Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? So, we asked some very sharp folks to tell us the stories of how they came up with the names of their brands.
LaShawn Sheppard
I’ve always loved spiritual, inspirational and motivational quotes and affirmations. When I decided to go into business I wanted to display those quotes and affirmations 0n apparel to change the mindsets on how people feel about themselves and how others view them. Read more>>
Jamie Ammons Bri Regis
We based the name Gemini Tooth Gemz off of our zodiac signs. We are both Gemini’s, May 25th and May 30th, a year and 5 days apart. Its really fun to connect with clients based off zodiac signs. It makes for really fun conversations, especially when we come across fellow Gemini’s. Read more>>
Deb Matlock
The name Wild Rhythms came to me out of the blue on a hike nearly 20 years ago. It felt right and made sense with my work, focusing on the deep and sacred connections between people, animals, the earth, and the world of spirit. So, based purely on inspiration, I went to the Colorado state business office (this was before the ease of the internet) and secured the name Wild Rhythms, LLC. Read more>>
Alison Kaplan
I had a hard time coming up with a solid, catchy name. I finally took it back to my high school days of making a list of words that describe me and my business. Mom and Baker were the first 2 on my list and after reading through, it just clicked. Mom the Baker was born! Read more>>
Troy “Seven” Timberlake
The name of my company, Ex Voto Studio, is relevant to it’s starting place. By the mid 90’s I had already become a serious hobbyist with my photography and had even been published. I had not considered it as a career because the very thought of it seemed impossible. At that time information was much more difficult to come by and one couldn’t just Google “How does a new photographer make a living?”. Read more>>
Shaina Godfrey
I grew up in central Oklahoma, so that’s a big part of how Heartland Esthetician came to be! Her name showcases me and my roots in a form of a passion that I derive for skincare that truly comes from my heart. Read more>>
Antonio Clay
The name of the brand is Clay Chairs Tents and Events. My last name is Clay and I wanted to include my last name to show that we’re a family business, not some national chain rental company.Drawing on my experience as a customer I remember the family owned businesses I visited and shopped at, and how friendly and comfortable they made me feel. I want that same sense of comfortabliity for my customers /clients from the minute they hear about our Brand. Read more>>
Mary Grothe
Our company was named Sales BQ (BQ is the behavioral quotient). I founded the company in November of 2017 and focused primarily on building sales departments for small business CEOs. This path worked well for the first 18 months in business. We served over 45 companies, built their sales infrastructure, processes, and playbook, hired talent, and managed them. Read more>>
TK Trinidad
I came up with the name Center In because it is very important to take care of yourself first because you can take care of anyone. Center In products helps to elevate the mind body and soul with our lux/zen products. Read more>>
DaQuisha Whitaker
What do a 2-year-old and an ice machine have in common? Water Rocks! My son came up to me one day in the kitchen and asked for “Water Rocks” as I was making myself a glass of ice water. Read more>>
Ana-Maria Georgieva
My name is Ana-Maria…The founder of Luna Voda Coaching (literally, Moon Water in my native language, translated as Moon Water, in my native language Luna Voda, which symbolizes the nurturing element of water in a synergetic balance with the moon’s divine feminine nature. Read more>>
Osha McCall
My company name came to me pretty easily. Initially, Something About Sunday was only used for the name of my podcast. When I decided to branch out and start selling products and services, I brainstormed a few names, but kept returning to SAS. Read more>>
Chris Swinson
We produce around a dozen species of edible mushrooms for distribution to farmers markets, grocery stores, restaurants, etc Read more>>
Rebecca Kerrigone
My husband Michael and I were talking through the dream we had for our small business. We wanted to create a warm, inviting third space. We wanted to not only provide great pastries and coffee, but we wanted to make a peaceful environment that encouraged people to slow down, take a deep, bread-scented breath and release their cares for the space of time that it takes to eat a cinnamon bun and drink a properly brewed cup. Read more>>
Ciarra Brewer
When I first began my content creating journey I was in the makeup niche. I was a self taught makeup artist. But I had a ton of interests. And I didn’t want to limit myself to just one. So WatchCiWork is an umbrella term if you will. Watch Ci (me) work. And all the types of interests and content I create. Read more>>
Renee Hayes
