You can find our Scrabble sets in Aspinal of London and David Linley, while our backgammon boards can be found in Lalique and Harrods…”
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
Elliot Parker is the grandson and one of the third generation of Geoffrey Parker, where he serves as Managing Director. The family business, Geoffrey Parker, manufactures and creates luxury versions of traditional board games, game tables, and bespoke packaging from leather. Here we discuss the history of the company, it’s eminent client base and what the Geoffrey Parker brand stands for…
C&B: “Elliot, we’ve seen your board games and croquet sets at some of the most illustrious addresses; where is the company itself based?”
EP: “We’re based in the beautiful English countryside between Stansted Airport and Cambridge. Our workshops and offices are still located on the same site where Geoffrey founded our company back in 1958…”
Geoffrey Parker was featured on the Channel 4 TV series called ‘World’s Most Expensive Presents’, which was shown just before last Christmas. We were also featured on ‘Billionaire Babies’ on Channel 5. It’s always great to get our brand out there and show that a traditional craft like leatherwork is still thriving in the UK, and that British craftsmanship still signifies a high standard…”
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
C&B: “How did the family business evolve into its present day iteration and when did you get involved?”
EP: “I started in the family business at 16 years old, and in more recent years, I have taken over from my father as managing director. The story of how my grandfather began making board games is quite interesting and started just after the war when he flew Mosquitos as a pathfinder. His passion was in literature, and during his time at Cambridge University, he would spend his days reading poetry and classics. When he wasn’t studying, reading, or painting, he was working in a chamois leather company. Eventually, Geoffrey found himself handmaking miniature leather-bound books, and before long, he was selling them to upmarket boutiques and luxury hotels. One of his customers, known by their surname today, was Richard Dunhill, who asked Geoffrey to use his leather skills to make a chess set. His ability to inlay the leather to create a seamless playing surface enabled him to create a beautiful chessboard, and the rest, as they say, is history…”
Almost every one of our products is handmade to order, which enables our customers to customize their product to their liking without having a minimum order…”
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
C&B: “Where are the Geoffrey Parker items produced – is it all in house? And which materials are most in demand?”
EP: “We’re proud to say that we hand-make our products in our Essex workshops in the shadow of Geoffrey’s family home. Our craftsmen and women are masters in the field of leatherwork; it takes around 7 years for a trainee to master the art of leatherwork and learn to create a product in the signature Geoffrey Parker style and to the same high standard. Almost every one of our products is handmade to order, which enables our customers to customize their product to their liking without having a minimum order. Where possible, we support local suppliers, which has ensured that our supply chain is now 85% British. This helps to keep our carbon footprint low and ensures we can continue to say we are a proud, British brand…”
C&B: “Do you produce mainly for the UK, or is it an international market?”
EP: “Our products are sold worldwide, but we primarily sell through our website. You can find our products in various shops as well, but often they will be white-labeled. For example, you can find our Scrabble sets in Aspinal of London and David Linley, while our backgammon boards can be found in Lalique and Harrods. For those looking to create their custom designs, this is something that can only be done directly through us…”
We sell all of our products worldwide and include free shipping on all of our board games over £200. One of our biggest exports is to the USA, with significant interest in the UAE and across Europe…”
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
C&B: “Who would you say is the typical Geoffrey Parker customer?”
EP: “Our customers are all different; we work with interior designers, hotels, luxury brands, and direct customers. We have customers who are professional backgammon players and others who love the craftsmanship and artistry of the product. There is no typical customer for us; generally speaking, all of our clients, first and foremost, are admirers of the beauty of our products and the skill of our team of craftspeople. Our items quickly become treasured family heirlooms…”
We’ve supplied a number of hotels and private members clubs over the 65-year history of Geoffrey Parker. From The Ritz and Bulgari hotel to nearly all of London’s private clubs, including Annabel’s and the RAC, to name a few…
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
C&B: “Do you exhibit at any trade fairs or exhibitions?”
EP: “We only attend one exhibition a year at present, which is Salon Prive in Blenheim Palace. This exhibition is a 4-day event fully catered for 3 days and includes a luxury shopping village where you will find us. This exhibition is primarily a vintage and luxury car show; however, there are a few unique luxury brands on display…”
C&B: “When is your busiest period during the year – Christmas?”
EP: “Without a doubt, it’s Christmas; as we handmake luxury toys and games, it’s no surprise that at Christmas our team works flat out to ensure everybody who orders a bespoke board game receives their perfect gift in time. As we also create white-label items, we tend to be busy all year round with replenishment stock orders and customs commissions on the books. There is always a large variety of items coming through our workshop all year long..”
We were asked to create a blind backgammon set for Stevie Wonder, and an ex-American president commissioned items. When Princess Anne visited to open our new workshops, she mentioned that she had several products from Geoffrey Parker. The list of our high-profile clients that we can share can be seen on our website along with our company history.
Elliot Parker, MD, Geoffrey Parker
C&B: “Who would be the dream Geoffrey Parker customer?”
EP: “Our customers are all fantastic, dream clients! They become very familiar with our team as they begin designing and choosing their colour options. Whether you’re ordering from our small collection of stock items for immediate delivery or working with our team to create a truly unique item, we always welcome customers from all walks of life, celebrity or not…”
CONTACT: http://www.geoffreyparker.com
