Looking for some help with a name 4 a fast food restauraunt

Pasodobel · 09-02-2009 6:09pm #1

Hi,

I appreciate the time anybody takes to read/respond to this post so thanks in advance.

I am involved in a family fast food business, for the purpose of this post lets say it's called "Sheehan's". We have 1 shop but we are currently expanding by opening a similar outlet in the same town. The takeaway will have a very similar menu but there will be differences; the new outlet will sell the core products while also selling items not available in our current takeaway.

We want to keep the same name but differentiate a small amount as both outlets have different menus. I suppose the manner in which Tesco and Spar have done with "Tesco Express" and "Spar Express" would be a prime example of this type of differentiation.

I have been wrecking my brain for weeks about it (my Dad has given me the task of coming up with something) and the best I can come up with is "Sheehan's II". Anything else, in my mind, just hasn't clicked!

I said I'd post it on boards as ppl generally have good ideas and would be a good judge of my "very innovative" name

!

I will be extremely grateful for any advice. Cheers!

frag420 · 09-02-2009 6:12pm

you could call it

" ah that sheehans?"

thats all i got so far

Bandara · 09-02-2009 6:33pm

"Sheehans North"

or whatever part of the town its located in relation to your current site.

Other options like "Sheehans Riverside", "Sheehans at the Mill" or "Sheehans at the Crossroads" are good also imo

I'd be linking the name with something local to keep the identity of the area, and also your customers will understand what the name means and immediately understand that it is another branch of the existing site.

shoutman · 09-02-2009 6:51pm

I think Hammertime's suggestion is a good one.

Also could you elaborate more on the differences please? Like is it a case of your normal take away being just a chipper and the new one will sell pizza's too or something?

If it's something like that it could be Sheehans Mór, obviously litteral translation big sheehans sounds stupid, but it implies that this knew one is expanded etc.

betonit · 09-02-2009 8:51pm

sheeahan's junior leading to "juniors" sheehan's XXXX doesnt sound fast foodish

Woodgate · 10-02-2009 11:33am

Always liked the idea of "Orange County Chippers"

Oryx · 10-02-2009 12:01pm

Sheehans Too.
Sheehans Two.
Sheehans... More bite.

Or you could give it a different name completely and let your branding do the job for you. Similar packaging, uniforms, colour scheme.

drunkmonkey · 10-02-2009 1:01pm

Sam & Ella's FTW!!!

but seriously, something obvious like the Grill Royale & Sheehans

petethebrick · 10-02-2009 1:09pm

Don't call it Sheehans II in my opinion. That sort of thing is reserved for films and on occasion tacky chain restaurants like Charlies Chinese

Rebel021 · 10-02-2009 1:12pm

GFF
get fat fast

DubTony · 10-02-2009 1:32pm

Here's an idea. Involve the community. Open the shop with a bang, but without a name. Run a competition and have all your customers suggest the name. Give them parameters like "it must incude the name Sheehans". Have entry forms in both shops, and hire someone to dress up like an idiot on your first weekend, walking around town and promoting the shop and particularly the competition. Create a buzz. Pick a winner and give them a few free meals.

It can be ""The What'll We Call It" Competition"
"We're Nameless. We Need Your Help"
"Somebody Stole Our Name And We Can't Remember What We're Called"
etc. etc. I'll stop now before I get silly(er). You get the idea.

Prize is easy
"A Quarter Pounder Meal Every Week For A Year"
"Feed the Family Once A Month For A Year"

It will stir up interest in the new place, and the old place and should help you get off to a good start.

Pasodobel · 10-02-2009 11:03pm

Cheers for all the suggestions, I appreciate them.

It's gonna be open mid-March so I'll post the name when it's decided.

Thanks again,

Dave

Piriz · 10-02-2009 11:15pm

Hammertime wrote: »

"Sheehans North"

or whatever part of the town its located in relation to your current site.

