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What's In a Name?

It is true that Shakespeare said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. However, not many of us would be eager to find out if it were called a "skunk weed." Names are important, and the most difficult decisions this company has ever made have been what to name itself and its products.

Enterprise Outfitters

The distinguishing word here is "outfitters." Outfitters are provisioners and guides. This is our way of tipping our hats to the mountain men that opened up the West, like Kit Carson, Jedediah Smith, Hugh Glass, and Jim Bridger. Folks sometimes distinguish between pioneers and settlers, but the mountain men were there before either. We view ourselves as providers of tools, and finders of mountain passes to help our customers get where they want to go. Our customers have either pioneering work of their own to do, or simply want to settle down and get their work done. We help them do it.

In the West, the word "outfitter" is almost synonymous with organizers of fishing, rafting, or hunting expeditions. We sometimes get phone calls from folks wanting to take burro rides up Pikes Peak, or something similar. The qualifying word in our name is "Enterprise." This word was chosen above "Business" partly because it includes non-profit and governmental entities as well as commercial ventures (also partly because the acronym for "Business Outfitters" would be too much for our competitors to resist). Our customers don't have to be in business, but are generally businesslike. From thence comes our slogan "Businesslike Software."

Tincup Enterprise System

The word "Enterprise" has already been explained above, and the word "System" is self-explanatory. We chose the word "Tincup" for several reasons. Again, it is a tip of the hat to the Western pioneers, especially the miners, who used tin cups and tin pans as tools of the trade. You can use a tin cup to shave, wash, dig, cook, and many other useful tasks. It is durable, simple, versatile, easy to carry, and (in a rugged way) beautiful. It is probably not the most important tool in camp, but you'll miss it if it is not there. We think it is an elegant, timeless analogy for our product.

As a side note, there is a town in Colorado called Tincup and it happens to be in a beautiful mountain valley. According to legend, it was named by a miner who made his strike with a tin cup. To reach it, take U.S. 50 west from Salida to Parlin, then turn right (northeast). The road is marked but not identified on our maps. On your way up Cumberland Pass, enjoy the mountain towns of Ohio and Pitkin. Be prepared to be amazed at the beautiful view of the Collegiate Peaks as you reach the summit. When you come down the other side, you will reach the small town of Tincup, then continue north to Taylor Park Reservoir. Turn right (east), and continue across Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista. Plan to spend a day making this trip, as the mountain passes are slow, and you'll want to take your time enjoying the scenery. We think Cumberland Pass is passable only in the summer, and even then you should be prepared for bad weather.