Monday, August 31, 2009

Say My Name, say my name

What's in a name?



Recently I told a little story about a strange love, how Lola got her name. When I chose it, I was mulling over many a moniker - and settled on something I thought I could live with for a while. I may have also mentioned recently, that I am slowly inching my way towards opening an Etsy store. Yes, I know...surely you are saying to yourselves, "Why doesn't she just get on with it?" Be gentle dears, I'm a little slow but, I will catch up. Now, for what one thing has to do with the other:
I was poking about the other day and discovered that Etsy has 216 sellers with names beginning in Lola. Two hundred sixteen! Which I realize, is small in comparison to the 2671 sellers whose names start with Little, or the 10746 sellers whose names start with The.

I guess what I am getting at is this - I am having some doubts about my name. O.K. not my name. For those of you who don't know, the woman behind the curtain is me - I am Alexandra Smith (friends call me Alex)- and I wont be changing that any time soon. This blog, Lola Nova - Whatever Lola Wants, has only been for a little over a year but, the name was launched over 5 years ago. In that time, the number of Lolas out in the 'webby' world has increased quite a lot. It would be a bad time to change the name, as those of you who have supported me all this time surely identify with Lola Nova, and you are very important to me dear readers, more than you know.

So, I'm just gonna throw this out there into the whispering wind and ask what you all think. What do you think of Lola Nova? Is it a keeper? Would I be foolish to forsake it now? If I did change names, what on earth would I change it to? Am I just experiencing a case of pre-Etsy jitters, cold toes? Well...

Leave me a comment, let me know what you make of this doubt of mine, if you would please. I would love to hear from you. I will completely understand if you laugh and point your finger at me for being a little goose.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm new to your blog but I say stick with it. That's what people know you as and if they love your work (which they certainly do by the looks of things) then I'm sure people will be more than happy to search thru a zillion Lola's to find the one they want!!! :)

Claire MW said...

Well, I think you should stick with it too. When you search things on Etsy, do you search by shop name? Probably not. I don't. I have a list of my favourites and I do searches on terms like "roving" and "batts" and "handspun." What about those other Lolas...are they all in the same field/business area as you? If not, they should not even be a concern. If there were 10 Lola Nova shops with children's clothing, yes, I would seriously consider a change. If you feel really unsure, you could add another word to it....like for example: Hola Lola Nova, or Aloha Lola Nova, just to further differentiate, but I don't think it's necessary. :-)

Maevy said...

I think you should definitely keep your name as it is. I agree with Claire that searches on Etsy are rarely done by shop names. Besides, what attracts me to a shop is the quality of their products, not their name. Since everyone already knows you as Lola Nova, and associate you with the name, I think it would be a mistake to change it.

lifeshighway said...

You should definately keep the name. Whenever I read your blog, my mind always hums "whatever Lola wants, Lola gets".... what would I hum if you changed it?

diane said...

pre-etsy jitters!!! the muppet would not look right with any other name..... i agree with everyone else and say keep it!! :)

Anonymous said...

how can chicken little tell all his friends that he has a Lola Nove original kepi if ther is no Lola Nova?
darrin

LollyChops said...

Could you name your shop "Whatever Lola Wants" ??? I think you def need to hang on to your name in some form or fashion!

AND... where do you get your labels???? please please please tell me. I so want some LollyChops labels (not for selling...just for a-fixin' to the stuff I make for my family).

Tuesday HUGS!

Lola Nova said...

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments! I do so appreciate your input. I agree with all of you. The name stays!

Unknown said...

Thank heavens! I was going to add another "keep it!" but got to the bottom of the comments and saw that you had already decided.

dottie angel said...

a little late i know but can i put in my pennies worth...
"KEEP IT"
it's got a ring about it and it's easy to remember, stands out from the crowd of 'lola' out there.

hope you have managed to retrieve your teatowel and found a few quiet moments to 'breathe' ;)

Unknown said...

I'm a little late but go for the name you lobe - Lola Nova!

:o) mg said...

The cool thing is that you could keep your same web address but change the name of the blog.
Does that make sense?
So, folks could still reach you at www dot lolanova etc...
but when they get here, the header could be whatever you want to call it.
For example, my sewing blog, I wanted to have the web address that matches the blog name (sew... what now) but since it was taken, I came up with the kids are napping as the web address. Just a thought.
Either way, we'll find you.

Ashley said...

I love it. I think it is unique.....you're the first Lola I know....

Also, your comment on my blog was SO on.....my daughter will one day be BEGGING me for store bought clothes ;)