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Mrs CS is brainstorming a name for her fledgling handy(not)man business. We keep coming back to 'That Handy Bird', on account of it being memorable and lighthearted. Anything but dappy, her concern is that most women consider 'bird' to be offensive and would likely be put off by such a company name. My feeling is that any offensivelness disappears once the object of said name takes ownership of it, and uses it as they see fit.
Opinions?
I think it's only older customers who will remember the term. Maybe regionally its still used, not really so down south. The Liver Birds where cool.
PC is out these days so you should be fine.
I think you are right- you can call [i]yourself[/i] whatever you want
Handyjob Bird?
Name doesn't give off a professional vibe. I can also see risk of leariness from people of a certain nature who's property she could be in. That could get awkward.
I think if you call yourself then its fine. If you call someone else then its a bit derogatory.
[i]PC is out these days[/i]
Have you been on STW lately?!
I deal with someone called The Lady Gardener.
We laugh a lot.
The Fix-her
Not offensive or derogatory imo, but I'm not too sure about it as a professional business name.
Any alternatives in reserve?
If she was a mechanic, how about The Socket Wench ...
There's a Bonnie Tiler round our way.
Not offensive or derogatory imo, but I'm not too sure about it as a professional business name.
Well, it's not like she's offering her services as a corporate lawyer, or an accountant for blue-chip companies in the City, now, is she?
The Fix-her
Ooh, that's good.
Not offensive or derogatory... just doesn't roll off the tongue. Or scan for that matter.
If it's 'offensive and derogatory' you're aiming for how about...
'The Handy-Ho'
She'll Screw 4U
Princess Diy?
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Handy if you're in Corran.
Possibly doesn't matter what she calls it, word will get round if she does a good job, is dependable, honest (timescales, turning up etc) and doesn't juggle jobs. However, it's probably a fine art, pricing yourself so that you have a good regular income, but not descending into juggling lots of jobs and pissing everyone off.
In answer to your question tho, in some parts of the country it probably won't raise an eyebrow, in others it might. However IMO go with something more bland that doesn't have any potential to turn people off. If she wants more quality higher paying jobs, it might well be a barrier, ie she might devalue herself workwise in some quarters with outdated 'bird' stuff. Shirley if she just uses her name in the business title everyone will know she's a bird (and it won't potentially alienate any er.... PC sensitive customer).
Good name.
🙂
I knew an Indian lad who had the slogan
You've tried the cowboys, now try the Indians.
For his handyman service
Quick fit bird.
It's not offensive per sé, "Handy Bird" is just shit, I'd think you were Emu. "The Handywoman" (or Fix-her as suggested) are way better (though with the latter I might wonder who she is and why she needs fixing, perhaps lose the hyphen to be Fixher).
As much as I grump about words and context I don't like the term "bird" generally, it smacks of a throwaway disrespectful comment. "She's me bird," like, "that's me bag o' chips." We're better than that.
A Strapping Lass in Overalls
with Cougar really, just a bit of a lame name. There is a lot down here called "Hire a Hubby" aimed at women wanting a bloke to do stuff, just comes over as a bit wierd.
Yes.
It's just a very meh name. Is there a big market that specifically wants a female handyman? If not why even mention it?
Handy Chick
If your worried about offending the old?
Handy Hoe?
Has a ring to it.
I'll get my coat....
Naff.
Handy Mandy?. 😀
Yeah, I think plenty of women would be happier having a random woman in the house instead of a random man. Market is there. Name should reflect this. Not sure how yet.
Market is there. Name should reflect this. Not sure how yet.
Start business, get customers, establish then see if you need a name to attract more. Probably more important for expansion/franchise that solo work.
A friend calls her gardening business Girl Friday .
Does she fix fridges?
Its a shame adjustablewench is taken.
I would turn it into a positive like "the feminine touch" or something. Sounds a bit low rent would be my issue.
You may get people mess around for the joke, if it's too silly.
The Alan Partridge in me would suggest "Lady Parts", "Hand jobs" or "Tooled-up Chicks". 😉
I use a handyman service occasionally for our rental I've no idea what his company is called I just know him as Russell the handyman, as mentioned above once she gets a good rep the company name will mean less so why not just call herself: her name- handyman services. People will know what they are getting, unless her first name is Dave or something androgynous 😉
I don't like the name. I can see the attraction but I would prefer simply her name and a short description of what she does. "Janes repair and maintenance services"
"Name" Handy services.
Blowjob to small.
My name's Bird and yes most women find me offensive. Probably best to change it...
Why not just Handygirl or Handywoman? We're used to Wonder Woman and after all I wouldn't want a handybloke or handydude coming round to my house. Handychick has that same level of casualness.
Build up the business and see what the customers call her, then choose the best one.
'DIY gal' is a similar business local to me. Works better with a northern / Scots accent.
Personally don't find gal, bird or chick offensive.
As above my maintenance man is just called his name, so thats what he trades as. He is fairly well established though so i suppose if you are new and getting going you need to grab attention.
Lady gardener is brilliant
I think something like:
Mrs DIY,
Mrs realnamehere - I fix, repair and make good.
