Naming your company, shop, or brand experience is one of a kind. Just like a name for your child, it has to present it in the best possible light, attracting clients and claiming its presence in the vast sea of competitors. Unless you’re a British business, of course.
In that case, the punnier the better. We all know that British humor feels like a whole new language that never ceases to deliver a constant deadpan, and their punny shop names are the embodiment of it.
So Bored Panda has compiled a precious collection full of puntastic British shop and service names as seen on billboards, cars, and signs that will make you read twice, and thrice. Then cringe, and share with your friend.
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Bored Panda reached out to Wayne Barber, who has been running the punny business social media channels on and off for years now. Wayne has been collecting the punniest business names for his Twitter account Punny Business.
“Initially, it was great fun to try and find as many punny businesses as I could and once I’d built up my followers, they started finding them for me.”
However, Wayne said that over the course of a few years, he started seeing the same names used repeatedly all over the world and this “can get a little boring.” Yet, he still gets a thrill when he spots or is sent a new pun that he has never seen before, especially if it’s a hilarious one.
When it comes to exceptionally punny business names, Wayne gave some honorable mentions: “Much Ado About Muffin (a cake shop in Stockton upon Tees, UK), The Merchant of Tennis (sports shop in Toronto, Canada), Tan’in’Ere (Stayley Bridge, UK), and Ghost Bus Tours (Ghoulish Based Bud Tours across several UK cities).”
But his hands-down favorite one is a play on words with a famous '90s song by a band called Cornershop. “It’s a small food van that serves hot breakfast sandwiches of sausage, bacon and egg, etc. that is located in a lay-by on the main road near my home town of Kingston upon Hull called Brimful of Rasher (a pun on the '90s song Brimful and Asher by Cornershop). It never fails to put a smile on my face.”
Wayne also believes that puns and humor can give passersby a good laugh the whole world over, and it’s not just in Britain. “I truly believe that it can help make a business instantly more memorable and it is more likely to tempt people in, especially if it’s a funny one."
Especially if it conjures an absurd image “such as Brian Pickles Lawn Movers or the RSPCA Animal Rescue Charity shop in Bury, UK having the slogan Helping Bury Animals.” Wayne concluded that “it all leads to these businesses being talked about and gets some form of free advertising.”
Did you know if you say “bacon” with a Jamaican accent it sounds the same as sayin “beer can” with a British accent?
This is a name that elicits loads of giggles, even though it has a good meaning in Vietnamese.
'Habby Buddha', according to the noodle bar. Google translate gives 'phật hạnh phúc'. Are there any Vietnamese speakers here?
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Facebook repeatedly blocked a Vietnamese-Australian man called Phuc Dat Bich. Here's how it is pronounced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cBcU4kF8dE
I've also heard of "PHO Q" slipping by licensing authorities who don't know how to pronounce "pho."
Yes. This is my favorite resturaunt now. It said my name. Now where do I go to come here?
In Austin, TX... we have a phó place called Phó King. Another local phó place might be good... but is it Phó King good?
True. But to English ears, this is a great pun suggesting the noodles are so good, you will just keep eating them until you turn into the “fat f**k”. Or something along those lines.
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Fish and chips shops are great ones for punny names. Like the Cod Father, Frier Tuck, and the Frying Squad. Hairdressers have some good ones too like A Cut Above, Power Cuts and Curl Up and Dye.
As a non-native speaker I sadly don't get all of them. But most are groany-hillarious.
Understanding puns in another language is difficult. It is impressive that you understood most of them.
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I generally strongly dislike puns, but for some reason I really love business name puns! :D
A deli in Newcastle, Australia called Pork Ewe Deli. I delivered there, walk in and ask straight up "How do you get away with a name like that?" Cheeky older woman replies "I have no idea what you're talking about."
I've seen a place called Lord of the Rims and another called The Crepes of Wrath
Instagram.com/businesspuns has nearly 1000 puns like this from the past few years. Definitely worth checking out.
One of my favorites in the U.S. is "SOFA KING" -- "Our prices are Sofa King LOW!"
Bob's Burgers and The Simpsons have such good store names also, reminded me of that.
Fish and chips shops are great ones for punny names. Like the Cod Father, Frier Tuck, and the Frying Squad. Hairdressers have some good ones too like A Cut Above, Power Cuts and Curl Up and Dye.
As a non-native speaker I sadly don't get all of them. But most are groany-hillarious.
Understanding puns in another language is difficult. It is impressive that you understood most of them.
Load More Replies... I generally strongly dislike puns, but for some reason I really love business name puns! :D
A deli in Newcastle, Australia called Pork Ewe Deli. I delivered there, walk in and ask straight up "How do you get away with a name like that?" Cheeky older woman replies "I have no idea what you're talking about."
I've seen a place called Lord of the Rims and another called The Crepes of Wrath
Instagram.com/businesspuns has nearly 1000 puns like this from the past few years. Definitely worth checking out.
One of my favorites in the U.S. is "SOFA KING" -- "Our prices are Sofa King LOW!"
Bob's Burgers and The Simpsons have such good store names also, reminded me of that.
