Only twice have we predicted the demise of a product based on its name and brand positioning; Song Airlines and Gap’s Forth and Towne. We are confidant that the inevitable failure of Crayons juice drinks will put our record at 3-0. On the surface the name seems plausible - crayons are fun and multi-colored, much like these fruit drinks. But we all have the visceral memory of chewing on a crayon as kids, and well, not good. The final nail is the fact that the juice is even using Crayola design cues. Ugh.
Are your company or product name brainstorming attempts long on storm and short on brains? Igor has over 8,300 brains in stock, ready to help you name whatever needs naming — most have very low milage, are hardly ever driven during the week, and are used only sparingly on weekends to scan refrigerator contents and such. Our collection of brains can be picked through at the Wordlab Wordboard, our free naming and branding brainstorming forum. Jump in and pick the brains!
Tips for picking a brain:
1. Do not pick if the skin is too green–it’s not ripe yet.
2. The brain should be viscous and phlegmatic, yet hold up to a good thumping. Not too firm, not too soft.
3. The end that was twisted from the brain stem should be pliable when you poke your thumb through the outer membrane. If you can’t break the membrane with your fingernail, the brain was picked prematurely.
4. Smell is the most reliable indicator of freshness.
Actually it’s better than Yellow, naming-wise. Usually, we would advise against using the word “Green” as a modifier to a business name as a way of conveying “echo-friendly”. It’s done so much that Green noise becomes White noise. It’s hack naming, and only appropriate for hacks, hence Green Cab of San Francisco.
It’s the perfect name for a cab company comprised entirely of Toyota Prius’, and it also leverages the until now untouchably iconic Yellow Cab brand against itself. Nice. And success is guaranteed by the fact that by simply calling Green Cab instead of Yellow, the customer feels like they have done something honorable.
Only twice have we predicted the demise of a product based on its name and brand positioning; Song Airlines and Gap’s Forth and Towne. We are confidant that the inevitable failure of Crayons juice drinks will put our record at 3-0. On the surface the name seems plausible - crayons are fun and multi-colored, much like these fruit drinks. But we all have the visceral memory of chewing on a crayon as kids, and well, not good. The final nail is the fact that the juice is even using Crayola design cues. Ugh.
Posted by Steve on
August 22nd, 2007 - 2:34pm |
Igor + branding + naming process + pop culture + product names |
Comments (2) 