Something that doesn't include anything that could be misconstrued or cause offense would cause her less trouble. "Mrs" clearly indicates marriage, then add something that tell people what she does without sounding like a "professional" out of the personal columns.
There is a van that I see round our way that says 'Heather - The lady painter' on the side.
I presume she is a decorator, but it does conjour a certain image
It's not offensive per sé
"per se" is Latin. No accent required.
I'll get my brown shirt.
ChixFix
ChixFix
Coke AND Hookers?
Feel like the earlier mention of Lady DIY didn't get the credit it deserves.
Equally, if not more, cheesy......
Fixin' Vixen
Faster Pussycat, Drill! Drill!
Mmmm, would avoid obvious gender reference in name of company. Perhaps refer to gender in description. I'd be worried about perverts phoning!
Name doesn't give off a professional vibe
rubbish, that handy bird is a brilliant name. which proves just how subjective branding really is. take it to extremes i can't stand nike but i like adidas.
i would say go for it, slightly off the wall names really do make a difference and get noticed. if it really does not work then re-think.
bird is a common term in west cornwall, my wife calls everyone 'bird'.
Senorita with a Makita
if you want some advice though, best thing to do is play around with some logo ideas or if you can't create logos yourself sit down with google images, pinterest et al and make a scrap book of the vibe you would like. for instance 'that handy bird' suggests a more folksy handwritten type feel and certainly would not work with a classic fonts... imho of course.
'Bird' is definitely derogatory unless you are[i] a bird[/i], or your name is 'Bird'.
I would avoid a gender specific name, but being female is a positive selling point if marketed the right way.
LaDIY
bird is a common term in west cornwall, my wife calls everyone 'bird'.
Well as long as all her customers are from West Cornwall or 1970's Liverpool she'll be fine 😉
Handy Lass. For cash in hand jobs.
Off topic-ish.
There's a lesbian couple that have a business called 'Lady Gardeners' near me. Can't help thinking they've missed a trick; '[i]Les Jardiniers'[/i] would have been SOOOOOOOO much better.
Drill Bits 'n' Tits
Screws 'n' Shoes
Brigitte Silicones
Gritty Woman
Cakes & Ladders
Hammer & Nail Varnish
(You're welcome)
Les Jardinieres, surely?
I don't think it's a good name. Even if she as a lady is using it herself, the existence of such terms perpetuates them. People take their cues from what's around them.
Les Jardinieres, surely?
Les Jardiniers = Gardeners
Les Jardinieres = the planters
I wasn't aware of the distinction until I just looked it up, but either could work, I guess. It's the 'Les' bit that gives the humour.
Hammer & Nail Varnish
[i]That[/i] is brilliant!
Jardinière is a flower box in my head.
Hammer & Nail Varnish
Sod mine, that's much better. Irrespective of the contentious nature or otherwise of the word 'bird', Hammer and Nail Varnish is just betterer.
I preferred "Brigitte Silicones"... 😐
Ah, [i]planter[/i] as in [i]flowerbox[/i]. That would make sense. Wish I'd listenened more at school. 😕
Handy Mandy.
Just googled and there is a handyman near me called "Fonahubby". Now, ignoring the piss boiling nature of the spelling, it did give me an idea, how about Rent-A-Wife ?
"per se" is Latin. No accent required.
Every day's a school day, thanks for that.
I particularly like "LaDIY", though you're not really DIYing if you're getting someone else to do it, are you.
I particularly like "LaDIY", though you're not really DIYing if you're getting someone else to do it, are you.
It's 2017 and Grand Designs is full of selfbuilders who employ contractors to do the actual work. No one will notice. 😀
Handy Bird sounds like the lower end of the market I.e. cheaper. I'm sure you'd get trade using that name but you're unlikely to get better prices paid because people see you as professional and superior etc.
Joking aside, and assuming you're right and there's a market for this kind of thing, my 'sensible' suggestion would be:
"Mrs Makegood"
Recognises she's female - Tick
Sounds Positive - Tick
Describes what she does - Tick
Sounds a bit "nominative determinism" which people think is cool - Tick
Kim'll Fix it.
Fix-ey Lady
Faster Pussycat, Drill! Drill!
Is obviously the best, though.
I like handy Mandy, but does it only work if you've seen that cartoon about the Mexican handyman?
I think the name if any should reflect the market your wife is targeting. If it's general DIY regardless of the sex of the client I would just use
(firstname) (lastname)
Home Repairs and Maintenance
If she wants to specifically market the fact that it's a lady doing the work then that could be done either with a reasonably classy company name or a suitable strapline after her name.
Personally I think company names for sole traders don't really work and can be a bit offputting if they are a bit silly.
Rich.
There are quite a few small business on the [s]industrial estate[/s] business park where I work. Many of them use the first letters of their names so we have JonRo, DavRon, RogMic, Two Gs etc
Not too bad when you put 'International' on the end
If she wants to specifically market the fact that it's a lady doing the work then that could be done either with a reasonably classy company name or a suitable strapline after her name.
Bra-strapline?
Senorita with a Makita
This one!