A name?

A

Alec Wachtman

Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
32
Hi everyone,
So, I've been making knives for about two years now and I have decided to start marketing them. The only problem is, I can't find a good name. Does anyone have any ideas/things to consider when choosing a name?
 
I prefer not to have my full name in searchable text on social media or anything else Google indexed if I can help it. Even though I'm now stamping some knives with my last name, and anyone who does any business with me has my full name, I prefer to have that degree of separation between my knifemaking and my day job.

That said if I wasn't in a management position I would have used my name from the start.
 
When I started I ask the late Bob Loveless about branding my knives and he said, if you want people to be able to find you? Name & Town!.. this was when the interweds were still pretty young in 98, So I might just use my website if I didn’t already have the logo you see in my Avatar.. So I’m sure you have a name or a name of a pet or a name of an animal that you like. Also remember that the product is more important than the brand.;)
 
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I'm with kuraki on this one. I work in the it field and manage websites for my day job. People already find my name that's ties to my job. Even though it's not an issue I have a side business I like to separate myself in my personal affairs from my work. Easier to do when my full name isn't tied to it.
 
I think a full name at least as in first and last and state is good if your a full time maker but if it’s just a hobby and maybe a passing fad then stick what ever you want on it. I think names just come, thy are not thought up on the spot. And in order for a “knife name, mark” to mean anything you have to get known so your brand is recognisable. If not then it’s just another one of the thousands of other marks floating around there.

Me personally, I have 2 marks. One is just J.J.Todd and the other is just Todd inside of my mark. You can see it here in the top left. This mark is actually quite a bit more popular with my customers.

Photo%20Mar%2019%2C%203%2000%2045%20PM.jpg
 
There is a major downside to not using your name. Knifemaking scammers have learned they can move from AAA Knives to BBB Knives and keep their anonymity. The number of scammers has increased in the last few years. Especially now where scammers use crowd funding websites to deceive collectors for huge amounts of money and with little chance of being caught.

IMO, it is just a matter of time until collectors are reluctant to buy from knifemakers who do not use their name.

Chuck
 
You can't go wrong with your own name. Second choice could be a nickname, and that's what I use.
 
When you build a good product people will Recognize the Name and associate the workmanship, but the opposite can also be true. As a sole source where you do all the work your Name is your company.

I've had one name most of my life everyone but my mother calls me by it. If it was good enough for "Odin" to use one name good enough for me.
 
When I see a knifemaker selling knives with just his name, my mind thinks 'custom knifemaker' and not afraid to do business 'in person' rather than behind a company name. (NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE WHO USES AN ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME!)

When I see a company name, it may be one person making custom knives, but I assume it's one person who has expanded to the point of having employees making mid-tech or production knives.

Also, if you use your full name you don't have to pay for filing and renewing an Assumed Business Name with the state, depending on where you live.
 
I agree with using your name. It is unique and visually appealing. If you ever become famous there can also be a big online debate over how to properly pronounce/spell it. Wachtman v Watchman like Reeve v Reeves.

I mark mine with just my initials since my last name, Germany, would easily be confused for country of origin.
 
JTknives said:
I think a full name at least as in first and last and state is good if your a full time maker but if it’s just a hobby and maybe a passing fad then stick what ever you want on it. I think names just come, thy are not thought up on the spot. And in order for a “knife name, mark” to mean anything you have to get known so your brand is recognisable. If not then it’s just another one of the thousands of other marks floating around there.

Me personally, I have 2 marks. One is just J.J.Todd and the other is just Todd inside of my mark. You can see it here in the top left. This mark is actually quite a bit more popular with my customers.

Photo%20Mar%2019%2C%203%2000%2045%20PM.jpg
Click to expand...
Thats a pretty awesome looking touch mark, I love that knife handle too. I have thought about doing two touchmarks.
 
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