Shop Name - Decision time

[Christopher Lawrence]

Greetings all!

First let me say that I apologize if I caused any confusion with this post. My intent was for a bit of fun regarding these names and to get a feel for how well they would be received as names.  I apologize if I was misleading in the intent of the discussion. They say that “hind sight is always 20/20” and this is a perfect example.  Glenn is absolutely right, I should have stated in the original post that this was for my “hobby” shop and not a full business. 

I think that the problem was my point of reference and assumption of the audience I was writing for.  In my limited experience with the local smiths of my guild only one is making a living as a blacksmith whereas the rest treat it like an artist hobby.  The gentleman that I mention in an earlier post “Warwick Forge” has a beautiful shop with everything short of a power hammer but he again is a little more than a hobbyist.

I think that I need to remember that posting here is not the same audience as say the “Blacksmith for beginners” on Facebook.   BFB is mostly entry level smiths with some seasoned professionals, sprinkled in to help answer questions and guide new smiths.  In that group probably 1 in a 1000 makes any money doing smithing work.

What we have here is the opposite.   Those that regularly haunt theses hall and routinely review and answer these threads are seasoned professionals with a few novices sprinkled in. Here the percentage of professional blacksmiths is a lot higher and that changes the dynamic of how a question is answered. 

This post is case in point, If I asked the question “What do you think about the name 4xForged?”  Those on the BFB would respond more of how funny the name and how unique it is.  Here the question is given a more studious answer of how it will work for a professional business.

So while this post generated a lot of good conversation it also unfortunately created a little confusion.  The bright side in this thou is that this post should serve as a reminder to be cognizant of the audience you are writing for and help serve to instruct new members as to how  and what to post.

As a point of interest regarding the substance of this post I have come to a conclusion.  After consideration I think that I will be going with “3 Nail Forge”.  I think it is simpler and unique enough.  “The Cross and Anvil” sounds more and more to me like a Middle Earth pub rather than a shop.

I want to thank you all for your time in answering this post and the help it provided in answering the question at hand.

Thank You,

Chris Lawrence

[Glenn]

CL no need for an apology, as you ask a question and it was answered, by professional blacksmiths, hobby smiths, and those just getting started in blacksmithing. Truly a mix of opinions, which is good.

We often forget that IForgeIron is a community visited by over 150 world wide countries each month. We are fortunate to have many professional, and highly experienced individuals on the site. We are also fortunate to have many hobby blacksmiths and newbies that are learning and willing to try different things to see if ti will work for them. These are the folks that will advance to become the next highly advanced blacksmiths, and professional blacksmiths.  

They pass along good information and encouragement, because they want you to succeed. They speak from the heart AND the hands.

Make your best choice, and do not be afraid to change things if it is needed. We wish you the very best. Continue to ask questions and please keep us informed.  

 

[rockstar.esq]

CL

I appreciate the distinction you're making.  When I consider your intended question of how the names will be received, I find myself coming to a similar conclusion as before.

If I were receiving a handmade gift from someone, I don't think an oblique religious reference would have the impact that the makers name would evoke. 

I can imagine a guest in my home picking up your work and asking me "Who is CL?"  Now consider the same thing with an  obtuse "brand name" and their question becomes;  "Where did you buy this?". 

I think you have a great name with good cadence that looks professional in print.  If it were me, I'd go with:

 

Christopher Lawrence

Christian Blacksmith

 

 

 

[Marc1]

I must agree with Rockstar yet I understand Chris motivation.

Chris has explained in detail the purpose for the name of his shop, and it is obvious he is a Christian and wants his work to become part of his testimony.

The question is, will a Christian name help or hinder your testimony? 

My personal experience of 50 years of church, conceded in a different country, is that Christian business, from bookshops to mechanics, solicitors or psychologist, make their faith public for either of two reasons. One, to cater exclusively to those in the same faith. Two, to grow their business and increase their customer base with those in the church.   

From my personal point of view, both are incorrect motivations from a biblical point of view. I suppose I can't go into the detail of why this is so here, but perhaps I can generalise that a Christian testimony is primarily a personal one. As such, a name that attracts people of all background, or rather that will not deter people from a different background, would be a nice bridge to reach out to others that would otherwise never hear from you, what your beliefs are. 

Todays mission strategies are based on this very concept and rather than march to convert the unbeliever, todays missions send professionals and tradesman to mix with the population and help.

I suppose that this is as far as I can stretch this conversation, so perhaps a completely secular name that would attract people initially because of your talent as a blacksmith and as a nice guy, will then give you the opportunity to testify to them.

My 2.5c

 

 

[SLAG]

Marc1,

All I can say is,

amen brother,

SLAG.

[Glenn]

Thanks to all who have kept this thread on track and not let it slide into a religious discussion. I appreciate your efforts.

 

Before we go any further, we need to reconsider our choices in a name, and associations with the name. To use Rockstar's example:

Your Name

(Insert your religion preference here) Blacksmith

 

Does seeing your name and your religious preference in print make a difference?

