Question -- Finding the right name --

Burchtree

Burchtree

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As of now, I go by Burchtree, yet I mark my blades with MBurch. I feel that it is time to get a little more serious and with a newer website coming soon I believe I need to lay the foundation for my name.

I've been mulling over my "name" for some time now and am unsure what to do. I'm not sure why I stuck with "Burchtree Blades," it was just a popular nickname as a kid and I thought it sounded appropriate as I starting making decent knives. Unfortunately, it makes for a long website URL and doesn't really go with the odd, snake-like logo I would like to use (the head is actually part of a tribal piece I drew up about 5 years ago and is in tattoo form on my back ;) ). I believe that having a recognizable logo like that is important, but I'm just confused on what ol' Burch should do. Change it to "Burch Blades" with the logo, leave it as "Burchtree Blades," etc.? Any thoughts or suggestions on this? Think of yourself as a consumer (as I've been trying to with this name stuff) and let me know an opinion if you've got one.

Also, I know I might get some replies to the tune of "well-built knives will speak for themselves." This is very true, but the name is very important to me for future endeavors and such. :)

Thanks --
 
Go with the logo and "Michael Burch" Bladeworks. Just use any part of whatever for the URL like MBB.com. As long as it comes up in a search of your name. I know search engines work different ways , so it's a toss up.
 
Thanks Mark. I've bought "burchblades" and "burchblade" if I need to change and that makes it a little easier on buyer.
 
I ended up buying mwforge.com a whole lot easier than my name. Need to get Chuck Burrows off his lazy butt and get my site slapped together for me. Dang relatives just crap on ya.
 
I'm glad someone you brought up this topic. I've just been marking mine "Shepherd"....something with more snap would be cool, I guess I'm not that creative or something. I've thought about my initials, but "SS" would either make it look like some chinese knockoff for "stainless steel", or I'd get the whole "SS nazi" thing attached to my stuff :(
I think your Logo looks pretty neat...a kind or northwest native american totem
 
Couple suggestions:
1) I really, really like the tree logo you use, FWIW. It's peaceful, different and I just like it for some reason. I like the snake, too, as you already know.

2) I think "Burchtree" is something that can be remembered pretty easily.

3) I doubt you'll run into problems, but when it comes time to choose something, sarch pretty diligently before paying for a website and stuff. I was going to go with "Black Swamp Knives" because the area of MI I live in used to be called the Black Swamp, and it's a catchy name, but I got an email and a call from Jerry Busse yesterday (SUPER nice guy, BTW) and after chatting it looks like I won't be able to use the name. Too close to the Swamp Rat/ swamp imagery used by Busse/Swamp Rat. Also, the area that Busse lives and works in has its own Black Swamp and they had originally wanted to use the name but there were a lot of local businesses using it, etc. I'd almost bought a URL and domain name for www.blackswampknives.com and so I'm glad I didn't because I'd be screwed!

4) When it comes time to get a domain name and URL I'd look at www.godaddy.com. For my chiropractic website I use Fatcow and I love their service (never had a single issue/problem), but you can get a basic Godaddy website for under half as much.
 
When you sell a knife and take a check, how does your client make the check out? Michael Burch or BurchTree Blades That is how a customer knows you/ your business. If this is a routine one way or another, maybe think twice befor changing or not changing.

I started as Cougar Creek Knives, Inc. kept getting a check to John Fraps....rather than Cougar Creek Knives,, so my website is frapsknives.com and business cards are also.

I don't know if my $0.02 worth is any help but I tried.

Good Luck,
 
Yep, I know what I would make it:

www.burchknives.com

or

www.mburchknives.com

Simple, obviously knife related, and also obviously yours!!!

Maybe I'm too simple minded, but if in 30 years I'm where I would like to be in the world of knives and where a lot of collectors tell me I could be.... I want "that guy" to be known as Nick Wheeler, bladesmith... not some fancy mojo name like... "that guy that runs UpperLimit Forged Knives" or some such thing.

:D

-Nick-
 
The "science" of branding products has proven that a name is a name and a logo is a logo, so there really isn't any magic in it, whatever you decide to call things. I think consistency is very important, though. Like in my example, personally, there is no consistency in my name, what I was going to name my knife business, my maker's mark (currently) or my Bladeforums ID! Duh! Good thing I don't have aspirations to do more than part-time! :rolleyes: Anyway, I think makers would be smart to get all their ducks in a row so that a Bladeforums person knows when he buys a Burchtree knife, let's say, that he knows Michael Burch made it, and he can find you on Bladeforums as Burchtree and on the Internet in a couple different ways, etc.

Like the Nike Swoosh is nothing in and of itself, but it's the best brand that's ever been made because everyone all over the world knows what company it stands for. So, I think you can get out of the traditional "Michael Burch, Knife Maker" naming thing, but it has to be consistent with your whole Internet and public (going to shows, etc) identity. Your library will have 100 books on this stuff. Figure it out for me then report back so it saves me some time! :D
 
Hmmm.... Yes, I think I will change it to UpperLimit Forged Knives. Thanks Nick! :D

I don't want to get away from my name -- I'd like it to continue on with using my name somehow.