Prior to becoming a business owner and author, I was an elementary teacher for 15 years. During that time, my travels worldwide inspired The Teacher Tourist, LLC brand. I would bring these experiences back to my students in the form of stories, pictures, or hallmark writing assignments. My students saw the world with a new lens and it sparked their curiosity to research and learn more. Read more>>
David Thornton
Carolina Bauernhaus Brewery & Winery – Anderson & Greenville, SC Founded in 2015 Read more>>
Siarra Simmons
When you first read the name Bare Necessities, what comes to mind first and then second? For most people it’s the catchy tune of the song from The Jungle Book movie, then they think of bare as in naked. Read more>>
Lynn Echo
The title of my business is derived from my gifted talent of music Read more>>
Jeffrey Ilechie Aka BlessitsJeff
Let’s go back to 2016 when I first started my Youtube journey. I was a food content creator so I would record top-tier recipes and post them online. After a while, I began to have too much food left over so I would just give some away to my family, neighbors, or random people from my social media. It then got to a point where I had about 5 people asking for the same meal and as much as I wanted to split it between them It was not feasible. Read more>>
Raquel Boone
My first client actually was one of my first real estate investor buyers. She was pleased with he service I provided over the course of her investment purchases and was hitting a will when looking for someone to manage her property. I had been managing my own investment properties for over a decade successfully and I had shared some lessons learned. Read more>>
Jenna Borrelli
When I finished hypnotherapy school I began seeing clients consisting of friends, family, and friends-of-friends. It was exciting to start working with individuals but post-graduation I was yearning for a client that was completely brand new to my face and services. Read more>>
Lexi Johnson
In 2013, I decided to leave corporate. I always dreamed of starting and running my own business. Prior to this, I worked and had an event planning business that I co-owned with two amazing friends. I also enjoyed a few network marketing ventures. Now, it was time for me to do my own thing. Read more>>
Marcia Alphonso
I got my first client from social media. I started advertising on Instagram when I started my business. I had no idea what I was doing or if I would get a client from being on social media. All I knew is that I needed to show up, promote and connect with my ideal client. Read more>>
Steven Pope
I was laid off from being a marketplace director making 200k a year. For 24 hours I wonder if I had peeked. By hour 48 I made a LinkedIn post with a new business plan to do some consulting and signed my first client for $3,000 a month within 24 hours of that post. That client, is still with me 4.5 years later. Read more>>
Dr. Brad Johnson
I got my first client by word of mouth. I had been refining my company for a few years really trying to niche it down to where I felt in my heart would be meaningful and impactful work. I had already gotten my masters and professional doctorate and wanted to ensure that whatever I did was broad enough to not box me out of the industry, but specific enough that I only worked with those that fit my brand. Read more>>
Mikaylia Dudley
My first client was Kierra Polidore. I believe I met her in 2013.. I was commissioned in July of 2020, but I did not know where to start because I never ran a business before. I started posting, telling everyone I was a Notary Public, and sent my business cards to my friends. Read more>>
Keionna Henderson
When I was in high school I was in this group that help young girls prepare for women hood. One of the girls that attended the program who went to another school was asking around for a makeup artist. I told her I was a MUA and that I could do her makeup for her ring dance. Read more>>
Angela Taylor
May of 2018 was a great time for influencer marketing. I spent a lot of time asking social media influencers, bloggers, and fellow business owners in for complementary services in exchange for shout outs and stories. Luckily those free Mani’s brought in a much larger audience than I had at the time, and the word of mouth continues to be invaluable. Read more>>
Porscha Carter
After receiving my bachelors in Public Health I took a program at General Hospital at Meharry as a Cardiographic Technician. I was trained to read heart rhythms and hookup EKGs to patients for doctors. Read more>>
Fanny Mandelberger
I had a private massage therapy. client , an actor/musician who referred me to the MTV shooting of Rim Tug Tugger number from Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Weber Broadway musical. Next thing I know I was asked to be the companymassage therapist for the entire run of the show, over 3 decades! what a gift to educate on injury prevention, energy conservation, flexibility, diaphragmatic brrathi g. Those cloent relationships to this day and have yielded entrees into other theatre, dance, film, fashion and music communities Read more>>
Ericka Cherrie
