Do YOU know what B&Q stands for?

For DIY lovers, gardeners and the houseproud, B&Q is a popular spot for all their essentials, but shoppers are only just discovering what the name of hardware giant B&Q stands for.

One Twitter user challenged his followers by asking: ‘Without googling etc…what does B&Q stand for?’

His question left fellow shoppers stumped and they were surprised to find out the DIY retailer is actually named after its founders – Richard Block and his brother-in-law David Quayle.

Their first store was based in a disused cinema in Southampton and was originally called Block and Quayle but this was later shortened to B&Q.

The founding partners set up the brand with the aim of bringing good value DIY products to all shoppers as supplies were previously restricted to builders’ merchants and hardware stores.

The pair (pictured opening a store in Bristol) opened their first shop in Southampton – originally called Block and Quayle

Block and Quayle paid themselves £90 a month each and worked a six-day week, while customers flocked to buy cheap paint, shelving and tools.

After six months they had paid off their bank loan and within five years the company was reaching a £1 million turnover. 

They set up their second shop in Portsmouth and the retailer expanded across the South East, setting up 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 out 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 Quayle died in 2010 and left £4.4million in his will with probate records showing he left the bulk of his estate in trust for his second wife Chrissie and children.

The Derbyshire Times reported that Richard Block, who was local to the area, died this month, aged 80.

His friend told the local newspaper that Richard, who volunteered at a clean water charity for more than a decade, was modest about his achievements, saying: ‘He was interested to talk about many things, but didn’t mention B&Q unless asked.’

 

Some Twitter users took the opportunity to show off their knowledge, saying that it was a classic pub quiz question

Guessing the meaning behind the name of B&Q has regularly sparked lively discussion on Twitter.

After @cawilkes84 put the question to his followers, one replied: ‘No clue!’ to which he later revealed: ‘It stands for the founders – Block and Quayle. Who knew ay!’

When posed with the challenge, other social media users have shown off their knowledge, with many agreeing the trivia is a classic pub quiz question.

One posted their answer, writing: ‘Block and Quayle. Been a pub quiz standard for years.’

Another wrote: ‘Pub quiz question – Block & Quayle was their original name.’

Meanwhile, one user suggested the letters stand for ‘Bargains & Quality’ while another said: ‘Why did you not call the shop Richard and David?’.

Shoppers are also finding out what the name of the supermarket chain Asda stands for – and they are just as shocked.

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 know if users knew the answer without having to look it up.