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Made in gb
Moustache-twirling Princeps




United Kingdom

From the BBC:

Games Workshop staff to get share of £5m bonus

Games Workshop staff will share a £5m bonus after it announced it expects profits to almost double this year.

About 1,700 employees at the fantasy games retailer will split the payout "in recognition of their contribution".

The Nottingham-based group said on Friday it expects to report an annual pre-tax profit of at least £74m, which is up from last year's £38.4m.

The results have also been helped by online sales and the continued popularity of tabletop game Warhammer.

Revenue is also expected to jump from £158.1 million to £219 million, with the firm boosted by £10m in licensing royalties.

Over the past 12 months, Games Workshop shares have risen by nearly 150% as the firm continues to bounce back from a difficult period when sales faltered.

The firm makes 75% of its revenues overseas, and has benefited from the weak pound.

Games Workshop moved its headquarters from London to the Lenton area of Nottingham in 1997.

It boasts a dedicated gaming room and Warhammer-themed pub.

Games Workshop's success has been boosted by the popularity of tabletop game Warhammer
The rise of Games Workshop
Some 40 years ago, friends Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson set up a board game shop called Games Workshop from their west London flat.

The pair made contact with the inventor of Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax, and secured an exclusive three-year distribution agreement in Europe.

Pouring all of their money into Games Workshop, Mr Livingstone and Mr Jackson created dozens of fantasy board games and books which they sold all over the world.

Games Workshop has since grown to become a multimillion-pound business.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/08 16:07:56


 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Crikey o'blimey! Not bad, eh?

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Richmond, VA

Anyone have a favorite firm in the USA to invest in UK stocks?

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Made in nl
Regular Dakkanaut





Netherlands

Good show. They really turned that company away from its slow grind towards the edge of the cliff.

   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





TN/AL/MS state line.

Glad to see GW doing well. I’ve been pleased with the new direction so far.

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Made in fr
Long-Range Land Speeder Pilot





Clermont De L'Oise

Interesting that they make 75% of their profits over seas. I would assume a large chunk of that is the US.

They could have picked a better photo for the article though

2811
650
750 
   
Made in gb
Legendary Dogfighter





England

Always please when companies share their success with the employees that make them their money. Just hope the lower level staff get a decent chunk and it's not a case that 99% of that is going to the CEO.

it's the quiet ones you have to look out for. Their the ones that change the world, the loud ones just take the credit for it. 
   
Made in gb
Dipping With Wood Stain



Welwyn Garden City, Herts

 Tamereth wrote:
Always please when companies share their success with the employees that make them their money. Just hope the lower level staff get a decent chunk and it's not a case that 99% of that is going to the CEO.


According to the official RNS (official financial news release to the stock market) it was equal shares. I'd guess that's slightly apportioned to match hours worked, but my rough maths was about £3k each.

   
Made in us
Archmagos Veneratus Extremis






Home Base: Prosper, TX (Dallas)

Very nice. It's really feeling like a completely different company. Even from it's successful years during the LotR bubble.

Best Painted (2015 Adepticon 40k Champs)

They Shall Know Fear - Adepticon 40k TT Champion (2012 & 2013) & 40k TT Best Sport (2014), 40k TT Best Tactician (2015 & 2016) 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






 vim_the_good wrote:
Interesting that they make 75% of their profits over seas. I would assume a large chunk of that is the US.

They could have picked a better photo for the article though


On the photo, I think it’s not a bad idea to show ‘achievable’ paint jobs High End stuff on articles risks making the Hobby look too daunting.

Also, Auntie probably just yoinked the pic from the inter Webs!

Fed up of Scalpers? But still want your Exclusives? Why not join us?

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Made in ca
Lord of the Fleet






Halifornia, Nova Scotia

Good for GW. They've certainly turned some poor aspects of the company around. Here's to hoping BFG turns out well.

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Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut





Good stuff

I wonder how much of that was generated by WH40K 8th edition?
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut



UK

I remember Kirby delaying the cost of living increase until staff sold AoS better after it's launch.

The bonus is a great way of showing all the staff that GW values them.

Check out my youtube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8CECcBOeCO-srhlUwf_lQ 
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut





Ben2 wrote:
I remember Kirby delaying the cost of living increase until staff sold AoS better after it's launch.


Seriously, the more I hear about him, the more he sounds like a cartoon villain.

This is great news though, I'm happy for GW. The guys in my local store are really awesome.

You ain't nothin' but a hormagaunt... cryin' all the time...

40k:  
   
Made in us
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer





Mississippi

Well, glad to see someone’s grabbed Titanic GW’s wheel and is furiously pulling it away from the iceberg.

Good on them giving back to their employees. Instead of stuffing the CEO’s golden parachute. Hope they keep seeking ways to engage customers and encouraging their staff to excel.

It never ends well 
   
Made in au
Hacking Proxy Mk.1





Australia

They bloody well deserve it, the last couple of years since Kirby was given the boot GW has been doing great work.

