A store by any other name...

April 14, 2006 8:18 AM

Help! I need a name for my new store.

I'm opening an accessories shop in a resort town and am running into problems naming the joint. The store will carry a variety of jewelry, watches, sunglasses, handbags, ipod accessories, etc, and cater to both men and women. I'd like to keep the name short and witty, but am having trouble coming up with ideas that are (a) not too cheezy and (b) equally appealing to both male and female customers (though when it comes down to the wire, I'm most concerned about the gals).

posted by kayzie to work & money (48 comments total)

I like your username. Use that.
posted by quibx at 8:23 AM on April 14, 2006

Hmm.. what resort town? Kind of makes a difference?/ What is the address?? Number? You dont have to share but I think that address names are memorable and help find the place- and refind next season....
posted by beccaj at 8:26 AM on April 14, 2006

Stuff and Things
Sugar!
Urban Utilities
posted by black8 at 8:33 AM on April 14, 2006

"All the stuff you forgot at home"
posted by Apoch at 8:38 AM on April 14, 2006

Bling
Sh#t
posted by purephase at 8:42 AM on April 14, 2006

ThingZ
A2Z
TODO (as in the Spanish for "everything")
posted by dbiedny at 8:45 AM on April 14, 2006

"The Joint"
posted by blue_wardrobe at 8:46 AM on April 14, 2006

Extras
posted by JanetLand at 8:56 AM on April 14, 2006

U-SaV-Alot Depot
Incompetently Deployed Army Surplus
horsewithnoname
Free Beer
Fleurs du Mall
posted by horsewithnoname at 8:56 AM on April 14, 2006

Add-Ons
posted by JanetLand at 8:57 AM on April 14, 2006

in decision
hipster vector
cromulence
posted by planetkyoto at 8:59 AM on April 14, 2006

The Icing
posted by JanetLand at 9:01 AM on April 14, 2006

Decoration Nation
Ooh Shiny!
Unisexy
The Hotness (Now Air-Conditioned!)
posted by defenestration at 9:02 AM on April 14, 2006

Things vs. Stuff
posted by Falconetti at 9:03 AM on April 14, 2006

Especially if you are priced competitively how about "Tourist Un-Trapped"?
posted by skepticallypleased at 9:04 AM on April 14, 2006

Buy Curious
Kayzie Eddie
posted by horsewithnoname at 9:09 AM on April 14, 2006

What beccaj said... I live in a resort town, and the stores here whose names have local flavor are a lot more memorable and appealing -- and probably more successful.
posted by Robert Angelo at 9:11 AM on April 14, 2006

Thanks for all the great ideas thus far! I knew you Mefites would not disappoint.

Some have asked about the location: the storefront is on a wharf at the edge of a harbor. The village is of the quaint New England variety and the shop I'm opening would be one of the more modern, up to speed offerings in town - a fact which I'd like to highlight. Please, keep tossing your ideas my way. I have an appointment with a sign-maker on Monday!
posted by kayzie at 9:35 AM on April 14, 2006

Regalia

or for that added air of authenticity: The Regalium
posted by Durhey at 9:36 AM on April 14, 2006

Lieutenant Commander Wharf
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:41 AM on April 14, 2006

Or, since you seem to be selling bits and pieces, perhaps a variation thereof:

Bits'n'Pieces
Pieces'n'Bits
Bits/Pieces

I quite like that last one.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:43 AM on April 14, 2006

Handibles

Kayzie Masterpiece

The Rusty Squid (as a thing with many arms would help with your branding of handy accessories - the icon of your store). Of course your squid doesn't have to be rusty, it could be handy, painted, crazy or some other two-syllable word.

posted by FreezBoy at 9:54 AM on April 14, 2006

How about just Bits? lends itself to a lot of applications - your tech accessories section can be called Bits & Bytes... collectibles are Bits & Pieces... children shopping with their parents can join your Little Bits club and get a free balloon or something... your closed sign can say "Back in a Bit!", etc, etc, etc.
posted by chudmonkey at 9:57 AM on April 14, 2006

Finery
Elegantia
Smart Casual
Opportuna
posted by johoney at 10:12 AM on April 14, 2006

Periphera.
posted by speedo at 10:21 AM on April 14, 2006

Damn - I am trying to guess where you might be located!

