Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am working on a new idea for an online store and am having a difficult time finding an available domain name that would be a good fit and was hoping to get a little advice.

My concept is a boutique that offers products and inspiration aimed at busy women (executives / moms / female entrepreneurs etc) who are looking to shut out the world for a little while and spend quality time with themselves.  Product categories would range from comfort, relaxation and home decor.

Every business name / domain I`ve come up with that fits what`s in my head is taken except for one but I`m not sure if other people will read it the same way I do.  I`m looking for something that embodies the feelings we have in our homes - comfort, safety, sanctuary - a safe haven or sacred space.  So I settled on Hallowed Home - available, catchy, brand-able...but there`s the religious connotation.  Hallowed is defined as to sanctify, honor - synonyms are sacred, blessed, beautified.  So my question is – can it work or should I keep looking.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

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~Empowering and Inspiring the World, One Woman at a Time.

I suggest that if the domain which you want is not available, head over to godaddy.com and look under their domain auctions section. Often you can find a domain for the same price as if you were to purchase an unknown one. Although you might spend a bit more on a domain from an auction, the domain could become the name that you have been looking for.
Another great way to come-up with a good domain name is to simply look through the dictionary or suft the net.

If you have anymore questions, please feel free to ask.


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Skype Me!!! @ tomaszpw
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How about www.hometranquility.com ? It is available. I checked it out on godaddy.  I think that it has the feel of what you have said you are selling. Just a suggestion. Best Wishes!

 

I`m a thinker, a problem solver, an innovator (looking to  create a network of professionals with the desire to create successful businesses) and am not the best  at the English language and/or grammar as far as that goes.  I know  my weakness and at the moment I don`t feel it is worth my time to correct it.  I`m sure I`m not the worst and that there are many people with the same weakness. 

I say this because when I first read the name you selected, I confused the word hallowed with hollowed and I`m not sure Hollowedhome.com would be the best selection either.  

I had no clue what Hallowed meant either, just wondering what percentage of the population would even if it is only 10% that would still mean that 10% of your potential target market would realize 0 correlation between your name and what you offer.  Just my input. 

As far as the religious connotation, that could be a good thing  and possibly a bad thing.  How much would it cost you to hoste and operate two web sites ( or three or four as far as that goes) using different names and target different market segmentations?? if you know where I`m heading there.

If it is geared towards the busy person, I would image that you will have the site formated in a way that will accommodate their busy schedule, speaking specifically towards the ease of use of the site.  Just figure that would be important  , but then again that should be important with all web sites.  LOL

 

Mike

First of all, Domain name auctions are too expensive, I seen domain names going for over 500K, and it`s based on bidding. I know this might not sound like a good idea but try using a - (dash) if the name can be separated in the middle, perhaps try .biz, .net, or .cc, although they are not a dotcom, people are more aware of the extensions and will use them just as they would use .com. Now as far as go-daddy? I don`t know about that, they try to sell you a domain name for 2.98 but their technical support is not as good.
If you need fast reliable domain name registration try going through me, I`m not trying to make a sale but I can turn around and send you a list of domain names that are available that you may want to consider It`s called a domain name spin list, where it takes the domain you are looking for, but it also searches names that are available that may suit your needs. Again I am not trying to pitch a sale, I am only trying to help your situation and perhaps you can find a domain name that will go with your company and just as reliable as godaddy or dotregister or yahoo. If you decide to go with yahoo, becareful because they deal with melbourne IT and they are in Australia or Austria, and if you need technical support, good luck google can only do so much but you can not register a name server. Whichever way you decide to go, good luck in your business venture.

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Sounds like a great business idea!  Just a thought here, but if you are planning on really promoting your website to drive the business I would highly recommend creating a name that would be easy for someone to remember.  Not only a catchy name, but easy to spell!  I know that there are so many websites out there that it is almost impossible to find the right one, but for a website driven business it is crucial to have a name that everyone can remember and spell when they look for it on the internet.  I just wish I could help you think of that perfect name!  Good luck.