 Fafnir wrote:
Oh, I certainly vote with my dollar, but the problem is that that is not enough. The problem with the 'vote with your dollar' response is that it doesn't take into account why we're not buying the product. I want to enjoy 40k enough to buy back in. It was my introduction to traditional games, and there was a time when I enjoyed it very much. I want to buy 40k, but Gamesworkshop is doing their very best to push me away, and simply not buying their product won't tell them that.
 
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut





London

Makes you proud to be British ;D

When you look at how many shops have folded recently and how easily the CEO could have had the lions share of that money for himself (And not without cause, Kevin roundtree has done sterling work!) it's really great to see that the company is extending its new forward thinking positive attitude to its own employees.




   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






I was working for GW during the initial LotR launch and we got personalised boxed sets of the books. That was nice.

"The Omnissiah is my Moderati" 
   
Made in ro
Boom! Leman Russ Commander





Proof that if you practise a basic social media presence and tell people "no, no, we're totally listening" you don't have to change anything else and people will buy it hook, line and sinker.

What exactly has GW changed from before the Kirby era? Okay, so they say they're listening but once 8th edition took two steps out of the starting gate, GW's non-existent ability to write rules reared it's head again. Oh right, but now you get to pay £25 for their 'balance changes' that just swing the pendulum. You'd think for all this profit, they'd actually hire people who can do their jobs. In any other job if you were this incompetent you'd be sacked months ago, but apparently GW's writers get a pass from both the company and buyers because, uh, they smile and tell you they're your friend now?

It's all smiles on Facebook and WHCommunity, they make cute videos and comics - as per the social media presence - but as far as I can tell that's about the only difference between Kirby and now.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/09 01:40:43


 
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare






Great job GW!

Sure shows the difference between good and bad leadership too. The stories about Kirby remind of some of my old bosses.

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Made in gb
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Why Aye Ya Canny Dakkanaughts!

I'm always saddened by hearing about how loads of old British companies are going bust, being bought out, being bailed out by the government, etc. but GWs success gives me hope that Britain can still hold their own in some industries... even if it is just the manufacture of toy soldiers...

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 Marmatag wrote:
All the while, my opponent is furious, throwing his codex on the floor, trying to slash his wrists with safety scissors.
 
   
Made in us
Posts with Authority





Spoiler: All the bonuses are actually in GW credit. Only redeemable on their products.

Another spoiler: No one would probably complain.

Mob Rule is not a rule. 
   
Made in us
Archmagos Veneratus Extremis






Home Base: Prosper, TX (Dallas)

 Arbitrator wrote:
Proof that if you practise a basic social media presence and tell people "no, no, we're totally listening" you don't have to change anything else and people will buy it hook, line and sinker.

What exactly has GW changed from before the Kirby era? Okay, so they say they're listening but once 8th edition took two steps out of the starting gate, GW's non-existent ability to write rules reared it's head again. Oh right, but now you get to pay £25 for their 'balance changes' that just swing the pendulum. You'd think for all this profit, they'd actually hire people who can do their jobs. In any other job if you were this incompetent you'd be sacked months ago, but apparently GW's writers get a pass from both the company and buyers because, uh, they smile and tell you they're your friend now?

It's all smiles on Facebook and WHCommunity, they make cute videos and comics - as per the social media presence - but as far as I can tell that's about the only difference between Kirby and now.


Someone is cranky. Let's see what they've done since Roundtree took over;

-Launched regular free FAQ's/Errata's multiple times a year to try to maintain a fun and balanced playing environment (in both systems)
-Restarted non-gw playtesting
-Regular discount boxes for starting or expanding
-Brought back Specialist Gamges
-Created an entire new game and system that's actually pretty awesome (shadespire)

They've responded and actually listened and shown they have multiple times. Just cause they didn't do what you want doesn't mean there haven't been pretty solid changes.

Best Painted (2015 Adepticon 40k Champs)

They Shall Know Fear - Adepticon 40k TT Champion (2012 & 2013) & 40k TT Best Sport (2014), 40k TT Best Tactician (2015 & 2016) 
   
Made in us
Sword-Bearing Inquisitorial Crusader




 Arbitrator wrote:
Proof that if you practise a basic social media presence and tell people "no, no, we're totally listening" you don't have to change anything else and people will buy it hook, line and sinker.

What exactly has GW changed from before the Kirby era? Okay, so they say they're listening but once 8th edition took two steps out of the starting gate, GW's non-existent ability to write rules reared it's head again. Oh right, but now you get to pay £25 for their 'balance changes' that just swing the pendulum. You'd think for all this profit, they'd actually hire people who can do their jobs. In any other job if you were this incompetent you'd be sacked months ago, but apparently GW's writers get a pass from both the company and buyers because, uh, they smile and tell you they're your friend now?

It's all smiles on Facebook and WHCommunity, they make cute videos and comics - as per the social media presence - but as far as I can tell that's about the only difference between Kirby and now.


