Jenni Kayne has become one of the most recognizable and well know brands in Canada. In fact, many people refer to her as a “brand”. Is it a brand, though, just a name that someone made up to make some quick cash? Or, is there more to it than meets the eye?
Recognizable
The simple answer to this question would be “no”. Brand names are always assets to any business. They give the business a recognizable name and help it stand apart from the rest of the pack. In fact, they are assets that are worth much more than the dollar amount that the brand owner might have paid to own them (at least up front).
Name recognition is a huge asset for any business. It allows you to build your brand faster than you can imagine. Any time you go out into the community and talk to people about your product or service, your brand is being brought to their attention. People will recognize your logo, your business name, and your slogans and you will know because they all say it Jenni Kayne coupons. No one else will be branding the same thing.
Sales & Revenue
Also, when your brand is owned by someone else you can’t control the direction it takes. Someone else can change the logo tomorrow and it could mean your brand is a face in a sea of other brands. If the other company changes its brand name, you could find yourself in a sea of confusion and lost sales and revenue.
Trademark Applications
Even if you have worked with the brand owner for years, whether you are working with them on an ongoing basis or as a client, it can be difficult for a new business to understand exactly how their brand will be seen and what it means to the business. This is especially true if you’re a small business that don’t yet have a loyal customer base and you’re trying to figure out how to position your product in the market so it makes sense to your customers. This is why it’s important to consult with a trademark attorney who can answer any questions you might have about the domain, website, and any trademark applications, whether filed or pending.
Problematic
When you register a trademark, you need to be very careful about what kind of things you register. Trademarks can be a powerful way to protect your business name, logo, slogans, and brand from others’ use. This protects your company from becoming known as another “Sucker born every second day.” While this may not seem important now, it can be very problematic if your business becomes well-known and you notice that other companies are using your trademark without your permission. You don’t want your brand to become synonymous with “sucker born every second day.”
One of the most common mistakes people make when registering a trademark is registering the name with generic terms that will allow anyone to use the name. For example, if you have the name” Jenni Kayne” and you decide you want to trademark the term “by Jenni Kayne”, you’re probably going to get slapped with a lawsuit from someone who thought they could capitalize on your name. The phrase should really be “Jenna Kayne Jewelry,” as the brand name should clearly differentiate itself from anything else. This isn’t an issue with your pet’s name, but when you trademark something as part of your business you have to be careful. It can prevent you from protecting yourself against unfair competition.
Conclusion:
Before you register a trademark, you need to do your homework to make sure you’re making the right decision. The first thing you should do is visit the USPTO website to find trademark databases. If you’re uncertain about the strength of your trademark, it can be a good idea to visit the USPTO’s site to check the strength of your mark. A strong trademark can protect you from someone stealing your ideas, but a weak one might just allow other businesses to use your phrase without permission. It all depends on why you registered the trademark in the first place, and the USPTO can give you some insight into that.
