Bringing back the kids puzzles

[Iguanadon]

Hey Gang, long time no post.  I hope everyone is doing well.  4 or 5 weeks into my season and I've decided I'm going to bring back the kids puzzles into my inventory for events.  I'm getting more potential customers that mention they're interested in one of my puzzles for younger children and being the honest, good hearted person that I am, I talk them out of it since my signature puzzles are somewhat delicate in nature and aren't meant for "tiny hands" as I put it.  In the past I pointed them over to a series of dinosaur and other simplistic puzzles made of pine that I used to make and display.  But I chose to do away with them last year and it was working out OK, but this year seems to be costing me more than I anticipated.  Plus I'm hearing more often "Oh I love your work, I have 2 at home already!"  Not that I'm completely saturated here considering the tens of thousands of tourists each summer, but I definitely have a number of local households that already have a puzzle or two on the shelves.

Also, I'm going to make one of these non-puzzle dogs as a wall mounted key/leash holder and take it to my next major event and get some feedback on it to see if it's something I should broaden myself into.

Iggy

 

[Rockytime]

Good idea. When I started scrolling I did not bother with the suggested practice things. Rather I started cutting a bunch of simple puzzles fora young little friend. They were unfinished pine and she had such a great time painting them. We are getting young families as lots of us old folks move out. I think I may get back to doing that for awhile and give them away.

[Iguanadon]

2 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

Good idea. When I started scrolling I did not bother with the suggested practice things. Rather I started cutting a bunch of simple puzzles fora young little friend. They were unfinished pine and she had such a great time painting them. We are getting young families as lots of us old folks move out. I think I may get back to doing that for awhile and give them away.

The simple dinosaur puzzles are what I started with for my grand-daughter and I also made and gave away dozens of them and then I came across Harvey's artwork and fell in love with his puzzles.  I kept making the simple puzzles as well for 2 years but stopped last year mostly due to time constraints.  I'm still squeezed on time, but I feel I really need to have them at events.

[rjweb]

Hi Iggy, I was wondering where you were hiding out, glad to see that the puzzles are still selling, but I agree do some for the younger crowd. It’s funny I had a wallpaper business before I retired and people would not care what it cost for their child’s room, but when it came to their room they bought the cheapest they can get even if they didn’t like it, good luck going forward, RJ 

[kmmcrafts]

The leash idea will probably take off pretty well.. They was a hot seller for me for a few years way back when I first started.. but I never found the source for all the breeds of dogs like you have found with Harveys patterns.. I only stopped making them because I lost my patterns in a hard drive crash.. and I had moved onto clocks which was doing really well..  

[scrollingforsanity]

I think you will do well with the childrens puzzles again Iggy. I had them last year as well as the signature puzzles. I think I sold just as many childrens puzzles as I did the others. Hope you do well with the key leash holder.

grizz

[wombatie]

There will always be new little fingers needing puzzles but adults only want one or two unless they are into the 1000 piece ones, like my husband.

Marg

[John B]

I find you miss out on a whole demographic if you don't have something for the rug rats. They nippers stuff can make the difference between a so,so market and a good one.
BTW they are neat puzzles.

[Iguanadon]

OK, yep, I definitely miss making these kids puzzles.  Taking my time, I just laid out 14 on a six foot board and cut them, all in under 90 minutes.  10 per hour basically.  I could spend a casual Saturday or Sunday and make 50 of them and keep a stockpile without any trouble.  

[orangeman]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since I won't be doing any Cary, NC shows I have a tip for you: COLOR sells!!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at my website - www.pickenspuzzles.com - My #1 seller is the snail puzzle with numbers!

Colored dinos sell well also.

bb

 

[ike]

I have made sealer of the Dog leach holders. and they sell. I have dog puzzles and this will be the last year for them , not making any new ones just selling what I have. They are good sellers andI am tired of making them. This is a hoby not a business.

IKE