We Need a Slogan
 

Gerald,

I think the Mechmate forum needs a slogan for the home page. Coca Cola has "The real thing." Burger King uses "Have It Your Way." The US Army ads say "Army Strong."

I was thinking something like, "Afordable Industrial CNC" or "DIY CNC 4U." Maybe everyone thinks those are stupid but at least they'll get us started.

However, if you don't like this idea, please delete this post.

Copied from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_slogan

An effective slogan usually:

• states the main benefits of the product or brand for the potential user or buyer
• implies a distinction between it and other firms' products - of course, within the usual legal constraints
• makes a simple, direct, concise, crisp, and apt statement
• is often witty
• adopts a distinct "personality" of its own
• gives a credible impression of a brand or product
• makes the consumer feel "good"
• makes the consumer feel a desire or need
• is hard to forget - it adheres to one's memory (whether one likes it or not)
• sounds good

How about something I've been toying with lately: "There's a global market for local manufacturing" or "Local manufacturing for a Global economy"

A few ideas...
"So many toys, so little time."
"CNC for the rest of us."
"Future Shop" or "Future Manufacturing" or "Manufacturing the Future"
"CNC - Its not just for big companies anymore!"
"Dream It, MechMate It, Build It."
"MechMate, The big kids Erector Set!"
"Dream, Think, Design, MechMate, Build"

I like the "100,000 garages..." idea in:
http://www.shopbottools.com/teds_report.htm
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/200...C-0D6B48984890
as a way to cure the energy, and, IMHO, economic issues of the world.
ShopBot sees themselves in there, but I would love to have 10% be MechMates!
Lets get someone more creative than I to generate a MechMate tag line from that concept!

My input
 

Technology that earns. If you learn.

How about
Affordable CNC for the Masses
Affordable CNC for the Handyman
Affordable CNC for Business
Affordable CNC for Fun

I like the one from Jack ....."Dream It, MechMate It, Build It.".....but will change it to include CNC..

"Dream It, Mechmate It, CNC It "

The key concept for me when I think of MechMate is "value". What I invest into MM (and myself) creates value in the form of a best-in-cost-category machine, plus my additional knowledge and experience.

"MechMate: DIY Local CNC Value"

Wait A Minute!!!!!!

You want a slogan but you don't want T-Shirts and Hats?

I don't get it but I guess that must be me! We need a slogan why?

I don't think that acronyms (DIY, CNC) work easily in a slogan . . . . unless they maybe rhyme ?

Nils, T-shirts and hats could be very expensive to folk in S. America, Asia, Africa. They will not be equally accessible to everyone.

:rolleyes:

you're blue
The blue maker
drive your dreams
make your dreams
The blue mistress

Okay, that helps me understand why you have not gotten on the T-Shirt / Hats band wagon.

Som variations on the above...

1) "Its not just a CNC, it's a MechMate!'"
2) "MechMate, for all your woodworking in CNC"
3) "MechMate, affordable table router"
4) "MechMate, affordable DIY table router"
5) "MechMate, DIY Industrial table router"
6) "MechMate, table routing at it's best"


Of the six above I like 5 the best because the MechMate is really a DIY Industrial table router.

it's also something that people might look for on the internet (google ranking).

Just my 2 cents


Ries

still waiting for the electronics to come in, metal is about to get ordered!

MechMate. I can. You can.

Some of the suggestions I gave, were trying to get across the process that MM allows, but trying to make is short, but communicate the entire value added process is not easy.

The term CNC is a buzzword for the initiated, not recognized by all of the general public. MechMate, like ShopBot is now a 'brand' of CNC equipment. But neither do the entire 'Idea, design, MechMate, assemble, use/sell' paradigm (how I hate that word, but it applies here). Somehow putting MechMate as the 'heart' of a global design, local manufacture and build process is the kind of message that I think we should look to convey. Possibly one where the MM word could be substituted with CNC, or another 'brand' of equipment. I know we are trying to further MM, but furthering the CONCEPT of MM is more important, IMHO.

Gerald, what kind of import restrictions/fees are there on swag (T-shirts, caps, etc) in South Africa. We could make a 'suggested design' for T's that could be produced locally. We might want to leave a 'space' for an OPTIONAL MM serial number to be put on the design, that would not look
stilted or awkward without a serial number.

