Puzzle presentation

[Millwab]

Question for those of you that do shows or sales of some kind.  If you have puzzles (jigsaw type) do you display them assembled and wrapped some how for sale or do you put the pieces in a box or zip lock bag with maybe a picture so that the puzzle isn't already together?

[Dan]

I always displayed my animal standup puzzles assembled. It presents itself much better. Even if I just put one of each on display, I always had them wrapped in plastic so the buyer could see what the finished product looks like. 

For picture jigsaw puzzles (I've only done a few) I had them disassembled in a box with a photo attached to the box.

[new2woodwrk]

I have everything that is for sale, shrink wrapped and many are on display.

I also have "Samples" which most have a broken piece or two, unwrapped and available for children to put their grubby little hands all over which they ALWAYS do since parents can't seem to control their children!

And every week, they manage to break at least one "sample" - which is already broken... LOL Jokes on them

 

[John B]

All my puzzles are designed for nippers. I shrink wrap them all. The standing puzzles and tray puzzles. The more complicated (without a tray) I shrink wrap with a piece cardboard as a backer. All assembled with the "piece" count.

[John B]

5 hours ago, new2woodwrk said:

I have everything that is for sale, shrink wrapped and many are on display.

I also have "Samples" which most have a broken piece or two, unwrapped and available for children to put their grubby little hands all over which they ALWAYS do since parents can't seem to control their children!

And every week, they manage to break at least one "sample" - which is already broken... LOL Jokes on them

 

The kids that do this always seem to have an ice cream or some other sticky mess in their hands. I have been sorely temped to make a sign "I break little fingers that touch"

 

[William Eicehelberger]

I display mine in shrink wrap with one out for the kids to play with and show how they are put together It is usually a Pug  for obvious reasons.

ike

[Millwab]

To those of you who shrink wrap, how/what do you use for that?

[John B]

2 hours ago, Millwab said:

To those of you who shrink wrap, how/what do you use for that?

This what I use. I never purchased any of it from Amazon, but they seem to be the best show as examples.
The roll of film may seem expensive at first, but I have wrapped hundreds of puzzles and my roll doesn't even look used.

These are just examples as all of my items are different brands.
Note when purchasing the sealer I would also get a spare element and Teflon tape.

[new2woodwrk]

I like simple...

I use Poly bags and a HF heat gun!

I do keep several size bags (3) however for the different sized items.

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by new2woodwrk

[BadBob]

7 hours ago, John B said:

This what I use. I never purchased any of it from Amazon, but they seem to be the best show as examples.
The roll of film may seem expensive at first, but I have wrapped hundreds of puzzles and my roll doesn't even look used.

These are just examples as all of my items are different brands.
Note when purchasing the sealer I would also get a spare element and Teflon tape.

I use basically the same, but different brands.

For me rolls were a lot cheaper and versatile. I only sell online and use the shrink wrap to keep the puzzles together and protect them from scuffing during shipping and storage.

[Millwab]

6 hours ago, new2woodwrk said:

I like simple...

I use Poly bags and a HF heat gun!

I do keep several size bags (3) however for the different sized items.

 

Jes, where do you get your bags from?

[Millwab]

When you shrink wrap do you have any issues with it sticking to the finished product or damaging the surface in any way?

[John B]

4 hours ago, Millwab said:

When you shrink wrap do you have any issues with it sticking to the finished product or damaging the surface in any way?

No

[BadBob]

On 1/5/2022 at 1:10 PM, Millwab said:

When you shrink wrap do you have any issues with it sticking to the finished product or damaging the surface in any way?

Short answer is no. However, It would depend on the finish you are using. I use and oil and wax blend and never see an issue.

I use a lot of stretch wrap where I can. I have found that certain paints will be damaged by the wrap. No acrylics. All of these were Rattle can pants with clear top coats. I don't use those finishes any more.

 

Edited January 9, 2022 by BadBob

[new2woodwrk]

On 1/5/2022 at 12:08 PM, Millwab said:

Jes, where do you get your bags from?

I have 2 sources I use for bags and I use multiple sizes:

My go to source 1st is:

https://uspackagingandwrapping.com

Sometimes, bags are back ordered in which case I go to

https://www.papermart.com/

Note: I buy shopping bags from Amazon, but not the shrink wrap bags.

[new2woodwrk]

On 1/5/2022 at 12:10 PM, Millwab said:

When you shrink wrap do you have any issues with it sticking to the finished product or damaging the surface in any way?

No, I use a quick mineral oil dip followed by a shellac coating (2) for puzzles, other products don't get the mineral oil, but get either a polyurethane or acryllic spray coating

[Millwab]

Looking at local options, I’ve seen both polyolefin and PVC bags. Would one be preferred over the other?

[grandpuppies]

I display puzzles in flat boxes with fiber padding on the bottom and clear lids. I have stickers with business name and logo I use to seal edges of boxes when I sell them and am put them in bags for customers or otherwise giving them to customers.

[new2woodwrk]

2 hours ago, Millwab said:

Looking at local options, I’ve seen both polyolefin and PVC bags. Would one be preferred over the other?

PVC is what I use

Here are the ones I order: https://uspackagingandwrapping.com/shrink-bags-flat.html

[Millwab]

1 hour ago, grandpuppies said:

I display puzzles in flat boxes with fiber padding on the bottom and clear lids. I have stickers with business name and logo I use to seal edges of boxes when I sell them and am put them in bags for customers or otherwise giving them to customers.

El, this wouldn’t work for me because these puzzles are two sided. They are an assortment of Christmas cards and folks will want to see both sides to decide which they want.  I figure shrink wrapping would be my best option. 

[Millwab]

17 minutes ago, new2woodwrk said:

PVC is what I use

Thanx Jess for the link. I was wondering if the 2 different materials mattered?

[William Eicehelberger]

I use shrink bags with  a card board backing ,and display them that way.I have one for the kids to play with and show how they fit toother. I use the pug dog.

ike

[grandpuppies]

Just to clarify the flat boxes the puzzles are displayed in such a way that customers can handle the puzzles and feel the smoothness etc. they are only sealed when sold.

[new2woodwrk]

On 2/4/2022 at 5:50 PM, Millwab said:

Thanx Jess for the link. I was wondering if the 2 different materials mattered?

IMO it matters only to the extent of expense (I've never tried the poly bags). If you look at the 8x12 size of both, you'll see the poly bags dropped in price significantly. Have no clue why, but when I started to buy the bags, the reason for the pvc was price and it is what others were using.

The pvc bags are thin and sometimes get holes from the heat gun being too close - but that doesn't bother me or the customer.

The reason I do NOT keep items open unless they are broken samples is just that reason. Children come along and start messing with the puzzles and breaking them. Parents do NOT control their children the way they did when I was young.

I had a small child walk up to one of my broken/repaired puzzles looked right at me and said... "What happens if I do this" and snapped it in half! Parents were no where to be found, Good thing it was an already broken sample! Little brat was lucky I wasn't armed that day! LMAO

My displays are all shrink wrapped unless they are broken and for display only! When a child attempts to pick up a shrink wrapped item, I give a firm but commanding "DON'T DO THAT'! which usually brings the parent over!

 

Edited February 6, 2022 by new2woodwrk

[Denny Knappen]

I also shrink wrap.  With the standup puzzles, I back with 8" x 10" mat board.  As a framer, these are free.