You work hard for your money. So hard for it honey. You work hard for your money, so they better treat you right. Enter the Royal Warrant Holders Association, the royal family’s list of preferred service providers. Although the allure of the royals is fading, this is still pretty much the ultimate in celebrity endorsements. Individuals or companies who have supplied goods or services for at least five years to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales are given this highly prized mark of recognition. The “By Appointment” logo identifies products and service providers that have an enviable reputation for quality, service and value for money. And this is not your typical celebrity freebie – the royal family actually pays for the products and services they receive. But I guess it’s easy when it’s not really your money.
Some of the categories may be a little more suited to the Royal lifestyle than perhaps the everyday life of the typical Canadian lawyer – “Flag Manufacturer”, “Carriage Builder” and “Taxidermist” come to mind. But others are quite relevant and if you ever do need to find a reliable purveyor of “Animal Pregnancy Scanning” services, you know where to look.
Perhaps like you, HM The Queen uses Parker pens, prefers Coca-Cola to Pepsi and Shell is her gas station of choice. Some other highlights include:
- Barber – Truefitt & Hill, located in Scotia Plaza
- Beer – Carlsberg
- The Bubbly – Mumm, Bollinger, Krug, Lanson Pere et Fils, Moet, Laurent-Perrier, Louis
- Roderer, Veuve-Cliquot
- Candles – Penhaligon’s
- Cosmetics – Elizabeth Arden
- Fancy Bathroom Stuff – Crabtree & Evelyn
- Knitwear – Pringle of Scotland
- Rainboots – Hunter
- Skin Care – Clarins
- Stationary & Leathergoods – Smythson
- Weatherproof Gear – Barbour, Burberry
Now before you go off and start crafting the new firm marketing strategy based on the tagline, “Canadian solicitors to HM The Queen”, note that Royal Warrants are only issued to tradesmen, professionals do not qualify.
Terry Chan is a Canadian lawyer practicing finance law in London. She writes every Friday on style and fashion, perfectly aware that the next big thing is not looking like a lawyer.