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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask you to help me name my ice cream business? 🍨

374 replies

PitterPatterOfTinyPaws · 25/06/2019 12:06

I'm on the cusp of starting to make and sell my own handmade ice cream at farmers markets etc and I'll be selling from a traditional style ice cream bike. I don't do 'standard' flavours, so you'd find flavours like Eton Mess, Peanut Butter & Caramel or Rhubarb Crumble, plus a vegan flavour / sorbet.

Recipes are developed and tested, kitchen is being modified to keep environmental health happy and the bike is awaiting delivery. But - I need a name for my business! Without it I can't set up my website etc...

I need something that suggests

  • premium quality
  • something that's a bit different to the norm
  • possibly a hint at the environmental / zero waste ethos

I'm in Wales but I've been avoiding place related names as I want the option to expand in future, and I can't be certain that the business will always be bike-based so I've been avoiding explicitly bike-related names.

Possibly something like Creamery, The Scoop, The Project, The _ Ice Cream Co but I'm very open to suggestions! Help please hivemind...

OP posts:
VivienneHolt · 25/06/2019 12:32

I don’t mean to be a dick but most of the suggestions on this thread are naff and don’t suggest quality.

Based on my own unjustified gut feeling extensive research I think ‘creamery’ suggests premium, but you might also consider something like ‘the milk bar’ (or in your case ‘the milk bike’ / PitterPatter’s Milk Bike’).

Do you have a nice sounding surname? Something like ‘The Newton Creamery’ has a nice ring, if your name sounds good.

Since ice cream is custard you could go for something like ‘The Custard Creamery’ which I think it quite fun, but might be too confusing with the biscuits.

Ellabella989 · 25/06/2019 12:32

Miss Sprinkles
Cherry on top
Living the cream
The Sundae Project
Ice Queen

moreismore · 25/06/2019 12:33

I agree with PP about using your name, a place name as opposed to a play on words

growlingbear · 25/06/2019 12:37

How about a name associated with a cow e.g. Buttercup's. That suggests real milk and traditional values and flavours (to me). It is easy to remember, easy to say and goes well with flavours:
Buttercup's rhubarb and ginger
Buttercup's damson and almond

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 25/06/2019 12:37

Valley Creams

Xiaoxiong · 25/06/2019 12:37

Fur has a good approach.

When I think about small batch or artisanal premium ice cream brands I think of:

Jude's
La Grotta Ices
Sorbitium Ices
Gelupo
Harriet's
Grom
Merrimack Creamery
Ruby Violet
Three Sisters
Sweetcream Dairy
Bedford Farms
J.P. Licks

Names, places, something meaningful to the brand identity.

ThatCurlyGirl · 25/06/2019 12:43

From a branding POV I'd be advising a start-up that initially it would be good for the brand name to clearly reflect its an ice cream business. You want people to instantly know that so if you're at events / on shelf you'll get immediate footfall / eyeballs due to the clarity. There will be a drop off if people don't instantly know what you're selling as an unrecognised brand.

You need to test and prove the business model and branding before thinking about branching out unless you have a five year plan and solid investment. It's just too risky otherwise.

I would personally register a company under an umbrella name that allows you to branch out in future but use a public brand name that is more specific to start with.

Then you have the option to continue functioning seamlessly behind the scenes if the business expands to different products, but change one word / branding elements to reflect other products.

Think innocent drinks, that's the company but it includes innocent smoothies and now innocent juices. Registering under an umbrella company allows for innocent fruit pots, innocent snacks etc. Clear to customers and building on the innocent brand awareness.

Think about your market - do you want to target people who are always looking for organic food choices "finally an organic ice cream" and therefore will be won over on this element, or do you want people who will be won over on flavour "and it's organic too so even better". Never ever say your market is "everyone".

For a start up it's much simpler to have a range that caters to a niche, because you can do really targeted branding and marketing.

For example if you focus on the organic food market you are better of going to three smaller organic festivals with a captive audience than going to a larger festival where there will be lots of people who would (for example) choose the cheapest purchase because the organic element isn't important to them.

I would steer clear of branding that is a really cheesy pun or has a z at the end to try to make it sound "fun" as this dates badly and cheapens the brand.