Thanks for the opinions fellows -- keep 'em coming. ;)
 
Both burchblades.com and burchknives.com sound perfect to me.

I agree with Nick - your name will be your best selling point, and an easy way for people to remember your website.

If your logo with the snake had just "Burch" on the top, I honestly wouldn't know any better (regarding the "tree" part). I would just assume the two went together.

Or even "Michael Burch" across the top and "Blade Works" across the bottom.

You have a great logo/icon. And it fits your work. I do like the "MBurch" signature on your knives too...
 
I guess I'll add a few points.

First of all, I don't understand why so many people now-a-days seem to think there's something wrong with simply standing behind your name.

Like Chiro mentioned, "getting out of the traditional, Michael Burch, Knifemaker" naming thing."

That makes it sound like there's something wrong with "just" using your name.

And as far as logos on blades. This is my opinion, but that's okay, I'm entitled:

Some guys say, "Well, this drawing that I etch into my blades speaks of who I am and represents ME." I don't care for big, ornate logos on blades... I think it takes away from the knife. I think THE KNIFE is what will speak of and represent Me. I'd rather be known for my knives than for how cool the logo on my knife is.

You don't have to agree with me, but you'd be smart if you did. :p :D :p

-Nick-
 
That makes it sound like there's something wrong with "just" using your name.
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Sorry to imply that, Nick! For me it's a matter of personal taste. My last name is impossible to pronounce, and it's said differently than it's spelled. If I had a cool name like yours I would use it! I named my chiropractic office after myself, but for me, too, I think it's important to keep my personal life and my public life separate, so I guess I've always leaned toward using an alter ego of some kind because of the circumstances I'm in. My wife thinks making knives is insanely weird, so I don't want to lose patients because of it, either! Unfortunately, Michael is in a position where "Burchtree" is already recognizable on Bladeforums, so to change threatens that a little.

If I had a cool name like "Nick Wheeler" I'd use the heck out of it! :D

Oh, and since you mentioned logos on blades, I agree with you 100% there, Nick. The smaller the better in my book!
 
Bob Loveless, SR. Johnson, Dozier, Michael Burch. Let the customers know who you are. Michael Burch with the snake under it would be cool.

Bob Loveless has a naked chick on his knives along with his name and we all know theres nothing cooler than naked chicks. Right? .....Im sorry, I lost my train of thought.

Michael
 
I'm with you on that one too. I definitely don't want a lot of logos and names eating up space on my blades. I also like versatility too as I tend to do a variety of different styles and plan on carrying the name further if possible down the road.

Of course, if my name was Richard Suchin, I would opt for a logo on my blade.
 
Burchtree said:
I'm with you on that one too. I definitely don't want a lot of logos and names eating up space on my blades. I also like versatility too as I tend to do a variety of different styles and plan on carrying the name further if possible down the road.

Of course, if my name was Richard Suchin, I would opt for a logo on my blade.
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But that ties in nicely with naked chicks.

I have always believed that you should put your name on your knives. There is nothing wrong with having a web site name that is longer. I would rather type in burchknives.com than try to remember if its burchtree.com or mbt.com or pbr.com or pms. com or any other abreviation you can think of. Most people book mark anyway.

www.AdamMichaelKnives.com, www.MichaelBurchKnives.com.
Michael
 
Of course, if my name was Richard Suchin, I would opt for a logo on my blade.
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LOL! That was great! All joking aside, when my sister was in college she heard rumors that there was actually a Richard Head at the school. They looked him up in the directory and sure enough, there he was. The hilarious thing is that she actually met him at a party a couple of years later! Classic!

Also, don't bother with the following web addresses. If you're stupid enough to post this sort of thing, I'm smart enough to take advantage, so if you want any of these you'll need to buy them from me, first:
www.burchknives.com
www.mburchknives.com
www.michaelburchknives.com
www.mburchknife.com
www.mburch.com
www.michaelburch.com
www.michaelburchknife.com

And all of the .net, .us, .fu and every other combination you can think of. Pay up, sucker! :D
 
HeHeHe, Chiro you crack me up. We all know how "frugal" you are so I don't think you are fooling anybody into thinking you dropped the $$$ and all those domain names. ;)

My website is SC Knives. For Sean Couch Knives. I need to drop the Laredo7mm and use my real name and also get my stencils made with Couch or S. Couch and drop the "mark" that I use in my avatar.

I agree, use your real name.
 
HeHeHe, Chiro you crack me up. We all know how "frugal" you are so I don't think you are fooling anybody into thinking you dropped the $$$ and all those domain names.
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You know what I always say, Sean.... When in Holland, act like the Dutch!
 
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