INTRODUCTION

A fundamental truth
about being an artist is
that you have to sell your
work to survive. To do
this, you need to find an
audience and then give
them something to buy.
This is easier said than
done, especially if you
are not the best at selling
and promoting your art.
To be a success at selling
your art, you must get it in front of as many people as possible AND give them
as many options to buy it as you can.

Colin Giles, another experienced artist selling

puzzles finds that "Jigsaw Puzzles sell to a larger
group (of people) than art works".

There are several ways to sell your work, but true sales success requires you to
think outside the box and offer art in a way that people can easily buy it. One
such way is to turn your art into a unique range of Jigsaw Puzzles. You will
find Jigsaw Puzzles for sale in almost every gift shop, bookstore and museum
shop. The reason for this is pretty simple – people love Jigsaw Puzzles.
Moreover, they have a broad audience appeal as people of all age groups can
find suitable Jigsaw Puzzles for their needs without requiring tutors.

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CHAPTER 1: WHY PUZZLES ARE
A GREAT ALTERNATIVE WAY TO
SELL YOUR ART
If all you sell is your original artwork or premium quality prints, you are
significantly reducing your audience and therefore, the number of people
who want to buy from you. Expanding the range of products you sell will
conversely increase your audience and increase your potential income.

You might already have

realized that a broader range
of products featuring your art
is the way to go. Many Artists
sell their work printed on
notepads, calendars, mugs,
and cards, but these products
don't really show off your art to
the best possible advantage.
There is nothing wrong with
this type of art merchandise;
it's just that it is not optimal
for showing off your art.

Jigsaw Puzzles, on the other hand, are designed around your artwork with the
image being integral, in fact, a vital component of the product itself. No other
product better highlights your artwork and makes the buyer focus on your
art. Unlike other merchandise, Jigsaw Puzzles are an "activity" getting people
engaged directly with your art.

The Jigsaw Puzzle Market - A View from the Top

According to Statista, the US market for Jigsaw Puzzles in 2019 is US$613m

with annual growth of 4.4% (CAGR 2019-2023). The growing need for multi-

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generational products and the increasing use of jigsaw puzzle in movies and
TV shows has propelled the demand for these products.

They may not seem the most likely champions in the digital counter-
revolution, but jigsaw puzzles are certainly playing their part. Additionally, the
frantic pace of today's modern lifestyle is pushing people to find activities
that are relaxing and provide stress relief.

What Motivates People to Buy a Puzzle?

People buy Jigsaw Puzzles for three main reasons:

1. Entertainment
2. Relaxation & Stress Relief
3. As a gift item

“The puzzle is a
great lower
priced
alternative to
my originals” -
Debra Hood,
Artist

From an artist's perspective, they offer a simple and effective way to:

๏ Visually merchandise your art.

๏ Make your art more easily accessible to a broader audience.
๏ Purchase your art as a gift.
๏ Showcase your art in a fun and engaging way.
๏ Obtain your art at a lower price point.
๏ Generate additional income from your artwork.

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Pretty much everyone at one time or another has worked on a puzzle either
as a child or an adult. They are a "No Instructions Required" activity and
appeal to a wide range of ages. Puzzles sell well at art shows, festivals,
weekend markets, and any other place where you display your art for sale.
They are of interest, not only to people who love your work, but also to people
who love puzzles – and that's a lot of people.

When Jenny Laidlaw understood that new

customers often can't afford to buy her original
artworks or her limited-edition prints, she reached
out to puzzlesUnlimited.com to help her launch her
own range of puzzles. Now, she says, "Puzzles sell
better than other types of merchandise".

The Question of Value and Price

The real value of an Art Jigsaw Puzzle is the emotional attachment a buyer
has established with the puzzle image ( i.e. your artwork ) or you as an artist.
Always remember that they are buying your art FIRST, and a Jigsaw Puzzle
second. Just like a quality art print, a puzzle is a way to own your art without
paying for an original.

Typically, Art Jigsaw Puzzles are priced anywhere from $18 to $35. You can
increase their perceived value by:

✓ Selling limited quantities per design (similar to limited edition

numbered prints)

✓ Signing each puzzle box to make them unique

✓ Create a collection of puzzles to encourage multiple purchases

These tips will help to differentiate your puzzle from the mass-produced
puzzles commonly available in big box stores.

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The Branding Benefits of Puzzles

Jigsaw Puzzles offer a unique way to promote your art and brand yourself as a
business-savvy artist.

Puzzle Box Branding - Every puzzle box layout will not only include your
artwork but also incorporate your bio with your portrait picture, website,
email address, contact details and social media touch points. If someone
enjoys your puzzle, it will be easy for them to contact you to buy more.

Note: PuzzlesUnlimited.com takes care of all box layout design for you. Just
tell them what you want to be included on the box.

Art Postcard Puzzles - Many

artists make use of small
postcard sized puzzles to
promote themselves. These
are low-cost puzzles that can
either be given away to
quantified prospects or sold
as an additional product
item. Sized at 4.5in x 6.5in
with 12 or 24 pieces, they are
the perfect way to promote
your art. The postcard puzzle
includes a printed insert with
your artist story, contact details and any other information you request. These
are a great way to brand yourself and get noticed!

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CHAPTER 2: WHAT’S THE
PUZZLING ATTRACTION?
Although people love achieving goals, their satisfaction is greater if there is a
measure of challenge to prove their competence. A jigsaw puzzle provides
that perfect balance of expertise and challenge, and this is even more the
case if the challenge is a unique piece of artwork.

