Detroit Negative Connotation

[DetroitDad]

So, we are trying to come up with a name that instills trust for a new retail concept we are planning on launching in Detroit. In an attempt to also reflect the location, I was looking for a name that included "Detroit", somewhere in the name. Oddly, I have found this to be a horrible idea that I can't seem to make work, as the name Detroit is proving to automatically prove to include a negative connotation.

It seems many products, groups, and places are dropping the name "Detroit". of course, everyone remembers that East Detroit [[suburb) changed it's name to East Pointe, and Detroit, Oregon decided to change it's name as well. More so, locals businesses seem to wish to drop the name as well. One seldom claims to hail from Detroit, instead they are from a named suburb or neighborhood [[Royal Oak or Corktown). Detroit supporters often call the site by new names, such as New Detroit or the International Straits of Detroit.

I While I am having an issue with using the name [[I probably will not be able to, at this point), I have found that there is also a negative attitude towards being located in Detroit, as well. Investor confidence seems to be a real problem, as the name Detroit = bad investment.

I am curious what others think of this, and what others have done to overcome this issue.

[hudkina]

Actually residents of that city voted that ballot proposal down, so Detroit, Oregon is still Detroit, Oregon. There's also a Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and even a Detroit Beach, Michigan.

Also, last time I checked names like the Detroit Zoo, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Diesel, Detroit Metro Airport, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Opera House, University of Detroit Mercy, etc. don't necessarily carry a negative connotation.

Among those under 35, I would say "Detroit" has a positive connotation as far as the word itself.

[jcole]

After all the threads on here with people bitching and complaining about 'non-Detroiters' [[i.e. people from the suburbs) telling people that they're from Detroit so they get 'street cred' , you post this

One seldom claims to hail from Detroit, instead they are from a named suburb or neighborhood [[Royal Oak or Corktown). Detroit supporters often call the site by new names, such as New Detroit or the International Straits of Detroit.

.
Which is it?

[DetroitDad]

After all the threads on here with people bitching and complaining about 'non-Detroiters' [[i.e. people from the suburbs) telling people that they're from Detroit so they get 'street cred' , you post this
.
Which is it?

Jcole, that doesn't make sense, please explain. It seems like other regions relate themselves to being part of the city. Here in Detroit, a majority of Detroiters do not call themselves Detroiters. When many people say they are going Downtown, they often are referring to a number of other places. Many do not act as a region, or want to be associated with the city.

[Trumpeteer]

Here in Detroit, a majority of Detroiters do not call themselves Detroiters. When many people say they are going Downtown, they often are referring to a number of other places.

IF by "Detroiters" you actually mean those who live within the city limits, what pray tell do they call themselves? IF they're going "Downtown" as in the CBD then where are they actually going if not there?

Just curious

[Planner3357]

When I say I'm going downtown I mean I'm going downtown. Much like when I say I'm going to mid-town, I'm going to midtown...etc...

I'm confused as well...do we need a reset on this, start fresh?

[jcole]

Jcole, that doesn't make sense, please explain. It seems like other regions relate themselves to being part of the city. Here in Detroit, a majority of Detroiters do not call themselves Detroiters. When many people say they are going Downtown, they often are referring to a number of other places. Many do not act as a region, or want to be associated with the city.

I don't know what it is that you don't understand; the fact that there have been countless threads about suburbanites calling themselves Detroiters, or your own quote.

[Vox]

One seldom claims to hail from Detroit, instead they are from a named suburb or neighborhood [[Royal Oak or Corktown). Detroit supporters often call the site by new names, such as New Detroit or the International Straits of Detroit.

I While I am having an issue with using the name [[I probably will not be able to, at this point), I have found that there is also a negative attitude towards being located in Detroit, as well. Investor confidence seems to be a real problem, as the name Detroit = bad investment.

I am curious what others think of this, and what others have done to overcome this issue.

I do not believe that Detroit carries any negative influences at all. Not one. It is all sunshine and happy thoughts for me. It must be your business plan that is casting negative influences and vibes. Or maybe it is all in your head?

[blackmath]

One seldom claims to hail from Detroit, instead they are from a named suburb or neighborhood [[Royal Oak or Corktown). Detroit supporters often call the site by new names, such as New Detroit or the International Straits of Detroit.

No one outside of this immediate area knows what the crap you are talking about when you say you live in Corktown. To the untrained ear it sounds like you're telling them you live in an odd specialty store, so nine times out of ten people just say "Detroit" to make it easy for people, and to perhaps compel them to hand over their wallets without a struggle. So, putting the word Detroit in the name of your marketing/business venture has one thing going for it - it's recognizable.

