She’s kept a stock from Value Village at her La Salle home. They’re not pricey, but it can still be a hassle buying them constantly, she said.<\/div>\n
“I thought, ‘Oh, maybe somebody would want to trade with me.’”<\/div>\n
Hyde, 33, saw many Facebook posts of people sharing their puzzles. So, at the beginning of the year, she asked her husband to build a small library that could hold some for swapping. By the second week of March, he’d erected a wooden unit at the edge of their property to house jigsaw sets.<\/div>\n
The creation is roughly four feet tall; it’s decorated with a wreath and a sign reminding folks to take and leave puzzles. <\/div>\n
Hyde placed around 20 sets in the library to get it started. She then introduced the library, located at 51 Rue Rocan, on Facebook.<\/div>\n
“It’s been crazy,” she said. “I didn’t expect anybody to go this buck-wild on it.”<\/div>\n
Within days, her post received over 120 likes. People have stopped by and added new puzzles since.<\/div>\n
Hyde said the COVID-19 pandemic could be contributing to folks’ interest in puzzles; if activity at the library dwindles as the pandemic ends, Hyde might add board games.<\/div>\n
COVID-19 has dramatically changed the jigsaw puzzle market, according to Kari England, the owner of Toad Hall Toys in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.<\/div>\n
There’s been a 300 per cent increase in demand over the past year, England said.<\/div>\n
“You can’t keep them in stock,” she said. “They can’t make them fast enough, they can’t ship them fast enough.”<\/div>\n
Specific brands have been flying off the shelves. Ravensburger only filled 10 per cent of England’s orders last year because supply couldn’t meet demand, England said. Since January, the company has only shipped her 300-piece puzzles, even though she’s asked for sets with more pieces.<\/div>\n
The pandemic has made production trickier, England said — it’s harder to find raw materials, many companies are working on a skeleton staff, and there’s been shipping issues.<\/div>\n
“The supply chains are completely fractured, if not just broken,” England said.<\/div>\n
Ravensburger’s website states it currently won’t sell adult puzzles online — they’re only available in stores due to high demand.<\/div>\n
England said she normally has access to 350 different puzzle designs from another supplier. Right now, she has access to 30.<\/div>\n
The majority of puzzle buyers at Toad Hall Toys are 24 and older, England said. Some customers have gotten frustrated upon finding that the puzzle they want isn’t in stock.<\/div>\n
“People need to branch out in the brands they’re willing to try,” England said. “People get hyper-focused on one they’ve been used to, and there are lots of other good quality options out there.”<\/div>\n
She said the demand isn’t surprising, given the times — the pastime can be done alone, by any age group, and requires no extra pieces.<\/div>\n
“It’s a quiet pursuit and keeps you busy for a long time,” she said.<\/div>\n
England guesses the puzzle craze will last into next year. As for Hyde, there are options — she’s got puzzles at home and new boxes in the library steps from her doorway. <\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Nicole Hyde is on maternity leave in a pandemic, and she’s been burning through jigsaw puzzles.<\/p>\n
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