And be sure to test flavours and branding on people who aren't just friends and family. For example samples for feedback works well - mini portions to the public at events in return for their honest thoughts. If they don't like it you've learned valuable lessons and if they do they are likely to purchase the full size version there and then, so if the product is strong enough you cover the cost of the samples with the profit from the full size purchases. And if it isn't strong enough you have loads of feedback to work with and won't be flogging a dead horse. The vast majority friends and family will always say everything is great so don't rely on them!

Do lots of research on competitor brands so you don't unknowingly end up using part or all of a brand name that already exists - you can search on companies house for company names so do this for all elements of any brand name you're considering.

Hope some of this helps Smile

SunshineCake · 25/06/2019 12:44

There's a local ice cream shop called Scoopid. I suspect they think it's clever, different and a talking point. I just think it's stupid and would never go in.

ThatCurlyGirl · 25/06/2019 12:44

Sorry that was so long Blush can you tell I love my job?!

SunshineCake · 25/06/2019 12:44

The flavours do sound nice but they aren't that different tbh. Near us a stall sells 20 flavours and all yours are there.

Celebelly · 25/06/2019 12:49

I like The something Creamery. It sounds quite luxurious and high quality. The Natural Creamery? The Eclectic Creamery? The Eclectic Cow?

Notsoaccidentproneanymore · 25/06/2019 12:54

Local Mooseum

SmellbowSmellbow123 · 25/06/2019 12:54

The hufen iâ ice cream co?

Stickinicki · 25/06/2019 12:56

Hush ice

SinkGirl · 25/06/2019 12:56

Best ice cream place I’ve ever been to is il laboratorio del gelato in Manhattan.

I loved the lab idea - went very well with their product as their flavours were generally experimental.

I’m sure some people’s first thoughts would be “unique ices” or similar but they thought about their USP and went from there to find something related. I’d recommend thinking in the same way.

Or you could do the whole “pick something from your house / kitchen and name it that” so Red Door Creamery if your house has a red door, for example. I wouldn’t pick anything ice cream specific.

So far you could consider these things:
Eco
Ethical
Vegan
Luxe
Experimental
Unusual
Artisanal
Small batch
Hand made
Flavours

Keep adding to that list - names, places etc. You could look at names for local places, traditions, words - doesn’t mean you’re limited to that area. For example, if you lived in Folkstone, you could call it Stone Creamery but still expand nationally (very bad example based on the first place name I thought of!)

SconNotScone · 25/06/2019 12:57

I like The Creamery, and if your first name is something that goes well, I would especially like “first name Creamery”. Some names I think go better than others. If your name happened to be Annie, as a random example, that would be a good one - Annie’s Creamery has a nice ring to it Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 25/06/2019 13:02

The hufen iâ ice cream co?

I'm afraid that wouldn't work well outside Wales.

Placenames can be good (Yorkshire tea, for instance, 'Taylor's of Harrogate' ) - I reckon they can generate local loyalty but aren't restrictive. But they probably have to be obvious how to spell and pronounce.

LindaLa · 25/06/2019 13:03

Break The Ice.

Covers new business and is "ice" based. Can also be used for other things.

adaline · 25/06/2019 13:06

I don't do 'standard' flavours, so you'd find flavours like Eton Mess, Peanut Butter & Caramel or Rhubarb Crumble, plus a vegan flavour / sorbet.

Sorry to break it to you OP, but those flavours aren't that rare. All the ice-cream shops near to me sell flavours along those lines.

ElsaMars · 25/06/2019 13:06

Moofru
Tasty Lulu
Creams and Dreams
I see Green

MrHaroldFry · 25/06/2019 13:07

Lush Lolly,

MrHaroldFry · 25/06/2019 13:08

ChoICE Creamery.... with logo created around ICE in the word Choice?

QueenBeee · 25/06/2019 13:10

Izzy's Ices
Izzy's luxury Ices

OneTownsVeryLikeAnother · 25/06/2019 13:14

Cones
Cremosa

lazylinguist · 25/06/2019 13:14

The Artisan Creamery, or (your name)'s Artisan Creamery

Or to make the product clearer, Artisan Ice-Creamery.