kidsngarden Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I'm BAAAA-AACK! :yay:After a 2.5 year hiatus from soapmaking I have realized I was completely nuts to leave it. so I'm coming back. My business used to be Capella's Garden and it had a decent following. I was hoping to return with that name but sadly someone snatched up capellasgarden.com and has it just sitting there wasting space and the only way I can get is if I pay an outrageous amount of money.I absolutely was so burnt out and messed up I thought I would never go back - I literally sold EVERYTHING related to my biz which is hindsight was very foolish. So aside from the fact that I was totally lame to not keep my domain up, what would you do? I can still get capellasgarden.net OR I can change the name of my company altogether. Even though my business was a bit of a "brand" it wasn't huge. But the name doesn't fit anymore anyway and I think I would maybe want to have something "soapy" in my name.So what do you think? Change the name or just buy the .net and hope to buy the .com later when whomever is holding it hostage lets it go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B@BlissStreet Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Maybe a fresh new start with a fresh new name is what you need! I'm feeling some slight burnout/lackadaisical attitude, but I think I'm just physically and emotionally tired out. Jump on your new found energy, and keep us posted. I love when others are brave enough to out their troubles, and learn from the successes. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksranch Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 After a couple years, probably any following has moved on anyway. You sound very enthusiastic - so just jump in again and go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie123 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 A new name if you want but how about Capellagardensoap.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaturallyTru Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 New Start!! Let em have the name and PAY for it while it sits there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 I did think about Capellasgardensoap.com, but I want it to be shorter rather than longer. What really stinks is that all meta tagging that sat on that site for about 5 years is still there. You can still find stuff referring to my soap all over, it hurts to see the time invested getting my name out on the search engines is now for not! Anyway, I think I will just figure a new name. What I do not know.So who's the best hosting co these days? I prefer a DIY. I used to use Graceful Hosting. I know before there was a lot of controversy about them before, but I didn't have problems then. I don't know about now though. I know that I used polka dot dandy to design my template and she no longer works with them which concerns me.So who is the fave now a days? I really don't like the companies that are charging $80 plus for set up and licensing fees. I was considering Shoppe Pro - anyone use them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hi There Bethany,I'm using Designer218 after reading the reviews on here. I used "ThisChickDesigns" as a template designer. Not sure how easy it is to use because haven't tried adding anything yet. The owner Mandy is incredibly fast answering every question I have. I deleted everything by pressing a button I shouldn't have & she restored it within minutes! HTH Tracey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorseScentS Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I'm BAAAA-AACK! :yay:After a 2.5 year hiatus from soapmaking I have realized I was completely nuts to leave it. so I'm coming back. My business used to be Capella's Garden and it had a decent following. I was hoping to return with that name but sadly someone snatched up capellasgarden.com and has it just sitting there wasting space and the only way I can get is if I pay an outrageous amount of money.I absolutely was so burnt out and messed up I thought I would never go back - I literally sold EVERYTHING related to my biz which is hindsight was very foolish. So aside from the fact that I was totally lame to not keep my domain up, what would you do? I can still get capellasgarden.net OR I can change the name of my company altogether. Even though my business was a bit of a "brand" it wasn't huge. But the name doesn't fit anymore anyway and I think I would maybe want to have something "soapy" in my name.So what do you think? Change the name or just buy the .net and hope to buy the .com later when whomever is holding it hostage lets it go?That's called Cybersquatting and Domain Squatting, and it's illegal. Google it, you might be able to get your domain name back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I agree. At the very least check it out and see if its possible to get your domain name back. As you mentioned, you invested a lot of time in it.Besides, I really like the name Capella's Garden. If I couldn't get the same domain make it a similar one. I also like Capellasgardensoap. Or even going with .net instead of .com. Those domain squatters would eventually give up once they realise you have circumvented them. Then when they do buy up the domain name do a redirect and be done with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I would keep it similar... even though its been a couple of years - people that have bought from you could recognize you more easliyHow about just capellas.com... is that available?I would not do the .net though unless you can get your original domain name back- people are so used to ".com" it could be disastrous getting people to find you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 I'm not sure I have grounds to declare it as domain squatting. From what I have read you need to have an established trademark? I never did trademark the name. If you type in capellasgarden.com a page comes up and it shows links to goat milk soap, bath bombs, etc, like a search engine or something? My understanding of domain squatting is that it's more like using a part of the name or a modified version of the name like capellas-garden.com to force me into buying them out, but no for them taking my domain that I let expire. I think I would have grounds had I not let my domain expire and they were doing something similar using capellasgarden.net with a page like what they have now.I do love the name Capellas Garden, but it doesn't really reflect what I sell. At the time I created it my company was all about goat milk soap. I had a nubian named Capella who was named after the little goat shaped constellation, lol. (all our goats had names having to do with the stars) She was "the face" of my company in the beginning, but as it evolved my labels no longer included her. Now I have sold my little farm and moved into town (part of what prompted my initial closure was my lack of goat milk). So anywho, the name isn't relevant, even though I WILL be making GM soap again.I'm thinking I need something with