I was fortunate to start in this career at an early age. I’ve been in the beauty industry since I was a teenager. I can remember being in high school and me and my friends would go to the mall and fill out job applications for fast food places like McDonald’s or the great cookie and other mall jobs. Read more>>
Samantha Harrison
During my initial yoga teacher training, I was working at Starbucks. I loved talking to customers and because I was also in yoga teacher training, I loved talking about yoga. I would show customers neck stretches or share the benefits of yoga through the drive-thru window. Read more>>
Ronellis Tunstill
I worked a full-time job in a call center during my entire college experience. I can remember graduating with my masters and writing my two-week notice the next day. I can remember being extremely excited to place “Master of Science” on my resume. It felt really good to be able to now apply for all the positions that required a graduate degree. Read more>>
Travon Farris
I attended nail school at Petra V Pro. I never wanted to do anything in the beauty industry/nails. I was grocery shopping and happened to buy a bottle of nail polish. I put it on my counter, and decided I wanted to go to nail school after that. I signed for the course within the next couple of weeks. The course was around 3 months, half online, half in person. Read more>>
Annie Targos
In my mind, most people know what they want to be “when they grow up.” I knew I wanted to go into social work, but the field is so very broad. Many people equate social workers with “people who take kids from their parents,” but that is such a small part of the field. Read more>>
Sylvia Nwoko
I scaled my business in 2020 when I decided it was time to leave my little work space to acquire a bigger space that ended exposing all my weaknesses as a business owner… lol Read more>>
Devan Hayes
The idea of starting a dance program flashed right before the pandemic so the original dates were pushed back but during that time I continued to work at various studios, teaching virtual classes and I also worked full time. Once the pandemic seemed manageable and in-person classes resumed, I felt it was time to start my search for a space once again. I was invited to a private dance class and the studio space had availability! Read more>>
Dionne Bishop
Initially my short answer is I surrounded myself with good people who are good at the things I’m not. Read more>>
Jillyn Smith
Nearly four years ago I continued my education in the beauty industry and became an esthetician. During the final days of graduation, I started my search for a commercial lease. While searching, I had to become aware of city restrictions, which made it more difficult to find a commercial space. Read more>>
Apolo Ladra
I had humble beginnings in the martial arts industry 1st taking the first step in becoming a student, then finding my calling to becoming an instructor and taking the leap into the management and business operations. One location turned in to two and then 57 brick and mortar businesses under my watch. It was always my dream to reach a larger audience, but with only so many hours in a day and being just one person, there arose a fear of taking on too much. Read more>>
Charles Henson
Scaling a small business is hard to do… Knowing when to hire that first marketing person, sales person, bookkeeper, first tech or assistant. Things that they don’t teach you is that you have to measure Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to ensure you are ready to grow/add an employee. Read more>>
Ebony Sowell-Franklin
For about 10 years or so, I taught music lessons, specifically sining lessons, part-time. I was a full time educator and mother. It was extremely tough to manage both. The goal was to scale my music school so I could quit my full time job, but that never really happened until Covid. I just didn’t have the time to dedicate it the growth I needed. Read more>>
Versace Hardy
In 2021 I left my full time job to pursue photography. This was a difficult decision as I didn’t have a safety net to jump into but I craved the freedom of an entrepreneur. One of the largest obstacles I faced was not having a full time income to support myself and my passion. Read more>>
Lewie DeVore
The Steel Hide Co. story began in 1995 with a knife collection. Somewhere along the line I began collecting knives; knives I picked up here and there, gifts received, and those special knives that were passed down a couple of generations. Those passed down were the ones that sparked my interest in the hobby of making handcrafted knives. Read more>>
Deborah Olayemi
DeVi’s Naturals was created as a combination of my name (De)borah, and my daughter (Vi)ctoria. It’s pronounced Deh-Vee, like “Debbie” but with a v. DeVi represents a goddess, an image of beauty. We are all beautiful in our originality and uniqueness, which should be celebrated. I knew the name was the perfect match for my brand. Read more>>
Billy Dieli
It’s a play on Blockbuster. They were the largest movie rental chain, so since my bar rents out movies I thought Beerbusters would be cool. Read more>>