Alberto Naso, Co-Owner, Geeks Headquarters

I am Alberto Naso, one of the owners of Geeks Headquarters (GHQ). I own the store with my brother Massimiliano. It is a retail store that specialises in a wide range of gaming products, such as boardgames, trading card games, miniature games and roleplaying games. We hold events and tournaments throughout the week and have free casual play too. We also produce unique custom made 3d printed and laser cut items as an additional service for our customers.

What was the greatest achievement for your business or organisation over the past year?

The business has been so successful that we have been able to expand the number of staff we employ. We were also nominated and short listed for the Best Italian Business Award

How would you describe Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, using only three words?

Plenty of Opportunities

What are your favourite places to visit in Chesterfield and why?

Sicily Restaurant – for an authentic taste of home.

Chesterfield Escape Rooms – Which is next door to our shop and is great fun for everyone!

How is your business or organisation becoming more sustainable?

We have changed all our old fluorescent lighting for more eco-friendly LED panels reducing our energy consumption.

Why do you love working or doing business in Chesterfield or North Derbyshire?

I know everyone says this but it’s definitely the people. Since we opened in 2015 we have been welcomed by everyone.

How are you supporting young people in your business?

We work with Chesterfield College and local schools to provide work experience for local young people.

How are you, your business or your team supporting local people?

We provide a large gaming space for all ages to come and play Pokémon, Magic The Gathering, Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dungeon and Dragons, Miniature gaming, board games.  It’s a great space for people to come and play games and socialise with friends.  We don’t charge for casual play (except £1 each for Dungeons and Dragons) which makes it affordable for local people.

We do have people travelling from surrounding areas and counties to come and play in our tournaments, which brings people to our lovely town. 

What support or advice has your business received recently and how has it benefited your business?

We have a link with D2N2 that has given us very valid input and feedback on various aspects of our business that we acted upon and implemented, such as marketing, developing the website and streamlining our pre order procedures.

Which upcoming development do you think will have the greatest impact on the town and why?

Revitalising of the Heart of Chesterfield I believe will have the greatest impact on the town, as this will provide Chesterfield with a much needed revamped marketplace and the wonderful Stephenson Memorial Hall and Pomegranate Theatre will also be refurbished / modernised. It sounds like a great space for local people with a new gallery space, a cafe bar, and education facilities.

What is your vision for Chesterfield and North Derbyshire in 2030?  What do you think the town needs to achieve this?

I am expecting a flourish of new businesses with the Revitalising of the Heart of Chesterfield. I think the town needs a diversification of shops, independent businesses and careful planning, consulting with the local people to bring back the vibrancy of Chesterfield.