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Hi Helen - great question - if you`re concerned about the religious connotation, why not use `haven`, which you included in your post?  Or `oasis` - not sure if either fits perfectly with what you`re putting together, but there are plenty of online resources you can use to look for related terms.  Try thesaurus.reference.com or visualthesaurus.com - either should provide you with a slew of options (the second has a free trial option).


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chuck fuller

Hi Helen,

I`m opening a boutique for southern women and I understand, "how do I put this in a name"? lol

Based on your description of your target audience, I think they`ll understand "hallowed", but I think its connotation leans towards cemeteries and therefore onto ghosts, unfortunately.  I do like the alliteration though. 

Oh, and I am a volunteer English teacher

What about Halcyon Manor?  If you`re leaning towards executives, I don`t think the upscale images associated with these words would be bad.  Or just Halcyon all by itself?  As a shopper, I`d be intrigued by a store named Halcyon.

Pacific Place - lovely,  but might lend itself to surfers

I`ll just throw some key words out to you in case any of them do it for you - contented, tranquil, serene, reposing

dwelling, abode, quarters, domicile, address, sanctum

I love contented and tranquil, particularly tranquil, but I can`t think of how to use it.  I also like domicile, it reminds me of the French, particularly the shabby chic that`s so in style right now (but I don`t know if that fits you).  Sorry I wasn`t much help.  Good luck!

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"Whether you think you can or you think you can`t, you`re right."
paraphrased Henry Ford

Thank you all for your advice - unfortunately I`ve already considered all the options mentioned and am still a bit lost.  I`ve looked for inspiration in both online and hardcopy dictionaries and thesauruses - garden centers - paint chips - literature and music, looked at competitors and potential vendors.  I’ve come up with a list of key words that fit and mix & matched them all then checked all options that sounded right to me on godaddy where I have an account – I also checked key words on enom.  I came up with a list of domains available in both .com and .net and then asked a few women for their opinion on the list.  Since my funding is zip at the moment – purchasing a name is not an option, the ones I would want would be pricey.  Also, the ‘right’ name is important to me because I will be creating private label products and am considering offering a form of home staging service to local homeowners / real estate agents / rehabbers to assist in creating a home retreat which could bring in extra money and position myself as an ‘expert’ leading to op-eds and possible press.  So in the end…I picked the one domain that fit all the requirements yet is non-specific – Hallowed Home – and purchased it as a back-up…then grew to like it but my worry is that I’m in a bubble without business-minded people to play devil’s advocate and need another perspective before I jump in and invest in marketing and branding a name that might turn people off or confuse them.  And since I have a tendency to over-analyze and procrastinate, your responses will really help me get over this hump and move on to the next step.

True GRITS – I just saw your post while I was writing this, thanks for your thoughts – I did like Halcyon Home – but it’s taken.  Your other key words are also good and already on my list.  I did Google hallowed and hallowed home and got cemeteries, history and baseball home runs – but all in all, only positive references.  I’m not looking for someone to reinforce my choosing the name I already have – just some objective advice!

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~Empowering and Inspiring the World, One Woman at a Time.

Hi Helen!

      I relied on friends to help me find a unique name for my future online store and out of all the great suggestions, only one caught my eye and I knew it was right.  Before that I had settled on something that I liked but was only okay with it.  I then decided I needed to settle on a name that I would love and I knew when I saw it I would know it was the perfect name and I am glad I did! So be patient, the right name will come along!

      I love TrueGrits suggestion of using the word Halcyon.  Here are some suggestions that I checked out and are not taken:

www.halcyonplace.com

www.halcyonpleasures.com

www.halcyon-escape.com

www.HalcyonForHer.com

 

 

 

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Beth Downey
BoxerHaus.com
The Ultimate Boxer Shopping Experience!
www.BoxerHaus.com