Pothole Pictures: Normally this name wouldn’t create a positive image for a movie theater. But in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, where glacial potholes in the Deerfield River running through the village are a cherished part of the landscape, the name works well.
When naming a business whose geographical reach and clientele are mainly local, you can use nicknames, regional or city lore, local in-jokes and historical references that might be lost on outsiders. Subliminally, these kinds of names drive home the message, “We’re rooted in your community.”
Besides features of the landscape, consider these sources of inspiration:
* City nicknames. Some residents of Northampton, Massachusetts affectionately refer to it as “Noho,” so a local studio calls itself Noho Yoga. Happy Valley Gifts in nearby Amherst also plays off a local nickname.
* Historical references. Paradise Copies, Paradise Spa and Paradise Taxi all refer to the locally well-known fact that in 1851, Swedish singer Jenny Lind pronounced Northampton “the Paradise of America.” Likewise, residents understand that the Calvin Theater pays homage...