<O> A Holes Billiards Website FINALLY <O>

New Website

I Love the name and logo. I wouldnt listen to u12armrest he's been a member since 2004 and hasn't bought a single cue or have even one single itrader feedback, so your not going to loose any business from that Tire Kicker anyhow. I would take suggestions from actual buyers and people who count on here.
 
I agree that you should definitely consider eliminating the large photo at the top of the website that gets in the way any time you click on one of the menu items. Maybe the linked pages just have a thin menu at the top that doesn't scroll away so that you can navigate to other cue makers easily.

Also, was thinking about both sides of the A-hole name issue. You asked for comments, so mine is that I don't think this is a good name. Your name is literally the first thing customers will learn about you, and an offensive word (to many people) is the first thing they see. Now you have to overcome that bias to make a sale. You are looking for people with pretty serious money, $5K range, to drop on a cue. I think some of those customers are more professional/corporate types, who have political correctness hammered into them by their companies every day. Anyway, do as you will, but my initial reaction is that you can do better. You can still be whimsical without going low-brow.

Third, you have some very nice cues there. I hadn't seen many cues with copper rings. Very nice!

Good luck with the business.
 
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When I thought about the durogatory meaning behind "A Hole's Billiards" I did think about the A#$ Hole meaning. But when I thought about a pool table, I thought about you shooting towards (or into) "A Hole". If the name ends up losing me business (which I don't think it will) I will consider changing it.

I myself am a more professional type as my day job, I am Corparate Manager and if you hang around enough corporate folk you'll find they are some of the dirtiest/off color people outside of work that you'll meet.

I know in business you can't please everyone and I understand not everyone will be ok with my name. That is totally fine and I respect their opinion.
 
Alex;

The website foundation is looking good and I think you are getting some good feedback, thus far.

As for the name, it's tricky. I was actually going to comment on it to you by pm before you started this thread. Seeing it on the bottom of your posts in the for sale forum recently had me wondering, 'what's up with that?'

I'm inclined to agree with Dan White that the name is not an ASSet. :) I do think it's a potential liability.

A key in making sales (you already know this since you're in RE sales) is having your customer's confidence and assuming that a fair number of your potential customers don't know you personally, then first impressions become very important.

I think some will think that the name is funny and poses no problems but as already evidenced in this thread, there will be a percentage of people who aren't as enamored and this name choice may cause them to lose some confidence and move on.

Here on az we have iTrader ratings to help guide us; but on a new website it's a different story.

Just some more food for thought.

I do like the logo though. :grin-square:

I know your a good guy with an excellent rep and I wish you good luck with this new project.

best,
brian kc
 
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This discussion about the name reminds me of a similar situation. Piriform has software, as you probably know, that was called "Crap Cleaner." Eventually, maybe because it became more mainstream and "corporate," they changed the name to "CCleaner."
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Alex;

The website foundation is looking good and I think you are getting some good feedback, thus far.

As for the name, it's tricky. I was actually going to comment on it to you by pm before you started this thread. Seeing it on the bottom of your posts in the for sale forum recently had me wondering, 'what's up with that?'

I'm inclined to agree with Dan White that the name is not an ASSet. :) I do think it's a potential liability.

A key in making sales (you already know this since you're in RE sales) is having your customer's confidence and assuming that a fair number of your potential customers don't know you personally, then first impressions become very important.

I think some will think that the name is funny and poses no problems but as already evidenced in this thread, there will be a percentage of people who aren't as enamored and this name choice may cause them to lose some confidence and move on.

Here on az we have iTrader ratings to help guide us; but on a new website it's a different story.

Just some more food for thought.

I do like the logo though. :grin-square:

I know your a good guy with an excellent rep and I wish you good luck with this new project.

best,
brian kc
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It's comments like this (and others on this thread) that are productive that I will listen to and appreciate. I just can't imagine someone is that serious that they would not purchase a cue from me due to the name of the business? I guess me personally, I would never consider that a reason to not do business with someone but it sounds like it may deter some. The name just kind of defines me, it's funny in an A#@ Hole kind of way. That's truly how I am in person and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone that has had a bad experience with me.