I personally despise these sunny new names like the aforementioned "International Straits of Detroit" and "New Detroit" - which sounds oddly Robocopian to me - and I think DDad you should just embrace the name of Detroit, ruin porn and all. If anything, it brings with it an edgy image. Good luck with everything and I hope you do find a gutsy investor without having to resort to re-branding anything.

[canuck]

It all depends what your selling I guess. Are you starting an income tax business or a tattoo parlor? Use the negative to effect in your concept. Use Detroit© for the gritty symbol it has become, it generates interest elsewhere. Life for Detroiters is not exotic as for folks far removed, so there is a resistance to the trademark that Detroit represents for you guys. But Carhartt is using this in a very clever way internationally, and incidentally, I cant imagine a better corporation in terms of community implication than Carhartt. By all means, use Detroit as a strong suit rather than a dirty rag. Give us a general idea so we can steal bits of it will ya?


http://www.carhartt-wip.com/about/

[Richard]

Name recognition is a powerful marketing tool if you mention Detroit, outside, the first impulse on ones mind is the big three and they are not going to waste time trying to relate where the actual suburb or section is in relation to Detroit.

That is if one is going nationally or internationally.

Most outsiders are so wrapped up in their own little realm that they really do not have a clue of what is going on in Detroit , Keep it simple IMHO

It is probably a good thing of having people not wanting to invest in a certain area to an extent it keeps the door open for those that do and does not artificially inflate land values etc. so the ones that do invest are more stable.Investing is a numbers game anyways,if you open up on top of a water tower with 5 sqft but can show a high return on investment who cares. Speculation is entirely different.

[Johnlodge]

You can come up with something more creative than slapping "Detroit" on the front of your name. Whether the connotation is positive or negative, it shows a lack of imagination. Even something like "Martius" is more intriguing sounding if you really want the local reference.

[canuck]

Let's put it this way;

I don't see nothin' negative about no Detroit.

[sumas]

I don't think I would try to rebrand Detroit. I love our history and embrace it's future. Try branding it as edgy.

Some years back, a young and handsome, talented black man wore a t shirt that I think said something like, Detroit, where the weak get eaten. Made me laugh. Those of us who stayed, understand.

The only thing, I truely deplore is the failure of DPS. On a positive note, there are many non profits that do community outreach effectively to our youth.

There is a synergy here and lots of truely remarkable people. It's easy to ignore an un-effective government, In fact, they provide amusement.

I, more than most, could tell folks whats seriously wrong. But find that other, much wittier Detroit folk say those things better. So will leave that to them.

I keep trying to explain my Detroit but fail miserably. This is still a great place to live.

Sumas

[Augustiner]

So nobody wants to invest in your business, and you immediately default to the assumption that it must be because everybody hates Detroit? I'm not sure I see the logic here.

[muskie1]

I think the lack of investors is more likely to astute business principals. I have a friend who recently started a new bus. with a 30 year track record of running profitable ones and looking for investors, none to be found. I would think that any investor would probably be looking for very little risk and you having well over half of the capital needed to start with.

As far as Detroit being a negative, I disagree. We notice it because any mention of it in the media draws our attention. I will listen to or read a national story that is negative on Detroit, however if that same story was about any other big city I would blow by it. I belong to a auto forum out of the U.K. and once was asked by a person there where I lived. I named the suburb and they wanted to know what it was near. I did not get one negative response or question when I said near Detroit. Quite the opppisite , there were many inquiring with optimism and endless questions about things old and new about the Motor City.

I think our own perception about what others think is one of our worse enemies.

[gazhekwe]

We always say we're from Detroit. No one outside Michigan has any idea where Southfield or Troy or Taylor might be, but everyone knows where Detroit is. We have never gotten a negative reaction, and we have been everywhere, including Detroit, Oregon.

This discussion has been going on a long time, though. There was a movie made in 1973, Ash Wednesday with Liz Taylor and Henry Fonda. It was about a Grosse Pointe couple splitting up. She heads to a Swiss ski resort town to get plastic surgery to make herself look more appealing to him, hoping to save her marriage. The location is a jetset magnet, and she hangs out with the in crowd. In one scene, she tells a group she is from Detroit. One woman looks down her nose, then around at the group and asks of no one in particular, "Does anyone come from Detroit anymore?" Liz says, "Well, Grosse Pointe, actually."

[iheartthed]

We always say we're from Detroit. No one outside Michigan has any idea where Southfield or Troy or Taylor might be, but everyone knows where Detroit is. We have never gotten a negative reaction, and we have been everywhere, including Detroit, Oregon.

I've noticed that whenever I come across people from the Detroit area most will default to saying s/he is from Michigan. I think the habit does a disservice to the Detroit area because it's almost like saying "I'm from nowhere important".