Hey, anyone have a design for a silk screen machine that could be built on a MM for furthering the 'design global, make local' concept? This would be a good 'first suggested project' for people almost anywhere! And MM swag can be produced about anywhere a MM could be built with ease.

Well, if I can't have T-Shirts and Hats Internationally I suppose I have to put in my thiinking here.

"MechMate, Owner Built CNC"

Gerald, What are you giving the one that comes up with the award winning slogan....? How about a T-Shirt.... I know that is enough.

Seriously, some thing should be on the line.... A trip to South Africa, a day at Walt Disney World, a HSD Spindle and VFD, a MechMate, Owner Built CNC mascot, or 25 rattler cans of Safety Blue paint.!

I like the ideas I see here...so I've got to jump in.

Here's a couple of simple ones.:D

MechMate, A Cut Above!

MechMate, the Cutter's Choice!


Regards,
John

The winner should award Gerald a T-Shirt! ;)

Hmmm, Mascot. ... Linux has Tux, BSD has a little 'devil', GNU has the gnu. What kind of mascot should MM have? Something native to SA? Like an Eland?

The mamba was temporarily used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mamba_(comics)
Might be a little racy? 8)

But I assume you mean more like:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamba

Jack, we had this thread:
http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showt...ght=mamba+logo

(david/truecnc now uses Sean's logo as his own)

Gerald,

I don't get it...how can this guy David from True CNC take your designs and try to build a business selling cnc routers as his own. Not only is this highly unethical and most probably an infringment of your intelectual property rights, but it's also just bad business. Once a few of his customers or potential customers learn that he is trying to pass off someone else's design as his own, he will lose all credibiltiy. Who would trust him??:(

I guess it takes all kinds...

Best regards,

Jeff

I really like the following suggestions that have been made so far but Gerald's opinion is what really matters. The first one is probably the most descriptive. (Thanks Heath for correcting my misspelling of affordable.)

MechMate - DIY Industrial Table Router

Affordable CNC for the Masses

MechMate - Owner Built CNC

Well, I don't know whether we need a slogan, but a good slogan would be nice. :)

(Maybe you guys are looking for something to print on the back of the T-shirt? ;))

Time to visit these principles of a slogan again:

• states the main benefits of the product or brand
• implies a distinction between it and other firms' products
• makes a simple, direct, concise, crisp, and apt statement
• is often witty
• adopts a distinct "personality" of its own
• gives a credible impression of a brand or product
• makes the consumer feel "good"
• makes the consumer feel a desire or need
• is hard to forget - it adheres to one's memory
• sounds good

. . . . and looking at most of the above suggestions, they do not imply a distinction for a MM compared to the rest. ie. most of the suggested slogans could apply to any CNC router.

Okay, so what makes a MM different? . . . .
pick any size
as long as it is fairly big
work inches or millimeters
shop locally in your global location as far as possible
good forum support
international network
simple, tough, forgiving (error tolerant) design
can be built by anyone with minimum skills and resources
strips away the "mystique" of CNC
. . . . or something like that! :)

Because my son read it in college, I read "Made to Stick" by Heath. It got across the point of being unforgettable because it fosters a 'sticky idea' in peoples thoughts. It is an easy and good read along with "The Tipping Point" by Gladwell.

One of the best don't litter campaigns was done in Texas,with the "Don't Mess With Texas" TV and road signs that were run years ago. For a change it DID effect the amount of roadside trash, especially in rural areas. It had a lot to do with the way "Good ol' boys" perceive themselves and their state. I only wish we could come up with something half as 'sticky' and reliant.

Slogans or tag lines?

MechMate: Custom homebuilt computerized woodworking.

"Why cut by hand, when your hands can build a router?"

"Leave the others in the dust"

how about:

Why buy a machine when you can build a BEAST

The Mamba project.

Build your own? -->front of the home of this web exist a slogan.

Gerald, You are teasing us again. :eek::rolleyes::)

Damn you're good. Geez. I had it all planned out and now you're going to spoil everything! :o

I know you want them to be affordable to everyone around the globe and I'm working on a solution for that. A year or so ago, I was at an office supply store and they sold "plastic" paper that you could print on and then iron onto a t shirt. I was thinking that maybe we could come up with a graphic design that could be shared via this forum and everyone could buy their own paper. I think it was made by Epson. Hey you guys, is their stuff available globally?

I already have the graphic images in my head but that's all I'm saying about that. ;)

BradM has some really good ideas.