To ban DP from calling a food van this

[KnittedC]

DP, a chef, is looking into opening a food business; and thinking about a gourmet food van selling hot and cold sandwiches etc. He has mooted the following as a potential name... 'In Bread'.

I think (hope!) he is joking as it's the worst name I've ever heard, but he thinks it's funny. WIBU to LTB if he ever actually did it?

[Juniperdewdropofbrandy]

Upper Crust?

[Gingefringe]

riot Laughed out loud when I read about the 'bap man' playing the Batman theme tune!

In Bread is hilarious but not sure it conjures up the right image - makes me think of a greasy spoon van outside a football ground.

[MidniteScribbler]

What about Pure Bread? Makes it sound a bit healthy?

[QuintessentialOldDear]

I love Pure Bread

Need to have a slogan about sinful fillers....

[Inertia]

He might well think it's funny, passers-by will think it's funny.

Potential gourmet food customers are likely to think it sounds tacky and avoid it. I'm no marketing expert, but half the battle is to convince people they're getting something of a much higher quality than they'd make themselves - let's be honest, we can all knock up a sandwich.

Thoroughbred is just going to make people think of the horse-meat scandal, and Pure Bread may be perceived as having quite negative connotations.

[PigletJohn]

you would BU to "To ban DP" calling his business what he wants.

[AitchTwoOhOneTwo]

PLEASE listen to Inertia...

[Punkatheart]

Names are enormously important - most particularly for the gourmet end of the market. Why do you think that there are advertising companies who specialise in branding?

In bread is naff. Thoroughbread is naff and as someone said, awfully timed. Pure Bread is naff. It isn't all about just bread anyway.

Someone already pointed out that partnership names - like Abel and Cole, Green and Black's - are the best way to go for gourmet. Yes, once that name is absorbed - people remember and they are loyal to it. It's the Fortnum and Mason's effect. Puns are brilliant and I love a good pun. But no one will hire - for a posh event - a catering company with a punnish name that smacks of Jeremy Kyle. Think more Jeremy Irons.

What is should do it pick several names and either get some professional help or canvas opinion.

Think it won't make any difference? It really will. He will have more bookings with a name that represents his product - that something like In Bread. What would want a van that reminds them of incest and the film Deliverance?!

[QuintessentialOldDear]

Inertia has a point about the pure bread. Wrong connotations. Did not think of that. He might as well call his business Arian Bread for Artesans

[QuintessentialOldDear]

Maybe she shift the emphasis from the product to how it is made.

Bakers Oven on wheels

Stonedbaked n fresh

I am crap with names

[Chivetalking]

It's funny but it's not going to hit the spot with his target market.

[pinkyredrose]

What about the shoeshop 'Our Soles"?

[Inertia]

Still thinking about this ! I think he needs to look at what he'd be selling, and what image he is trying to convey.

So if he is going high-end, try to think of a name based on words like gourmet, quality, luxury, select.

If he is aiming for the farmer's market clientele, use words like fresh, farm-assured- that kind of thing. He'd have to be careful with words like organic which have legal definitions.

He could go for the continental approach - a delicatessen is always going to sound more glamorous than a butty bar.

You could think about using a local place name that would be recognised by foodies - e.g. Ludlow, Bray.

I would avoid using his own name ( first or last ) unless it's particularly memorable, uncommon, and easy to spell.

[PelvicFloorClenchReminder]

'Our Soles'

[FurryDogMother]

Go French, and call it 'Dans Pain' :)

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Doesn't really work in English, though, FurryDog.

[BeQuicksieorBeDead]

Abra-kebab-ra!

I think In Bread is funny. Especially if it is sign written in a gold flouncy font!

[BikeRunSki]

We have Bap Man who comes to work. He plays the Batman music. I love it!

[SweetestThing]

What about Thorough Bread?

[LineRunner]

A word-play on 'in-bred'? As in, incestuous relationships in small somewhat dysfunctional communities?

It's crap.

[LineRunner]

Why not

'I shagged me nan and started this van'?

[Anjou]

Humour is pretty subjective so I guess a lot of people would smile at In Bread. I wouldn't personally, as its irrelevant to the product and not particularly clever, but each to their own.

There are suggestions of better puns here (well done ladies, I do love a pun!) but I agree that most have connotations you might want to avoid. I also agree with the posters that 'gourmet' and 'van' don't often go hand in hand, but I guess it's all in the execution.

For play-on-words-ness, Vandwich? I'd maybe try to tie in location if possible, eg next to a football ground: bring on the sub, next to a church: lettuce pray, next to the Town Hall: running for Mayo etc. I'd find that funny but I guess many wouldn't!

To answer your question though, YANBU. People are picky about where they eat and the mental image of shagging a family member doesn't (usually) make for good business! It's his business, but it's success affects you too.

[TattyDevine]

I like it enough.

I remember an episode of The Simpsons way back, where there was a new shopping mall opened with a food court. There were loads of restaurants all with silly names, play on words. I can't barely remember any of them but I do remember "much ado about muffins". Lol

[TattyDevine]

Ooh Springfield Squidport was the name of the mall!!!

[TattyDevine]

Lol Turban Outfitters