Name my teenage daughter's (hobby which is turning into a) business.
February 12, 2014 1:01 AM Subscribe
She paints sandshoes and calico bags with original designs. She's 15, this thing just started growing by itself, she's never aggressively marketed her creations. It might provide a bit of spending money or she could be the next Collette Dinnigan, she really doesn't care because she wants to be a forensic psychologist, but she wants a catchy business name to start a Facebook page, maybe get business cards, etc.
She designed and painted shoes for herself. A friend commissioned a pair, a friend of that friend commissioned a pair, and word spread quickly around our small country town. She has currently sold maybe six pairs of different designs, and today got an order for another pair. She has also painted a couple of calico tote bags with original designs, and suddenly she finds herself with four orders for similar bags (and one of those orders is for the owner of a small but successful home business, which I anticipate could turn into an ongoing, lucrative order, if they decide to market the bags to their customers).
She's doing it for fun. The profit is a bonus. She wants a catchy name. She is a science nut as well as an arts nut, but her target audience could be neither or one or both. Her name... I can't put it here because she'd have a fit if it was googleable, but think of a blonde film star who married a prince of Monaco. Her surname is spelled every so slightly differently than the maiden name of the princess, but pronounced the same.
She loves puns. She'd like something catchy, unforgettable, but easily found via FB search. We've brainstormed but nothing seems right. As a last resort I asked her if she wanted me to ask Mefites... she thought that the was best idea I've had since before she was named.
Anyone got any brilliant suggestions?
She designed and painted shoes for herself. A friend commissioned a pair, a friend of that friend commissioned a pair, and word spread quickly around our small country town. She has currently sold maybe six pairs of different designs, and today got an order for another pair. She has also painted a couple of calico tote bags with original designs, and suddenly she finds herself with four orders for similar bags (and one of those orders is for the owner of a small but successful home business, which I anticipate could turn into an ongoing, lucrative order, if they decide to market the bags to their customers).
She's doing it for fun. The profit is a bonus. She wants a catchy name. She is a science nut as well as an arts nut, but her target audience could be neither or one or both. Her name... I can't put it here because she'd have a fit if it was googleable, but think of a blonde film star who married a prince of Monaco. Her surname is spelled every so slightly differently than the maiden name of the princess, but pronounced the same.
She loves puns. She'd like something catchy, unforgettable, but easily found via FB search. We've brainstormed but nothing seems right. As a last resort I asked her if she wanted me to ask Mefites... she thought that the was best idea I've had since before she was named.
Anyone got any brilliant suggestions?
"Glow of (name) Designs" or "A Touch of (name) Accessories"
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 1:58 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 1:58 AM on February 12, 2014
What is she painting on the bags? Any specific kind of design we could pull a name from? Patterns, animals...?
penguin pie, I think the OP was hinting at that actress's surname, not her first name
posted by third word on a random page at 2:21 AM on February 12, 2014
penguin pie, I think the OP was hinting at that actress's surname, not her first name
posted by third word on a random page at 2:21 AM on February 12, 2014
Any of many words ending -cally could be made in to -kelly. See here for ideas, like exotikelly, chaotikelly, organikelly, ...
posted by beniamino at 2:27 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by beniamino at 2:27 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
My English might be off, but I suggest "Painted Trove".
posted by KMB at 2:48 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by KMB at 2:48 AM on February 12, 2014
Response by poster: Not threadsitting, I'm off to bed soon, but just to clarify: her whole name is the same as the maiden name of the actress-turned-princess. Same first name, same last name. (And she'll never forgive me for it, but it was the only first name her father and I both liked. It could have been worse, she could have been a boy named Ned.)
Designs are different, according to the interests of the person commissioning them. She's done band themes, cartoon themes, video game themes, movie themes... and a camera theme with a pun that I had to have explained to me. The customer tells her what they're into, she sketches a design and runs it by them, then paints the shoes/bag when the customer likes her idea.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:50 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Designs are different, according to the interests of the person commissioning them. She's done band themes, cartoon themes, video game themes, movie themes... and a camera theme with a pun that I had to have explained to me. The customer tells her what they're into, she sketches a design and runs it by them, then paints the shoes/bag when the customer likes her idea.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:50 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm not quite following the hints of your daughters name. If it is Kelly, then what about Kellyco. It sounds like calico! Or Cali Company.
posted by MT at 3:06 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by MT at 3:06 AM on February 12, 2014
How about phrases incorporating her name, like Made With Grace or Acts of Grace?
Beauty in Action (from Coningsby, by Disraeli: "Grace, indeed, is beauty in action")
Some reference to the three Graces, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne? They represented Beauty, Good Cheer, and Mirth (respectively).
