Need your advice for a "brand" name - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ysjoelfir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:01:05 am
content: Hi everyone!I have that idea flying around my head for a long time now and I finaly want to start with it:As I wrote in my new members introduction post, I learned most of the things I know from my father, who sadly died a few years ago all of the sudden. I always wanted to publish some sort of little gadgets and tools together with him, but for obvious reasons that is not possible any longerBut I want to do that on my own now, with a little homage towards him as I would like to create my "Icon" from a drawing he made and used on his own layouts, combined with a "brand name", written in his digitalized handwriting.But I can't figure out how to name the "brand", if you even can call it a brand, and that is where I need your help. As I am german I may overlook some issues with the names I'm thinking about, for example they could sound strange or resemble something they shouldn't in another language.A few parameters for the name:- The products I would like to build should go into the DIY kit section- They will be easy to build and maintenance.- My father was a man who loved to tinker around, reuse old stuff, try new stuff- His name was Lothar and his nickname was Lolo.I thought about that many days but couldn't come up with anything that doesn't sound like a cheapo Wun Hung Lo company. For example Lo²tech. Looks nice, but sounds horrible. And could be refered to as "low tech" if you pronounce it that way.I also thought about stuff like D-I-Lo, (like DIY). but that sounded stupidSomeone has any Ideas to help?By the way.. I don't actualy care if the stuff I would like to sell will make an income, it is realy just some sort of dream of both of us I would like to live.Thanks!

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:26:33 am
content: Lotharkit

author: forrestc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:34:01 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on September 15, 2015, 08:26:33 amI like it.Brands are relatively easy to overthink. This does everything the original poster wanted.It's also simple to read in at least English... probably others as well. It's also unique and easy to remember.

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 11:07:41 am
content: Lotharius I, of courseIn Germany, one of the most widely used ADSL Modem/Router combos is labeled "Fritzbox", how cool is that...

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 11:11:54 am
content: 'Lotharizer' seems fashionable these days...

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 03:12:22 pm
content: I like the name lolo (easy to spell and pronounce, catchy, short, can be used as a based for specific production name), and the domain lolo.com is for sale which reduces confusion. You can get a domain name by adding a suffix to 'lolo', for example 'electronics'.

author: Ysjoelfir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:05:00 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on September 15, 2015, 08:26:33 amSounds nice, but in german it sounds a little strange. BUT that could be of use, look a few lines down.Quote from: Augustus on September 15, 2015, 11:07:41 amI'm not building a monarchyRegarding the Fritzbox... Do you know the D-Link Horstbox?Quote from: Wytnucls on September 15, 2015, 11:11:54 amOh come onQuote from: zapta on September 15, 2015, 03:12:22 pmI realy love that (loloelectronics) one, too! But sadly, if you google for that, there are many companies with that name alreadyAnd I looked for that lolo.com domain for sale, but sadly, I don't have the little amount of "more than 91692.65 Euro" they are asking for, even though I really can't understand why I can't afford that tiny amount. *coughs*I actualy am quite scared to register loloelectronics domains, as I fear regressions from those companies.Maybe I should think about Lolokit? Or Lolotronic(s)? I actualy like those.

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 09:52:04 pm
content: Tinkerlolo

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 02:29:45 am
content: Lotronix

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 03:17:44 pm
content: Just a comment that if you lock yourself to a funky name you may have a risk of you not being taken seriously, even if all you sell is dyi kits.

author: Augustus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 03:45:10 pm
content: Quote from: Ysjoelfir on September 15, 2015, 08:05:00 pmI've never seen one but I've heard of it. Apparently it was never a success, doomed right from the start because no German wants to be associated with a "Horst", let alone a "Vollhorst"

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 04:19:42 pm
content: Lothar Loted ( Lothar solders ) LoLo for short ...

