Editing B&Q

{{Short description|British multinational home improvement DIY store chain owned by Kingfisher plc}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = B&Q Limited
| logo = 
| logo_size = 180px
| image_caption = B&Q's logo since 2017
| former_name = {{Ubl
| B & Q (Retail) Limited (1970–1987)
| B & Q plc (1987–2019)
| B&Q plc (6 Nov 2019)<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=26 February 1970 |title=B&Q LIMITED overview |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00973387 |access-date=26 January 2024 |website=[[Companies House]] |language=en}}</ref>
}}
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1969|3|df=yes}}
| founder = {{Ubl
| Richard Block
| [[David Quayle]]
}}
| location = [[Eastleigh]], England, UK
| area_served = {{Ubl
| United Kingdom
| Guernsey
| Jersey
| Isle of Man
| Ireland
| Saudi Arabia
}}
| locations = 316 shops (Jan 2023)
| key_people = Graham Bell ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| industry = [[Retail]]
| products = {{Ubl
| [[Do it yourself|DIY]] [[Home improvement]] [[tool]]s
| [[Gardening|Gardening Supplies and Plants]]
}}
| revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]3.8 billion (2022/23)<ref name="KAR2010FRUKIRE">{{cite web |url=https://www.kingfisher.com/content/dam/kingfisher/Corporate/Documents/Other/2023/20230321-Kingfisher-FY-2022-23-Data-Tables.xlsx.downloadasset.xlsx |title=Kingfisher Full Year Results 2022/23|publisher=Kingfisher.co.uk |date=21 March 2023 |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref>
| net_income = £603&nbsp;million (2022/23)<ref name="KAR2010FRUKIRE" />
| num_employees = 27,000 (2023)<ref name="corporate_about"/>
| parent = [[Kingfisher plc]]
| homepage = {{URL|https://diy.com}}
}}

'''B&Q Limited''' (short for '''Block & Quayle''' after the company's two founders) is a British [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[DIY]], [[home improvement]] and [[garden centre]] retailing company, with headquarters in [[Eastleigh]], [[England]]. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Kingfisher plc]]. It was founded in March 1969 by Richard Block and [[David Quayle]].

It is the UK's largest home improvement retailer, serving both the general public and tradespeople.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pickup |first=Oliver |date=2023-09-29 |title=Why business transformation is B&Q's biggest project yet |url=https://www.raconteur.net/leadership/bq-ceo-agility |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Raconteur |language=en-GB}}</ref> In contrast, its competitor [[Wickes]] primarily caters to trade professionals and does not sell soft homewares or operate garden centres.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-20 |title=Have Brits fallen out of love with DIY? B&Q and rival Wickes eye lower profits after costs soar and demand dwindles B&Q and Wicks set to report post lower profits after costs soar |url=https://www.cityam.com/bq-kingfisher-and-wickes-set-to-report-post-lower-profits-diy-love-costs-soar/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref> Where the British home improvement sector faced hostile competition in the 1990s, B&Q has become the dominant retailer in its sector following the demise of [[Focus DIY|Focus]] in 2011 and [[Homebase]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-10-08 |title=DIY boom is due to display, says Verdict |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/7-october-1999/diy-boom-is-due-to-display-says-verdict/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Design Week |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
===1969 to 1979: Early growth===
B&Q was founded in March 1969 in [[Southampton]], England, by Richard Block and [[David Quayle]], following the purchase and fitting out of a former furniture warehouse in the Southampton suburb of [[Portswood]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/household/story/0,1587,1262065,00.html |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Fear of diy-ing |first=Miranda |last=Sawyer |date=17 July 2004 |access-date=26 April 2010 |location=London}}</ref> Originally called Block & Quayle, the duo soon shortened the brand to B&Q as stock delivery notes and invoices were already unofficially abbreviating the name.

By each working over sixty-hour, six-day weeks, they were able to repay their bank overdraft within six months of opening, with turnover reaching £1&nbsp;million within the first five years of operating.<ref name="1969_foundation">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/finance-obituaries/7598702/David-Quayle.html |title=David Quayle Obituary |work=The Telegraph |date=16 April 2010 |access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The chain quickly expanded, and by 1979, there were 26 shops across the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/aboutbandq/2004/company_information/history.jsp&menu=default |title=B&Q Online: From Kitchens & Bathrooms to Sheds & Paving; plus planning tools |publisher=Diy.com |access-date=29 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310144610/http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=%2Faboutbandq%2F2004%2Fcompany_information%2Fhistory.jsp&menu=default |archive-date=10 March 2012  }}</ref>

Co-founder Block left the company in 1976.

