Britain's biggest company that's not from London or the City is Games Workshop, the parent company behind the fantasy game Warhammer. Founded by three friends in 1975 as a mail-order board games company, it has grown to become a global gaming giant valued at £6 billion.
Games Workshop was created out of a small flat in England where Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone and John Peake would host war-gaming sessions, which eventually led to the creation of Warhammer. The game is about conflict between armies composed of miniature plastic figures that players build up to engage in battles on their tabletops.
Today, Games Workshop has become an FTSE 100 darling after decades of successful business decisions, such as creating a popular franchise with its iconic plastic models and war games. According to Jordan Sorcery, a Warhammer historian who interviewed over 100 people who have worked for the company, they made "smart business decisions" by expanding their product line to include smaller skirmish games that are easier to get into, which has broadened the game's appeal.
The game has a significant following of fans across the globe. Mike Ryder, an academic at Lancaster University and co-founder of the world's first Warhammer conference, believes that popular franchises like Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have removed the stigma from being a "geek" or a "nerd". According to Euan Bennington, treasurer of Derby University's Warhammer Society, it is this shared passion for gaming which provides a sense of belonging among fans.
Games Workshop's recent success can be attributed in part to its expansion into new markets. Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, attributes the company's growth partly to its global expansion and the fact that hobbies are viewed as "essential spend" by many people. The high margin models represent affordable luxuries for many fans.
The company has maintained a loyal customer base by providing an expert service in-store, with staff offering advice to customers and handing out free models to paint. This creates a welcoming environment where gamers can socialize over the game without small talk, and find solace in their shared passion.
Games Workshop was created out of a small flat in England where Steve Jackson, Ian Livingstone and John Peake would host war-gaming sessions, which eventually led to the creation of Warhammer. The game is about conflict between armies composed of miniature plastic figures that players build up to engage in battles on their tabletops.
Today, Games Workshop has become an FTSE 100 darling after decades of successful business decisions, such as creating a popular franchise with its iconic plastic models and war games. According to Jordan Sorcery, a Warhammer historian who interviewed over 100 people who have worked for the company, they made "smart business decisions" by expanding their product line to include smaller skirmish games that are easier to get into, which has broadened the game's appeal.
The game has a significant following of fans across the globe. Mike Ryder, an academic at Lancaster University and co-founder of the world's first Warhammer conference, believes that popular franchises like Marvel Cinematic Universe, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have removed the stigma from being a "geek" or a "nerd". According to Euan Bennington, treasurer of Derby University's Warhammer Society, it is this shared passion for gaming which provides a sense of belonging among fans.
Games Workshop's recent success can be attributed in part to its expansion into new markets. Charles Hall, head of research at Peel Hunt, attributes the company's growth partly to its global expansion and the fact that hobbies are viewed as "essential spend" by many people. The high margin models represent affordable luxuries for many fans.
The company has maintained a loyal customer base by providing an expert service in-store, with staff offering advice to customers and handing out free models to paint. This creates a welcoming environment where gamers can socialize over the game without small talk, and find solace in their shared passion.
Games Workshop's story is like, so inspiring! I mean, from a tiny flat in England with three mates hosting war-gaming sessions to becoming a £6 billion global gaming giant is just mind-blowing 
They really understood what fans wanted and adapted, making Warhammer more accessible to new players. And you know what's even cooler? The sense of community they've built around the game - it's not just about winning battles, but about sharing that passion with others and finding friends who get it 
It's no wonder Games Workshop has become an FTSE 100 darling - they're just really good at what they do! 
I'm not surprised they're making bank off this Warhammer thing... it's like something that just sucks you in, ya know? People get all into this miniatures gaming stuff and suddenly they're investing a bunch of cash in starter sets and whatnot. And then there's the community aspect - it's like one big happy family or whatever 
. I mean, I've seen those Warhammer tournaments on YouTube and it looks like people are seriously passionate about it... but let's be real, some folks just wanna spend their money on plastic soldiers 
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. They figured out that having smaller skirmish games was a great way to get into the market, it made it more accessible for new fans and expanded their appeal. It's like they took a risk by diversifying their product line, but it really paid off 
. They're creating this welcoming environment where fans can just geek out (no pun intended 
) with each other, without the pressure of small talk or anything like that. Its all about finding your tribe and being yourself, which I think we could all learn from 
I also love how they've created this welcoming environment for gamers to socialize and share their passion. In-store services and free models to paint are such great touches! 
. it's also pretty cool that they've managed to make gaming (which was previously seen as "nerdy") seem cool again 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to a store and get free models to paint? 
It's all about creating that welcoming environment where people can just geek out together without feeling weird 
. And I think that's really helped them build such a loyal customer base 
.
it's like they're creating a whole community around Warhammer, which is genius imo 
. and can we talk about their customer service tho?! the staff at their stores are literally angels 
. i mean who needs small talk when you're surrounded by miniature plastic armies and expert advice? 
anyway, games workshop's growth is just a testament to how much love and passion they put into what they do 
, and as a fan for life, it makes me super happy 
The success of franchises like Marvel Cinematic Universe and Game of Thrones has definitely helped pave the way for this gaming culture to become more mainstream.
. It's a testament to the power of gaming as a community and I'm all for it! 
Games Workshop's £6 billion valuation is just another reminder that the gaming industry is getting more and more expensive 
. It's not like they're doing anything to help, but rather just making a profit off fans who've been loyal for years 
. And it's great to see that their fans are so passionate about it - there's nothing like sharing a shared hobby with others to create a sense of community 
. They've got fans all over the world who share their passion for gaming, which is basically the definition of civic engagement in my book 
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. And I'm totally with Mike Ryder on this one - it's awesome how Warhammer has helped break down the stigma around being a "geek" or a "nerd" 
. I think it's awesome that Mike Ryder mentioned Marvel and Game of Thrones helping to break down those stigmas, because gaming should be for everyone 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want an expert service in-store, where they can get advice and free goodies? It's like the ultimate gaming experience 
.
need more info before i buy into this.