Since GBCN is my market I thought I'd come here for help. I am finally doing something I have always wanted to do for 5+ years. I was a wedding an event planner for sometime but stopped to have babies in 2009. Since having my kids I have always had the itch to get back into the industry. I don't want to go back into wedding planning but I want to open my own event space. It will basically be a blank canvas for bridal showers, baby showers, networking events, art gallery, fundraisers, wine & paint parties, craft workshops, Sweet 16 parties etc. My target market is women. The idea is that it's strictly a rental space and comes with all the tables linens etc with your hourly rate. You can bring in your own food, catering etc. I will have party upgrades available for extra charge but I want people that are having events to feel like they can do what they want without all the banquet restrictions that are around my city. There is definitely a demand and I am super excited about it.
I haven't found a location yet but that is in the works. I have a business plan and still have a ton to do but I cannot for the life of me come up with a unique name. I want it to be feminine and incorporate the idea of a space, warehouse, Room, Pad, etc.
I want the design of this place to be very contemporary so that anyone can come in and design the room to fit their needs.
ETA: It will be decorated. I will have fancy lighting, decorated/framed panels that come on and off the wall. LOTS of versatility to take things down. But neutral enough that if left up, create a swanky vibe.
Names I've thought of so far: Ok names are lame. Presley's Place (My DD's name: She is what is inspiring me right now to do this.) The Pink Unicorn (Again another DD inspiration. Unicorn being that it's a unique space.) She Space The Posh Pad The Roxy Room
PS: I love having the word Unicorn in the name but thanks to ML I have also learned that swingers use this term to describe "the perfect girlfriend". Do people outside of GBCN & ML know this? When I told my mom she spit out her coffee.
I think these names are a little too girly. I know you are , but I think it might be best to have a name with a more professional angle, otherwise you're most likely going to capture kiddie parties, for the most part.
I'm with Astrid in that the name would seem to limit the type of events you could book. No one would book a work event at The Pink Unicorn or She Space.
Yuck to all those names, too cutesy and childish. I think you need to go for something a little more sophisticated if you plan to host anything besides kids birthday parties.
I'm with Astrid in that the name would seem to limit the type of events you could book. No one would book a work event at The Pink Unicorn or She Space.
I agree with this.
Of your suggestions, The Roxy Room is the only one I'd consider.
Post by captainobvious on Oct 1, 2014 12:34:27 GMT -5
The places I know that are similar to this are all "Loft" or "Lounge" with an address, a building name, etc. So, like Luce Loft or Lounge 1360. I don't know if those skew feminine though, but perhaps the logo/design could be more feminine rather than the name?
I definitely don't want to sound cutesy. Simple is best for sure but my main market IS women so there needs to be a feminine element there.
You don't need a feminine name to attract women. Do you realize how insulting that sounds? Do you choose all of the businesses you patronize by whether the name is feminine? I doubt it, and I doubt most women do. A "ladies only!" vibe would actually put me off of a place. I wouldn't book an event at a place with any of the names you've suggested.
And limiting your market to only women sounds like a bad business move. All of the events you listed can be attended by both sexes.
I like the idea of an event space with looser restrictions*, but I think you can go about it in a more sophisticated manner.
*What are the restrictions? Are you certain you can do away with them in your proposed business?
I think you can skew feminine with the colors of the logo, etc. But you don't want to go too over the top if you're hoping to host business and networking events.
I like something along the lines of "Xyz Event Space" or "The Xyx Room". Xyz could be something like Magnolia or Camelot. Or maybe the street name it will be on.
Also, I understand that you are thinking your client will be female, but that doesn't necessarily translate into a feminine event. The mom could be booking a birthday party, but it's for a boy, you know? She won't want to hold his first birthday at "The She Space."
I like the suggestion from captainobvious to call it something like "Lounge (street number)".
I don't like any of those and would not choose to hold an event there.
This name will be immortalized on people's event invitations and they won't want to be embarrassed by it.
The name of an event space should describe the location, the look or the feel. I think it is more than jumping the gun to name a place before seeing it. '
If you just want to name your company that is different--- but in that case none of your choices read as professional to me.
I agree with PP those options are cutesy. Think of something you could picture printed on a fancy invitation. Many event spaces in a town by me are named after the historic buildings they once were, ie The Ice House. One repurposed church-gone-event-hall is called Gingerwoods.
Maybe something like There House 8675309's Events Blank Slate Event Hall P's Venue "Street Name" Place
It may just be the alliteration making some options sound cutesy.
I get that in most of the scenarios that you listed the woman is the person you want to appeal to, but no self respecting business person or art gallery showing is going to put "The Pink Unicorn" or "Presley's Place" on their invites. You need something gender neutral.
The event places that are close here: Stoneridge Lakes Event Center Airlie Conference Center (Often just Airlie) *County* Springs Club (The Springs Club) Poplar Springs etc.
Thanks for the feedback. I am not aiming to completely cater to women. That's not my pure intention. Men are welcome too, but my idea was to have a place that felt touch of "girl power" to it. And yes that means my market is mostly women. Why is that bad? Also, because of my cities restrictions I really don't want this to turn into a late night event space either. We would shut down by 8pm on the weekends. Bad business decision or not, this was my vision.
I don't have suggestions but I would pick something that won't look funny on a printed invitation. Will it be big enough for receptions? I'm thinking "Reception at Pink Unicorn" in calligraphy and it's weird.