===1980s: Buyout and further expansion===
B&Q grew rapidly through a combination of mergers, acquisitions and expansions, such as the acquisition of a [[Hampshire]] based company Dodge City at the beginning of the 1980s. The chain was itself acquired by the [[F. W. Woolworth Company]] for £16.8&nbsp;million at the beginning of the 1980s, coinciding with Quayle, who by that time had a personal wealth of £4&nbsp;million, selling his share.<ref name="1969_foundation"/> This would result, for a time, in B&Q being an indirect sister company to [[Foot Locker]], another F. W. Woolworth subsidiary.

Two years later, F. W. Woolworth's United Kingdom [[subsidiary]] ([[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths Group]]) and B&Q were purchased by Paternoster Stores, which became [[Kingfisher plc]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?PageID=107&subsection=mainnews&Year=2002&NewsID=314 |title=Kingfisher plc : Home – Investors – Press releases |publisher=Kingfisher.com |date=30 October 2002 |access-date=29 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310094215/http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?PageID=107&subsection=mainnews&Year=2002&NewsID=314 |archive-date=10 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is still B&Q's parent company {{As of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web | title=Our retail banners | publisher=Kingfisher Corporate | url=https://www.kingfisher.com/en/about-us/what-we-do/brands.html | access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref>

B&Q developed two new trading formats: HomeCentres, retailing furniture, bathrooms, soft furniture, flooring and lighting; and AutoCentres, being similar to a [[Halfords]], the first launch taking place at [[Cribbs Causeway]], [[Bristol]], at the end of the 1980s. The concept being to have a HomeCentre, AutoCentre and DIY Superstore with one communal car park.

The forays into these new markets were relatively short lived, and the various sites were sold on a couple of years later. The AutoCentres becoming in the main 'Charlie Browns', the HomeCentres being sold off individually.

===1990s===
[[File:Interior of B&Q, Glasshoughton, Castleford, West Yorkshire (8th January 2023).jpg|thumb|right|Interior of B&Q, [[Castleford, West Yorkshire|Castleford]]]]
In the mid 1990s, B&Q opened a new format of shop known as the Depot (later changed to B&Q Depot), a forerunner of a new class of shop known as the B&Q Warehouse.<ref>{{cite web | title=History of B&Q| website=bqsuperstore.co.uk | date=17 January 2007 | url=http://bqsuperstore.co.uk/?page_id=4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929070629/http://bqsuperstore.co.uk/?page_id=4 | archive-date=29 September 2007 | url-status=dead}}</ref> This new store format was almost identical to that of the US chain [[Home Depot]], where the stores were built on a much bigger scale with a larger floor area, merchandise presented on two storey, industrial-style shelving and an enhanced range of product lines which now extended to bulk building materials. For the branding of these new stores B&Q also moved to a new corporate colour style of orange (away from the previous black/red) which again was almost the same as Home Depot. For this reason, it is often erroneously believed that there is a formal connection between the two compainies. The company also began to expand outside the United Kingdom. In 1995, the retailer opened their first overseas subsidiary in [[Taiwan]], and in January 1996, the first overseas large home improvement centre in [[Taoyuan City]], Taiwan.<ref name="taiwan_windup">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7147942.stm |title=B&Q owner to sell Taiwan shops |work=BBC News |date=17 December 2007 |access-date=13 February 2017 }}</ref>

In September 1998, it acquired NOMI, Poland's leading chain of DIY shops,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0VCW/is_12_25/ai_55013616 |title=Western influx underscores potential &#124; Find Articles at BNET.com |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=29 April 2012}}</ref> and later that year, merged with France's [[Castorama]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0VCW/is_8_25/ai_54556196 |title=Top 10 dealers on Earth grow 21.7% &#124; Find Articles at BNET.com |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=29 April 2012}}</ref>

===2000s===
In December 2000, Kingfisher plc acquired 28 development sites, intended to house future shops of rival chain [[Homebase]] from [[J Sainsbury plc|Sainsbury's]], who sold the chain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1082731.stm |title=Sainsbury's sells Homebase |work=BBC News |access-date=30 September 2013 |date=22 December 2000}}</ref> The development sites instead housed shops of B&Q. In August 2001, B&Q opened its first shop in [[Shanghai]], when it hoped to increase outlets from four to 58 by 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1480233.stm|title=B&Q opens Shanghai megastore|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk|date=8 August 2001|access-date=4 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0VCW/is_15_27/ai_78236946 |title=B&Q sets its sights on ambitious shop roll-out - Shanghai B and Q Building Material Supermarket Co - International Pages - Brief Article &#124; Find Articles at BNET.com |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=6 August 2001 |access-date=29 April 2012}}</ref>

