Feed back wanted about coaching business

[Wahine]

Hi Gals,

As many of you know, I've been doing some casual coaching for triathlon, running and cycling on the side. I've decided to go ahead and start a coaching company so I can at least have the benefits of writing off my toys, registration fees etc. I hope this will happen before the end of 2009.

I was wondering if I could get some feed back from all you bright ladies here on TE.

I have a logo planned for my company and it includes a W and an M. I came up with it at first because I thought I would call my company Wahine Multisport Coaching and Racing. I really like the logo idea but I'm wondering about using Wahine. It's near and dear to my heart because it's been a nickname of mine for years and reflects my first love... the water. Wahine means woman in Hawaiian, so it has something of a Kona reference as well. It's used often to refer to women who do board sports... surfing, windsurfing and even snow boarding. I do all three. But I'm concerned that because the word is unfamiliar to many may be a negative in that people might not choose my co over another because they don't know what the word means. Also, I'm concerned that the feminine aspect of the name may deter male clients. Honestly, I generally prefer coaching women but I also don't want to close any doors.

So an alternative name would be Wave Multisport or Waves Multisport.

The W first and M second is kinda key to the logo... which is really really cool so I want to keep that if I can.

Any feed back or other suggestions????

Thanks in advance.

[Biciclista]

I am one of the many people who had no idea what Wahine meant, but I thought it was a cool sounding word. Having said that, I am starting to venture into a new business of my own, and let me tell you, most of your contacts are going to be word of mouth, friend to friend. The people who you have touched are going to recommend you. Whatever you call yourself keep it simple, you should do fine. Of course, the economy is worse than it's been at any time in our lives, so don't quit your straight job or give up on your dream too quickly because of the economy.

[Tuckervill]

I say keep it. I didn't know what it means, either. BUT, I live where there aren't very many Hawaiians. I think most people would just take it as a last name or something. I don't like Wave or Waves. Too limiting, because I assume you will be coaching cyclists, too?

Good luck with your business!

Karen

[Zen]

Keep it.
When I joined this board I thought you were Hawaiian so it might be a good thing.

Besides, it's much better than Gidget.

[rocknrollgirl]

Keep it.
When I joined this board I thought you were Hawaiian so it might be a good thing.

Besides, it's much better than Gidget.

Ouch..Gidget is my bike's name...

Keep it. Even if people are not sure what it means, it sounds cooler,

[Veronica]

I like Wahine too.

Veronica

[redrhodie]

+1 for Wahine! Besides, if you lose someone because of bias against an exotic name, that's another plus! Can you imagine the drudgery of spending time with that person?

[salsabike]

I read Gidget when I was a kid, so I knew what Wahine meant.

To me, its connotation has always been "tough woman" or "strong woman", not just "woman". So I don't think it will deter anyone. I truly don't. It sounds powerful to me.

[MM_QFC!]

I read Gidget when I was a kid, so I knew what Wahine meant.

To me, its connotation has always been "tough woman" or "strong woman", not just "woman". So I don't think it will deter anyone. I truly don't. It sounds powerful to me.

Well, I watched Gidget as a kid...

Count me in as a Wahine supporter...since it appears that you're choosing it over Yoda!

Mimi's advice re: word of mouth is right on also...the quality of your work and support is already known and you walk your talk - pretty powerful too!
You will be very successful, f'sure!

[solobiker]

I say keep it. I didn't know what it means, either. BUT, I live where there aren't very many Hawaiians. I think most people would just take it as a last name or something. I don't like Wave or Waves. Too limiting, because I assume you will be coaching cyclists, too?

Good luck with your business!

Karen

I agree!! I think it is very unique.

[OakLeaf]

I hate to be the lone dissenter...

To me, the word "wahine" has a slightly negative connotation. Now, I only know the word as anyone "of a certain age" knows it - I never surfed, never read or saw "Gidget," grew up as an essentially Midwestern gal who never had an ocean as part of my life until five years ago. But I think of "wahine" as a word like "chick," a word men use about women whose athleticism is secondary to how they look in bikinis. Fuel TV women, to bring the concept into the 21st century.

It's your handle and you obviously wear it very, very well. And I also think it's entirely appropriate for women (as well as other groups) to reclaim words that have been used to slur us, and use them to empower ourselves. (Like the title of my favorite magazine that this forum's censorship rules won't let me post or even insert a freakin' link to - hint, it starts with B and ends with ITCH .)

But I'd worry about the bimbo connotation, personally. I wouldn't worry that people wouldn't know what it means; I'd worry that they'd draw the wrong impression about what it means.

In any case, good luck! With your talent and drive, I'm sure you'll do great.

[tribogota]

wahine is also woman in Maori, so you get the whole pacific in there and NZealanders are big on TRI... I think a "natural" filter for the type of business you think you will get is fine, in the end it will assure YOU more gratification with you clients and keep you from getting people you just don't like to work with...men who are turned off by a feminin-ish name, not someone you really want. If you are working personally with people it seems logical to have some sort of filter. Wave isn't very unique or memorable.

[crazycanuck]

I think using Wahine as part of your company name is cool. When you first posted many moons ago, I thought you were in NZ. Wahine=woman in Maori. I'm sure some NZ expats in your area might come out of lurkdom if they saw the name...

Unique & gets the imagination flowing I say.

[Grog]

Well I would have liked Yoda Coaching.

But I say keep the Wahine!

[kelownagirl]

I love the name Wahine too...