Dan White - So once I go mainstream I should change to AH Billiards? :) Actually not too bad!
 
plshrk22 said:
Dan White - So once I go mainstream I should change to AH Billiards? :) Actually not too bad!
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You should be so lucky!

Actually I would understand the name better if it were something like "A-hole Alex Billiards" or "Alex the A-hole Billiards." At least that way I know it is some kind of self-deprecating joke.
 
So ... while you wouldn't have to worry about my feelings specifically as far as being a patron, because I'm not into buying cues, I will still offer my initial reaction to your business name.

I'll give you that I'm a 64 yr. old fart who obviously can't figure out how people think these days, but for me ...

My initial reaction was, at worst, this is a literal definition of this guy's business and at best, and more realistic, the name, by its very utterance, exudes a sophomoric attitude that (IMO) is likely to carry over into business dealings. If I were a cue buyer, I'd most likely not entertain buying cues from someone who childishly calls his business asswhole cues, not while there are plenty more choices.

But ... that's just me. Regardless, good luck.
 
I would be the last person to try to offend anyone and I had no idea anyone would take my name to heart or think lesser of my business practices. I guess I may need to consider a name change.
 
Hey Alex
I myself like the name & logo you used for your website.
Its Original & Unique and you also explained how you came up with it.
I wouldn`t let people change your mind, if you like it, that's all that matters.
IMHO I dout it will hurt your cue sales. You already have a following here on azb & anyone that is in need of a particular cue, someone will point them in your direction & things will work its way from there. Good Luck to ya sir
Jeff
 
For what is worth, when I first looked at this thread early on, maybe one or two replies, I thought it was some kind of joke and moved on without checking out the site. It was only after all this chatter that I believed it was online cue store and clicked on the link. It's a nice website.
 
pooldawg8 said:
Hey Alex
I myself like the name & logo you used for your website.
Its Original & Unique and you also explained how you came up with it.
I wouldn`t let people change your mind, if you like it, that's all that matters.
IMHO I dout it will hurt your cue sales. You already have a following here on azb & anyone that is in need of a particular cue, someone will point them in your direction & things will work its way from there. Good Luck to ya sir
Jeff
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Thank you Jeff, I appreciate it. What I find a little interesting is Ive actually had this name for about two years... Not once did I get a negative comment before I posted this thread.
 
plshrk22 said:
Thank you Jeff, I appreciate it. What I find a little interesting is Ive actually had this name for about two years... Not once did I get a negative comment before I posted this thread.
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Most people won't give their opinions on things like that unless you ask them, which in this case you did. One thing I'll give you on the positive side of the argument is that it is a memorable name. If I want to buy a cue in a year I'll probably remember Ahole Billiards and might look at your inventory.
 
Dan White said:
Most people won't give their opinions on things like that unless you ask them, which in this case you did. One thing I'll give you on the positive side of the argument is that it is a memorable name. If I want to buy a cue in a year I'll probably remember Ahole Billiards and might look at your inventory.
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Honestly Dan that's all that I ever wanted from the name. Of course I'm not an A Hole... Well my wife might say differently at times but for the most part I'm not! :)
 
Alex,

With respect to the name, I think the big difference that you may not have considered is that previously, your business has likely been with people whom you know, or have an online knowledge of you.

For those people, the name is funny as it is very much at odds with your demeanor, kind of like calling a huge guy "Tiny."

For people who are coming to you without any previous interaction with you, the name might not inspire confidence.

Ultimately, I don't think it will make a huge difference either way. Just something to consider.

As all the cuemaker debacle threads show, people are more than willing to spend big money on cues they desire, despite the obvious and ample warning signs.
 
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