When you start up, it’s natural to get strung up about what to call yourself. Your business name becomes a central part of your brand. You may choose something that just has meaning for you, or you may try to find a name that expresses what you do ...
Another version of this for the smaller business is using your actual name. Still, you have to work at getting your name associated with that expertise: think Price Waterhouse Cooper.
The other way is to name the company after what you do. Ronseal famously introduced a new phrase to us as, "does what it says on the tinGo Compare". Here, there are likely to be many competitors with similar names and your emphasis is on differentiating yourself from those competitors.
We've been working through re-vitalising our Vision and Mission statements and planning a border range of services. Our name helps us to keep that focus. For me, it is our name, but also our strapline as in Green : Business: Network. As well as describing us to our stakeholders, it helps us keep the focus on what we are trying to achieve.
- Green - is our core value. It's known pretty much known worldwide as a catch-all word for all things environmental, sustainable, climate change, pollution reduction and clean up, plants, save the tigers etc. So, everything we do has to be directly involved in this worldwide imperative.
Our Vision statement is, "There will be a Green Strategy in every business in our catchment area (Beds, Northants, North Bucks and Milton Keynes)".
Our Mission statement is, "Through sharing knowledge, skills, experience and contacts the GBN enables businesses of all sectors and sizes to adopt green strategies and best practices that add value to their business".
It also means we act as a business ourselves. Whilst grant funding has always, and always will, play a part in our finances, our main source of funding will be through trading as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation so our customers pay for products and services we provide.
These statements also mean that we do not engage in other parts of the green agenda. We're not a political organisation nor lobbyist or activists. Neither are we directly engaged in educating or engaging with the general public although our customers may have those intentions. We may enable them to do so through our collective knowledge, experience and contacts. Which brings us nicely to the third part of our name
What we do have is an extensive network of business leaders, suppliers of green solutions, academics from local universities, business networking community groups. Many of these individuals and businesses have part of the solution which together can produce novel solutions. By connecting and enabling these people to develop new relationships, contribute and collaborate we can together make a significant contribution.
Networking increases all members:
- business opportunities
- knowledge and skills
- innovation
- support
It also enables businesses to give back and influence within their industry, local community and, if they wish, nationally and internationally. Who would you rather listen to? Someone who has addressed the issues or someone sitting on the sidelines having a moan?
This blog post started out talking about business names. I hope I've given you some insight into a name that is determined to play a part in the biggest challenge humanity has faced.
To address your Green agenda in a business-like manner join our network.
If you'd like to learn more then do give me a call on 07970 638857 and let's have a chat and see how I can help you.