Another business name conundrum

This has been touched up on a few times over the last few weeks on the forum I notice, I now find myself in the situation of having to re-name my business.

To cut a long story short my good lady qualifies as a doctor in the next few months and has a Job starting back down south in Chester in July/August. Currently live and work in Edinburgh, things have gone really well etc etc would love to stay but after many hours of chat we have decided to move.

Having thought long and hard whether to keep things going or take on a job at a large garden/estate and work my way up to a head gardeners position, I think once you’ve had the taste of being your own boss and running a compact little gardening/landscaping business I would find it hard to go back. So I’ve decided to start things up again down south.

I’m getting there, sorry to bore you all.

Business names wise I’m thinking along the lines of using my name: James Rowlinson Gardens or possibly Wildwood Gardening/Wildwood Gardener, hit a mental block with other ideas. I mainly concentrate my work on maintaining larger private gardens with smaller landscaping projects every now and again. Goes with out saying I can't carry on using my current trading name http://www.edinburghcitygardener.co.uk/

I feel much better for getting that of my chest. After all, friends and family are helpful but I value an opinion from a professional point of view.

Thanks for listening

James

Replies

Dave Sewell February 17, 2010 at 10:48am

Hi James,
I'm not going to suggest any names but I think you're on the right lines if you leave your name out of it. Working on the basis of always looking towards your end game, one day you might want to sell the business and it's much easier if it's not affiliated to a specific person.
All best,
Dave
www.the-gardenmakers.co.uk
Michael Burt February 17, 2010 at 11:09am

I quite like Wildwood Gardening. Sounds fairly upmarket and is also generic enough that you're not tied in to a particular locale. I found the same issue when I moved two years ago. Admittedly I only moved from Clackmannanshire to Stirling but my old trading name 'Wee County Gardening' really didn't go down that well at all. People either thought I only worked in the Wee County (ie. Clackmannanshire) or they didn't want to use me as I was seemingly from the Wee County. I subsequently renamed the business to Vialii Garden Services which so far has received really positive feedback in terms of perception and more importantly is not geographically specific.
Hope this helps and good luck down south.
Regards
Michael
James February 17, 2010 at 11:31am

Thanks for the replies.

I feel for some reason my name doesn't roll off the tongue very well when attached to any garden related activity !

wildwood gardening came about after reading a book by Roger Deakin called wildwood.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/jul/15/scienceandnature.features

Great book, great writter.
James February 17, 2010 at 2:30pm

Brave maybe a little stupid, I'm not sure colin..

I quite fancied the idea of working on a large RHS/National trust garden and working my way up to a head gardeners position but unfortunately starting at the bottom again would involve a wage in the region on 12-13k which is a big difference from what you can earn running your own business.
PRO

Gary RK February 17, 2010 at 5:56pm

Hi James,

Good luck with your move, but call that down 'sarf' ! It still very very northern for us real southerners!!!

Anyway, I really like Wildwood Gardening - it has a nice fell to it, very green/organic etc.

I feel it's wise to keep location out of it as it gives you future flexibility, but totallty appreciate the point others will make in that when googling you may not be near the top in your new location, but I guess that can be resolved by other web methods....

Whatever, keep on LJN after your move
James February 17, 2010 at 6:07pm

Thanks for the comments Gary.

Ok, it's still pretty Northern I'll give you that.
Kieran Ray February 17, 2010 at 6:16pm

How about some sort of roman esque type name as Chester is rich in roman history.
James February 17, 2010 at 7:45pm

Definate Roman vibe in Chester, perhaps I could work in leather sandals and carry a shield around, that would get me noticed
Dave Sewell February 17, 2010 at 8:39pm

Now THAT'S what I'd call a USP!

James said:
Definate Roman vibe in Chester, perhaps I could work in leather sandals and carry a shield around, that would get me noticed
Graeme @ BGS February 17, 2010 at 9:28pm

colin said:
your a brave man being prepared to relocate and start again, i dont think i could cope with building a business second time around certainly not with the current financial climate. hope it goes well maybe find some subbing work till you build a new round.

good name choice though

You should clean up nicely in Chester, a great area and I believe Green T have one of their largest and most profitable branches located there, so if you are into lawn care as well, you will be alright.

Assuming your partner will be working in the hospital get your business card on the notice board. Just think of all the people who will need help and assistance whilst ill!