The Naming of Convenience Stores

A dear friend who travelled to Wyoming over the holidays snapped this photo of a convenience store in Iowa for me because she knows I am amused by interesting words and names.
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After digesting the atrocious letter-play (substituting a "K" for a "C") and spelling, the name of the store immediately brought to mind the many independently owned "In & Out" convenience stores I have encountered and, of course, the well-known burger chain "IN-N-OUT BURGER".

The main point of the name of each of these stores is the connotation that they provide efficient service.

So why did the owners Kum & Go choose to get their point across with such particular spelling? Did they think customers would find it "cute"?

Well, I felt a little better once I saw the explanation on the Kum & Go website:

"In an age where catchy company names and unique marketing phrases were a representation of the times – and also the difference between success and failure – the two gentlemen used the first letters of their last names to create a unique moniker to showcase the ease and convenience they instilled in a shopping experience. Thus Kum & Go was born."

According to the website, the age was 1959 and the founders were W.A. Krause and T.S. Gentle.

I still think I would have preferred a catchy and unique name that didn't incorporate the preposterous spelling.

I won't even mention the sexual innuendo that can be associated with the names of both the convenience stores and the burger store.

FYI -

innuendo

n. 1. an indirect or subtle reference, esp one made maliciously or indicating criticism or disapproval; insinuation

connotation

n.1. The act or process of connoting.
2. a. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: Hollywood holds connotations of romance and glittering success.
b. The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Business Names Gone Bad

My kids have been acting up today, I would like to exchange them for some other kids please. Just kidding.

This must be a store where people take their kids' outgrown clothing and toys to exchange them, it can't possibly be where you take your kid to have a sex change.

I also recently heard about a swimming pool chemical company called Poolife. I can't imagine anyone would want to bring poo to life in their swimming pool. A double "L" would have been beneficial here.

There is an Internet business named Publishit.com. I wonder......do they only publish sh*t?

I'm sure there are many more poorly named businesses out there and I would love to hear about more so please send me your Business Names Gone Bad as a comment.

It just goes to show you that when someone is naming their new business, they should really take into consideration the way the spelling and words of the name can be reinterpreted.