Please leave. You'd be doing yourself a favor.
   
Made in us
Posts with Authority





 Hulksmash wrote:

Someone is cranky. Let's see what they've done since Roundtree took over;

-Launched regular free FAQ's/Errata's multiple times a year to try to maintain a fun and balanced playing environment (in both systems)
-Restarted non-gw playtesting
-Regular discount boxes for starting or expanding
-Brought back Specialist Gamges
-Created an entire new game and system that's actually pretty awesome (shadespire)

They've responded and actually listened and shown they have multiple times. Just cause they didn't do what you want doesn't mean there haven't been pretty solid changes.


40k is full of whiners. I get it, the company's not perfect, but some folks get a Codex that requires them to synergize and do more than plop a wad of dudes on a spot and roll dice and suddenly they hate us all, right?

Mob Rule is not a rule. 
   
Made in us
Pious Palatine




 Hulksmash wrote:
 Arbitrator wrote:
Proof that if you practise a basic social media presence and tell people "no, no, we're totally listening" you don't have to change anything else and people will buy it hook, line and sinker.

What exactly has GW changed from before the Kirby era? Okay, so they say they're listening but once 8th edition took two steps out of the starting gate, GW's non-existent ability to write rules reared it's head again. Oh right, but now you get to pay £25 for their 'balance changes' that just swing the pendulum. You'd think for all this profit, they'd actually hire people who can do their jobs. In any other job if you were this incompetent you'd be sacked months ago, but apparently GW's writers get a pass from both the company and buyers because, uh, they smile and tell you they're your friend now?

It's all smiles on Facebook and WHCommunity, they make cute videos and comics - as per the social media presence - but as far as I can tell that's about the only difference between Kirby and now.


Someone is cranky. Let's see what they've done since Roundtree took over;

-Launched regular free FAQ's/Errata's multiple times a year to try to maintain a fun and balanced playing environment (in both systems)
-Restarted non-gw playtesting
-Regular discount boxes for starting or expanding
-Brought back Specialist Gamges
-Created an entire new game and system that's actually pretty awesome (shadespire)

They've responded and actually listened and shown they have multiple times. Just cause they didn't do what you want doesn't mean there haven't been pretty solid changes.


I honestly think it's a hard sell to say that GW isn't going in the right direction or that they aren't trying to make things as good as they possibly can, but I will say that the execution still needs some work. They're too relentlessly positive on media platforms they don't necessarily have to be. Stormcast, for example, would be a great place to look at mistakes they've made and things they've learned in making AoS and acknowledging that they're aware of risks associated with the rules they're planning on implementing and explaining why they think the changes are good anyway. They'd get a lot of work done just saying 'this is an issue you all have noticed with this change, we also see that issue, this is why we think it's not something that needs to be altered.'

Then you have business practice stuff like why in the Sam Hill are Witch Aelves still 60$? And why were the Malign Portents characters 35$? And why did you make the rule of 3, it's an abomination?

They've been a solid B-B+ up from the like...Q they were at before so it's okay, but there's still plenty of the Old GW that still needs shaking out.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/09 02:16:11



 
   
Made in jp
Longtime Dakkanaut





The biggest change GW has made, which has undoubtedly had a massive impact, is diversifying their product line. At the end of the Kirby era GW had three product lines with very occasional standalone boxed games. Now they have 7 distinct ranges (40k, aos, Shadespire, bloodbowl, Necromunda, Horus Heresy and lotr) with an 8th (adeptus Titanicus) and maybe even a 9th (Killteam) on the way. All of these ranges are getting active, continued support. They all have different entry points in terms of price, time and space needed.

The three tiered starter sets for 40k, the start collecting and battleforce boxes, the easy build kits, the regular standalone games, the interesting experiments like space marine heroes, the improved relationship with freelancers and better licensing all add up to give the impression of a company that actually has a considered business plan for the future.

All the listening to the community stuff is just window dressing.
   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut





Another massively important change is them doing their own previews, teasers, news and projections.

Anyone who says they "can't see a difference" between 2018 GW and the GW of the previous era is either a fool or a liar.
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

Now if only they'd stop charging Australia/NZ/Japan/etc. x2 the UK price, maybe all would be forgiven...


Anyway, this just popped up on my Facebook feed as well. Is employees sharing in a bonus unusual in the UK?

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in us
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer





Mississippi

Yeah, GW still has major issues, but they are sloooowly starting to show signs that it’s NOT business as usual. Things like the SC sets, the free PDF 8E rules, snap-fit kits and triple levels of starter set sizes show they are opening up different cost levels at getting into the game.

Yes, their rules-writing ability needs a crash cart and $35 characters are obnoxiously priced. But there is a sense they are open to change, one baby step at a time and are not snubbing their customers, which is frankly what they had been doing under Kirby. The change is all much slower than we’d like, but I do hope they keep making these small steps towards being better until they finally are better and we can all laugh at the “ bad ol’ Days” of GW.

It never ends well 
   
 
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