ChessBaron started soon after the beginning of the millenium (2000, in case anyone is reading this after the year 3000). With a strong interest in chess and the emerging world wide web – could chess sets be sold over the internet that were not the kind of sets currently available throughout the UK market? And could the model be taken elsewhere too?

We started with making some chess design by means of talented craftsmen we found in the country where the vast majority of chess pieces are made – India. We made sure that these craftsmen were well paid and happy with their work. We wanted to make unusual set designs available to people – sets that weren’t usually available through such venerable stores as John Lewis and Selfridges – even Harrods. The type of sets we wanted to market were sets that certainly weren’t available through Woolworths (as was), Asda or Debenhams.

ChessBaron was born. The demand was such that we quickly ran out of stock and needed more sets made. Cases were added, boards, clocks and other chess goods, until it became a front runner in the industry.

Things have changed. Competition is such that other companies imitate – and this is of course a desirable aspect of capitalism. People get goods that are cheaper and better. ChessBaron is still at the forefront of the chess industry, despite strong competition in every country they operate in.

We are currently looking for a franchisee in Australia where a good market exists for good quality chess goods, so if this is interesting to you – please get in touch through the UK email address (chessbaron.co.uk) and and addressed to Baron Turner.