How we make print-on-demand puzzles sustainably (and how you can sell them)

Teemill
29 Mar 202305:10

TLDRSophia from T-mill, an online platform facilitating brands to design and sell sustainable products, discusses the booming jigsaw puzzle market and their innovative approach to sustainability. T-mill's puzzles are made on-demand using 100% local board materials, avoiding plastic and single-use packaging. The puzzles are full-color, thousand-piece designs, appealing to a wide audience from artists to puzzle enthusiasts. The platform also offers a custom Studio for brands to market and sell personalized puzzles. Barry, a printing expert, highlights the environmental benefits of their sustainable printing technology. Successful designs often feature intricate details or vibrant colors, and brands like Birds Can Fly have capitalized on this by creating interactive elements, such as downloadable maps, to enhance customer engagement. SEO and consistent branding are emphasized for effective marketing. T-mill's technology aims to reduce waste and promote ecologically friendly practices in the puzzle industry.

Takeaways

  • 🧩 The jigsaw puzzle market is worth 100 million pounds a year, and custom, printed jigsaws are disrupting the industry with on-demand production.
  • 🌿 t-mill is an online platform that helps brands design and sell sustainable products, including puzzles, with an emphasis on eco-friendliness.
  • 🚀 Puzzles are printed on-demand, using 100% local board material and avoiding plastic, which sets them apart from competitors who use single-use plastic packaging.
  • 🎨 Puzzles are an ideal canvas for art, being rectangular and 2D, making it easy to translate intricate designs onto the puzzle pieces.
  • 🔍 The most popular puzzle designs have lots of detail or color, enhancing the puzzle-solving experience for enthusiasts.
  • 💡 Paul, founder of art brand birds can fly, prioritizes sustainability and created a puzzle featuring birds with an interactive downloadable map for species identification.
  • 🌐 SEO is crucial for marketing sustainable puzzles; investing time in researching and including relevant keywords can improve Google rankings.
  • 🔗 Gaining backlinks and social shares can boost a brand's visibility, as Google sees this as a positive signal.
  • 🇬🇧 Consistency with brand messaging is important; the example of 'Very British Problems' shows how humor can align with a brand's identity.
  • 📈 Custom printed photo puzzles are available through t-mill's custom Studio 2, offering additional marketing and sales opportunities.
  • 🛍️ t-mill's sustainable printing technology allows for fun puzzles without a significant environmental cost, and they provide free access to their manufacturing technology to end waste.

Q & A

  • What is the current market value for jigsaw puzzles?

    -The market for jigsaw puzzles stands at 100 million pounds a year.

  • How does T-Mill disrupt the jigsaw puzzle market?

    -T-Mill disrupts the market by producing custom, printed jigsaws in real time and in thousand piece full color glory.

  • What is the main appeal of puzzles as a format for art?

    -Puzzles are a great format for art because they are rectangular and 2D, making it easy to translate designs onto them, unlike t-shirts which have a more complex shape.

  • What are the key features of popular puzzle designs?

    -The most popular puzzle designs have lots of intricate detail or lots of color, providing a less frustrating and more enjoyable experience for puzzlers.

  • How does sustainability play a role in the production of T-Mill's puzzles?

    -T-Mill's puzzles are sustainable because they use natural materials, renewable energy, and paper-based packaging. They also avoid using any plastic and are printed on demand.

  • What is the process for receiving and printing a custom puzzle order?

    -The order comes through Gmail, which goes to the printer, and then the puzzle is printed straight on demand.

  • Why is SEO important for marketing sustainable puzzles?

    -SEO is important because it helps to increase the visibility of the product on search engines like Google, which can lead to more traffic, engagement, and sales.

  • What additional element did Paul, founder of Birds Can Fly, add to his puzzles to make them interactive?

    -Paul created a downloadable map that customers can use to identify the different species of birds featured in his puzzle design.

  • How does T-Mill's printing technology contribute to sustainability?

    -T-Mill's sustainable printing technology allows for on-demand printing, which reduces waste, and ensures that the puzzles are fun without costing the Earth.

  • What is the advantage of having a Tamil Pro account for creating custom puzzles?

    -With a Tamil Pro account, users can access the custom Studio 2 to market and sell selfie puzzles and other custom orders to their customers.

  • How can one get started with creating sustainable puzzles through T-Mill?

    -To get started, one can head to tmo.com, log into their Gmail account, and look for puzzles in the 'More' tab when creating a product.

  • What is the significance of using paper-based packaging instead of plastic in the context of sustainability?

    -Using paper-based packaging instead of plastic contributes to sustainability by reducing single-use plastics, which are harmful to the environment and non-biodegradable.