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:25 AM on February 12, 2014
Beauty in Action (from Coningsby, by Disraeli: "Grace, indeed, is beauty in action")
Some reference to the three Graces, Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne? They represented Beauty, Good Cheer, and Mirth (respectively).
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:25 AM on February 12, 2014
Kelley's Custom Designs
Designed by Grace
Grace & Gumption, Ltd.
posted by xenophile at 4:29 AM on February 12, 2014
Designed by Grace
Grace & Gumption, Ltd.
posted by xenophile at 4:29 AM on February 12, 2014
Shore things
posted by chapps at 4:53 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by chapps at 4:53 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Current editions" with a logo like ocean current maps?
posted by chapps at 5:03 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by chapps at 5:03 AM on February 12, 2014
Why does it have to reflect her name? It might be better to go with a word or character from a favorite book, lyric, location or poem. Does she have a favorite beach or cove nearby?
posted by barnone at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by barnone at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2014
Coco Chanel made hats for wealthy friends and only ages later opened her boutique.
Please please please have her start taking pictures of her work. Like NOW. Get a photo of everything that she's done so far, just for catalog.
My suggestion is to follow Chanel and keep it simple
- what is her middle name?
- have her draw a nice logo for "GK"
- a nick name like "Gracie K"
Or for fun
- a slew of rhyming nonsense "Gracie Kelly's Jelly Belly Wellies"
- the opposite of Grace "Grace's Tactless Shoes & Bags"
(other synonyms & antonyms at thesaurus.com)
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:20 AM on February 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Please please please have her start taking pictures of her work. Like NOW. Get a photo of everything that she's done so far, just for catalog.
My suggestion is to follow Chanel and keep it simple
- what is her middle name?
- have her draw a nice logo for "GK"
- a nick name like "Gracie K"
Or for fun
- a slew of rhyming nonsense "Gracie Kelly's Jelly Belly Wellies"
- the opposite of Grace "Grace's Tactless Shoes & Bags"
(other synonyms & antonyms at thesaurus.com)
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:20 AM on February 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Gk Grace
Make a logo so it is like an element on the periodic table:
(In a box)
Gk
Grace
pick a number for it.
This theme give a lot of fun things to do with labels and card design/etc.
posted by effigy at 7:42 AM on February 12, 2014
Make a logo so it is like an element on the periodic table:
(In a box)
Gk
Grace
pick a number for it.
This theme give a lot of fun things to do with labels and card design/etc.
posted by effigy at 7:42 AM on February 12, 2014
I was on a business trip in California once, and drove by a place called "Two Stupid Guys Selling Furniture". Never checked out the store, but I've remembered the name for 15 years. Maybe "Just A High School Girl Selling Sandals" or something equally offbeat?
posted by xedrik at 10:42 AM on February 12, 2014
posted by xedrik at 10:42 AM on February 12, 2014
Here in the US we'd probably call that kind of bag a tote. So what about "Totes & Toes"
posted by TooFewShoes at 11:54 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by TooFewShoes at 11:54 AM on February 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Grace's Soles
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:29 PM on February 12, 2014
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:29 PM on February 12, 2014
Kelly's Wellies
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:32 PM on February 12, 2014
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:32 PM on February 12, 2014
Best answer: What's-The-One-Thing-They-Don't-Say-Before-Dinner-In-Monaco Shoes
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:34 PM on February 12, 2014
posted by Rob Rockets at 5:34 PM on February 12, 2014
Response by poster: Penguin Pie absolutely nailed it with DisGraceful Designs. She loves it, and has setup her FB page and has garnered 30-something likes already, as well as a few orders via inbox.
There are other great suggestions here, but DisGraceful is just perfect.
thanks for your input, all.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:22 AM on February 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
There are other great suggestions here, but DisGraceful is just perfect.
thanks for your input, all.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:22 AM on February 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Update: DisGraceful Designs are awesome (go like the page!). I know, because to say thank you for coming up with the name, Grace designed and sent me a fabulous penguin pie bag - it's now my MeFi profile pic if you want to check it out.
This is why we can have nice things!
posted by penguin pie at 3:02 AM on March 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
This is why we can have nice things!
posted by penguin pie at 3:02 AM on March 17, 2014 [4 favorites]
Checked out the site and "liked"... Great bag, lucky you, penguin pie!
posted by chapps at 10:15 PM on March 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by chapps at 10:15 PM on March 17, 2014 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
It should be called "Fall", then all the labels can say "Fall from Grace".
or
Airs and Graces
Grace and Favours
Grace With Your Presents
DisGraceful Designs
(Unless I've misunderstood the name clue, in which case, anyone round here got a clever, arty daughter called Grace?).
posted by penguin pie at 1:48 AM on February 12, 2014 [6 favorites]