soap in it somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 FYI capellas.com has been taken since I started.however capellassoap.com is availableI wonder if I meta tag a new site and mention it throughout my text, maybe even as a subtitle "formerly capellas Garden" if I can snag some of my old taggings traffic back?And actually, there was this guy, I call him my "soap Stalker" who seriously would not leave me alone and he hasn't even though I retired. He has called and left a message on my voicemail every 6 months asking if I am selling. You would think that would be a good thing but this guy is whacked out. Talks about being "partners" and has all these crazy ideas. No matter how mean I am to him he keeps calling me. Wanting to make "sexy soap" etc. When I was in business I had to block him from my email he was harrassing me so much. Needless to say I don't answer my phone if I don't know the number, but he still calls. If I was capellasgarden.com again he would find me! So that's an advantage to leaving it behind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonshine Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 That was the next one I was going to suggest- capellassoap- I like itbut your stalker guy might recognize it- first call you get you need to get his personal info and forward it to the police- that sounds creepy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitn Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Or acapellasgarden or acapellassoapThe stalker guy is just plain scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 That's called Cybersquatting and Domain Squatting, and it's illegal. Google it, you might be able to get your domain name back.Someone was doing that with the .com of our name, but GoDaddy did nothing about it except kept promising to look into it. Perhaps a lawyer would have gotten us further down the road. However some 3-5 years later that person who owned the .com got tired of trying to get us to spend $2,000 for the .com and we bought it for a mere $10. I'd just change your name Bethany or do a version of it and go from there. People may remember 2.5 years ago when it just vanished and they may wonder if it will be around long or they may wonder if you're the same person type of thing why not just come out with a new look and name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Yep Scented - and HI! I have missed you and this forum!so a new name it will be. I think I have one, but I'm not saying what yet.If anyone has great suggestions I'm open to them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Yep Scented - and HI! I have missed you and this forum!so a new name it will be. I think I have one, but I'm not saying what yet.If anyone has great suggestions I'm open to them though!Welcome back! It's good to see you around again! OK to help with some names or just to get the thoughts going, what was behind your old company name and any thoughts on a new name or names you've been tossing around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I already have it and made the logo and bought the URL - GO BIG OR GO HOME! - HA! It's going to be Soap Envy and the URL is mysoapenvy.com. soapenvy.com is taken but redirected to soap for hope, which is a risk, but I am really inspired by the name so maybe soapenvy.com will come available sometime and I can snag it, but hopefully people will remember the "my" in the beginning.My logo is my current avatar, I'm still thinking about the colors, but I kinda like the bold look of the purple and green. Now I am in process of getting the site up, even though I have nothing to put on it yet, but I want everything to be in place. I really like an OScart so I will be just hosting through hostgator and kinda doing my own thing in and oscart format. Thanks for the welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 This is a different direction than the last time. Same soap, new label, new look, just the overall feel of the business will be bolder and fresher.:yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SliverOfWax Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) That's called Cybersquatting and Domain Squatting, and it's illegal. Google it, you might be able to get your domain name back.It's not illegal unless the name was trademarked.Anybody can buy a name and not use it. In fact, when registering a domain name, some people register a bunch of different .whatevers just to prevent someone else from buying something similar. She abandoned her business and her domain name. It is very common for someone else to snatch up abandoned domain names and then try to resell them. Nothing illegal about it.'Domain names are uber cheap. Even if one thinks they'll never use their name again, it's a good idea to pay for it for 3 to 5 years, just in case. Edited February 23, 2012 by SliverOfWax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twoscentsworth Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 "It's not illegal unless the name was trademarked." Actually you can use a domain name even if it IS trademarked ... you just can't use it for any products that are TM'd. It's a bit$h when someone is using your TM'd name for their domain but legal. Sooooo snap up those names just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SliverOfWax Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) "It's not illegal unless the name was trademarked." Actually you can use a domain name even if it IS trademarked ... you just can't use it for any products that are TM'd. It's a bit$h when someone is using your TM'd name for their domain but legal. Sooooo snap up those names just in case.That doesn't surprise me. Seems like you'd be asking for trouble, though, to use a trademarked name as your domain (example: Yankee Tarts R Us.blah blah). I can't imagine the conniption fit Yankee would have over that, even if you only sold their stuff. lolAnd slightly off topic, but search engines won't pay the slightest bit of attention to a domain name that's good for only a year. They're programmed to assume you're a fly-by-night. Three years is the minimum time to purchase a domain name if you want credibility. Edited February 23, 2012 by SliverOfWax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidsngarden Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 That doesn't surprise me. Seems like you'd be asking for trouble, though, to use a trademarked name as your domain (example: Yankee Tarts R Us.blah blah). I can't imagine the conniption fit Yankee would have over that, even if you only sold their stuff. lolAnd slightly off topic, but search engines won't pay the slightest bit of attention to a domain name that's good for only a year. They're programmed to assume you're a fly-by-night. Three years is the minimum time to purchase a domain name if you want credibility.Yes, I know, I had my url for 4 years, which is why it bites to not have it anymore. But I'm moving on now anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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