggestions are coming from though), what I'm struggling with is the question of 'should' I be changing at all?

[paul]

Yeah certainly - it wasn't so much the suggestion of a business name I was trying to make, but that you might be able to find minor change to the existing business name to convey that it is more than just you, while still holding on to your existing brand awareness.

[Adam Randall]

Originally Posted by Helen B

Actually, that's two Adam, but I totally get your point :-D

Not a fan of Kath and Kym then....

I have thought about changing my name because I always have to spell it out to people being that its a common word but spelt differently, Creydall, most people spell Cradle......

Trying to think of a name at the spur of the moment and just put my name and my wifes maiden name together, Crey and Randall, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Now that so much business is web based, if you do decide to change it, make sure it is not a common term as you will never be able to make it stand out with the search engines (or it will be very hard)

For example, if I was to call myself - Expert Computer systems, this would be a very bad thing.

So if you were to call yourself - Ultimate design studio or something similar, for the web at least it would be the same as crossing the streams..... it would be bad.

[Helen B]

Originally Posted by Adam Randall

Not a fan of Kath and Kym then....

I have thought about changing my name because I always have to spell it out to people being that its a common word but spelt differently, Creydall, most people spell Cradle......

Trying to think of a name at the spur of the moment and just put my name and my wifes maiden name together, Crey and Randall, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Now that so much business is web based, if you do decide to change it, make sure it is not a common term as you will never be able to make it stand out with the search engines (or it will be very hard)

For example, if I was to call myself - Expert Computer systems, this would be a very bad thing.

So if you were to call yourself - Ultimate design studio or something similar, for the web at least it would be the same as crossing the streams..... it would be bad.

Ah, of course, Kath & Kym - I couldn't hear you doing the Kath voice via forum post

I definitely get the Ghostbusters ref. Now you're talking my language!

As for my name - I've spent a bit of time looking at variances of my name and design and it's surprising how many HBs are out there and have registered as a business, or domain name. But it definately has to be something that leaps out and says what I'm about and what I offer. I'm not one for 'design for design sake' so I apply the same rule to the name, it has to have a purpose/meaning. Need a major brainstorming session for that one!

[Astrid]

Hi Helen

I would keep your name .. as in Helen Bryen Design (or Graphic Design).

Even with contractors your clients will always expect YOUR style and quality standards - your name stands for it.

I'm in the same boat ;-) although I don't have any contractors so far .. but they would always be in the background anyway as I am the face of the business.

By the way - I saw that you are using facebook for your business - how does it work for you?

Cheers
Astrid