This is definitely the kind of discussion needed by those even considering starting their own firms someday. What sounds good today may not seem nearly so good in 10 years or more. "Buggy Whips 'R' Us" probably doesn't get many calls these days. I admit that I grow weary of the alphabet soup used by so many firms in every type of business these days. For all I know, KFC might stand for Kleptomaniacal F'ing Cows. Lord help Palmer, Murphy and Sanders if they go to nothing but initials. Thirty years ago that might have been a fine set of initials, but not now. Anyone want to go for an airline adventure on PMS Airlines? Mr. Charles Edward Gay, Jr. might not want to list his firm in the Yellow Pages as Gay Surveyors unless he's based in the city by the bay. :-$ There are probably already a few hundred firms around the U.S. whose names include the words: compass, cornerstone, precision, accurate, plumb bob, traverse, bench mark, witness, etc.
I am from Siskiyou County, CA. Back in the late thirties / early forties, the Northern counties of CA and the Southern counties of Oregon decided to go to congress and petition their case for succession from their respective states and create the 51st state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_%28proposed_Pacific_state%29&apos ;">The State of Jefferson. Well Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and they decided to rally around the war effort instead. The movement is still alive today. Almost 8 years ago, I was kind of forced into being my own boss and I started State of Jefferson Land Surveying, Inc. It was really a way to identify with the geography vs. a political statement, but some interesting benefits came from it. It seems that not a lot of people know of the story behind the name and I would constantly get questioned about it. I would in turn tell them the same story herein and these people were unlikely forget the name of my the business. A few people on this forum have picked up on my moniker "SOJ".
Brian
Love that story. There have been a number of similar secession attempts around the country. One I recall involved parts of western Kansas back in the early 1990's. I think northern Colorado had a similar goal within the past couple of years.
I'd probably name mine State of Confusion and have no clientele.
We named ours Axis. Weren't thinking at the time that it would put us at the front of the list in the phone book. We just thought it was a neat homage to the profession. It's been pretty funny the number of jobs we picked up as we were the first one they came to when they opened the phone book! We'd ask if we had been referred... "Nope, you folks were the first ones on the list." Hopefully it will stand the test of time.
joabmc, post: 334083, member: 10395 wrote: We named ours Axis.
Time does change things. That name wouldn't have gotten many clients right after WW II.
Edward Reading, post: 333942, member: 132 wrote: If I had a surveying company in Belleville, Illinois it sure would be called: Uncle Tupelo's Surveying
Funny you should say that as Jay Farrar's brother is a licensed surveyor in Illinois.
I always thought Seven Ranges Surveying would be a great name if in the Ohio Area
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Ranges
ILL.DJM, post: 334114, member: 9925 wrote: Funny you should say that as Jay Farrar's brother is a licensed surveyor in Illinois.
Seriously? That is funny. I'm a big fan.
"Aardvark Surveying"
will come top of most search lists...
;">This is a very obscure Monty Python reference )
I have a second cousin who has Cheatham relatives. As far as I know none of them are attorneys.
Many years ago there was a real estate firm named Love & Robb Real Estate in Topeka. What an odd pairing for a business name. Should have been a legal firm.
A greenhouse operation operated by the Rose family is known as The Rose Garden.
We used to joke with a couple of friends that they should sell typewriters. Their names were Hunt and Peck.
Holy Cow, post: 334209, member: 50 wrote: I have a second cousin who has Cheatham relatives. As far as I know none of them are attorneys.
Many years ago there was a real estate firm named Love & Robb Real Estate in Topeka. What an odd pairing for a business name. Should have been a legal firm.
A greenhouse operation operated by the Rose family is known as The Rose Garden.
We used to joke with a couple of friends that they should sell typewriters. Their names were Hunt and Peck.
Had a kid that worked for me a few years back that was from Virginia. He had received most of his experience at a firm named "Hurt & Proffitt". Thought that was pretty unique.
My favorite local surveying firm name around here is Halff Associates. It's fun to abbreviate! My first time finding one of their caps was a fun day. It was marred and the only thing I could make out was Halff As$ .
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Edward Reading, post: 334133, member: 132 wrote: Seriously? That is funny. I'm a big fan.
Half the surveyors I know in my age group are fans....the cool half :-@
Dick Liquor does a solid business. Their radio advertising is a hoot, to say the least. It is, in fact, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dick.
Holy Cow, post: 334296, member: 50 wrote: Dick Liquor does a solid business. Their radio advertising is a hoot, to say the least. It is, in fact, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dick.
Reminds me of the Dicken's Cider Orchard Commercials...
[MEDIA=youtube]dqRRW9lKmEQ[/MEDIA]
If you want more business than the other guys; here is an actual tried and true business advertising technique. The public can be lazy and will usually pick out the first or top name on a list. Since most listings are alphabetical, you need to name a business starting with the letter 'A'.
For example two guys who I knew (both retired recently, from different states) each named their business Arrow Surveying. They both absolutely got more work over the years that any other surveyors in town.
If too many outfits use that name, use your imagination, plenty of good words start with A.
Already Surveyed, Inc. - maybe that would suit someone who accepts only what looks like the easiest jobs, and hopes he can get it done soon after stepping out of the truck? not possible right ?
Accurate Surveys, Inc. - that is definitely a name that is used a lot
Acceptance Surveys, Inc. - this businessman will never seek to upset the apple cart out there, maybe a very good idea
Astronomical Surveys, Inc. - well that may have been more useful back a few decades when it was done more
Absolutely Fast, Cheap, or Good Surveys
T & A Land Surveying. Some of you on this board know of whom I speak.
When we lived in Florida, my wife's gyno doctor's name was Richard Stiff. True Story.
In a town I used to live in the obstetrician was Dr. Peter Strange.
Been thinking about changing my company name.
A1 surveying.
New motto: A stake is just a stake without A1.