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hey yall I have been under the name Classic Air and Graphics for over 12 years and about 4 years ago someone came to town and started calling there business Classic Art Graphics....ok i can live with that (****ed me off though!)In the last few weeks they put up a website not even with there so called business name like mine.but with the name they have always went by.Not only this but I have always used the slogan "We'll paint anything that rolls flies wiggles giggles floats or slides "..now on there site it says in bold letters "if it rolls or flies we got it colored" I seen this somewhere (the lil phrase i use )I beleive on a shirt made by ed roth and always thought it was neat so i added a little and used it since noone i knew had it. Anyway We both paint bikes and dont get me wrong this guy does some nice work. My dilema is this do i change my name or just hope folks see the differance...... And Would it be smart to inc.my Business name or am i just worrying to much about this......T
-------------------- Curtis Denton Classic Air and Graphics Knightdale, N.C. http://www.classicairandgraphics.com "We'll paint anything that rolls, flies,wiggles,giggles,floats,slithers or slides Posts: 40 | From: Knightdale, N.C. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Incorporating is a whole 'nuther issue than registering a business name. Why not contact the SBA in your region and see what advice they have to offer. Pennsylvania has a web site that you can submit a fiticious business name and they will notify you if it has been used or not. If it's available, kickem down the 50 bucks and you just bought your name!
(Who's to say these other guys have done this)??
-------------------- Mark Neurohr "Ernest" Paintin' Place 141 Sunnyside Road Kittanning, PA 16201
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Incorporating, won't do anything for saving a namesake, and their are probably plenty more very similar names to your business out there. Personally, I would use your real name or handle like Ed Roth did, and let your customer realize who they are dealing with. Put your name right up with the title. Classic Air & Graphics by Curtis Denton. It should help you get a free and effective personalization that you are looking for, and should be effective. If you ever expect to do well with a web page, stable personal info will help a lot. Annonanimity, on the net leads to distrust. So many businesses on the net don't even list what state they are in. Why? My experience in business is that the closer of personal relationship you show towards your prospective customer, the more likely a favorable purchase response.
-------------------- "Don't change horses in midstream, unless you spot one with longer legs" bronzeo oti Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com jack@imagemakerart.com Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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I'd say change the name to something like Denton Graphics, obviously these folks, while they might put out nice work, are kinda short on originality . Myself, I would have said something four years ago. This is kinda like opening a fast food joint called MacDoneld's
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Curtis,..in North Carolina you'll need to register trade names and such to do business. This dilemma could very well be soved by registering your trade name and any trademarks,etc. The office is somewhere in Raliegh so you shouldn't have to look far,...hope this helps ya,...
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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In Pa, the fictitious name registration is just for EXACT name matches. A similar name would be allowed. Incorporating the business includes doing a search for similar names. What PA says is if you register the fictitious name, that is considered making it a seperate entity. If you have a problem (non-paying client, for instance) you can sue IF you registered the fictitious name. However, if you use a fictitiuos name and didn't register it, you cannot sue. Basically, registering the name makes the state recognize the business exists. If it isn't registered, it don't exist in the state's eyes. Also, if the business incorporates you LAST name, (Such as Denton Graphics) it doesn't need to be registered. If it just uses your first name (Zeke's Ugly Cheap Signs), it is considered fictitious and has to be registered to be recognized.
I don't remember where you're from, but if you did a search for your state name and "fictitious name registration", I bet you'd find the info specific to your state.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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a business name isn't there to make you cute, its there to bring you business, and make people remember who they bought stuff from. if your name is confused with somebody else's name (for ANY reason) then its not doing its job for you -- change it.
my guess is that if a customer doesn't remember your name exactly, and says "oh, i got the work done by Classic something" then there's a 50/50 chance your competition will get the phone call. If your customer says "i got the work done by Curtis whathisface" then they aren't going to find you in the phone book anyway.
give some thought to how your customers remember you -- do they think of Curtis, or do they think of Classic Air? (I'm guessing you do airbrush? or is it airplanes?)
you could modify your business name and call it CURTIS DENTON'S Classic Air. That puts YOUR name first, and will probably end the confusion.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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I wouldn't change the name because you could lose customers who might only remember "Classic..." I would add a tag line that uses the word "orginial" in it. Like "All orginial work" "the only orginial in town" etc. Who knows, he might go out of business if he came come up with anything new.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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the name 'classic' is over used, and it seems well over used in your town. Personally I would let him have the name... seems as though he may be trying to play off what you do, I would tape a list of things he can do with it to that rock bruce was talking about. CLASSIC AIR really does nothing for me, and doesnt tell me what you do all to well. I would sit done a hash out a really well planned name and logo that blows people away. What ever you do, dont switch to "custom air"
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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You could have a friend with a business start invoicing your 'buddy' and when he calls to argue tell him "classic something ordered this. You must be the one that couldn't come up with your own name & stole someone else's".
But, I'm really liking that rock idea. We have rocks all around the house (got rid of the ant attracting wood chips). I could pick a nice, special one and ship it to you........
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I recently re-incorporated my company. I changed the name of the corporation from Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. to Mulligan Leasing. I than applied to the secretary of state to incorporate the operating entity as Cardinal Manufacturing Company, Inc. The sectretary of state denied my request. I than received a letter form the secretary of state informing me somebody named Jim Mulligan was trying to incorporate using a name close to Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. and asking my permission to let him have the name. I signed off on the request and it was done. So if your state law is like Indiana and they were using a name that close you would have been notified and asked permission.
Posts: 121 | From: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Feb 2001
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This may not be THE fix for you, but down in Georgia a fellow went by the name of "The Sign Guy." It took off big and he got lots of business. His brother got cocky and left the company and tried to operate under the same name.
The first brother changed his name to 'The Original Sign Guy." He was fortunate that his logo allowed him to put the word "original" in script above the exsisting verbage without having to change the look.
I was always torn when I saw that. I thought it was perpetuating the squabble and then, thought if it were my gig, it might be the best thing to do.
I toss this out only to offer you the option of looking at the whole thing from all perspectives, those you may not have thought about yet.
The best thing to do when your brain is tormented by something, (design-wise) is to try to take your mind off of it. The other side of your brain will inevitably argue with the perfect solution and voila!
Good luck with your dilemna. I know you'll come up with a dynamic resolution!
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. Myself, I would have said something four years ago. This is kinda like opening a fast food joint called MacDoneld's
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