Do you know the meaning of B&Q? Shoppers are just discovering the story behind the name
For the DIYers, gardeners, and home class, B&Q is a popular place for all their essentials, but shoppers are just finding out what the hardware giant’s name B&Q stands for.
One Twitter user challenged his followers with the question: “Without Googling etc… what does B&Q stand for?”
His question left fellow shoppers baffled and surprised to discover that the DIY retailer was actually named after its founders – Richard Block and his son-in-law, David Coyle.
Their first premises were in a disused cinema in Southampton and was originally called Block and Quayle but was later shortened to B&Q.
The founding partners created the brand with the goal of offering good value DIY products to all shoppers where supplies were previously limited to building trades and hardware stores.
Shoppers were shocked to discover that B&Q is named after its founders Richard Block and David Coyle.
The couple (pictured opening a boutique in Bristol) opened their first store in Southampton – originally called Block and Quayle
Block and Quayle paid themselves £90 a month and worked six days a week, while customers flocked to buy cheap paint, racks and tools.
After six months they paid off their bank loan and within five years the company reached £1 million in turnover.
They set up their second store in Portsmouth and the retailer expanded across the south-east, establishing 26 branches by the end of the 1970s.
Richard left B&Q in 1976 and began growing tomatoes in the Channel Islands while David stayed, before selling it to Woolworths four years later.
The retailer continued its expansion, merging with French DIY retailer, Castorama, to become the largest DIY retailer in Europe, and also opened stores in China and Taiwan.
David Quill died in 2010 and left £4.4 million in his will with probate records showing he left the bulk of his estate in trust to his second wife, Chrissie, and children.
Derbyshire Times I reported that Richard Block, who was a resident of the area, died this month at the age of 80.
His friend told the local paper that Richard, who has volunteered for a clean water charity for more than a decade, was modest about his accomplishments, saying: “He was interested in talking about many things, but he wouldn’t mention B&Q unless asked.”
Some Twitter users took the opportunity to show off their knowledge, saying it was a classic pub quiz question
Guessing the meaning behind the B&Q name has regularly sparked lively discussion on Twitter.
After @cawilkes84 posed the question to his followers, one of them replied, “No evidence!” Which he later revealed: ‘She represents the founders – Block and Quayle. who knew ay!
When faced with the challenge, other social media users showed off their knowledge, and many agreed that the trivia is a classic pub quiz question.
Someone posted his answer, writing: ‘Block and Quayle. It was a pub quiz standard for years.
Another wrote: “Public Quiz Question – Block & Quill was its original name.”
Meanwhile, one user suggested that the two letters stand for “bargains and quality” while another said: “Why didn’t you call the store Richard and David?”.
Shoppers also find out what the name of the supermarket chain Asda stands for – and they are shocked, too.
Former ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart, 70, posed the question to his 81,000 Twitter followers in 2021.
The broadcaster – who retired last week after nearly 50 years on screen – wanted to see if users knew the answer without having to look it up.
