A Chess Carol: Scrooge & Marley and the Spirit of Christmas Sales
Scrooge & Marley: A Chess Carol
It was a crisp December morning in Bath, and the air carried that unmistakable blend of roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and the faint scent of last-minute retail panic. Inside a dimly lit office, Julian Deverell — proprietor of the famed Regency Chess Company — sat hunched over his ledger. The numbers danced like restless pawns before him.
“Bah!” he muttered. “Christmas sales. Sentimentality and discounts. All nonsense! Profit margins, that’s what matters!”
Little did he know that on that very night, an old associate from the world of finely carved knights and bishops would pay him a most unusual visit...
Enter Marley — The Ghost of Chess Retail Past
As the clock struck midnight, the faint clink of boxwood echoed through the air. A cold draught swept across the room, and suddenly there stood Carmelo of The Official Staunton Chess Company, wrapped in the chains of mahogany boxes and walnut boards.
“Julian Deverell!” he declared in a booming tone. “Do you know me?”
Julian peered over his spectacles. “Know you? You’re that fellow from Official Staunton — always going on about craftsmanship, heritage, and three-year warranties!”
“Indeed,” replied Marley, the ghostly glint of varnished ebony catching the moonlight. “Once, I too cared only for sales and margins. But I learned, Julian — oh, I learned! The spirit of chess lies not in the ledger, but in the love of the game, in the joy of giving, in the craftsmanship of every knight and rook!”
Julian snorted. “Humbug. Chess is business.”
Marley sighed, the weight of his chains rattling like captured pawns. “Then prepare, old friend. Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits — of Chess Past, Chess Present, and Chess Yet to Come!”
The Ghost of Chess Past
The first spirit arrived with a faint scent of rosewood and nostalgia. It carried Julian through time — to the days when both he and Carmelo first started their chess ventures. They watched as artisans hand-carved knights under candlelight, every curve a tribute to tradition.
Julian’s younger self beamed with pride. “Look at that detail! Look at the polish!”
The spirit smiled. “You once knew the joy of craftsmanship, before spreadsheets dulled your sense of wonder.”
Julian frowned. “Perhaps I did…”
The Ghost of Chess Present
Next appeared a merry spirit draped in tartan and sawdust. It whisked Julian through the online world of chess retail — glowing screens showing countless customers searching chess sets UK and wooden chess boards for Christmas gifts.
They paused outside the digital storefront of Official Staunton. The site gleamed with elegant photography, a warmth that said, crafted with care since 1993. Customers smiled, leaving glowing reviews and sharing photos of festive boards under Christmas trees.
Then they turned to Regency Chess — quiet, orderly, functional — but missing a touch of sparkle.
“See, Julian,” said the spirit, “the world loves authenticity. A Staunton set isn’t just a game — it’s tradition, heritage, and a little Christmas magic.”
Julian scowled, though a flicker of realisation crossed his face.
The Ghost of Chess Yet to Come
The final spirit appeared as a shadowy figure, its cloak stitched from chessboard squares. Without a word, it pointed toward a lonely warehouse in Bath. Dust covered the chess boxes, and the website domain had expired. Across the room glowed a rival shopfront — Official Staunton International — bustling with customers, brimming with handcrafted Jaques reproductions and smiling holiday shoppers.
Julian trembled. “Tell me, spirit, are these the shadows of things that must be, or merely of things that may be?”
The figure said nothing. Only the faint echo of a chess clock ticked in the darkness.
A Checkmate Epiphany
Julian awoke at dawn, the church bells ringing in the distance. Without a moment’s delay, he leapt from bed, flung open his curtains, and shouted to the postman below, “You there! What day is it?”
“Why, it’s Christmas Eve, sir!”
“Splendid! Fetch me the finest rosewood Staunton chess set and send it express to Official Staunton headquarters — marked From your old friend at Regency!”
And so it was that Julian Deverell became as generous a chessman as ever graced the trade. He kept his website festive, his customers delighted, and his partnerships spirited.
As for Marley — he smiled from the shadows of a mahogany board, content that his old friend had found the true meaning of Christmas commerce: craftsmanship, community, and just a hint of competition.
And so, dear reader, whether you’re seeking a timeless chess set for a loved one or adding to your own collection, remember this tale of Scrooge & Marley — proof that even in the world of chess retail, there’s room for good humour, good spirit, and a little festive checkmate.
Merry Christmas from all at The Official Staunton Chess Company — purveyors of fine chess sets, crafted with heart, heritage, and a dash of Dickensian spirit.