Naming, Renaming, or Rebranding Your Company - Things to Think About!

As part of the planning team for B&OI/BarclayDean, I have been neck deep in the process of renaming our company. I feel it's one of the cooler parts of marketing - your brand image speaks volumes. And your name, if not supported properly, can be a dud. However, with the right amount of planning and care, naming or renaming your company can be a positive and successful experience. I searched the web for some expert  advice when it comes to naming your brand and thought these sites were beneficial.

I found this good resource from risingabovethenoise.com  on questions to ask yourself before rebranding: Why do we want to rebrand? What do we want to convey? Are we leading with our brand direction? Check out the full article here.

Learning from other's mistakes is also a great way to watch out for possible pitfalls. This article from rebrand.com looked at 20 mistakes marketers make when rebranding. Hint: It's not just about the logo. Click here to read the full article.

 And finally, this article from econsultancy.com offers 5 good tips for branding - and one I really stand behind. Plan early! This is not an easy process or something that occurs overnight. You can not plan too much for this event. And it is universal. Start-up looking for a new name or 75 year old company trying to get a refresh...plan! Click here for the full article.

After months and months of hard work and going back and forth with teams and thoughts and ideas...I am truly excited to start talking about our new brand (having brand advocates is important!!!). But what I learned from my experience is being prepared and knowing the full scope will make this effort a little less stressful.

Kendal

Start Up Companies and Office Furniture

 

Yesterday, I found an interesting infographic on twitter. It is a map of the USA with the top 7 locations for start-ups highlighted with costs (taken from Entrepreneur.com - check out the article!):



First - I love seeing Seattle on the map. We have such a great culture and innovative epicenter that the fact we're not number one is a little surprising...except that we're a little pricey. So I get it. I like Austin, too - it's just very, very hot.

Second, I happened to find a Steelcase article in their new 360 magazine called "Small Companies, Big Ideas" that looks at the structure of the small business and the need to create a culture.

Taken from Steelcase 360

Small businesses need to fight harder to get momentum and recognition in the beginning. Being involved in the community and identifying with their company is key to pushing forward from that small struggling start-up to that successful small company. So how does furniture enter into this?

'Space reinforces what makes each firm unique. “You really want your space to reflect who you are,” says Mueller. “You want clients to walk into the space and think, ‘Hey, this is really cool. I’m working with smart, interesting people.’ Everyone wants to feel good about the firm they hired, and your office can reinforce that feeling."' (taken from Steelcase 360)

Choosing pieces that are functional and fit the businesses personality can help achieve success. Your employees want to come to work - giving them the tools to excel will only add up in the log run. Turnstone is a great line for start-up businesses to consider. They love the spirit of the startup entrepreneur and aim to create furniture that fits their work style. Though there is nothing wrong with Ikea...there are better options that you can afford. Do not underestimate the power of pre-owned! You can score great pieces at more than half off that are merely "gently loved".