[Mr. Houdini]

The City of Detroit itself should change it's name to something else. Maybe Pleasantville.

[MikeM]

Or Pheasantville.

[sumas]

Pheasantville is somewhat funny. I love the little buggers. Almost extinct in Michigan and Detroit 's perceived and real, real estate demise brings them back in swarms. Way cool. I much prefer urban prairie to burned out hulk buildings. Rats hit the burbs. No problem there.

People keep moving further and further out and I say thank you. I have my aged house that I love. Urban prairie, serious cool, not so near neighbors, no traffic to speak of. Thinking of putting in a fire pit. If it was legal, I'd buy a horse. Just might. Have a barn type structure.

The house next door was a funeral parlor back in the day, 1890's, horse drawn hearses.

Still hear trains and boat horns. Big front porch and chat with passerbys, very bucolic. Why would I look for the country life when I have it here? 10 minutes I can be in the cultural center. Belle Isle, the best, I have the best of worlds.

[NorthEndere]

I've noticed that whenever I come across people from the Detroit area most will default to saying s/he is from Michigan. I think the habit does a disservice to the Detroit area because it's almost like saying "I'm from nowhere important".

You know, even ten years ago this was the norm, but I've found that this has changed considerably in just the last few years, particularly among younger people such as myself. I've noticed this accutely on national television. Every once in awhile on the late-night talk shows you'll find an audience member or a guest, even, who will say they are from Detroit when it's a better guess than not that they are from the suburbs [[yes, you can still make that judgement in Detroit, unfortunately, because of the simple demographic layout). Just an some random examples, but I know that both youngish Metro Detroit actors Kristen Bell [[Trenton, I think) and Dax Shephard [[Milford) always say they are from Detroit among quite a few other young celebrities originally from the region. I'm always skeptical to say things have gotten better, but I haven't been able to make the case that things haven't, lately.

I really 2008 was a big changing point, though, things had even been changing before then that brought everyone just a little closer together. To see your entire region and state dumped on and left for dead has a strange way of making this "Detroit against the world" instead of Detroit vs. Warren vs. Macomb Township vs....

[canuck]

Pheasantville is somewhat funny. I love the little buggers. Almost extinct in Michigan and Detroit 's perceived and real, real estate demise brings them back in swarms. Way cool. I much prefer urban prairie to burned out hulk buildings. Rats hit the burbs. No problem there.

People keep moving further and further out and I say thank you. I have my aged house that I love. Urban prairie, serious cool, not so near neighbors, no traffic to speak of. Thinking of putting in a fire pit. If it was legal, I'd buy a horse. Just might. Have a barn type structure.

The house next door was a funeral parlor back in the day, 1890's, horse drawn hearses.

Still hear trains and boat horns. Big front porch and chat with passerbys, very bucolic. Why would I look for the country life when I have it here? 10 minutes I can be in the cultural center. Belle Isle, the best, I have the best of worlds.

Beautiful evocation of what it is to be free from the fetters of appearance and standing; Detroit style.

I like that you swung back and forth from your city's past to the present. You have to imagine the past in order to envisage a better future, everybody does.

[rencense]

Detroitdad

I have to say I'm a bit shocked to hear this thread being started from you. Granted we don't know each other etc but just going by your material on this blog I've always held you in high regard.

The whole nature of this conversation seems to be a throwback to the 70's and 80's when everyone was frantically trying to distance themselves from the city both physically and mentally. Everyone has tried to tell people what suburb they are from when traveling and here we are in 2011 and so many still haven't gotten this message......noone from outside a 100 mile radius gives a single beer fart about what little population 20k suburb you're from or where it is. Take a place like royal oak for example; while people in this region might think its an awesome unique place it really is only unique to us. There are tons of royal oaks in the united states. Lets not even start with the troys and warrens which are as forgettable here as they are across the globe.

Look the name choice is all yours but I'm a little disappointed that someone who seems to be a new and positive face of detroit is so worried about old negative connotations. Many of us on this forum believe that we are starting to see positive changes to this city and are eager to support local businesses. I think it might be wiser to try to appeal to this group than the other group.... the other group being all the bills and dianes in macomb twp who have made trashing the city their favorite hobby for the past few decades and besides they are unlikely to venture into the city for a business regardless of what its named.

If you don't have enough pride in your city to stand by its name then I imagine you would be happier somewhere else. I personally have gone with my gut, lots of evidence, and against the advice of most of my friends and family that things are starting an upward trend in detroit. I've realized that sometimes its more important to take a chance and follow your own voice than that of even the most well intentioned relative of friend. I know that for myself I'm more likely to frequent a business that shows a connection to the area than one that avoids it.

[canuck]

Can youse give us an idea what kind of busy-ness this will be, ball park?