B&Q opened its first shop in [[Hong Kong]] on 1 June 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?pageid=55&newsid=528 |title=First B&Q store to open in Hong Kong |publisher=Kingfisher.com |date=1 June 2007 |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214003512/http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?pageid=55&newsid=528 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but was scheduled to close it on 13 September 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=15345&icid=1&d_str= |title=Kingfisher to close B&Q store in Kowloon Bay |work=The Standard |access-date=28 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015163934/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=15345&icid=1&d_str= |archive-date=15 October 2012 }}</ref> In December 2007, Kingfisher sold its 50 per cent stake in B&Q Taiwan to its joint venture partner. The $106.5&nbsp;million (£51.6&nbsp;million) sale, producing a profit of £25&nbsp;million, was used to reduce debt.<ref name="taiwan_windup"/>

In March 2009, B&Q closed 22 of its then 63 shops in China, blaming the housing slump.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/26/kingfisher-bandq-china |title=Kingfisher makes deep cuts in B&Q's Chinese chain &#124; ''The Guardian'' |work=The Guardian |access-date=28 April 2012 |location=London |date=26 March 2009}}</ref>

===2010s===
In May 2011, B&Q agreed to acquire 31 shops in the United Kingdom, from the administrators of [[Focus DIY]] for £23&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13315837 |title=B&Q owner Kingfisher buys 31 Focus DIY shops |access-date=16 November 2012 |work=BBC News |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> During 2011, B&Q opened a new regional distribution centre, at G.Park in [[Swindon]].<ref>[http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/8323891.Huge_B_Q_distribution_centre_gets_the_go_ahead/ Swindon Advertiser, accessed 31 March 2015]</ref>

===2020s===
In 2020, B&Q announced a sales increase of 17.6pc to £3.5&nbsp;billion for the quarter to 31 October, caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] during which people spent money on home improvements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pandemic helps drive sales at B&Q owner|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/world/pandemic-helps-drive-sales-at-b-and-q-owner-39765258.html|access-date=22 November 2020|website=independent|date=19 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, B&Q announced the launch of its new website in [[Republic of Ireland|the Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=B&Q launch new Irish website with more services available nationwide |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/bandq-launch-new-irish-website-with-more-services-available-nationwide/41028138.html |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Independent|date=8 November 2021 }}</ref>

In 2022, B&Q opened its first two shops in Saudi Arabia, in the capital, [[Riyadh]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vaimal |first=Rahul |title=B&Q Stores expand to Saudi Arabia through Al-Futtaim Group |publisher=GCC Business News |date=3 July 2022 |url=https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/bq-stores-expand-to-saudi-arabia-through-al-futtaim-group/}}</ref>

In May 2023, B&Q opened new distribution centre in Bassetlaw.<ref>{{Cite web |title=B&Q opens new distribution centre in Bassetlaw and creates 100 jobs |url=https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/business/bq-opens-new-distribution-centre-in-bassetlaw-and-creates-100-jobs-4159589 |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Worksop Guardian|date=26 May 2023 }}</ref> Later, in August, B&Q opened in Sutton, the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brand new B&Q opens its doors in Sutton |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/23742969.brand-new-b-q-opens-doors-sutton/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |website=Your Local Guardian|date=24 August 2023 }}</ref>

In January 2024, B&Q unveiled its plan to open its tenth local store on Staines high street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New B&Q Local Staines store celebrates upcoming opening with a special community makeover |url=https://retailtimes.co.uk/new-bq-local-staines-store-celebrates-upcoming-opening-with-a-special-community-makeover/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |website=Retail Times|date=22 January 2024 }}</ref> Later in February, B&Q announced its increase of its hourly rate of pay for its UK employees to £12.21 and up to £13.55 in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=B&Q becomes 'highest-paying major retailer' after pay boost |url=https://www.retail-week.com/people/bandq-becomes-highest-paying-major-retailer-after-pay-boost/7045574.article |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Retail Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B&Q moves to its most competitive hourly rate of pay ever |url=https://retailtimes.co.uk/bq-moves-to-its-most-competitive-hourly-rate-of-pay-ever/ |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Retail Times|date=12 February 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=B&Q ups hourly rate as it claims to be UK's highest paying retailer |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/02/bq-minimum-hourly-rate/ |access-date=12 February 2024 |website=Retail Gazette|date=12 February 2024 }}</ref> Also in 2024, B&Q reported the opening of its new store in [[Staines-upon-Thames|Staines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=New B&Q store coming to Surrey town |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/new-bq-store-coming-surrey-28497731 |access-date=29 February 2024 |website=Surrey Live|date=23 January 2024 }}</ref>

