One of the hardest things about creating a new fashion brand is coming up with an epic business name. But don’t feel like you’re alone; many aspiring fashion designers find themselves in this same position. And it can be stressful knowing you have an amazing concept but not being able to relate to your audience. After all, a business name isn’t just an arbitrary thought; it dramatically affects brand perception. So much that even Forbes lists it as a crucial element of launching a fashion house.
To get the right brand name, there are four simple steps you must take to avoid the common pitfalls associated with business naming. And that’s precisely what the following article will discuss.
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Below are Common Faux Pas to Avoid When Naming Your Fashion Brand
Failing to Research
If you are just starting and haven’t put much thought into your marketing or branding yet, failing to research is an easy mistake. You may be so laser-focused on learning how to run the business or get started that you don’t spend enough time creating a compelling brand image and coming up with the perfect name.
But finding a great name doesn’t just happen; you must put time and effort into developing something that works for potential investors and the target audience. And since your brand name appears on everything from your social media accounts to your website and advertising materials, it has to evoke emotion and pique interest. It is the first thing everyone, including your potential clients, sees, so make sure you do enough research and choose a legendary fashion name.
Avoid Complicated Pronunciations and Spellings
Perhaps you want to channel your inner Givenchy or other luxury brands that feature a hard-to-pronounce name. But it’s crucial that you remember these names are typically foreign and represent aristocratic families. So, while this works for some, when naming your fashion house, opt for a name that’s easy to spell and pronounce.
Choosing a brand name that’s easy to say and spell usually means it’s also easy to remember. This is vital because you want them to tell their friends and family about your brand. Choose a name that’s memorable and catchy but is not hard to say or spell.
Don’t Ignore the Link Between Brand Personality and Positioning
The name you pick for your fashion brand needs to meet your brand’s goals and its marketing strategies. These are the main attributes you want in a business name:
- Catchy
- Memorable
- Reminiscent of what your company represents
Just remember, the name you choose must be in line with your entire strategy. Yet, it must also have the correct connotations if you want it to succeed on social media.
And although you may already know this, the name must also be legally compliant. The truth is that it can be easy to overlook the small things when in your “creative zone,” just don’t let it take away from the importance of choosing a great name for your brand.
Don’t Skip the Trademark
A trademark is designed to protect your name from other companies so that you know consumers will only associate your products with your brand. And while a trademark cannot safeguard and guarantee every word in your name, it does work for terms that are unique enough to be deemed as “distinctive.”
Ultimately, naming your business is a crucial step, but it doesn’t have to be that complex. So, don’t settle for a less-than-stellar name, avoid the pitfalls we discussed above and be sure to conduct plenty of research! If you get stuck during the process, business name generators and naming competitions are two great tools to ensure you’re picking an excellent name for your fashion business.
Grant Polachek is the head of branding for Squadhelp.com, 3X Inc 5000 startup and disruptive naming agency. Squadhelp has reviewed more than 1 million names and curated a collection of the best available names on the web today. We are also the world’s leading crowdsource naming platform, supporting clients from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies.
