Did you know that the tabletop gaming industry is forecast to reach a value of $12 billion by 2023?
Rather than being overshadowed by online activities, tabletop gaming is enjoying a renaissance and that’s great news for manufacturers and retailers.
♦ According to Dicebreaker, the UK Games and Puzzles market was worth approximately $400.7m in 2020 and expected to rise.
♦ The annual UK Games Expo – the largest hobby games convention in the UK – attracted over 25,000 visitors in 2019.
♦ Games Workshop Group PLC, manufacturers of Warhammer, turned over £353.2 million globally for the financial year up to 30 May 2021 – an £83.5 million increase on 2019-2020.
Tabletop gaming takes many forms – board games, card games, dice games, tile-based games and miniature wargames. But whatever people play, one of the biggest reasons why these games have become so popular is that they are inherently social and community experiences.
Dare we say it, but tabletop gaming has become cool.
Warhammer is the world’s leading miniatures hobby
One of the biggest brands in tabletop gaming is Warhammer, which encompasses the fantasy themed Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and the futuristic Warhammer 40,000. Both games are enjoyed by a wide variety of people and, unlike many tabletop games, in a variety of different ways.
For example, players typically start by picking up a boxed set containing the rules and miniatures needed to play. It’s the first step into a much larger hobby that involves collecting, building and painting models, as well as honing their tactical skills on the tabletop battlefield. It’s entirely up to the player how they proceed and the possibilities for fun and creativity are endless.
▲ Once models are built, they can be painted in whatever colour scheme you want.
Warhammer is one of the few games that has an enduring appeal beyond the gaming experience. It’s this flexibility that has helped to make Warhammer the world’s leading miniatures gaming hobby. Where other board games simply invite you to ‘play’ against an opponent, with Warhammer players can also:
Collect – A starter set like the Warhammer 40,000 Recruit Edition is the gateway to additional purchases (and repeat customers) as players engage with the hobby and expand their armies.
Build – Small figures and creatures are easy to construct, while larger model kits consist of multiple parts that make each build an absorbing and rewarding experience.
Paint – Once models are built, they can be painted in whatever colour scheme you want. Games Workshop and its network of retail partners sell all the paints, brushes and tools players need to bring their miniatures to life.
Read – From core rule books to our range of Black Library novels, when fans aren’t collecting, building or painting, they are often reading about Warhammer, becoming more immersed in their favourite worlds.
A boom for independent retailers
The popularity of tabletop gaming is great news for independent retailers. We work closely with thousands of local retail partners to sell our products, supplying and supporting them via the Games Workshop Retailer Network.
By joining the Retailer Network and stocking our products, retailers have access to a wide-ranging and dedicated fanbase. We release products all year round that are simple to stock and easy to manage, so there’s always something new to draw these customers into stores.
And if you’re confused or unsure how to get started, we have support staff available who can help you choose the right products to stock (at a substantial margin) and can provide you with all the information you need.
Whether you’re a toy shop or a bookstore, a high street stationers or something else entirely, you can take advantage of the boom in tabletop gaming.
If you have a retail store and would like to know more about becoming a Games Workshop stockist, click the link below to get in touch. We look forward to talking to you.