In January 2025, B&Q announced they would acquire five [[Homebase]] locations from the administrators; they had previously announced they would rescue three Homebase stores in the Republic of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Aoife |date=2025-01-06 |title=B&Q acquires 5 Homebase UK stores - Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/01/bq-uk-homebase-stores/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Brands==
Diall (standing for 'Do It All') is a B&Q brand.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our own brands: expert quality at handy prices |url=https://www.diy.ie/brands/own-brands |website=diy.ie |access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref>

GoodHome is the main own-brand at B&Q stores, ranging from the complete kitchen collection, to paint, decsundries and more.

==Customers==
B&Q were reported to have a customer base of seven million in July 2016, of which it was estimated 75% use the retailer's website to research their desired products, prior to purchasing in shop.<ref name="customer_analysis_2016">{{cite news |url=http://www.essentialretail.com/news/article/577bd481065d6-how-bq-the-ecommerce-customer-journey |title=How B&Q analyses the customer journey |work=Essential Retail |date=5 July 2016 |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214003821/http://www.essentialretail.com/news/article/577bd481065d6-how-bq-the-ecommerce-customer-journey |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

B&Q operated a ''Diamond Club'' scheme which offered some benefits, but it was closed to new members in 2018.<ref name="club_t&c">{{cite web |url=http://www.diy.com/customer-support/policies/terms/?tab=ui-accordion-title-6 |title=B&Q Club - Terms and Conditions |publisher=diy.com |access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> It still can be used by established members, but only on exterior & ‘seasonal’ products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diamond Card Discount {{!}} DIY at B&Q |url=https://www.diy.com/diamond |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=www.diy.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
The retail chain offers over 40,000 products across their 300 shops and through their online presence.<ref name="corporate_about">{{cite web |url=http://www.diy.com/corporate/about |title=Company Information |publisher=B&Q |access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> Reports in May 2007 suggested it was the second largest in Europe, and the fourth largest in the world (behind [[the Home Depot]], [[Lowe's]] and [[OBI (store)|OBI]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-kingfisher-trading-idUKL3117671620070531|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109063049/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-kingfisher-trading-idUKL3117671620070531|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2016|title=Interest rate worries cloud Kingfisher |date=31 May 2007 |work=Reuters |access-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

===Shops===
[[File:Grimsby B and Q - geograph.org.uk - 150880.jpg|thumb|A B&Q store in [[Grimsby]], England]]
By 2000, B&Q had 51 large warehouse shops; this had doubled by 2003. By May 2014, B&Q in the United Kingdom had 359 shops, and 20,887 employees;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?pageid=33 |title=Kingfisher PLC About Us |publisher=kingfisher.com |access-date=11 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727053215/http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?pageid=33 |archive-date=27 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and eight shops in Ireland.<ref name="ireland_exit_examinership"/>

In March 2015, Kingfisher said it would close 60 B&Q shops in the United Kingdom and Ireland over the next two years, and a few loss-making shops elsewhere in Europe. It also said that B&Q UK and Ireland could adequately meet local customer needs, from fewer shops, and some shops should be smaller.<ref name = "B&Q2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32126970 |title=Kingfisher to close about 60 B&Q shops |work=BBC News |date=31 March 2015 |access-date=29 August 2015}}</ref>

===Financial performance===
B&Q account for around a third of their parent company's revenues, seeing like for like sales increase by 5.6% in August 2016.<ref name="kingfisher_sales_surge_2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/08/18/bq-owner-kingfisher-beats-expectations-with-diy-sales-surge/ |title=B&Q owner Kingfisher beats expectations with DIY sales surge |work=The Telegraph |date=18 August 2016 |access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref> In the year ending 31 January 2007, sales were £3.9&nbsp;billion despite overall sales falling by 1.7% compared to the previous year, whilst profit was £162.9&nbsp;million, a fall from £208.5&nbsp;million during the previous year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6505545.stm |work=BBC News |title=B&Q firm upbeat but profit falls |date=29 March 2007 |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> Profit fell further in the year ending 31 January 2008, to £131&nbsp;million.<ref name="kingfisher_annual_0708">{{cite web |url=https://www.kingfisher.com/files/reports/annual_report_2008/index.asp?pageid=47 |title=Revamp programme gathers pace - Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 |publisher=Kingfisher |date=February 2008 |access-date=13 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214004021/https://www.kingfisher.com/files/reports/annual_report_2008/index.asp?pageid=47 |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2013, it was reported that the retail chain's Ireland operation was making losses, with their then nine shops making a combined loss of £7&nbsp;million throughout 2012, yet its operations within the United Kingdom turned a profit despite an overall decrease in sales by 5.6%.<ref name="2013_sales_slump">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/mar/26/b-and-q-sales-slump-kingfisher-profits |title=B&Q sales slump hits Kingfisher |work=The Guardian |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>

