Strange Business Combinations?

[BusterBloodvessel]

Just for fun - what are some of the strangest business combinations (i.e. one business doing 2 different products/services) you've ever come across? That perhaps were a disaster or surprisingly worked?

Brought up because of a business near me - It's a small greeting card and balloon shop in a residential area, it seems to have done well for several years selling cards, balloons, gift wrap, candles etc and some small presents. The name is along the lines of "Exquisitely Wrapped". They've just announced that they are struggling due to rising prices, especially helium, so they are diversifying into.... a womens clothes boutique?!?! I walked past yesterday evening to this slightly bizarre sight of a big glass double fronted shop, with some mannequins in the window in various womens clothes, but surrounded with gift bags at their feet and balloons above them. Likewise in the shop itself there's cards and decorations hanging from all 4 walls, then plonked in the middle there are a couple of clothes rails with various outfits hanging on them. I'm certainly not seeing the synergies, and I'm sure it would feel slightly odd going in there and browsing for a birthday card while someone is trying on a cocktail dress

The other one round here seems to be the addition of vape supplies to any business - the homecare centre, the local car parts shop, the tanning salon, mobile phone repair shop, garden centre, pubs, even one of the sandwich/pie shops had some in...they're all getting in on the action.

Any other weird and wonderful business combos that you've stumbled across?

 

[IanSuth]

Smoke/Heat detectors for dangerous areas (coal fired power stations and nuclear processing) plus Children's nursery

Office was in the middle of nowhere, had spare space and owner recognised helped find and retain staff to have a creche which grew into a heavily used nursery for those living nearby

(p.s. business like your gift shop near us that sells clothes but they are all fancy dress for adults - they make a decent living from it as people see when they get kids party stuff and pick up a stupid costume for themselves)

 

[Mark T Jones]

A business near me sells antiques/bric-a-brac, vintage motorbikes and used cars (the cars being non-vintage or antique).

 

[ctrlbrk]

The oddest combination is encapsulated in a meme I've come across recently:

---

Me: I need tyres​

​

Michelin: Here you go​

​

Me: Thanks. Now, if only someone could rate my restaurant​

​

Michelin: You're not going to believe this​

 

[DontAsk]

There used to be (40 years ago) a home brew and knitting wool shop in Hull. The home brew side was popular with students, of which I was one at the time.

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

The oddest combination is encapsulated in a meme I've come across recently:

---

Me: I need tyres​

​

Michelin: Here you go​

​

Me: Thanks. Now, if only someone could rate my restaurant​

​

Michelin: You're not going to believe this​

??

I actually do some work with Michelin and licence one of their products. The origins go back to when they very first started producing tyres and they wanted to encourage people to travel more but also to be seen as "the motorists accompaniment" so they published maps, locations of garages, and places to stay. That was the origins of the Michelin star guide, rating/recommending places to stay overnight as people took long journeys, which subsequently led into places to eat, and along the way the maps and the other stuff got left behind and they ended up with the restaurant guide being a standalone thing.

There endeth todays boring history lesson

 

[StevensOnln1]

Yamaha make pianos and are also the major shareholder in Yamaha Motor Co that make motorcycles etc.

 

[DontAsk]

The origins go back to when they very first started producing tyres and they wanted to encourage people to travel more but also to be seen as "the motorists accompaniment" so they published maps, locations of garages, and places to stay. That was the origins of the Michelin star guide

Same with the AA. Maybe the RAC too.

 

[Mark T Jones]

??



There endeth todays boring history lesson

Funnily enough I was about to trot out that bit of history.

 

[MarkOnline]

Many years ago I sold Sky Television packages along side reading glasses. I paid rent for some empty space on a busy market so put a display of reading glasses next to my "Sky" stand. Customers didnt seem to mind, other traders were more concerned ( there was no other stall selling reading glasses on the market either, which influenced my decision on what to sell.

 

[IanSuth]

Yamaha make pianos and are also the major shareholder in Yamaha Motor Co that make motorcycles etc.

Their logo is in fact 3 tuning forks (my daughters clarinet is Yamaha)

 

[IanSuth]

A business near me sells antiques/bric-a-brac, vintage motorbikes and used cars (the cars being non-vintage or antique).

like this place i heard advertised on the radio and had to look up

Home -

We love our classic cars and guitars - they just seem to go together. People just seem to love both in equal measure.

www.classiccarsandguitars.co.uk

 

[Chawton]

Thought inflation would be good for a balloon shop?

Come on, these ones write themselves.
Price of helium rising? Anyone...?!

Disappointed in you all tbh.

 

[japancool]

Thought inflation would be good for a balloon shop?

Balloon shops aren't used to everything going up.

 

[Chawton]

Balloon shops aren't used to everything going up.

Lighten up a bit.

etc etc.

 

[Mr D]

When I left the warehouse I was renting the company that got in was selling fruit and veg. And drugs.
Was using the name of a real company in different part of the country and did fill a lot of space with enough fruit and veg to be good cover. But not anything to do with name they were using.

Raided eventually.

 

[IanSuth]

In Yatton Somerset there is a great local greengrocers and off-licence called Cork & Fork

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Some great examples here - although the awful balloon puns did leave me a little deflated...