Now think of several different religions and insert each religion into the wording. It takes YOUR religious preference out of the equation and makes the wording generic.  Now that we have a (generic religion) blacksmith actually named, would you purchase the same product or do business with that blacksmith just as quickly? Or would you prefer to purchase from, or do business with, the fellow next door wearing an apron and standing beside an anvil, unaware of his religious preferences?

We want you to succeed, so we make suggestions. What ever you choose, we will support your decision as it is your choice to make.

[Marc1]

how bout ...

Forged in God's fire by

Christopher Lawrence 

(?)

[Frosty]

On 1/16/2017 at 4:34 PM, notownkid said:

a lot of us are Non Profit and not by design.!

Amen to that Brother!

Frosty The Lucky.

[Brian Hibbert]

As a beginner here who hasn't produced anything I'm ready to give away yet let alone sell, I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. 

Marc1's explanation of how HE would use a shop's name is in my opinion spot on.  If your motivation is to reach non-believers, an overtly Christian reference is probably going to have the opposite of the desired effect.  It may chase away those who you may otherwise reach by being more subtle.

That said "Three Nail Forge" is a name that doesn't immediately tell people that you are a "Christian" shop which as Marc1 said is as likely to scare away your customers as it is to draw them in.  A customer probably won't get the reference unless they ASK you and then you can TELL them without it being forced onto them.  With many people a slow and gentle approach works far better than a strong message.  You can become known as an Artist Blacksmith who is Christian rather than a Christian Blacksmith.  It's a subtle difference, but the former is more accepted by non-believers than the latter and they're more likely to stop by your shop or table at a craft fair. 

I like the name.  It's got references to iron with the nails and also has a connotation that is special to you and your beliefs without being too overtly religious.  It's short and easy to remember.   

[JHCC]

Marc1 and Brian Hibbert both make very good points. For those who do intend to have their smithing operations be a full-time commercial enterprise (and I understand that this is not necessarily the OP's intention), anything that might scare away any potential customers is a Bad Idea, and an overtly religious or political name might well do just that. Frankly, you might find yourself missing out on potentially lucrative jobs, such as a gate for a mosque or synagogue.

By way of comparison, my wife Lisa is a devout Christian and used to be a very active freelance musician in New York City. That's a pretty cutthroat environment, and you don't want to do anything that might keep you from getting called for a gig. If she had put "Christian violist" on her business cards, I very much doubt that she would have been called to play very many Jewish wedding receptions (which made all the difference in whether or not the mortgage got paid on more than one occasion, I can tell you).

Of course, this does raise the issue of what jobs one might consider rejecting on religious scruples. Personally, I would have no qualms about making a menorah for a Jewish friend, but might feel uneasy about making a Thor's hammer or an athamé for a pagan or wiccan friend.  That's speaking as a hobbyist, though, not as a professional. If I were doing this for a living and the market were there, that could be a different matter.

[rockstar.esq]

These replies have reminded me of something that might throw another angle on this.

I started a blog three years ago on estimating because I encountered people making costly mistakes on a daily basis.  Since my fate as a subcontractor is tied to the General contractor, their mistakes become my problem. 

I decided to make it more interesting by injecting humor into my articles.  My inspiration for articles and for jokes was largely drawn from experience with incompetent clients.  I take pains to avoid naming anyone specifically and I aim for good-natured ribbing.  Still, when I started the blog, I wrote under an alias because I was worried about potential backlash.

Eventually I reached a point where I had written quite a bit that I was proud of.  Looking at the body of work and it's intended purpose I realized that I wasn't improving anything by concealing my identity.  To some readers, it may have communicated a fear of taking responsibility for my actions.  In the context of a blog that's constantly advocating honesty, personal accountability, and fair dealing, that just didn't resonate well.

So I went back and signed my work.  Within a year, one of my articles was published in a trade journal, and a second was presented in a journal report written by a chapter president for the American Society of Professional Estimators ASPE. 

My blog probably disqualifies me for employment with contractors who rely on corruption, collusion, and cheating to make their way.  The truth is, I'd be a bad fit for such a company anyway.  For the rest of the companies, I have to trust that they can see I'm actually doing something to improve my corner of the world.

I've found that a lot of human nature works on reciprocity.  When I had faith that my efforts to help others would be well received, people were inspired to share my work.

 

 

[JHCC]

4 hours ago, Brian Hibbert said:

I like the name ["Three Nail Forge"].  It's got references to iron with the nails and also has a connotation that is special to you and your beliefs without being too overtly religious.  It's short and easy to remember.   

It also has good potential for a logo, both on business cards and as a touchmark.

[notownkid]

I'll agree with JHCC & Brian here "Three Nails Forge" would do double duty for you.  You know what you are trying to  convey and others not so enlightened will  not notice the reference.  Being in business even slightly in business is not the location for "conversions" in my eyes.  It is far more important that you live and honor your beliefs by practicing them quietly 24/7.  In the end run that will do you the most good in business.   

But also in the end it is what makes you happy with a name is the most important but just keep track of the bridges you might burn on your trip to happy. 

You have by now noticed this a tough group to ask opinions from.  They from all over the world with hundreds of backgrounds and beliefs or disbeliefs for that matter.  Everyone tries to have your best interest at heart even if it doesn't come off that way sometimes. 

