Royal warrant still coveted by small UK firms
YOU MAY HAVE noticed it above the door of a perfumery in London, in the inner lining of an expensive custom made suit, or even on a packet of English Stinking Bishop cheese – the gold emblem of the British monarchy.
More than 800 companies in Britain hold the royal warrant, a certificate for providing goods and services to the royal family. Still coveted by Britain’s small businesses, it allows the use of the Crown’s coat of arms in their branding.
Queen Elizabeth, who yesterday became Britain’s longest serving monarch, each year grants around 20 more warrants, which date back to medieval times when tradesmen competed for royal favour.
“It makes a statement about that business that it has achieved a certain level of quality,” said Richard Peck, the secretary of the Royal Warrant Holders Association. At Gieves and Hawkes, a tailor on London’s Savile Row, their earliest warrant hangs on the wall, an elaborate parchment detailing King George III’s request for velvet caps.
Since 1912 Gieves and Hawkes have been fashioning the red and gold uniforms of the Royal Bodyguard. Each one took more than 110 hours to intricately stitch together, said Matthew Crocker, who manages production of the military outfits.
Proud
Gieves and Hawkes said they were proud to remain holders of the warrant.
The Royal Warrant Holders Association was putting more emphasis on helping small and medium enterprises to collaborate and trade internationally, Peck said.
“Our focus going forward is to try and put more of a business agenda on to the sheet.”
The royal warrant can boost a small business’s sales by up to 5 percent, Robert Haigh, the marketing director at Brand Finance, said.
A 2015 report from the consultancy estimated that the warrants, which today are granted for five years after which businesses must apply to renew them, provide £4.2 billion (R85.88bn) to the British economy.
Haigh said for brands seeking to appeal to a mass market, the royal symbol might not project quite the right image. – Reuters