Puzzles: How and Where to Sell

If you are a puzzles aficionado, why not turn your passion into a passive income stream? Yes, you read it right, you can actually earn money. All you need is to know how and where to sell a puzzle. 

From historic events to children’s themes and vintage editions to customized print, you can now buy or sell a puzzle as per your preference. However, if you are somewhat of an artist who loves to draw or create your own puzzles, you can make some money on a side by turning this talent into an income stream. However, how you can do so and where you can market your puzzles is the key factor in determining your success.

The puzzles industry is worth millions and has already generated around $756 million in 2021 so far.  According to industry pundits, this segment will experience growth 1.43% growth annually between 2021 and 2026. So, if you are thinking about becoming a freelance puzzle creator and seller, this is a great opportunity at the right time for you.

As a kid, I saw my grandfather working tirelessly in our basement, creating wooden puzzles. At the time, I thought of him as some kind of a mad scientist with an obsession. As I grew up, I gradually learned how mesmerizing and satisfying puzzle-solving could be, and it got me into creating my own puzzles and selling them. So, I would like to share these tips with you on how and where to sell your puzzles.

How and Where to Sell Your Puzzles

I can imagine all your excitement about the ideas you have in mind and how popular your puzzles may get amongst the masses. Nevertheless, you have to be realistic here because the puzzle industry is one of the most established and in-demand revenue-generating cogs of our economy.

So, if you wish to sell your puzzles, they will have to be something special. That being said, here are 2 major steps to guide you in the right direction and start reaping the benefits of your amazing talent and skills.

Creating and Selling Your Design

While many may think, “oh, that sounds easy, may I can try my luck at creating puzzles.” But trust me when I say you need to have sheer passion and creativity to come up with some of the most indulging and challenging puzzles and patterns.

However, if you are already a self-accomplished puzzle creator with a collection under your belt, you can start selling them right away. All you need is to contact a puzzle manufacturer to print and create your designs.

Do some research online and select a puzzle manufacturing service to fit your needs at the minimal cost possible. This process may vary slightly by the manufacturer but typically will involve the following steps.

·         Select a puzzle printing package that suits your needs and budget

·         Upload your puzzle’s artwork

·         Preview the design to see what your final puzzle will look like.

·         Set up any details about your puzzles design. These include the puzzle’s name, its description, and some keywords, along with the printed price.

·         You can even add an optional image promoting other existing or upcoming puzzles you are currently selling. These can go on the side of the puzzle, the back, or on the packaging itself. A good puzzle creator will always provide hints of a miniature image of a completed puzzle for the solvers to refer to. So, do not forget to include that in your final product.

A useful tip here, the more details you can add to your design and description, the higher the chances of potential buyers finding your puzzles.

Check with your puzzle manufacturer to see if they offer additional services. Some of them will even take care of storing your printed puzzles, promote and sell them on their website and even take care of the packaging and shipment to the customers. This way, you can enjoy a hassle-free earning stream; however, the puzzle manufacturer will charge you a fixed percentage on every puzzle order they handle on your behalf.

Create Your Online Shop                                                                                                                                    

Once you received your printed/manufactured puzzles, you can either take the long route of contacting a retailer to put your puzzles on their shelves. However, this will mean sharing your profit (if you make any) with the selling retail store.

Therefore, online marketplace such as Amazon and eBay are your best bet to get started. You can create your own shop space in both stores free of cost. Create an account on one or both of these marketplaces and link your bank account to start raking in some profits. Once activated, you can use your account and upload your puzzles with descriptions and images and start selling.

Facebook business page/store is another option for you to create your personal puzzle shop and start sharing them with friends, family, and other people in your network for promotion. All you have to do is wait for the interested people to visit your online store on all these platforms and place orders.

You can also use other platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat to create your profile and promote your existing and upcoming puzzles. This applies to those of you who are not puzzled creators but have collectible puzzle sets in good to prestige condition.

Making Money with Owned Puzzles?

So what if you are not a puzzle creator, but you do have a collection of some masterpiece puzzles that are very popular as well as challenging. Well, in that case, yes, you can earn some money back by selling those puzzles.

It may come as a surprise to you, but there is a huge demand for old, unfinished and even finished puzzles out there. So, if you have a massive vintage puzzle taking up a lot of space in your room, you can sell it and make a decent sum.

However, becoming an online seller may be a bit too much of a hassle if it is just one puzzle you have got to sell. In this case, your best answer for how and where to sell a puzzle would be your network. Ask your family, friends, or colleagues if they are into puzzles and would be interested in buying one from you. You can always sell them a garage sale, although that might not get you much for it. So, if no one wants to buy a puzzle directly from you, an online marketplace is your best bet to bag a reasonable price.

How and Where to Sell a Completed Puzzle?

If you have a limited edition or a popular completed puzzle that you wish to sell, you can do so online to get the best price for it. Simply follow these steps.

·         Take a great photo of the completed jigsaw puzzle

·         Write a catchy description including puzzles size, material, number of pieces, and condition

·         Give this solved a personal story in a few lines, so people you wish to buy feel connected and finalize the sale

·         It is always a good thing to include a return policy such as the last date to claim a refund, return the product. You can even mention that you are not offering any refund option to the buyers. This is the best practice as this way; a buyer will know what they are getting into.

·         Now post your listing on whichever platform you are using as your marketplace.

Whether you are a puzzle creator or a collector wondering how and where to sell a puzzle, you can follow the above-mentioned starter tips a start making some extra money. This is actually a great way for puzzle enthusiasts because you can actually sell your old puzzles and get fair cash and use it to buy some new ones to tickle your brain.