Enjoy your Forge!

 

[Christopher Lawrence]

Hello All,

Sorry it has taken me so long to answer, I have not been able to get on but I have been following the discussion via email.  I am so glad that I posted this question.  Even though the ambiguity of what I posted caused a little confusion, the discussions that has been generated from this question have been phenomenal.  This post will be a bit lengthy but I think it will be worth it.

(Soap box)

Let me first answer one of the hanging questions posed and respond to make clear my intentions.  It has been mentioned a few times that an overtly Christian theme can be detrimental to the success of the shop.  You are 100% correct and If this was a professional shop I would not go with that type of theme.  It has been mentioned that the only reason one does choose such a name is that they are trying to specialize in their clientele or do make themselves look more trust worthy than they are.  Sad to say that I must agree with this statement. There are many companies out there that “Make merchandise of God’s people”.  Unfortunate, this is not new.  It was the reason that Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple. I find the process to be despicable and a hindrance to honest Christian businessmen/women.  I think that there is a special place in hell for such people.  I want to thank you for making this point it is spot on.  It had not occurred to be when coming up with a name and a good argument against “The Cross and Anvil.  It is not my intent to focus on Christians as my clientele nor to offend others in their choice of beliefs.

(Soap Box ended)

 

After reading all of the post it occurs to me that the lesson here greater than the names in question.  So I am going to attempt to condense this discussion down to a few tips I have learned based upon the discussion.  We have been discussing this from a Christian / secular naming question but the thought process in this discussion has a broader application in the decision of a shop name choice.  Please feel free to add or correct what I am posting.  Together maybe we can come up with a definitive guide on how to choose a shop name.

 

Tips In Choosing a Shop Name:

 

Is this a professional or a hobby?

This is the first question that must be asked and is a major determining factor on the outcome of the name.  If you are setting up a professional shop the name of the shop should not only convey what the shop is or produces but also it should not include a theme that may be off putting to potential customers.  For example, you want to stay away from Political, Racial, Sexual, or Religious stance or theame if possible.  In America, “The Donkey’s Hammer” or “The Elephant’s Trunk” may act as a polarizing catalyst for and against the success of your shop.  If there is a desire or need to have a theme that falls under one of these three topics, then make sure your shop name is pleasant and not polarizing.  For example, there is a frozen yogurt company called “Sweet Frog”.  It is funny it is pleasant but the FROG stands for “Fully Rely On God.”  While the you may not get that from the first viewing of the name, they explain it in discussing about their company.

If this is a Hobby or home shop you have a bit more leeway as the shop is an extension or representation of you and your passions.  If you are never planning on really selling your product you can be as vulgar as you want; that being said, there will be consequences.  If you want to walk around with a shirt that says KKK-Forge it’s your funeral.  So, while you do have the freedom to name your shop what you want you still need to do it in a way that is respectable to others as a common-sense human being.  So be clever, be unique, in the name let it reflect you and your thoughts but also be wise.

 

Who is your attended audience?

                This is probably the second most important question to ask.  Are you trying to focus your business to a specific clientele?  Is your shop focus more generalized or does it have no focus at all?  As mentioned earlier choosing a name to reach a specific clientele may get you them as customers but it may prevent you from obtaining better and more lucrative jobs from others.  One question you have to ask yourself if you are considering this method is “Is there a strong enough specific customer base to support my business?”  If not, you may need to rethink you plan.  If the focus of your business is more generalized, then you name must be more generalized not specific to a questionable theme.

                Again, if your shop clientele is just you, or if you are using this as a means to place your touch on your hand made gifts, then as before you have more leeway.  That being said look at the name the same way you would a tattoo.  Ask yourself, “How will I feel about this name 10 years from now?”  Ask yourself if your grandchild came up to you years later asking about the name would you feel happy or sheepish in explaining the name.

 

What is the product that your shop will produce?

                One good thing to consider is the scope of your shop.  This can be the one time where being specific can bring you more business.  For example, do you specialize in creating and fixing iron gates then add a reference to that in your name, something like “Gates of Fire”.  What you do have to be weary is that people make assumptions when reading business names and they will call or pass you by depending upon those names.  For example, if your shop specializes making hammers, do not name your shop XYZ-Knifeworks.  Even if you plan to make knives someday, those who would benefit from your business may assume that you only make and sharpen knives.  If you do not know or if what you produce is of a broader scale then don’t label a specific product in your name.  For this question here, there is no real separation here from the Professional business and the hobbyist.  Look at your shop what it does / will produce and name the shop accordingly.

 

                In the end it is your shop and you can name it whatever you want.  There are plenty of crazy business names out there who sell their product every day but whose name people shake their head at.  Here is what is all comes down to and why both professional smiths and hobbyist agonize over the choice of the name.  That name is apart of you.  That touch mark is your fingerprint in iron.  It is something of you to last after you have left this spinning piece of rock.   Remember, while iron does not last forever it generally lasts longer then us so be wise in the choice of your name, make it something that you would be happy to have on your great great great grandchild’s mantel.