Other options like "Sheehans Riverside", "Sheehans at the Mill" or "Sheehans at the Crossroads" are good also imo

I'd be linking the name with something local to keep the identity of the area, and also your customers will understand what the name means and immediately understand that it is another branch of the existing site.

hi this ^^^^ is a good idea if you have a landmark to associate with..

my idea is Sheehans freisin (which means Sheehans 'aswell' in irish)

The idea to hold a competition is by far the best idea here...go for it...great publicity...which is more important than the name...initially imo!
good luck

here.from.day.1 · 12-02-2009 10:30am

Sheehans Extra, Sheehans Plus/Sheehans+, Sheehans Eile, SuperSheehans, More Sheehans, New Sheehans.. etc!

The word Sheehans has lost all meaning to me now! :P

Cringer · 12-02-2009 6:23pm

"Lil' Sheehans"

"Sheehans Up the Way"

"Sheehans On The Hill" If it's on one

Rigel · 12-02-2009 8:33pm

I'd say keep the same name, worked for McDonalds and Macaris even though you don't always get exactly the same in all their shops.

However make sure the new shop carries any signature dishes from the main shop like snack box, cod 'n chips, etc. you don't have to do pizzas for example. Good Luck with it, chippers seem to be making a come back these days.

Paddy Samurai · 12-02-2009 8:57pm

Pasodobel wrote: »

We want to keep the same name but differentiate a small amount as both outlets have different menus. I suppose the manner in which Tesco and Spar have done with "Tesco Express" and "Spar Express" would be a prime example of this type of differentiation.

Sheehan's friend
Sheehan's comfort
Sheehan's Heart(as in core)
Sheehans copia(as in cornucopia)
Sheehans Breeze(so fast its a breeze)

IrishBusiness · 16-02-2009 10:18am

Maybe "sheehans take two" - as its a takeaway?

GeeNorm · 16-02-2009 10:44am

(I think??) Kielys pubs in Dublin had several outlets called
Kielys
K2
K3 etc

So...

Sheehans
S2

Leaves you a handy option if you expand further

dlambirl · 16-02-2009 4:10pm

Hammertime wrote: »

"Sheehans North"

or whatever part of the town its located in relation to your current site.

Other options like "Sheehans Riverside", "Sheehans at the Mill" or "Sheehans at the Crossroads" are good also imo

I'd be linking the name with something local to keep the identity of the area, and also your customers will understand what the name means and immediately understand that it is another branch of the existing site.

Best Idea by far

Random1 · 17-02-2009 1:35pm

call it Sheehan's Xtra, you are after all offering extra food/products, plus it tends not to confuse people into thinkin its a completely different company!

seven-iron · 17-02-2009 3:57pm

"MC Sheehan's"

works well, you could have the 'big mcsheehan' with medium fries.
or the 'mcsheehan shake' with m&m's. or the 'mcsheehan happy meal' for the little fellows and they could get a toy with it perhaps.

padcos · 18-02-2009 2:34pm

God Bless You!
Because you are Sheehans.....Sneezing? No? Ok sorry. Il get my coat then.

Boardstiff · 19-02-2009 2:14am

First of all you have to decide why you want a separate name. If you are selling the same core products at the same price point maybe you would want to simply expand under the same brand.

If you feel that the new menu items places you in a separate market segment maybe a new brand name would be appropriate. This would really only apply if you where concerned that the new restaurant would dilute the current restaurant's brand.

What you might want to do is look at the unique elements of the new restaurant, it's menu, location or service, and develop a brand that focuses on them. You can then add goodwill to the new brand by labeling it under the Sheehan's brand. For example if fried chicken was the new menu item it could be "Chicken To Go! A Sheehan Restaurant". The brand's logo would focus on "Chicken To Go" with "A Sheehan Restaurant" appearing as a small tagline.

Making a list of the unique core benefits of the new restaurant would be an excellent start to the naming process. Once you have short listed your name to ten or so possibilities start asking friends, family and customers which they like and why. You'll be surprised at the response.

Best of luck