B&q

[Boris]

OBI and BNQ are same company in China. BNQ has brought the OBI in China. There is no difference at all. I think in some of the cities have not changed the store name yet.

If you would like to get more info, please go to the following links.

http://hk.search.yahoo.com/search/sb...related=&&vm=r

http://www.obi.com.cn/

Thanks for this info.
Most interesting. B&Q appears by this to have bought the sites. A pity they didn't buy the OBI concept.

I will expect the OBI in Qingdao to be taken of my visit list next month and I will wear a black armband in respect. Meadiocre wins again.

[goodkarma]

Since our economy is basically based on real estate I think it will be a cold day in hell when we see a mega mall in Central unfortunately.

Rent is just too exhorbitant.

I'd love a true Walmart or Target or K Mart too but not out in Timbuktoo.

[jayinhongkong]

Ka-Ching! We have a winner for the random comment of the year award!
You have won your choice of anything on my desk!

I had a feeling you'd like my chicken manure comment. I'll take the stapler!

[Pekkerhead]

I went here over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised, they had a good range of stuff, obviously catering for the local market. I am used to B&Q in the UK which tend to be working warehouses, much more trade and DIY enthusiast driven - but I think the DIY culture is much stronger in the UK, probably because it costs so much to get someone else to do it for you.

B&Q has never been known as a furniture seller in the UK. The stuff they sell has always been very cheap and nasty and no one would ever consider them in the UK for buying nice decent quality furniture - although garden furniture they do better at.

Better than Home depot, I doubt it (although I've never been so can't say), but let's face it, it is a rare occassion when the Brits can do anything on the same scale and grandeur as the US.

[timf]

If you want a visual before you go:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLGWNFbuJaE"]YouTube - Escape from B&Q at the MegaBox Mall, Hong Kong[/ame]

[goleoboy]

It's great that B&Q here tailors themselves for the local market here. The home depot in manhattan in NY is very different than the ones in California. They offer more apt-decoration items and stuff for smaller projects as well as more focus on lighting and furnitures in NYC. I guess that's what they are doing here. It doesn't smell like wood when you walk it - i know, i miss that smell too and half-expected it (but then again, neither does NY's store)