The abbreviation "B&M" can stand for different things depending on the context:
- In retail, B&M commonly stands for "Billington & Mayman," named after the founders Malcolm Billington and Brian Mayman. The company, B&M, is now a British multinational variety store and garden centre chain. The name B&M originated from the founders' initials but has also been associated with "Bargain Madness" in some contexts due to the nature of the store's offerings.
- In a business or commercial context, especially in e-commerce vs. physical store discussions, "B&M" often stands for "Brick and Mortar," meaning a business with physical stores or premises as contrasted with an online-only presence.
- Other less common meanings in slang or acronyms include "Bacon and Mushroom" (food), "Bitchin' and Moanin'," or phrases like "Beautiful and Magic," but these are context-dependent and usually informal.
So the most common and significant meanings of B&M are either the name of the British retail chain or the phrase "Brick and Mortar" referring to physical business premises. The correct interpretation depends on the context in which "B&M" is used.
