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How to Name a Shoe Store
A step-by-step guide to coming up with a catchy, feel-good shoe store name.
Start a list.
Write down any ideas you already have.
You may already have some ideas for a shoe store name. If so, go ahead and write them down.
Highlight or star your favorites as you go.
This will make it easy to narrow down the list later while letting you jot down all ideas that may spark something later on.
The words you add to the list don’t have to be fully-formed shoe store names. They can be words or concepts related to the shoe business that help you get to the final name.
Perform essential research before you name your shoe store.
Review your business plan.
If you’ve got a business plan for your shoe store, the research there should give you ideas for words, phrases, and concepts that fit your brand.
Consider the personality you want to project and the style of shoe you are selling (i.e., sports, formal, or casual).
Talk to likely customers.
This is something you’ll want to do, no matter what, to learn more about the people you’ll be catering to. While you’re meeting with them, be sure to write down words, phrases, and concepts that they associate with a shoe store.
Consider your ideal customer and list some related adjectives. Is your ideal customer elegant, a runner, on a budget?
Research general shoe trends.
If you have a business plan, you will already have done research on your competitors. Look at the naming trends they have followed and see if there are some shoe trend keywords you can use.
Review words specific to the shoe store business.
Look for synonyms.
Use an online thesaurus to add synonyms for words that are related to footwear. If your store specializes in a particular style of shoe, such as sports, formal, or casual, keep this in mind when choosing your keywords.
Try to evoke a feeling.
Think about the type of customer you want to attract to your shoe store and list keywords that evoke an emotion, feeling, or visual.
Brainstorm region-specific vocabulary.
Try city and state names and nicknames.
Cities and city nicknames can sometimes work well for a local shoe store. For example, "Los Angeles Shoes" or "Tinseltown Footwear."
Consider your street name if you’ve got a location.
A street name can help people find your shoe store, make naming easy, and connect it to a neighborhood or sense of place. For example, "Rodeo Drive Footwear" or "Hollywood Heels."
You'll want to be sure you'll be at this location for a long time. You don't want to call yourself "2nd St. Shoes" if you have to move to 3rd Street a few years later.
Be careful not to limit your future growth. If your business grows to the point that you can open multiple shoe stores, having a street name in your shoe store name won't make sense.
Review local landmarks.
Local landmarks can be another great way to tie your shoe store to its location. For example, "Central Park Kicks" or "Grand Central Shoes."
Create more name ideas from your list.
Combine words from the list.
Try combining various words from your list to see if they form any interesting names.
Use a name generator.
NameSnack can help combine your ideas and make associations that you may not have thought of.
NameSnack's AI will prompt you to add different words. You can try adding them all, or go with smaller groups.
Write down any shoe store names you like.
NameSnack will also tell you if the domains are available. Check the ones that have domains off on your list.
Review and reflect.
Read through your list again.
See if there are any other names that stand out and mark them.
Set the list aside for a day or two.
Come back with fresh eyes and see which names stand out. Also, see which names you still remember. This may give you a clue as to which ones are most memorable.
Get feedback on your top shoe store names.
See what potential customers think of the names.
See how your target audience reacts to different names.
Canvas the area that you are planning on setting up your shoe store in and ask potential shoppers for feedback. Also try Facebook polls to ask for people's opinions.
Test the names on friends and colleagues.
Read your names to friends and colleagues, and get their take on your shoe store names. Come back a day or two later and see which ones they still remember.
Check availability.
See if the web domain name is available.
Use a site like Namecheap to see which of your top business name ideas have a related URL available.
See if the name is already in use in your state.
If the business name is already in use for a similar business in your state, it's likely you won't be able to use it.
Check the names on Google.
Google your favorite shoe store names to see if there are any other well-known shoe stores with the same name, or if there are some associations you hadn’t thought of.
Get the name.
Buy the domain name.
You can do this through sites like Namecheap.
Register the business name with the state.
You'll need to register the name in your state once you've chosen it. In most states, this is fast and easy and can be done online.
Consider trademarking the name.
This offers additional protection from other businesses using your shoe store name.
Learn more about trademarking your business name.
