Games Workshop thought they were in trouble when the lockdown hit and stores had to close. They’ve now handed Government support money back.
Sales this year are up 30%, not as much as Hasbro’s boom, but pretax profits are up by 70% to £151m.
The Nottingham-based company will now thank 2,600 employees with a thank you bonus of £5,000. Model-makers, designers, shop staff and support teams will get the money from a £2.6m profit share and an extra £10.6m special. Senior managers get a bonus from a £1.1m bonus pot.
CEO, Kevin Rountree, explained why the staff of the Warhammer-making company were getting the money;
…. exceptional performance in helping to increase our profitability significantly”.
And also,
After a tough year we are delighted that the Warhammer hobby and Games Workshop are in great shape.”
Games Workshop says the latest Warhammer 40K is their most successful launch yet, and Cursed City sold out quickly.
Like most international operators in the hobby games space, Games Workshop has wrestled with the lockdown and the logistics crisis connected to it. Furthermore, as a UK company, Games Workshop has suffered due to Brexit.
Eight stores have been permanently closed, two in the UK. However, 10 will open in the US and “Warhammer Cafes” will open in Japan and China. Translators are being bought in for Chinese and Russian versions of games, books and the new animated series.
Analysts like the company’s ability to turn fandom into money. Charles Hall, an analyst at Peel Hunt, told the Guardian;
They are benefiting from 40 years of creativity and intellectual property and investing in people and the miniatures,”
Via The Guardian | Picture credit: Jack B
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