Question

Topic: Taglines/Names

Name Copyright

Posted by Anonymous on 4/13/2010 at 10:37 AM ET 125 Points
Can I name my kids consignment shop, "Make Way for Ducklings"?
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  • Posted on 4/13/2010 at 10:45 AM Member
    A quick google finds the pre eminent listing as the title of the book which was first published in 1941. Although your business does not directly, nor necessarily benefit from a connection to the book, I think you might want to run it past a lawyer.

    Good Luck!

    CVN
  • Posted by Gail@PUBLISIDE on 4/13/2010 at 11:09 AM Member
    I think unless your shop showcases a parade of ducks, choose a name that better describes your business.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 4/13/2010 at 11:47 AM Member
    Read the following: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/faqEditorial-29077-3.html
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 4/13/2010 at 7:27 PM Accepted
    Dear d.gibbons,

    Can you name your kids consignment shop, "Make Way for Ducklings"?

    Yesindeedy! You can call it "How The West Was Won" or "Nilly-Willy Ping-Pong" or any one of a bajillion other "catchy" names.

    But it won't mean anything to most people and your trade will suffer as a result. Sorry, but that's the long and the short of it.

    Why? Because alas Catchy is Not a Selling Strategy™

    Are ya selling duckings? Are ya making way for 'em and do ya know where they're goin'? If so, peachy.

    If not, sadly you need to work harder on giving customers SPECIFICTY. You need to be the FIRST source people think of when they need your services and making way for ducklings may not be the best way of going about that.

    With me?

    Just because you like the name, well, that's one thing. But I'll bet you that you are not your customer. What does this mean? It means that what you think is irrelevant. Your opinion in this is null and void.

    It's what your CUSTOMERS think and are looking for that matters.
    And you must make doing business with you UBER easy.

    So. Think like your customer.

    Give them what they are looking for. Make them want to come back again and again and tell their friends. Rinse. Repeat. That's pretty much the magic formula.

    I hope this helps.

    Gary Bloomer
    Wilmington, DE, USA
  • Posted by mgoodman on 4/13/2010 at 7:57 PM Accepted
    You need legal advice, not marketing advice. And it's probably a trademark you want, not a copyright.

    As for the specific name, you can do better than that. Your name should either tell people what you do and/or suggest the unique positioning benefit you're providing.
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