Small business

Wits and giggles: Australia's silliest business names

Larissa Ham
December 7, 2010
Port-a-loo business Splashdown had an interesting history long before becoming famous in the movie Kenny. Picture features CEO Glenn Preusker.

The name of port-a-loo business Splashdown, headed by CEO Glenn Preusker, was originally meant for a much different purpose. Photo: Luis Enrique Ascui

A Salt and Battery. A not-so-flaky criminal charge, or the clever name of a fish 'n' chippery in Brisbane? It's a business that will no doubt give your fish a good grilling, if nothing else.

When it comes to witty business names, laconic Australia has its fair share, and the fish 'n' chip shops ain't the only ones sometimes getting a little salty.

Take Camel-Tow tilt tray service in central Victoria, or the Bada Bing strip club in Sydney's not-so-classy Kings Cross.

This trade distributor, in Queenstown, New Zealand, often prompts visiting Australians to pull out their cameras.

This trade distributor, in Queenstown, New Zealand, often prompts amused tourists to pull out their cameras.

Not as bad perhaps as the Kiwis, who boast grog trade distributor Beaver Liquor. Or hot Poms, who call on air conditioning service Stiff Nipples.

Heard a funny business name? Add your comment below

Hairdressing has always sparked plenty of cutting quips, one of the old favourites being Curl Up & Dye, inspired by a scene from cult flick The Blues Brothers. A quick search shows more than a handful of them bobbing around our nation, most noticabley the salon in Humpty Doo, Northern Territory. Then there's Goldilocks Hair Extensions, any salon beginning with the words Hair Today, or Shear - a la Shear Elegance, Shear Cuts and Shear Designz. Surely they all run short of one of the best-named salons in the world, Toronto's Grateful Head.

A name with plenty of spark...Electricity Bill.

A name with plenty of spark...Electricity Bill.

Back to grub, and Chinese food is the rhythm at Cairns restaurant Wok Around the Clock, while Melbourne restaurant Lentil as Anything serves it up to the veggos.

Running a practically minded business has never been a detriment to a name with a little pizazz - take dog and cat groomers (and obvious Acca Dacca fans) Dirty Dogs Done Dirt Cheap, or nationwide waste removal service, Trailer Trash.

Portable loo business Splashdown, which has some of the most famous S-bends in Australia thanks to movie Kenny, has more to its name than meets the eye. The name Splashdown was originally registered for a water amusement park which never got off the ground.

These owners didn't flounder when naming their fish 'n' chip shop.

These owners didn't flounder when naming their fish 'n' chip shop.

Finally, there's pun-lovin' tank supplier Tanks a Lot, and linen shop Holy Sheet.

But one of the cutest business names in the nation has to be Queensland sparky service Electricity Bill - run by a bloke called, you guessed it, Bill.

182 comments

  • A couple of Thai restaurants come to mind, both in Sydney I think. Thai Me Up, and Bow Thai.

    Commenter
    Serfbord
    Location
    Port Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:42AM
  • There used to be a mobile dog-wash in Melbourne called: 'Dirty Dogs, Done Dirt-Cheap'.

    Commenter
    Tralgor
    Location
    Auckland
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:45AM
  • We're The Focaccia - Sandwich Bar in Melbourne

    Commenter
    Stephen O'Shea
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:46AM
  • Not Australian examples but there is a liquor shop in Salam, MA called 'Bunghole Liquor' which caused me to both laugh hysterically and take many photos.
    Also, a chain of noodle shops around Europe called 'Wok This Way'.

    Commenter
    Billie
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:46AM
  • Heathmont Vic Chinese restaurant -- Sha Tin..... it's been there for decades had apparently fantastic food.... not game to try it...

    Commenter
    Stephen O'Shea
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:49AM
  • "The dick liquor " in melbourne is another catchy one !!

    Commenter
    brown bomber
    Location
    melbourne 3000
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:54AM
  • Loving the Fold Up shoe brand Tipsy Toes from Melbourne. They did a roaring trade during the spring carnival getting all of Melbournes weary home with a little bit of class still intact!

    Commenter
    Katie
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:53AM
  • Similar to Beaver Liquor, the Dick Whittington Hotel in St Kilda East call their bottle shop The Dick Liquor.

    Commenter
    MD
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:53AM
  • I can top that - a dog grooming business in Melbourne run by a Debbie is called, yes, you guessed it - "Debbie Does Dogs".

    Commenter
    Bah, humbug
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:55AM
  • Two restaurants in Williamstown: Wok Rite In, and the Thai Tanic. Another in Burwood, Love From India. Not so unusual except for their beautifully painted shop front with the words (repeated several times), "Mazing Indian Cuisine".

    Commenter
    Jim
    Location
    Melbourne
    Date and time
    December 07, 2010, 11:55AM

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