Michael Gibson, Gibsons Games and the introduction of Uno, diplomacy and jigsaw puzzles
In 1966, Harry Percy's grandson Michael Gibson joined the family business. In the early 1970s, with the company facing the prospect of losing wholesale business as their clients began to sell directly to consumers, Michael Gibson suggested that previously discontinued games from Waddingtons could potentially be profitable if they were to be relaunched. H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd approached Waddingtons, who were receptive to the idea. Soon, H. P. Gibson & Sons were manufacturing and distributing titles such as Risk, Travel Go, Game of Nations, and 4000 AD. The move was a resounding success and became part of the core business strategy.
In 1969, Harry Aisbitt died, followed by Robert Gibson in 1973. Michael Gibson took charge of the company. Within a decade, Michael got rid of the summer range of paddling pools and formalised the evolution of the company by shortening the name to Gibsons Games, taking on the familiar brand identity.
By the mid-1980s, the company had bought their own freehold in Colliers Wood and had an established range of 25 board game titles, including Diplomacy and Wembley, as well as the license for 221b Baker Street, still a best-selling title for the company, and the popular UNO card game which helped to enhance the Gibsons Games brand.
In the late 1980s Gibsons Games released their first jigsaw puzzles, with images of aerial photographs of Britain and familiar landmarks. Fundamentally, the company prided itself on the high-quality jigsaw board, the packaging of the puzzle, and their excellent customer service, as well as pictures that evoked nostalgic memories for puzzle enthusiasts. In 1996, Gibsons Games expanded further with the agreement between themselves and Piatnik, the playing card company. They began to distribute Piatnik playing cards as well as distributing their popular game Pass the Bomb within the UK market.
