Life wasn’t easy for a boy named Sue. I’m sure you know that he grew up quick and he grew up mean; his fists got hard, and his wits got keen. "A Boy Named Sue" is on our playlist here at The Highland Weigh, so maybe that’s why, while singing along one day as I constructed a halloumi flatbread, I started thinking about the care and intention Sue’s Daddy put into that unusual name. His dad understood the tough world his boy would grow up in, and naming him Sue was the only protection he could offer.
Anyone who’s named a child or a dog knows the weight of that responsibility. You know that someday, you’ll be shouting that name from the front door or across the park. You wonder what nicknames it will spawn, how the name will sound coming from the mouths of others, whether it will seem old-fashioned, too common, or tricky to pronounce. Names, it seems, are a big deal.
When it comes to naming a business, it appears that one-word brands are the gold standard these days: Google, Apple, Amazon, Sony. Even businesses with longer names trimmed them down—Burberry London became Burberry’s, then simply Burberry.
Which brings us to The Highland Weigh. Yes, we have three words (two too many). But as we celebrate the second birthday of this bouncing, blue social enterprise, I like to think that, like Sue’s dad, we considered the world our fledgling business would grow up in and chose a name that reflects its purpose and spirit.
So why did we choose The Highland Weigh? There were three main reasons:
1. The "Weigh" Part Is Pretty Literal
Let’s start with the obvious. The word Weigh clues you in right away: when you come to visit, you’ll likely be weighing out goodies—washing-up liquid, shampoo, oats, lentils, and so on. Even if you only came in for a coffee, something might catch your eye across the shop floor, like a jar of chocolate-coated ginger (which makes a great gift … if it makes it home!). Before you know it, you’re weighing out a poke of something delightful.
2. Familiarity and Place
The Highland Weigh sounds a bit like a walk you might have done, like the West Highland Way or the Cumbria Way. There’s something comfortably familiar about it. We liked the idea that our name would feel like a place you already know.
3. The Highland Spirit
Most importantly, The Highland Weigh calls to mind a way of doing things rooted in the Highlands. For us, that means:
Hospitality – "Come away in; the fire’s on!" Grab a coffee, play some Scrabble, make yourself at home.
Curiosity (or let’s be honest, a bit of nosiness) – Highland folk are known for being curious. We like hearing your news. And we’re always interested in exploring new ways of doing things, whether that’s living, shopping, socialising, or solving problems.
Humour – Highlanders are famous for their dry sense of humour, and we like to think we bring a little of that to our store. If we can tell a story that makes you smile, play a tune that gets you humming along, or brighten your day even a bit—that’s The Highland Weigh of doing things.
Sue grew up mean and keen. And as for The Highland Weigh? We hope it will grow up friendly, curious, and just a bit funny. So come away in—it’s December, and the fire will be on. Tell us your news; we’re here to listen.
Komentarze