What should I name my new business?

I am having the worst time coming up with a name for a new business that I plan on opening. I am going to be opening a small market-type store that sells general merchandise at great prices. The problem is that I am opening the business in a nice neighborhood. The neighborhood is great in that it supports small businesses. But I don't think they are the sort of people that shop at discount stores (Joe's Dollar Mart).

I want the name to imply that the merchandise is a great value, but I also want it to imply that it is quality merchandise in a classy store - NOT the gross, dirty, out of date junk that you find in most discount stores.

Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated!

Since any names that are suggested here may already be owned by another party, I wanted to go a different route...

I suggest either hiring a name creation firm or get together with your friends and/or family and throw a "name party" & have everyone bounce some ideas around. Compile a listing of names that you like the best. Once you have that list, do as much free research as you can before you delve into comprehensive research.

I listed some links where you can do some preliminary name checking. However, please be aware that this is merely scratching the surface of what's out there.

Only comprehensive research will tell you if the name is truly available. But, these links are free & a great place to start, so I'd try them out first.

Comprehensive research consists of looking at marks that are similar in Sound, Appearance or Meaning in the pending & registered Federal AND State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files.

There are other sites that offer free searching capabilities in conjunction with their commercial services, so I'm not able to post those links due to the Yahoo! TOS. You'll also want to check domain names & yellow pages, so simply do a search for "free domain name search" and "national yellowpages" and the appropriate links will pop up.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

I believe the old marketing techniques are best.
You know - where you actually tell the customer what and why.

This is in contrast to today's ads where you watch a 30 second commercial and you can barely figure out what they're trying to sell, much less why you would buy it.

Old Burns and Allen shows used to advertise carnation condensed milk something like this: "Carnation condensed milk is cheaper than cream does not spoil and tastes great in coffee"

So, in that vein :

Think of the message you want to convey - which in your case would be something like: "Quality merchandise at great prices"

Now put that into a name - here are some suggestions:
"Quality bargains"
"Bargain boutique"
"Bargain treasures"
"Quality values"
"Value boutique"
"Exceptional values"

See what I mean?

Good luck!

Generally Better

Hey,
Why don't try looking in google..??
I think that's the best place and you will have so many to choose from.
Good Luck...!!!

Here are a few ideas:

"Ye Olde Shoppe"
"Corner Specialty Shop"
"Gems and Jingles"
"Bizarre Bazaar"

Hope these help.

Bistro

call it "The Mercantile" or "the general Store" and make the outside look like the rest of the neighborhood buildings.

Victory Marketplace

GREAT CENTS SAVINGS, CENTSABLE SAVINGS,
SAVEMORE OUTLET, if I think of any more I'll post them.

You said it perfectly. The secret to naming your new business is in the word VALUE. Value is a more powerful word than DISCOUNT in your neighborhood. Even upscale buyers brag about good values.

Since your business is upscale you need to tie the word value to another word meaning merchandise. These two words will help you name your store such as:

European Values
Value Imports
Value Mart (not so good)
Global Values
The Value Shop ( I like this one)
etc etc

I think something with the word "Market" would not give off such a bad vibe as the word "Mart" does....perhaps you could combine your community name / area name with Market...example......if you live in Denver...call it The Denver Market Place...or Rocky Mountain Market....you get the picture....I don't think that sounds low end at all.....it sounds like a place I would check out! Good Luck to you!