==International operations==
[[File:B&T Home at Jinsiji Shopping Center, Beijing (20240709112055).jpg|thumb|B&Q Beijing [[Sijiqing, Beijing|Sijiqing]] outlet opened in 2003, rebranded as "B&T Home" in March 2018 (taken in July 2024)]]
[[File:MegaBoxB&Q 20070607.jpg|thumb|A former B&Q [[MegaBox (shopping mall)|MegaBox]] outlet in [[Hong Kong]] (2007)]]
Outside the United Kingdom, B&Q's other international operations are in Ireland and, since 2022, in Saudi Arabia. On 31 January 2013, B&Q Ireland Ltd filed for [[examinership]] in the Irish courts and [[PricewaterhouseCoopers|PWC Ireland]] was appointed examiner,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21291351 |title=B&Q owner's Kingfisher puts Irish arm into examinership |access-date=2 February 2013 |work=BBC News |date=1 February 2013}}</ref> though shops continued to trade while alternative financing arrangements were made.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2013/0131/365509-examiner-appointed-to-diy-chain-bq-ireland/ |publisher=RTÉ News |title=Examiner appointed to DIY chain B&Q Ireland |date=31 January 2013}}</ref>

B&Q Ireland had been making a loss since two years before, although the shops in the United Kingdom continued to stay in profit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9840407/BandQ-owner-Kingfisher-puts-Irish-arm-into-rescue-process.html |title=B&Q owner Kingfisher puts Irish arm into rescue process |work=The Telegraph |date=31 January 2013 |access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref> The chain exited examinership a few months later in May 2013, following [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] approval for investment totalling €2.4&nbsp;million to allow eight of their nine shops to continue operating.<ref name="ireland_exit_examinership">{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/further-job-losses-avoided-as-b-q-exits-examinership-1.1384987 |title=Further job losses avoided as B&Q exits examinership |work=Irish Times |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>

B&Q expanded into China during 1999, building up a chain of nearly 40 shops, but opted to sell a 70% controlling stake of operations in China to [[Wumart]] in 2015, due to poor sales.<ref name="china_sale">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/22/kingfisher-china-diy-bq |title=Kingfisher sells B&Q China stake as DIY fails to take off |work=The Guardian |date=22 December 2014 |access-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> B&Q's parent company had previously sold its 50% stake in B&Q Taiwan in 2007 in order to focus on what was then a rapidly growing business in China.<ref name="taiwan_windup"/>

==Incidents==
In June 2001, in [[Poole]], [[Dorset]], 69-year-old customer Pamela Jean Hinchliffe was fatally crushed by a [[forklift]] at the firm's [[Fleetsbridge]] shop. In June 2004, B&Q were found guilty of causing her death, and the following month they were fined £550,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/4286458.stm |title=UK &#124; B&Q forklift death appeal fails |work=BBC News |date=27 September 2005 |access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref>

In July 2017, B&Q faced widespread criticism from customers complaining of bad smells and headaches after painting their homes with [[Valspar]] paint sold to them. This led to B&Q compensating hundreds of customers, with the problem said to be caused by bacterial contamination in the can causing emission of [[hydrogen sulfide|hydrogen sulphide]] and [[ammonia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40655163|title=B&Q in payouts over bad paint smells|last=Thomas|first=Lydia|date=19 July 2017|access-date=11 June 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/20/bq-customers-compensated-complaining-paint-smells-like-cat-urine/|title=B&Q customers compensated after complaining that paint smells like cat urine|last=Ward|first=Victoria|date=20 July 2017|work=The Telegraph|access-date=11 June 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Hampshire|Companies}}
{{commons category|B&Q}}
* [https://www.diy.com Official website]

{{Kingfisher Plc}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:B and Q}}
[[Category:Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Garden centres]]
[[Category:Companies based in Hampshire]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1969]]
[[Category:1969 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:F. W. Woolworth Company]]
[[Category:Kingfisher plc]]
[[Category:British brands]]