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[kddani]

Originally Posted by Rio_Kohitsuji

Haha! Actually the D&D-er's aren't our target audience (but you did give me something to think about...). Our target will be male 25-35 (heck, older too!) who are scared to death of the typical jewelry store atmosphere. Right now we're only focusing on engagement rings that are heavy in the customization and light on cost. Why it's the Vulcan is do to the myth and also due to he does all his work in a homemade outdoor kiln, I don't know how else to describe it except for badass, heh.

The word "Vulcan" is well-known to most as something from Star Trek, so it could really be misleading and also could turn off a lot of potential customers. Might also want to check with a lawyer (as anyone starting a business should) about any potential trademark issues in using this term.

[AOIIBrandi]

I like 9 the best.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by kddani

The word "Vulcan" is well-known to most as something from Star Trek, so it could really be misleading and also could turn off a lot of potential customers. Might also want to check with a lawyer (as anyone starting a business should) about any potential trademark issues in using this term.

Yeah but it's also the Roman god of well, smiths, blacksmith, silversmith, etc

I think that the name is clear enough and fits his target audience. Almost any Star Trek nerd (myself included) will know where the name Vulcan comes from...

Non-nerds will be less inclined to jump at the Star Trek connection.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah but it's also the Roman god of well, smiths, blacksmith, silversmith, etc

I think that the name is clear enough and fits his target audience. Almost any Star Trek nerd (myself included) will know where the name Vulcan comes from...

Non-nerds will be less inclined to jump at the Star Trek connection.

I had no idea Vulcan was even a Roman god (i'm not really into that stuff nor have I studied it). I'm just pointing out that the general population associates Vulcan with Star Trek. I don't watch Star Trek and am not into anything like that, but that's what I associate it with. As a business, while you have a target audience, you also want to appeal to as many people as possible. They can do with it what they want, but hey, free marketing opinions here.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah but it's also the Roman god of well, smiths, blacksmith, silversmith, etc

I think that the name is clear enough and fits his target audience. Almost any Star Trek nerd (myself included) will know where the name Vulcan comes from...

Non-nerds will be less inclined to jump at the Star Trek connection.

Keep in mind, I've never actually watched Star Trek (or Star Wars for that matter), but my mind goes immediately to either the Roman God or car tires that have been Vulcanized.

[tunatartare]

I thought of the Roman god. No clue what tire vulcanization (is that even a word?) is.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

I thought of the Roman god. No clue what tire vulcanization (is that even a word?) is.

From our friends at dictionary.com:

vul·ca·nize ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vlk-nz)
tr.v. vul·ca·nized, vul·ca·niz·ing, vul·ca·niz·es
To improve the strength, resiliency, and freedom from stickiness and odor of (rubber, for example) by combining with sulfur or other additives in the presence of heat and pressure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vulca·niza·ble adj.
vulca·ni·zation (-n-zshn) n.
vulca·nizer n.

[preciousjeni]

Actually, I prefer 11.

[kddani]

Ehhh... just saying. Out of that target group, there's a lot of guys that don't like Star Trek and no nothing of mythology. The biz can do with it what they will. Businesses pay 1000's of dollars for this sort of info.

As for the logos, have they tested any out by actually stamping? They're going to have to be very small to fit inside a ring band and would need to be clear. Hence, 10, 11 and 12 would probably just look like smudges and wouldn't be a discernible imprint. I personally like 5, but to me it looks like a purse logo so that may not be appropriate. I think 6 is odd and the V isn't really a clear V as it is closed.

I would really have to say see which actually works when stamped inside a ring. He's also going to need room for a .925 or 14K or whatever. Also, people do like to inscribe things inside rings sometimes, so you may want room for that.

[xo_kathy]

I used to work for a company that comes up with the names of companies and designs logos (the Sprint logo mentioned before was my boss' creation). That being said, I agree 100% with kddani.

When I heard Vulcan Forge I didn't think of engagement rings. I thought of D&D, Renaissance Fair kind of stuff - lots of silver, dragons, etc. Then I thought Star Trek. That doesn't say "engagement ring" to me. In fact, when I heard the name I thought, "Hmm, I thought she said before they were getting into engagement rings. I guess they changed their focus."

You can push the Roman God of silversmithing angle all you want, but most people won't think of that. It's great that you and your friends know what it means, but considering 3 well-educated women from urban areas (valkyrie, kddani, and myself) had no clue, you may want to think more about the name.

Note: I'm not saying your friends aren't well-educated! I'm just pointing out it's not like the 3 of us who didn't know the Roman God stuff are high school dropouts from the Ozarks or something.

[kddani]

Also, the name Vulcan Forge is also in use by other businesses- a google will turn that up. There's a "Vulcan's Forge" that seems to also design jewelry http://www.vulcans-forge.com/ In this case, I would STRONGLY suggest a name change, as you're running into a ton of trademark issues and likelihood of confusion right here.

Some of you may think i'm being nit-picky. But I personally look at these things in different ways than others do because I know that these sorts of things can be potential problems. It's a lot better to take care of all of this up front, as the business is getting going, than down the road. Lawsuits and having to totally change the name of an established business will cost a lot of money and headache.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by kddani

Some of you may think i'm being nit-picky. But I personally look at these things in different ways than others do because I know that these sorts of things can be potential problems. It's a lot better to take care of all of this up front, as the business is getting going, than down the road. Lawsuits and having to totally change the name of an established business will cost a lot of money and headache.

There's a "Burger King" restaurant in Charelston, IL that proved it chartered before the fast food place, and now the fast food place pays him millions each year, and cannot build within 50 miles of Charleston, IL.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

There's a "Burger King" restaurant in Charelston, IL that proved it chartered before the fast food place, and now the fast food place pays him millions each year, and cannot build within 50 miles of Charleston, IL.

Exactly. And nowadays, there's even less of an excuse to have the same name as an already established business when google turns it up in less than a second.

[xo_kathy]

Originally Posted by kddani

Also, the name Vulcan Forge is also in use by other businesses- a google will turn that up. There's a "Vulcan's Forge" that seems to also design jewelry http://www.vulcans-forge.com/

And THAT is the kind of jewelry I thought of from the name!

[kddani]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

And THAT is the kind of jewelry I thought of from the name!

And here's a list of wear that biz will be visiting http://www.vulcans-forge.com/schedule.htm - a psychic fair, several Renaissance fairs, a Pagan festival and highland games.