WHITE DWARF 1 GAMES WORKSHOP 1

It was now 1977 and things were on the up. The Estate Agent was as good as his word and found them a small shop in Dalling Road in Hammersmith and a new apartment nearby, with enough room to hold the stock until the shop was refitted and ready to go. It was time to go retail!

Ian and Steve wanted to get the news to as many gamers as possible that a specialist fantasy games shop was soon to open. They already had 'Owl and Weasel', but its number of subscribers was too small. Games Workshop was moving into a new phase and needed to project a much more professional image. With some regret, Ian and Steve decided that their little magazine after 25 issues, though popular, would have to go.

Thus 'White Dwarf' was born, a glossy magazine written by Ian (its Editor) and Steve and a few contributors. Having created, written and designed it, they ordered a print company to print 4,000 copies. It was a big gamble. The first issue went on sale in June of 1977. It was an instant success with its readers and sold out its initial print run.

Finally the day arrived when the first Games Workshop shop was to open. It was a wet Saturday morning in April 1978. Nervous with anticipation, but comforted by the knowledge that White Dwarf had sold so well, Ian and Steve decided to make an early start. The shop was opening at 10am, and it was probably going to be pretty quiet to start with, at least for the first couple of months, until people realised they were there.

They turned the corner into Dalling Road where the freshly painted shopfront told the world that they existed. They couldn't believe it. There was a queue! Ian checked his watch...yep, 8am - two hours before they were even meant to open. The queue started at the shop door and disappeared around the corner. There were over 100 people already waiting patiently - and it was still 2 hours till opening!

On its very first morning, Games Workshop opened its doors early...


THE CITADEL

Ian and Steve were determined not to let Games Workshop become 'just another shop'. They wanted it to be an experience, a place where gamers could go not just to buy games but also to learn how to play them. Specialist staff who were games experts would be hired for all future Workshop shops to help create the hobby atmosphere.

But it wasn't long before people started sending in letters of complaint. Not about the shop, however, but about the lack of shops elsewhere!

Gamers were travelling from all over the UK and Europe to visit the only shop dedicated to their hobby of fantasy games. The only answer was to open more shops in other towns. Games Workshops in Manchester and Birmingham were opened followed later by shops in Nottingham and Sheffield. The hobby was further expanded by the annual Games Day which Games Workshop organised for over 5,000 people who would cram themselves into The Royal Horticultural Hall in London to play games. Games Workshop also went on tour around the country attending just about every games convention going.
The increasing use of fantasy miniatures in D&D; prompted Ian and Steve to invest in a new division of Games Workshop as importing large quantities of metal miniatures was proving too costly. Citadel Miniatures was the name given to the factory started in Newark and which was to be run so brilliantly by Bryan Ansell. Citadel's first range of Fantasy Adventurers was a huge success and was quickly expanded. It was not long before Citadel Miniatures was the biggest selling miniatures company in the world.