OT: Do you like this name? - Part II, Here we go again... Options

[McMark]

Same drill as before...

[airsix]

QUOTE (Jeroen @ Jan 2 2005, 05:04 AM)

D e B e r n a r d i Classic Restorations and Customs Your last name has a nice "exotic" ring to it, so exploit that (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

I agree. In fact, if we were casting ballots that one right there gets my enthusiastic vote.

I like your name and you need people to recognize the name. I make custom folding pocketknives for fun but a lot of guys have a serious career in it. The one constant among all the most sucessfull custom folder makers is an easily recognizable name associated with their product. Not an ambiguous corporate name - their OWN name. Who the heck is going to remember or seek out "Blue Mountain Cuttlery"? Nobody. But if a guy has a name like Jason Cutter, Johnny Stout, or Bob Loveless (examples of actual well known custom makers) and puts that name on his product people begin to associate the product with the maker. This, IMHO is the only way to truely develop a reputation in your field. Mark De Bernardi needs a reputation, not a company owned by him. People don't pay much attention to companies - they pay attention to other people. Another example would be custom choppers since that's so 'in' right now. Who in the freaking world is NOT going to remember a guy like Indian Larry. I mean, I can't forget him and I'm not even into bikes. Every person in the free-world knows who Jesse James is. I bet only a small percentage could tell you the name of his company.

One last thing. When you put your name on your product, right then and there you move ahead of the competition because you say to the world "My name is Mark De Bernardi. This is my work, and I'm proud to put my name on it where you can all see it." To me it says that you are not afraid to be scrutinized which to me is a good indicator of a quality product.

-Ben M.