Wel- I like classier simpler names that have a simple image that can be used as a theme a bit in the store.

THE RED PEARL

d a n d e l i o n s (cool images - the dandelion about ready to make a wish on and the sunny cheery yellow one)


THE SILVER WILLOW (lots of cool images there too)
posted by beccaj at 10:26 AM on April 14, 2006

Cagey (KG - your initials) Lobster

Cagey anything would work - Cagey Lobster, Cagey Oyster, Cagey Nautilus, Cagey Pelican, etc.

I also like the simplicity of

g e a r
posted by iconomy at 10:39 AM on April 14, 2006

Shiny Objects
posted by mrleec at 11:00 AM on April 14, 2006

pieces of paradise
posted by the theory of revolution at 11:05 AM on April 14, 2006

Sforzando

Cappricci

Extravaganza
posted by zonkout at 11:10 AM on April 14, 2006

Le Bling
K.G.'s Fine Goods Ltd.
Shabby's
posted by Ptrin at 11:12 AM on April 14, 2006

Crazy Delicious
Best. Stuff. Ever.
posted by The Bellman at 11:20 AM on April 14, 2006

A pun:

Personal Effects
posted by defenestration at 11:23 AM on April 14, 2006

Flotsum and Jetsum (or however they're spelt)
Cargo Cult
posted by krisjohn at 11:24 AM on April 14, 2006

Paraphernalia
posted by JanetLand at 11:38 AM on April 14, 2006

Millenium Trading Co? Combines the idea of "new" along with the old "trading company" sort of thing you'd find at a working harbor...
posted by Robert Angelo at 12:27 PM on April 14, 2006

block + tackle?
posted by misterbrandt at 12:47 PM on April 14, 2006

Swag
One More Thing
Something Else
More Is More
Ephemera
Set It Off
Stuff
Etcetera
posted by brautigan at 1:42 PM on April 14, 2006

After reading location

For Shore
Bounty
Loot
Flotsam
Jetsam
High Tide
Booty
Four Sail
posted by brautigan at 1:49 PM on April 14, 2006

Pastiche - means "a medley" (i.e. your goods inventory) but also sounds French-ish which conveys retail sophistication. Doesn't ring unisex though.

The Emporium says "I'm a store for browsing, I'm a destination experience, I have a wide variety of goods to interest any shopper."

Town to Country, or maybe Up From Town, as in, "I've just come back from the city with fabulous new things," i.e. something that alludes that you are consistently bringing urban style to the village.

Purveyors, outfitters, merchants and goods are all words that will brand you as "unisex retail" if you can incorporate them somehow; maybe something more local can be combined with one of those words, like a county name or an area mascot or

Speaking of local, is there a local legend or story or person who could be incorporated in some way? Something with kitsch but not cheese? If not, could you create one? Sometimes the most authentic-sounding things aren't really that authentic at all.
posted by pineapple at 2:33 PM on April 14, 2006

"local geographic feature" Ephemera & gifts
posted by Megafly at 3:26 PM on April 14, 2006

Sea Breezes.
The Gull's Nest.
WaveFront.
Mermaids.
Treasure Trove.
The Docks.
posted by annieb at 5:50 PM on April 14, 2006

Parc (i.e., the opposite of crap)
Beeblow (missp. of bibelots)
Oh.My.Gaud.
And I really like horsew/noname's Buy Curious
posted by rob511 at 5:55 PM on April 14, 2006

Shazzizzles n' bits?
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 8:37 PM on April 14, 2006

Garnish
posted by Tarrama at 7:12 AM on April 15, 2006

p.s. whatever you decide to go with, you should try to vet through the appropriate county clerk, secretary of state, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It would suck to pick a name in a hurry and start on signage, only to find out that someone in Maine, or even in the next town, is using the same name and happens to be litigious.
posted by pineapple at 5:52 PM on April 15, 2006

The Edge
posted by blue_wardrobe at 9:19 PM on April 18, 2006

Pier 2 Imports
Pier Gynt
Bras and Chanteys
Higgs' Bosun
Courteney's Coxswain
The Ship Chandlers
The Salty Schooner
The Boston Steamer
posted by horsewithnoname at 7:24 AM on April 19, 2006