I've often wondered how some companies arrived at their name. Starbucks, for instance. Company legend says that the 3 founders of Starbucks chose the name in honor of Starbuck, the coffee-loving first mate in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, and because they thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders.
What about Google? Based on the mathematical term "googol", coined in 1938 to equal 10100, a number much larger than any practical counting operation would require. In September, 1997, so the story goes, some Stanford grad students were helping Larry Page choose a name for his search engine. "Googleplex," someone suggest, "Googol," Page replied. Someone typed g-o-o-g-l-e into their browser, to see if the name was taken, and made the most famous spelling mistake since p-o-t-a-t-o-e. Page registered the name within hours.
Most companies use their family names; DuPont, JCPenney (James Cash Penney, and yes, Cash was his middle name), or a portion of it - Wal-mar (Sam Walton). How about Menards - that has to be someone's first name right? There are some times when a company should think twice before using their family name to name their business. Kill Construction - really? Shouldn't they be in the pesticide business? Gold-Golden Lanes - isn't one time enough? Repros Pharmaceutical, be honest, don't you See "Repo Pharmaceuticals'.
Some names are descriptive; Electronic Data Systems -I suppose if you needed it, you would know what it is. Ross Perot chose that name from potential names he scribed on the back of a pledge envelope during a church service. Some names are less descriptive - General Motors, General Mills, General Tires, General Hospital, General Dynamics, etc...and last but certainly not least, General Electric (which really doesn't fit anymore, since they own everything.)
We thought long and hard about naming this framing business. A lot of ideas flew over wine & cheese with our friends. 'Baur's Framing'? No, we are proud of our name, but does it really need to be attached? 'The Frame Shop'? No, sounds like you are framing in your garage. 'The Framing Gallery'? No, too snooty. 'Well Hung'? Oops, too much wine.
We chose Framing Concepts (.kon-sept. and idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars; a construct) because we believe that there is no one way to frame a piece of art; that it depends on the art, the style, coloring and most importantly, what is right for the client. Concepts is to open you mind to possibilities, and that is what we as designers hope to do with your art.
-Pat-