B&Q is a DIY and home improvement retailer in the UK, operating as a subsidiary of Kingfisher, which also owns Screwfix. Founded in 1969 by Richard Block and David Quayle, the retailer was bought first by Woolworths in the early 1980s, before the group was sold to Kingfisher. From early 2016, the group has been undergoing a five-year transformation strategy under the One Kingfisher banner, designed to leverage its scale. This is focused on creating a unified and unique offer across the whole business, driving digital capability and optimising operational efficiency. Kingfisher has been investing heavily in digital across the group, improving fulfilment and mobile to drive online growth. The retailer’s greatest growth potential lies in omnichannel and it is fast developing its offer. It is also overhauling its systems in a bid to drive efficiency and make the business more agile. Smaller-format stores have been around since 2017, with an offer tailored to urban markets.
Kingfisher has shifted strategy to prioritise in-store picking and new store types as it seeks to accelerate the integration of on- and offline.
B&Q owner Kingfisher has seen ecommerce sales soar in the first half of the year and pre-tax profits climb in what chief executive Thierry Garnier hailed as a “resilient” set of results.
Asda is to test a new convenience store format and launch B&Q shop-in-shops inside four of its largest superstores.
B&Q has launched its latest campaign “Build a Life”, which marks a new creative direction for the retailer.
B&Q has pledged to donate £100,000 of levy funds to the Transfer to Transform scheme, which aims to boost small and medium businesses in the Solent area.
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