Outlines

00:00

🧩 Custom Printed Jigsaw Puzzles: Revolutionizing the Market

The market for jigsaw puzzles is valued at £100 million a year, and a significant disruption is happening with the introduction of custom, full-color, thousand-piece jigsaws produced in real-time. Sophia from t-mill, an online platform for brands to design and sell sustainable products, discusses how they create sustainable puzzles. The process is efficient, with orders coming through Gmail and printing on-demand. The puzzles are made from 100% localized materials, avoiding plastic, and are shipped in paper-based packaging. The script highlights the growing customer preference for sustainable products and the opportunity to capitalize on this trend. The puzzles are also an excellent medium for artists to showcase intricate designs, as demonstrated by Paul, founder of 'birds can fly', who created a popular puzzle featuring birds. The importance of SEO, including keyword research and link building, is emphasized for effective online marketing. The video also mentions the availability of custom printed photo puzzles through t-mill's custom Studio 2, and the company's commitment to sustainable printing technology.

05:02

🎉 Engaging the Puzzle Community

The second paragraph of the script is a call to action for viewers to engage with the content. It encourages them to share their designs, ask questions, or leave comments below the video. The inclusion of music and a foreign word suggests a global appeal and a light-hearted, engaging tone. The paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, inviting viewer interaction and fostering a community around the shared interest in puzzles.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡print-on-demand

Print-on-demand is a production process where products are only manufactured once an order has been received. This method minimizes waste and inventory costs. In the video, it is used to create custom jigsaw puzzles, which are produced in real time, making them a sustainable choice.

💡sustainable products

Sustainable products are those that are made with consideration for the environment, using renewable resources and minimizing waste. The video emphasizes the sustainable nature of the puzzles, which are made from natural materials, renewable energy, and paper-based packaging, aligning with the growing customer preference for eco-friendly products.

💡custom jigsaw puzzles

Custom jigsaw puzzles are personalized jigsaw puzzles that can feature unique designs or images. The video discusses how anyone, from artists to comedians, can design and sell these puzzles using the Teemo platform, making them a versatile and creative product.

💡Thousand piece full color

This refers to jigsaw puzzles that consist of a thousand pieces and are printed in full color. The video highlights this as a premium feature of their puzzles, which are not only sustainable but also offer a detailed and engaging experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

💡T-mill

T-mill is the online platform mentioned in the video that allows brands to design and sell sustainable products online. It is the service provider that facilitates the creation of custom, printed jigsaws and is central to the video's theme of sustainable and customizable products.

💡Chief Puzzler

In the context of the video, the Chief Puzzler is a title given to Barry, who is a printing expert and discusses the sustainable aspects of puzzle production. The term adds a playful element to the role, emphasizing the company's commitment to both sustainability and the joy of puzzle-making.

💡local materials

Local materials refer to the use of resources that are sourced from the local area where the product is produced. The video mentions that the puzzle boards are made from 100% localized materials, which reduces the environmental impact of transportation and supports local economies.

💡plastic-free packaging

Plastic-free packaging means that the product is packaged without the use of plastic materials. The video emphasizes that their puzzles are shipped without any plastic, using paper labels and boxes, which is a significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability.

💡intricate detail

Intricate detail refers to the complex and detailed designs that are popular in jigsaw puzzles. The video notes that puzzles with lots of detail or color are more enjoyable for puzzlers, as they can easily distinguish between the pieces and the image on the box, leading to a satisfying completion experience.

💡SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is the process of improving the visibility of a website or product on search engines. The video suggests investing time in SEO to increase the discoverability of sustainable puzzles online, using relevant keywords and creating shareable content to attract potential customers.

💡brand consistency

Brand consistency refers to maintaining a uniform and recognizable identity across all aspects of a brand, including its products, messaging, and marketing. The video stresses the importance of ensuring that the puzzle designs are in line with the brand's overall message and aesthetic, which helps in building a strong brand image and customer loyalty.

Highlights

The jigsaw puzzle market is worth 100 million pounds a year.

Custom, printed jigsaws are produced in real time and in full color glory.

T-mill is an online platform that simplifies sustainable product design and sales for brands.

The platform allows artists, puzzlers, and comedians to design and sell puzzles using Teemo.

Puzzles are made on-demand, reducing waste and using 100% local board materials.

No plastic is used in the production or packaging of the puzzles.

Sustainable puzzles are increasingly preferred by customers according to market research.

Puzzles are an ideal format for art, offering a 2D canvas similar to a screen or paper.

Intricate detail and color are key to popular puzzle designs.

Paul, founder of Birds Can Fly, prioritizes sustainability and ecological footprint in his designs.

An interactive element is added through a downloadable map for bird species identification.

Sustainable puzzles redirect customers to the brand's site and social media, increasing sales.

Investing time in SEO is crucial for marketing sustainable puzzles.

Designs should be consistent with the brand and message for effective marketing.

T-mill's custom Studio 2 allows for marketing and selling custom orders like selfie puzzles.

T-mill's sustainable printing technology ensures fun puzzles without costing the Earth.

Samples of puzzles can be obtained at discounted wholesale prices for real-life evaluation.

T-mill provides free access to its manufacturing technology to end waste and promote sustainability.