The popular discount store is a staple in the UK and sells everything from furniture and baby items to homeware – but people are only just realising what the name stands for
B&M, a massive chain renowned for its discounted prices and extensive range of home items, is a staple in many British homes. However, there’s an enigma surrounding this colossal brand with over 1,000 stores – what does its name actually mean?
With such large brands, their names can become so ingrained in our consciousness that we can’t envision them being called anything else. Yet, more often than not, these names narrate a story about the store, and B&M is no exception.
Many might assume that the name stands for Bargains and More, reflecting the store’s low-cost products. But to truly comprehend the brand’s name, one must delve into its history.
The current billionaire CEO recently admitted he wasn’t even sure what the name meant but was informed it stood for Bargains and More. However, the actual name is Billington and Mayman, named after the chain’s founder Malcolm Billington and his partner Mayman.
The store was initially established in 1978, but it didn’t have the smoothest start, reports the Mirror.
It wasn’t until Simon Arora, a Cambridge law graduate, purchased the business in 2004 that it transformed into a multi-billion pound chain.
In 2018, Mr Arora expressed his ambition to make B&M the equivalent of Aldi and Lidl in the homeware sector, aiming to establish it as a go-to chain for everyone’s furniture needs.
After hearing what it really stands for, stunned shoppers shared their shock on social media.
One wrote: “I thought B&M was bargains & more!”
“What wait, this can’t be true!” added another, while a third wrote, “My mind is blown.”
Currently there are over 686 high street and out of town stores across the UK, which see an average of three million customer transactions each week.
This isn’t the first instance in recent times where a store’s actual name has been revealed.
ASOS is another brand with an intriguing backstory to its name.
Contrary to B&M, ASOS doesn’t derive its name from its founders but rather from their unique selling proposition. Originally, they sold attire As Seen On Screen, enabling customers to emulate the style of their favourite celebrities.
B&Q is another one which actually stands for Block and Quayle and H&M, which was originally named Hennes and Mauritz after it’s co-founders.
Entertainment store HMV was first called His Masters Voice.
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