Name of Thrones: 70% surge in royal-themed small businesses

Ahead of a bumper bank holiday to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, new research reveals a rise in royal-themed small business names.

A Simply Business study found the number of small businesses with names referencing royalty has surged by 70 per cent over the last three years.

Read on to find out the most common royal company names and the UK hotspots for regally-inspired businesses.

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Most common royal words in business names revealed

From a takeaway called Taco Queen to a supermarket called Royal Convenience, there are plenty of ways small businesses can incorporate a royal theme into their brand.

According to our research, the top royal-related words used in small business names are:

1. Queen
2. Royal
3. Crown
4. Princess
5. Regal

Where in the UK are the most royal-themed businesses?

Some locations have a strong association with the Royal Family, usually if there’s a royal residence there such as Windsor in Berkshire or Sandringham in Norfolk.

But where are small businesses flying the flag for regal themes? Our research found that East Anglia has the highest proportion of small businesses with royal-related names.

Here’s the top ten, which shows the percentage of small businesses in the region with royal-themed names:

1. East Anglia (14.7 per cent)
2. North West England (13.7 per cent)
3. North East England (13.2 per cent)
4. The Midlands (12.5 per cent)
5. South East England (11.4 per cent)
6. South Central England (9 per cent)
7. London (8 per cent)
8. South West England (7 per cent)
9. Wales (5.1 per cent)
10. Scotland (4.9 per cent)

Small businesses to benefit from Jubilee bank holiday boost

To mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 year reign, the country will celebrate an extra bank holiday on Friday 3 June. The traditional spring bank holiday has been moved from Monday to Thursday to create a bumper four-day weekend.

Small businesses in the hospitality, retail, and leisure sectors will be hoping to benefit from extended licensing hours and increased demand for their services due to celebrations like street parties.

In 2012, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee contributed a huge week-on-week footfall surge of 8.6 per cent.

This time around investment firm Shore Capital predicts extra sales of up to £2 billion for the nation’s shops, while the British Beer and Pub Association’s (BBPA) is forecasting pubs to sell 90 million points, boosting the industry by up to £105 million.

Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, said: “This year’s additional bank holiday comes at a pivotal moment.

“Independent retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19, losing a staggering £40,000 each on average due to the pandemic – almost double the £22,000 average losses reported by UK small businesses.

“This bank holiday could provide a substantial boost to small business owners across retail, hospitality and leisure, at a time when it’s needed most.”

Looking for business name inspiration?

Here at Simply Business, we know all about the power of having a good business name.

Our latest TV advert, You Name It. We Insure It, shines a light on the wit and creativity of small business names across the UK. Watch it below and read more about our campaign.

Whether or not you want to go down the royal route, choosing the right business name is likely to be crucial to your future success.

Recent research from Simply Business found that one in three consumers are more likely to shop at a business if it has a witty name.

If you’re just starting out or thinking about a rebrand, our Business Name Generator can give you the inspiration you need. Just enter your line of work and we’ll do the rest.

Is your business set to benefit from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? Let us know in the comments below.