Question

Topic: Taglines/Names

Popcorn Business - Name / Tagline

Posted by Anonymous on 2/8/2013 at 2:57 PM ET 500 Points
Hello Everyone!

Whenever I am stuck w/ a query I come here and always get great feedback and hope to receive the same this time around also.

Me and my friend are planning to open up a popcorn (kiosk) business. We will serve 3 varieties to start with. Currently there is no major competitor who is doing it (aside from within cinemas or cheap unbranded carts). We feel that there is ample demand for the product and there is gap that we can capitalize on by being the "early movers". The set up doesn't require any major capital expenditure, so it appears to be an ideal start up business considering our background in food retail etc.

We don't unfortunately have any consumer profile data to ascertain our target market segment, however it would be safe to assume that our primary TA would be b/w 15 - 30 male and female.

What we require is a name and tagline to go with it. I was thinking "College pop - City's finest popcorns".

"College" since we are targeting the younger audience that goes to college etc but not 100% about it and think that it is maybe too conventional/boring. Also I am not sure if making such a big claim in the tagline is a good idea to start with.

I would greatly appreciate any help from your side. Maybe we will give you all a free bag when you come around to our kiosk :)

Many thanks,

SH.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 2/8/2013 at 5:32 PM Accepted
    Are you selling kettle corn or simply flavored popcorn? I've seen plenty of kettle corn booths in farmers markets, with lots of families standing in line for their order. However, I don't remember seeing any popcorn vendors simply "on the street" (like hot dog or pretzel vendors), so your offering will definitely be unique. Even if the college crowd is your sole market, naming it after the college won't likely win you fans. Why not name it something "light" such as: "Pop Pop" or "Pop & Go" or "Col. Popcorn" (after popcorn kernel)? However, don't over obsess about your name, since people won't try to find you online, or visit your store. They'll simply be walking by, and suddenly thinking that a small bag of popcorn may be just what they need to tide them over. Focus on making people want to taste your treats.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/9/2013 at 3:39 PM Accepted
    How about "Pop Goes the weasel" after the old nursery rhyme?

    Kernel popcorn (thanks Jay!)

    Tagline? just keep the door open and the smell will do the rest. Sorry that isn't a tagline. What do you do that makes your popcorn special - that means people will buy yours and not drive to the nearest Walmart??

    Popped for you
    Popped on the spot.

    !!
  • Posted on 2/10/2013 at 1:15 AM Author
    Thanks guys, those are some good ideas. We will be selling flavored popcorn varieties and not kettle corn.

    Kernel Pop is though a great name but already exists as packaged / microwaveable popcorn :(

    Our USP will be the quality and taste of the popcorn and the fact that we will practically be the only one selling flavored popcorn around the City.

    Would greatly appreciate your input.

    Thanks,

    SH.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/10/2013 at 4:30 AM Accepted
    Kernell??

    Popped for flavor
    Flavor popped on the spot

    Any good?
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 2/10/2013 at 8:23 AM Member
    Pop Flavor
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/10/2013 at 8:41 AM Member
    Popping flavor
    Pops flavor (are you a father?? this could be Pop's, as in the possessive)

  • Posted on 2/10/2013 at 12:34 PM Author
    Thanks for the comments thus far. What we are interested in a brand name that is memorable / catchy yet creative. Pop & Go! seems fun and best so far however ideally looking for something slightly unconventional, perhaps we don't necessarily have to use the word "pop"?

    Once we pick a name, it'll stick with us for the life time of our business and we would just like for it to be perfect.

    Thanks again for your input so far, it means a lot.

    BR,

    SH.

  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 2/10/2013 at 5:34 PM Accepted
    Since you asked, just brainstorming some more words for your continuing brainstorming for a right name. Mix and match, e.g. puff'n popcorn or CornPuff & Go!

    puffy
    puff'n
    Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Pop
    larry poppins (mary poppins)
    popstars
    corny bursters
    corny puffs
    puff'n corn
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/10/2013 at 6:27 PM Accepted
    Pop in! Popcorn in every flavor imaginable.
  • Posted by NovaHammer on 2/11/2013 at 6:24 PM Accepted
    PopUp Passion-An Adventure in Flavor

    All Ears-You can hear the flavor.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 2/11/2013 at 6:44 PM Accepted
    (The) Puff & Pop
    Puff Pop & Go
  • Posted on 2/12/2013 at 12:20 AM Author
    Thanks for some great ideas!!

    Just wondering if a trademark that is registered in one country can be used in another country?

    BR,

    SH.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 2/12/2013 at 1:02 AM Member
    Talk with a good international trademark lawyer. Each situation has its own legal issues.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/12/2013 at 2:36 AM Accepted
    Forget trademarks, patents and the rest. It will only cost you lots of legal fees. Take enough care not to infringe anybody else's and you should be fine. My business focuses on USP*s and usually what happens is that your competitors copy your idea almost to the letter. There's nothing you can do about this - which is why I organize three from the start. When the competition do a copy-cat strike you wheel out a better one. The point is that they will lack the imagination to do anything else but copy - they will never have the courage to come up with one of their own. What's more, they won't know how to use the guarantee properly and will come a sore cropper.

    So forget the any legal issues save that are necessary to the business at hand. Anyway, why waste your valuable money on lawyers who have enough already?

    (*USP is the unique selling proposition - Rosser Reeves, developed in the 1940s).
  • Posted on 2/12/2013 at 4:35 AM Author
    Thanks Moriarty and the rest for your valuable input. Really appreciate it!

    Only reason I asked is that through research I found out that "JUST pop in" and "Popstar" are registered popcorn brands. So would we be okay if we went ahead w/ a similar but different name as in "Pop in" (instead of JUST pop in) or "PopstarS" (instead of popstar) in a different country to the locations of the existing businesses.


    BR,

    SH.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/12/2013 at 5:30 AM Accepted
    Perhaps Mr Goodman as our resident corporate expert would be able to help you better. In the mean time, if your brand is in another country and is not the same name - I can't see the problem.

    Where are these two brands registered, more importantly, where are they used? If they are used, or even registered in your country I would be careful and at least take basic legal advice before investing. The defense lawyers for Just Pop In might be touchy and feel justified in attacking anything remotely like their brand. They might not ... anyway, this is legal stuff and out of my field. My advice is general, not specific. To me touchy lawyers are only on the make.

    The other side of the coin is whether it would be worth their expensive time and effort to chase minnows like you (in corporate terms at least!). There's no money in it. You aren't after their global reach, are you! So I wouldn't worry about it unduly, spend half an hour with a sensible lawyer who has some understanding of this and get on with what you do best: make popcorn! Mr Goodman should know someone who might be able to help you with the specifics.

    Oh, and keeping your customers happy of course.
  • Posted by NovaHammer on 2/13/2013 at 11:40 AM Accepted
    PopShop
  • Posted on 2/14/2013 at 11:31 AM Author
    Many thanks all once again for your invaluable suggestions!

    BR,

    SH.
  • Posted by Moriarty on 2/14/2013 at 11:51 AM Member
    To your success! Post some piccies through your profile when it's all running. Let's see what you've done with it all, and how you built yourself a business.
  • Posted on 2/14/2013 at 11:59 AM Author
    Definitely! Will do
  • Posted by J. Weiss on 2/14/2013 at 12:56 PM Member
    Just some thoughts off the Pop of my head.....arghhhh

    Popped to Perfection

    Pop in for great Flavor

    Poppin Good Flavor

    Pop Goes the Flavor

    Premium Pops

    The Popper

    JWeiss Images
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