B&Q 2006 Roadshow

When Pabrico was commissioned to bring B&Q ’s roadshow to life, the brief was anything but ordinary. Our task? To create an 8ft Bertie Bassett and replicate their iconic embossed seed trays, all destined to travel the length and breadth of the UK, appearing at exhibitions throughout the year.

Bertie Bassett:

At first glance, building a liquorice-shaped giant might sound daunting. In reality, Bertie was a joy to construct, his cheerful form made up of simple 2D shapes layered together. What we didn’t anticipate was the impact he’d have. Everywhere he went, Bertie stole the spotlight. Visitors lined up to take photos, children laughed and pointed, and even the local news couldn’t resist featuring him on television. He wasn’t just a display piece; he became the heart of the roadshow.

The Seed Trays:

While Bertie was playful, the oversized seed trays demanded precision and patience. Each tray was engineered from hundreds of individual parts, with multiple cuts per piece to capture the embossed detail of the originals. Once assembled, they were carefully painted to match B&Q’s exact colour specifications. The result was a striking, larger-than-life replica that showcased craftsmanship as much as creativity.

To complement the other pieces, we also produced hundreds of smaller trays. These didn’t need to replicate the originals in detail, but instead served as practical props, stacked and filled with flowers to create vibrant, eye-catching displays.