Text-only logo

[venividi]

I know I know that I should'nt use a text-only logo, but since I'd like to add more items in my e-commerce in the future, some of them related to what I am selling now (colored slicers and manual food slicers) and others not so much, all expensive. What do you think ?

[C0ldf1re]

... I know that I should'nt use a text-only logo...

Why "shouldn't" you? Lots of big firms have text-only logos. Your potential problem is becoming so successful that your competitors try to confuse customers by also using "Shop Shop" as a slogan. It might be difficult to register such a simple term as "Shop Shop" as your trademark. Some major firms with text-only logos have had their own distinctive fonts designed, and registered their slogan in that font as their trademark.

[venividi]

Thank you, C0ldf1re, you are right ("It might be difficult to register such a simple term as "Shop Shop" as your trademark") : Shop Shop is too simple therefore difficult to protect. I never thought about this, I chose Shop Shop because it was easy to remember and the domain was available. I'll try to find some good and strong text to complete it. I wrote "I shouldn't" because I read the sticky post that said that using a text-only logo was one of seven errors when designing a logo.

[Tubby]

Are their seven errors to avoid when designing a logo? . . Holy Cow!

Maybe it is like the 10 commandments . . You can still manage O.K. If you only break one or two.

I quite like shop-shop.

[snakeman]

Text only logos are fine so long as they are not a trademark.
As a word of warning, trademark owners are migrating to the web as is everyone else and once a trademark owner has been bitten a few times (had clients taken by bootleggers), they get very protective of their trademarks.
My suggestion is to check all registered and unregistered trademarks (like business names, state marks, etc) and avoid all like the plague.
There is nothing worse than building a business only to have a trademark owner move in and close you down.
It happens more often than you think.
All the best

[MyRentals]

Thank you, C0ldf1re, you are right ("It might be difficult to register such a simple term as "Shop Shop" as your trademark") : Shop Shop is too simple therefore difficult to protect. I never thought about this, I chose Shop Shop because it was easy to remember and the domain was available. I'll try to find some good and strong text to complete it. I wrote "I shouldn't" because I read the sticky post that said that using a text-only logo was one of seven errors when designing a logo.

venividi - Your logo is not purely a text logo anyway, it works great with the red rectangle block behind the text. That is part of your logo, and in the Trade Mark world there's also a section called Logo Mark. I believe you have a reasonable chance of getting a Logo Mark application passed on what I see above.

One thing a lot of people don't realize with the subject of Trade Marking is that you register your trade mark per market sector classification. Which means that you could have a business named Puma for example. Now it would be impossible to register the name Puma as your trade mark in sports wear or footwear classifications because there's already a Puma sports wear firm, just like Reebok and Nike etc. However, if you were a transportation firm similar to Sprint or DHL, with a unique looking logo - then you undoubtedly have an opportunity to register your Logo Mark as a form of trade mark and will succeed as long as there isn't already a Puma registered under transportation businesses classifications. Oh.... the "Sprint" transport firm was used as an example on purpose due to the other firm in the Mobile Networks classification.... Businesses with a Trade Mark can't successfully argue against another business in a different classification using the same name, as long as the logo mark clearly looks different.

I like your Shop-Shop idea. It certainly has legs.. I would contact the trade mark office and see what they say about your idea. For a small amount of money, you can pre-register it to have an initial review. See what findings the review comes back with, then you can make an informed decision.
(Beware of Trade Mark agents who will try and make the process sound really complicated and risky - quoting 000's for the registration process! Early stages can be easily done by yourself, simply following the guidance on the government's own Trade Mark site. Sure, when everything has a green light - Then its time to speak with a trade mark specialist to ensure you have all the different classifications you might need, covered. A little work yourself, will save those 000's and keep the trade mark agent honest.)

Logo's express emotion/connections:
Your logo is warm, yet vibrant, friendly and inviting, modern yet stylish and elegant. A good color choice to stand out among a lot of other logos.

Test Your Logo:
A good test for a well designed logo is to place it on a sheet with a lot of other logos all visible next to each other - then squint your eyes and move away from the sheet. If your logo is still recognizable among the chaos with squinted blurry vision - you have a winner in the memorable logo war!


[HINT: creating a small display advert in your local newspaper or a suitable magazine will help in the event that the Trade Mark office want various proof that you are already using the Logo in business for public recognition.]

[C0ldf1re]

... have a trademark owner move in and close you down. It happens more often than you think...

Yes, I've seen it happen. An associate of mine traded for years, quite modestly, using a brand name that he had invented. When it was time to advertise nationally, we found that somebody else had invented the same name, and they could prove that they had gone public earlier.

... I believe you have a reasonable chance of getting a Logo Mark application passed on what I see above... I would contact the trade mark office and see what they say about your idea...

Yes. A reasonable chance is not good enough! Make the logo yours, before investing more effort into establishing it.

[snakeman]

Also a word of advice to would-be trademark owners and registrants.
A fatal mistake made by many is telling others of their trademark application.
The allows business rivals to lodge "oppositions" to pending trademarks to stop them.
Most oppositions in such situations seem to succeed (in my viewing of a random series of cases).
Having said this, oppositions only happen when the "other side" is advised of a pending registration.
In other words, if you have a pending and accepted application, keep your mouth SHUT to everyone
until after you have the certificate of registration.

All the best

[C0ldf1re]

Mind you, seeing you are in Italy, and offering to sell outside Italy as well... Local professional advice may be worthwhile.

[rickanderson]

very nice ven...it has a christmas feel about it....was that intentional? is that a good thing?

ra