As we close the doors on 2020, with the hope of a brighter 2021, we caught up with Roger Martin, our Managing Director, one last time before he officially heads off on his new adventure.
You’ll all know the classic tale of how Coiledspring started back in 2004, with just one game and one puzzle, to joining the Asmodee family in 2018, with the shared vision of bringing the best games to the widest audience. In October of 2020, it was announced that Roger would be leaving Coiledspring to take up a new position at Asmodee, with our sales manager Kerrie, stepping up to take the reins.
So, we felt it was only right to immortalise Roger’s legacy on our blog! Roger, over to you.
Where do we start? Talk us through the journey.
Coming across Triolet, a sort of ‘Scrabble but with numbers’ game that I really enjoyed, but couldn’t find in any shops, led to the creation of Coiledspring. Fast forward to 2020, we have over 400 games, puzzles and jigsaws in our range, with some incredible partners. It has been an unbelievable journey, with lots of highs and lows, from all the responsibility that comes from running your own business, to play testing new games
The game market is always changing – new products are released continuously. The market is very different now, when you compare it to back when I started Coiledspring in 2004. While there were many great games available then, it was still considered quite niche and it certainly wasn’t as mainstream as it is now. You wouldn’t have expected to see the likes of Dobble or Ticket to Ride in supermarket stores back in 2004! The innovation and ability for new games to come to market is something I love about this industry and have always loved scouring the halls of various shows to find the next big thing.
Looking back over the 16 years, what are you stand out moments?
I’ve always had a passion for all things games, and my collection, both in the office and at home really shows this. I have so many fond memories, but one that really stands out has to be the first time I tried Forbidden Island. At the time, there weren’t many cooperative games around, so it was certainly novel to switch from competitive mode to cooperative mode, with the view of beating the game. It showed me a new type of magic, that really enabled more people to come to the table and play together, regardless of age or ability.
Another stand out moment is of course the shows! I love Nuremburg, in particular the new product zone, which I always make sure to attend. I’ll never forget seeing Rory’s Story Cubes for the first time and being fascinated with them. I walked away thinking, I could sell that! And sell them I did! I love telling stories, and this is one of the perfect games for doing so. Though I’m sure my neighbours at Top Draw Autumn must have got fed up with me asking all passers-by if I could tell them a story…
What are your top three Coiledspring products?
As ever, picking a top three is incredibly difficult, as I like all board games and puzzles that we range. My ultimate top three would have to be:
I had to include a puzzle on this list, as these are the sturdiest 3D puzzles on the market and I am the office expert on building them! I fully expect to be called upon to build one up for a show! Over the years we have curated a range of products for families and gamers alike – I really do believe we have something for everyone.
Any last words of wisdom?
As always when a chapter ends, it can be quite hard to let go. I’m certain that Coiledspring has a bright and brilliant future with Kerrie at the helm and supported by the strongest team CSG has ever had. My desire has never changed, it has always been to get more people, playing more games, more often, and I fully believe that Coiledspring has that running through its core. I’m very much looking forward to my new challenge at Asmodee UK, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on what new games and puzzles Coiledspring discover.
