EDIT/UPDATE:::::: Locksmith Shop....Key Shop or...........

[LaRue Medlin]

Well I'm back AGAIN asking for opinions. If I start a "shop/store" for locksmithing, what would sound better????



A1C Locksmith Shop



or



A1C Key Shop



or



A1C Lock Shop



or



A1C ????????????????

 

[Tommy VanNess]

How about A1C Key Shop/Locksmith? This way you get a little bit of both in the title.

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

How about A1C Lock & Key shop? Actually, they all sound fine to me.

 

[A1cntrler]

I would stick with Locksmith. Keeps it traditional and noble sounding. Are you seperating your businesses or will you be combining Carolina Lock and Key?? In my honest opinion I don't like the alphabetical name game. Makes me think that they are pushing thier way in front of others, but I guess it works. I think of all the storage places around here. Started out with the AA storage, and I have see AAAAA storage here recently. Did you decide on a logo??



Does the "C" really stand for anything in the A1C?? I like the sound of A1 Locksmith....

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

How about "Ye Ole Locksmithy" ? Or something along those lines.

 

[LaRue Medlin]

Larry, the "C" stands for Carolina,,, and yes the A1 is to get up front. There are 2 locksmiths and a towing company in front of me and you are right,,, I will be playing the name game. But you have to do what you can these days to survive. I will NOT be leaving Carolina Lock & Key, A1C will be a "division" of CLK. Plus having 2 spots in the phone book can't hurt; and it will give me a hangout spot between calls and I can sell stuff and fix stuff in-house. I'm tired of sitting in my van for hours at a time just waiting on calls when I could be making keys or rekeying someones lock or whatever. Maybe they would go to a lock shop instead of wally-world. More reliable service??? I like A1C Locksmith Shop the best; but wouldn't A1C Key Shop make you think of it being a shop more than a mobile locksmith or would it really mater. That's kinda what I'm looking for here on this question. What name would sound better as a "storefront" name...... So may opinions and different points of view and perseptions.

 

[A1cntrler]

Shop at the end is your best bet. When I think locksmith, I think of the guy in the van showing up to fix locks. How much walk in traffic do you expect to get?? I know I would rather have someone to my house to fix locks should they need fixed. I would not want to take the lock off the door and haul it somewhere to have it done. Honestly if I need to have a key made, I wouldprobably get it done while at the mall, Lowe's or Home Depot for the convience. I would already be there for something likely. Have you looked at partnering with a local hardware store for key making?? I juct can't think of a similar business to the one you are setting up. I'm not trying to discourage you from doing this, just giving my opinion.

 

[Gavin Allan]

How about adding "and Professional Security Solutions" to whatever name you pick?



Seems like you might want to do more than cut keys. You could get into home and business security, etc.

 

[mookie]

I like:



"A1C Lock & Key Shop"

 

[Richard L]

LaRue,

How about "A1C Lock & Key Specialist" or A1C Lock & Key Service Center". That sound a little more technically up-to-date and less "Mom & Pop".



...Rich.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

When I see "A1C", I think of "Airman First Class". Not to belittle the rank, but an A1C is considered an apprentice in his job. When it comes to locksmiths, I would rather have a Master Locksmith rather than an apprentice. I'm not suggesting you are an apprentice, but the name of the new shop could give that connotation to some.



If it were me, I would use the same Carolina Lock and Key name and logo on the shop as your mobile service. You already have brand recognition in your town from the uniquely designed truck you use. Anyone that has experienced your good service will immediately recognize the name and would be more likely to enter your new office. Brand recognition is why companies such as Ford and Coca-Cola defend their trademarks so fiercely. It takes a lot of effort to develop a recognizable brand and a counterfeiter could easily tarnish the image of a company buy putting their brand on an inferior product.



How many people really pick the first business listed in the phone book anyway? If people really did that, I should run for President, since my last name "Atwell" is at the beginning of the alphabet. Wait a second. Maybe that is why John Adams and John Q. Adams were President.

 

[Mike Wilson]

Speaking of service monikers/ranks, how about AAdmiral (yes, two A's, to put you toward

the top) Mobile Lock and Key, Division of CLK Co...?

Just my .02% (couldn't find the 'cent' key!). :huh:

 

[Ron N]

How about- A1Carolina Lock & Key Shop- That way you get to the front and keep your shop name._Ron

 

[LaRue Medlin]

Hey Nelson,,, If you didn't live around any military, and had no clue about the rankings of the AF,,, how would you know A1C is a novice status??? There IS more in life than the AF. I found that out when I retired 6 years ago.



AND people HERE do go down the list in the phone book. They call all the numbers and then go with the best deal 90% of the time I know because I ask each customer how they chose me.



Larry, you would be surprised how many people want to go to a lock shop. I watched the lock shop in Florence the other day and 22 people walked in/out the doors in a 3-4 hour time frame. They don't just make keys and you would also be surprised how many people DO bring in locks and such to their store. Now you figure at the least each person wants 1,, 2$ key, maybe a new doorknob for 20$, a padlock, even commercial people come in for stuff. Duplicate keys from their car lot, etc.... Broken key Lowes/WallyWorld can't copy on their machine, and a lock shop can... So really, there is a lot of stuff going on in a lock shop....

 

[Jason McKinnon]

I like the "Lock & Key" as well To me, the term "Locksmith Shop" sounds like a shop for locksmiths (like for supplies and stuff), and not something the average joe would go into.

 

[Tom Schindler]

...and it will give me a hangout spot between calls and I can sell stuff and fix stuff in-house. I'm tired of sitting in my van for hours at a time just waiting on calls...

Why don't you wire up your van with internet and cable TV and hang out in your "home away from home"? You could be sitting in your van, surfing MYST.com.





Tom

 

[TomT]

Lock & Load?

 

[Robert Stanton]

Leave the "Shop" out. "A1C Lock and Key" has a good ring to it... Say it out loud, and imagine answering the phone that way.

 

[Dale Carlson]

How about going the other way - making CLK a division of A1C?



Like this: A1 Security Service Center (or just Services - this gives you a less specific name, and gives you room to grow if you decide to expand your horizons) (OK, maybe another name - I'm not liking the initials here...)



with: Carolina Lock & Key (a division of A1 Security Services)



Thought of that because we just had a security company in here not 1/2 hour ago pitching biometric access systems, but they do everything from key/lock to swipe cards to biometrics to combinations of same.

 

[Chops]

Down here they have gotten ridiculous on the yellow page listings



A AAA Aaron's Locksmith



The yellow pages, yellow book, the real yellow pages, it's all so confusing and hokey I look online exclusively now. And any "A" s in front of a name I stay away like the bird flu.