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
Woodie's DIY Woodie's DIY Woodie's DIY is an Irish DIY and home improvement retailing company. Founded in 1987 in Walkinstown, Dublin and opening the first store in the same year, it is a part of Grafton Group plc. Woodie's DIY is a nationwide company, having over thirty stores in Ireland. It merged with Atlantic Homecare in 2005, with all Atlantic Homecare stores being rebranded as Woodie's. The company was founded in the summer of 1987, and the first store opened in Walkinstown under the name 'Pay Less DIY'. The success of this store then led to the opening of a second store