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 04:23:59 pm
content: Quote from: Augustus on September 15, 2015, 11:07:41 amA friend in NL has nicknamed it the Fritzlbox because of how locked down the configuration interface apparently is. Makes sense especially regarding how it's stylized, FRITZ!Box.Lothar might come across as the meme "Y HALO THAR" in LOLspeak. People might think the name comes from a lolcat, not your father.Also consider that th could be pronounced in at least 3 different ways, as T, as th in English the, and as in theory. It might stretching it a bit, but transliterated to a different script (say Chinese, Japanese, maybe cyrillic) it might come across as loser.I don't think you necessarily need to shy away from lo as in lo-tech. This could also have positive connotations, a DIYer who makes do with what he has, solving problems without overly complicated solutions etc. A wun hung lo company is more likely to have a really cheesy positive name, with the theory that that will bring good luck. Names like Goldstar (now known as LG, apparently Life's Good) or Mean Well, despite the possible reading as an ill-intentioned water containment.

author: Ysjoelfir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 05:54:35 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on September 16, 2015, 03:17:44 pmHi Bud and thanks for your comment! Please excuse my maybe somehow blinded question, but can you explain that a bit more? Why do you think it's funky?I realy want to know, as this is the reason why I started this thread, getting to know how my ideas look to other people!thanksQuote from: nitro2k01 on September 16, 2015, 04:23:59 pmOh. That would be somehow... bad. really badI guess I should stick to some sort of short form like the already mentioned lolo-something.QuoteThat is a interesting point, I didn't thought about it like that. hmm....Thank you everyone for your ideas and please keep on this discussion, it is really helping me out!

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 03:43:27 am
content: Quote from: Ysjoelfir on September 16, 2015, 05:54:35 pmBecause of the same reason as Pepe, Meme or Yoyo would generate associations with entertainment, fun, birthday party place or something. Would be a good name for a business in that area. I do not know what the owner of Adafruit was thinking when choosing the company name - it creates no associations with electronics and invokes no feeling about electronics whatsoever. Perhaps because of this exact reason this company would be the last on my shopping list when I need to buy electronic parts, modules or kits. It just does not stick. To me that name would work better if it was a grocery store.

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 09:58:46 am
content: Quote from: Bud on September 17, 2015, 03:43:27 amI think the name was chosen to attract female customers. In part because of what it symbolizes, the fruit (product) of Ada Lovelace. In part because it's distinctly non-techy. Another clue that they might be targeting females: Often (or always?) when a human appears in their product photos they appear to be female. For example, when a hand is shown holding product, it will often show nail polish on the nails.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 10:07:43 am
content: Quote from: Ysjoelfir on September 15, 2015, 08:01:05 amI wouldn't use Lolo, in my regional culture it means "woman often behaving as slut", maybe it's the case in other regions too.So my suggestion: LoT, Lothar of Technics.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 10:13:10 am
content: Have you considered using your surname as the company name? You know the founder trusts thier company if they use their own name for it. You got your surname after your dad, right?

author: Ysjoelfir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 10:44:25 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on September 17, 2015, 10:07:43 amTHAT would be quite bad o.o DamnYour suggestion is interesting though, but I think it needs some fine tuning, because you coud think of the lot of items, like buying respectively selling only big bunches of stuff.Quote from: Dave on September 17, 2015, 10:13:10 amYes I did, but who would buy something from a company with a name you probably cant write without a mistake, rather than speaking it without getting a knot in your tongue?By the way, I didn't even know adafruit had something to do with electronics.. I sometimes read that name but always thought that it would be some kind of modern youtube channel... I guess I get the point of "funky names".

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 10:54:58 am
content: Quote from: Ysjoelfir on September 17, 2015, 10:44:25 amYeah, that could be a problem.What about LotKit? The .net domain is still available.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 01:04:22 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on September 15, 2015, 08:26:33 amThat name will do very well in Germany!

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 03:50:55 pm
content: Lothars LotKit = Lothars solder kits.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2015, 03:55:56 pm
content: make itQuotefor the countries you want to sell innothing is worse than a name that cannot be pronounced therefore cannot be remembered

author: Ysjoelfir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2015, 10:39:29 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on September 17, 2015, 03:55:56 pmSo you say I should not bother about how it could be interpreted in some foreign country, as long as it sounds good in the main selling areas? I mean, that sounds logical to me, but I am one of those people that want to make things good for everyone... hmm..