(sorry)

 

[WaveJumper]

Their logo is in fact 3 tuning forks (my daughters clarinet is Yamaha)

Just to be boring add to the Yamaha list first my favourites:

Outboard motors
Jet skis
Guitars

Then we could add:
Pianos
Keyboards
String instruments
Brass & Woodwind
Drums & percussion
General audio & visual
They even have a whole range of professional music production equipment

A whole range of products in the golfing world including of course golf carts the list could go on and on I am sure, in fact I am now thinking what area are they not in……… good to be diverse though.

 

[Mr D]

Just to be boring add to the Yamaha list first my favourites:

Outboard motors
Jet skis
Guitars

Then we could add:
Pianos
Keyboards
String instruments
Brass & Woodwind
Drums & percussion
General audio & visual
They even have a whole range of professional music production equipment

A whole range of products in the golfing world including of course golf carts the list could go on and on I am sure, in fact I am now thinking what area are they not in……… good to be diverse though.

Diversity is good for spreading risk. It also spreads how well any part does - a sector of the company that doubles its sales may not make much impact overall.

 

[Picture Bute]

Reminds me of a website I saw once that sold Ladies slippers and vibrators.....

 

[Bob Morgan]

This reminds me of the Filipino Sari Sari Shops (Variety Stores), that are on almost every street corner. You can buy anything from an Individual Cigarette, to a Gearbox for a Toyota Corolla! Although the weirdest Business Combination I have seen was "Motor Rewinds and Tuli!" - 'Tuli' is Circumcision!

 

[estwig]

Reminds me of a website I saw once that sold Ladies slippers and vibrators.....

A girl needs to relax and be comfy.....

 

[Clinton]

Just to be boring add to the Yamaha list first my favourites:

Outboard motors
Jet skis
Guitars

Then we could add:
Pianos
Keyboards
String instruments
Brass & Woodwind
Drums & percussion
General audio & visual
They even have a whole range of professional music production equipment

There are a lot of companies like that. Honda, for example - generators to motorcycles.

And don't forget Huawei. They make

spyware devices (called phones)
spyware devices (called cameras)
spyware devices (called routers)
spyware devices (called 5G transmitters)
spyware devices (called wristwatches)
spyware devices (called tablets)
spyware devices (called headphones)
spyware devices (called wireless gateways)
spyware devices (called cars)
spyware devices (called base station subsystems)
spyware devices (called data centre equipment)

 

[hg5guy]

The oddest combination is encapsulated in a meme I've come across recently:

---

Me: I need tyres​

​

Michelin: Here you go​

​

Me: Thanks. Now, if only someone could rate my restaurant​

​

Michelin: You're not going to believe this​

Dunlop is another company with some weird combinations.

Sports brand and tyre company. Saw somebody using a dunlop guitar plectrum the other day, and my daughter has some Dunlop tennis balls.

Had a look for slippers on Amazon the other day, apparently they do fluffy slippers now too.

 

[Clinton]

I'll take all the examples you guys throw at me ...and I'll raise you.

CK Lmage Rlghts Ltd has the following combination of SIC Codes:

SIC Code 01460: Raising pigs / swine
SIC Code 24460: Processing of nuclear fuel
SIC Code 46460: Pharmaceutical wholesalers

OK, you lot, beat that if you can!

Oh, BTW, that's not the only company with that combination. There are dozens of companies raising pigs while processing nuclear fuel and selling pharmaceuticals, perhaps hundreds of companies. That's one of the most popular combinations at Companies House. Here are two more:

Quallty House Group Ltd
Madame Waffie Ltd

The last one is run by ...a jockey. I kid you not!

 

[Bob Morgan]

There are a lot of companies like that. Honda, for example - generators to motorcycles.

And don't forget Huawei. They make

spyware devices (called phones)
spyware devices (called cameras)
spyware devices (called routers)
spyware devices (called 5G transmitters)
spyware devices (called wristwatches)
spyware devices (called tablets)
spyware devices (called headphones)
spyware devices (called wireless gateways)
spyware devices (called cars)
spyware devices (called base station subsystems)
spyware devices (called data centre equipment)

Legend has it, that a Monkey was hanged in Hartlepool for 'Spying!'

 

[Bob Morgan]

I'll take all the examples you guys throw at me ...and I'll raise you.

CK Lmage Rlghts Ltd has the following combination of SIC Codes:

SIC Code 01460: Raising pigs / swine
SIC Code 24460: Processing of nuclear fuel
SIC Code 46460: Pharmaceutical wholesalers

OK, you lot, beat that if you can!

Oh, BTW, that's not the only company with that combination. There are dozens of companies raising pigs while processing nuclear fuel and selling pharmaceuticals, perhaps hundreds of companies. That's one of the most popular combinations at Companies House. Here are two more:

Quallty House Group Ltd
Madame Waffie Ltd

The last one is run by ...a jockey. I kid you not!

"Companies House does not verify the accuracy of the information filed!"

 

[Gecko001]

Lidl comes to mind. Known for groceries, but once when I was buying my baked beans and fish fingers there, I also bought an anchor for my boat.