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. 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 £1million within the first five years of operating. Following the departure of co founder Block in 1976, the chain
DIY Week the major business magazine for its market, absorbing its main competitor, "The Ironmonger", as well as many small titles. It was renamed "DIY Week" in 1988, reflecting the rise of the DIY market, and switched to fortnightly frequency in 1991. Datateam acquired the magazine in 2013. DIY Week DIY Week is a British fortnightly business-to-business magazine for those in the do it yourself (DIY), household hardware and homeware market. The magazine is published by Datateam in Maidstone, Kent, in England. Founded in 1874, "DIY Week" is sold to retailers of hardware, housewares, garden and DIY products, and their suppliers, and