FEATURE
GAMES & PUZZLES Jumbo
Big Potato Games
Ahead of
University Games
the game Puzzles and games have always been popular, and never more so than in the past 18 months. But as restrictions lift, what are suppliers doing to keep up the interest? TnP finds out...
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hen you games and gifts We continue into our portfolio, succeed, as the games and to innovate and which helps provide puzzles arena depth and diversity as well release fresh did over lockdown, there is as a great range of dedicated jigsaw puzzle pressure to continue to keep Christmas lines including Christmasdesigns, as we that momentum going. So themed Games in a Tin. know our regular Along with a full complement of what are suppliers doing to ensure interest doesn’t wane? puzzlers expect new on-trend games, we have also Jack Probyn, UK retail this from us. Many introduced mindfulness games and manager at Winning Moves, people were new puzzles as well as new strategy says: “Fortunately, here at and Murder Mystery Case to the category games Winning Moves, we have an Files that can be played with just one during excellent licensing team who player or more.’’ lockdown and work tirelessly to get us the Thames & Kosmos has also best licences out there. And added to its offering. “We have discovered a with restrictions across the expanded our award-winning new hobby country having been lifted, range of Exit games to include and a real we can now expect to see the two Exit Jigsaw puzzle games love for backlog of hotly-anticipated offering the same mindmovie franchise releases hitting the brand bending riddles, but now with our cinema screens soon. All of an added jigsaw element. We Kate Gibson, this will help us keep up to date have also released an Gibsons, MD with the latest trends and keep Exit Advent calendar in the mind of the customer.’’ for Q4.’’ says Nicky A broad range is the key for Thomas-Davies, University Games and The Lagoon board game Group, as sales director Mark Jones sales and explains: “With The Lagoon Group marketing joining University Games, we have manager. welcomed a fantastic range of Big Potato
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Gibsons
Games is diversifying to take advantage of that renewed interest, says Hannah Cornish, account manager for the South and Ireland: “We have some amazing new games for this year, and we are even stepping into jigsaw puzzles. We’ve just released our first-ever jigsaw puzzles with a fun game twist.’’
Fresh designs Gibsons is all about puzzles of course, but it is not sitting on its laurels either, as MD Kate Gibson explains: “We continue to innovate and release fresh jigsaw puzzle designs, as we know our regular puzzlers expect this from us. Many people were new to the category during lockdown and discovered a new hobby and a real love for the brand. The link with puzzles and sport has also been an interesting one to explore. Athletes are finding puzzles really beneficial in helping them relax and switch off between training sessions.’’ Meanwhile, Vivid Toy Group/Goliath is taking advantage of the fact that
toysnplaythings.media 02/09/2021 18:03
