Gibsons Beach Buddies
500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Gibsons Beach Buddies 500 piece Jigsaw
Puzzle
• A high quality 500 piece jigsaw puzzle with sturdy pieces
• Beach Buddies was painted by Peter Adderley
• Jigsaw puzzle size measures 49cm x 34cm when complete
• Made from thick, durable jigsaw puzzle board that is 100% recycled.
• Gibsons is a British, family company established in 1919. Gibsons have over 250
jigsaw puzzles in their range
• Ideal gift for those with a great sense of humour and beach lovers
• Suitable from age 10 plus
Features furry friends taking a trip on a catamaran, browsing a mewspaper and enjoying
some mice cream at the seaside.
As with all Gibsons jigsaws, the beautifully illustrated pieces are made from the highest
quality 100% recycled board and therefore a pleasure to work with again and again.
Suitable for ages 10+. Not suitable for
children under 36 months due to choking hazard from small parts that could be
swallowed.
Gibsons Jigsaw Puzzles - A British
Family Business
In 1903, Harry Gibson managed to obtain an unsecured loan of £500 from the Royal Bank of
Scotland in Bishopsgate, London. This generous sum enabled him to start a business, which
at that time was called The International Card Co. Trading from offices in Aldersgate
Street, he supplied retailers with a range of products including card games and
postcards; an unlikely combination these days, but back then, most towns would have a
number of stationers in the High Street and they became Harry Percy’s first customers.
The International Card business was sold to the De La Rue Company and H. P. Gibson & Sons
Limited was formed in 1919. The International Series brand continued to be used on some
products right up to the early 1980′s, but H P Gibson & Sons Ltd made its name with the
‘HPG’ brand of indoor games, with old favourites such as L’Attaque and Dover Patrol; huge
sellers before and after the Second World War. Sadly the company’s premises, along with
all its manufacturing equipment were destroyed during the blitz in 1940 and when the war
ended, it was almost a case of starting from scratch.
Robert and Harry Gibson (jnr.), sons of the founder, re-established trading from Barrett
Street in London’s West End. The company continued to sell its own family games and
pastimes, alongside ranges from other established names, including Waddingtons and Chad
Valley.
Gibsons Jigsaw
Puzzles
1966 Harry Percy’s grandson, Michael Gibson joined the family business. He remembers his
father paying him £11.00 a week out of which he had to pay his mother living expenses. In
the late 70s H P Gibson & Sons shortened its name to ‘Gibsons’, and shortly after, in the
early 80s, Gibsons introduced their first jigsaw puzzles. Michael Gibson was determined
to bring a new, luxurious feel to a decidedly lacklustre market. The result was their
high quality, 100% recycled puzzle board and sturdy boxes printed in smart royal blue.
Along with the new jigsaws came new themes, and Michael dispensed of the dreary subject
matters and introduced delectable new imagery, often drawn by specially commissioned
artists.
Gibsons originally had only six puzzle pictures in the range which depicted aerial shots
of well-known British landmarks, but nowadays, the range has grown to over 250 titles,
running from 2 to 2000 pieces, with over 50 new jigsaw puzzle images added every year.
Gibsons have a broad selection of products for all the family including games and puzzles
suitable for pre-school to big school and beyond!
The company is still run by Chairman, Michael Gibson, and today, Michael’s daughter Kate
Armitage, niece Nicki Gumbrell and son-in-law Adam Melville are all in the family
business too. Michael comments, ‘Here at Gibsons we are one big family and we are very
lucky with our staff, all of whom seem to enjoy working with us and putting their heart
and soul into their various roles. Being a small business, everybody gets that feeling
of being involved and not just being a small cog in a big wheel.’
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