There is enough evidence to prove solving various kinds of puzzles is good for
mental health. Art generally helps mental health, hence the widespread
adoption and recognition of Art Therapy. If this comes in the form of a puzzle,
it will be a welcome addition for many who may not be able to afford to buy
original pieces.

“They enjoy
my artwork.
They feel like
they’re a
part of the
art as they
assemble
the puzzle.” -
Keri Baker,
Artist

Creatures of Habit

People who have developed an affinity for jigsaw puzzles will always want to
solve them. If they have completed one of your art puzzles, they are likely to
look for more.

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We asked several artists who currently sell their art as puzzles what reactions
they got from their customers. Here are some of their responses:

✓ They think that the artist is

smart to promote
themselves this way.

✓ They engage with the artist

on social media posting
photos showing their
progress with a puzzle.

✓ They feel like they’re a part

of the art as they assemble
the puzzle.

✓ They gain insight into the painting technique and minute details.

✓ They become repeat customers looking to buy more designs as puzzles.

✓ They love the quality of the jigsaw puzzle including the jigsaw puzzle
box, pieces and colour reproduction.

✓ They enjoy the challenge of putting puzzles together.

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CHAPTER 3: WHAT MAKES A
BEST SELLER?
The hardest part in the whole puzzling process is deciding which of your art
pieces works best as puzzles. A lot depends on your audience and the type of
art you produce but keeping emotion out of the process is a good idea. Not
every art piece translates well into a puzzle, so knowing what people look for
will help you choose wisely and increase your chance of sales success.

The first thing to note is that your most popular art pieces may not translate
well into puzzles. Art pieces with lots of open spaces or similar colors don’t
sell well as puzzles. They are boring for the puzzler to solve.

The Image

First and foremost, the puzzle image is the number one factor that influences
the sales of an art puzzle.

A best-selling puzzle will have lots of color and detail. When an image is cut
into puzzle pieces, part of the fun is to look at each piece and decide where it
fits in the puzzle. The only clues to go on are the colors and detail on each
piece so you become intensely familiar with the image while solving the
puzzle.

Artist Bruce
Johnson said, "It's
the image that sells
them, not the size."

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Some puzzlers like repetitive designs increasing its complexity to solve while
others like recognisable areas making it easier to find the correct pieces. The
puzzle image should strike a balance between offering a challenge but not
be too difficult to solve.

It is no mystery that bright and popping colors immediately grab someone’s

attention and you need to capitalize on that. While sombre images can be a
bit of a delight for particular people, you can expect most of the people to go
for images with vibrant colors and lots of details.

An Emotional Connection

Images that elicit an emotional reaction sell better than generic images.
Puzzles of paintings of well know local landmarks sell well to local audiences.
Funny or eye-catching images work well if your market is tourists or out of
towners. You want people to see your art and say, “Wow, that would make a
great puzzle”.

“They send
me photos
on Facebook
of their
progress on
the puzzles.”
- Kristi Davis

All-in-All, the image has to have the ability to build a kind of emotional
connection with the person whom you intend to sell it to. For instance, a
museum selling a puzzle of their top exhibit in their gift store is more likely to
make a lot of sales than a puzzle with a generic image. Customers will buy a
product based on an image if they can relate to it on some level.

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Size and Difficulty According to your Target Market

This is where you need to decide

whom you’re selling to. To state
the obvious, if your audience is
adults then a puzzle size of 504
or 1000 pieces is most suitable.
If you are aiming at parents with
children, then a smaller 48 or
100 piece puzzle will work
better. Depending upon your
market, it may be a good idea to
offer two or more size versions of
the same puzzle image so you
have options for customers.

Physical size is also a factor. Large puzzles require large tables to layout all the
pieces. Puzzle box size is also a buying factor. A puzzle bought as a gift needs
to be easily fitted in a customer’s luggage or sent through the mail. If you’re
selling at art fairs or weekend markets, no one wants to walk around with a
large puzzle box.

Why Art Jigsaw Puzzles Are a Popular Gift Item

Puzzles are a top choice among people looking for a gift item, especially for
someone who loves art. Some reasons are:

✓ They have unique designs that aren’t available elsewhere

✓ They are small and can fit into any bags
✓ They are lightweight and easy to carry
✓ They come in various shapes, sizes and colours
✓ They have various degrees of difficulty depending on what the client
wants
✓ They are generally affordable and come in flexible price ranges
✓ They are suitable for all ages

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CONCLUSION
As an artist, you are also an entrepreneur and have your own financial
responsibility. If you are like other artists, you are not comfortable with
mainstream merchandising options which take the focus off your art work to
other objects. Your desire to monetize your art shouldn’t relegate the prime
position of your art work.

You therefore need a merchandising alternative that retains the shine on your
artwork and that is what art jigsaw puzzle will achieve. By illustrating your
colourful and detailed artwork boldly and vividly on puzzles, you can join the
frontline artists that are already generating huge income from their sales.

The best part is in the cross selling opportunity that this integration generates
for you. Over 60% of the artists who sell these puzzles report that it doesn’t in
any way affect the sale of their other art works. This means that they create an
entirely new income stream from selling puzzles. Even better, many who
struggled to sell their arts recorded significant spike when they began to sell
puzzles.

One thing is sure; you have nothing to lose by trying out this alternative.

Take the first step and contact

PuzzlesUnlimited.com today.

PuzzlesUnlimited.com
sales@puzzlesunlimited.com

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