Whether you sell games and puzzles for toddlers, teens or adults, ensure your merchandise captures their imagination (and boosts your bottom line) by keeping up with the latest industry news. Not only will your research help you build an enticing inventory, but it will also let you find products from reputable wholesale game vendors.

Discover sources that keep you in the know and in touch with game and puzzle vendors, manufacturers and other retailers. The articles and discussions can help you determine what board games, brain teasers or party games will be the hit of the upcoming season. To gather games and puzzles news and trends to influence your buying, merchandising and pricing decisions, you can:

1. Study news stories on everything from company developments and the state of the industry to the hottest strategy games and classic card games.

2. Attend trade and consumer shows to see new games and puzzles in action, discover display ideas and get first-hand opinions from customers and other retailers.

3. Participate in game and puzzle industry organizations to network with other retailers, develop new business strategies and interact with game vendors and company representatives.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read a variety of articles to help decide what board games and puzzles will become best sellers

In addition to hearing about product releases and reviews in consumer game magazines, you can also get industry news and learn upcoming game and puzzle trends from online sources like blogs, game websites and manufacturer forums. Look for information like company closures, what mind puzzles and games have the most buzz and what classic board games will reemerge as favorites.

I recommend: Read the news stories at Puzzles.com from ThinkFun to see what upcoming tournaments and developments will increase the popularity of specific board games and puzzles. The GamesIndustry.biz blog from the Eurogamer Network features industry news and the latest trends for electronic, video, classic and puzzle games in the U.S., Europe and beyond for a global perspective of the industry. Check out the Toy-tma.com blog for industry news, recall information and the latest trends for electronic, classic, educational and puzzle games.

Visit trade shows to see new products, get merchandising ideas and find wholesale game vendors

Conventions allow you to play with new games, discuss pricing with vendors and find out how other retailers are advertising their wares. These events can also help you make buying decisions. If you're trying to decide which themed jigsaw puzzle designs to order, for example, study several exhibits to determine the hottest trends and characters for the upcoming season.

I recommend: Discover new video, electronic and computer games and discuss the industry with manufacturers, journalists and retailers at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The Chicago Toy & Game Fair allows retailers and consumers to get a hands on look at the latest products and visit the Inventors Expo to get a first look at new business puzzles, electronics and board games before they hit the market.

Join groups to keep your games and puzzles business ahead of the competition

Participating in an organization for retailers or game enthusiasts not only gives you a constant source of industry news and connections to manufacturers and wholesalers, but it also gives you a reliable source of feedback. If you're on the fence about ordering a jigsaw puzzle game line from a new distributor, for example, use a group's online forum to obtain information on its reputation, and ordering and return policies.

I recommend: Join the Association of Game & Puzzle Collectors to get first hand feedback and information on new games and puzzles from the consumers who buy them. The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association provides independent games and puzzles retailers with educational and networking opportunities to help with merchandising and promotional techniques and industry information through toy and game manufacturer press releases.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When attending a trade show along with the general public, discuss the latest games and puzzles with parents and children. Their opinions on which puzzles, games and educational toys are worth the price and appeal to both their entertainment and education needs can help you decide what new products to order and what trends to avoid.

If you are like many toy storeowners or specialty game and puzzle vendors, you might be experiencing the pressure of competing against big box stores and online competition. In a world where reaching niche markets is key, consider expanding your games and puzzles inventory in order to cater to both children and adults.

Games and puzzles can make you money. While children still enjoy "Life" and "Monopoly," every new holiday season brings with it the idea of more games and puzzles. Adults play games and puzzles at parties, with friends and in business to achieve company unity. Adult puzzler fans also enjoy new and thought provoking games.

There are many game and puzzle vendors to choose from, each with a vast array of choices. You will find you can easily add to your puzzle and game inventory by focusing on the following:

1. Add jigsaw puzzles to your inventory. They come in a variety of difficulty levels and can quickly become addictive for children and families who enjoy putting them together.
2. Choose interesting and innovative games and puzzles for children.
3. Choose party games and strategy games for adults that can become fun standbys for time spent with friends.
4. Promote innovative and interesting games and puzzles to appeal to adults.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase at least one type of jigsaw puzzle or jigsaw puzzle game from reputable vendors

Children and adults who want to work alone or together may enjoy the challenge of jigsaw puzzles. Jigsaw puzzle themes include famous and exotic places, cartoon, movie and television characters and sports teams.

I recommend: Buffalo Games, Inc. began in 1998 and now creates and sells an assortment of puzzles from 300 to 2000 pieces, with themes ranging from hit movies and television shows to horses and panoramas. Ceaco, another jigsaw puzzle manufacturer, sells puzzles by piece count, theme and artist.

Choose games and puzzles that appeal to children

There are usually 2 categories of children's toys--those that are the classic standbys and those made popular by hit television shows, movies and trademarked lines. In order to succeed with children, you will need a combination of both.

I recommend: Out of the many game vendors available for little tykes, Alex is a wonderful option. This company sells some colorful and fun floor game sets. For classic, inexpensive brainteasers, such as the wooden cup and ball, contact The Puzzle & Craft Factory. For classics, such as mancala, backgammon and chess, try Melissa & Doug, LLC. For popular puzzles and games adults and children will recognize, try Hasbro.

Choose games and puzzles that appeal to adults

Puzzles games that appeal to adults include all the classic board games as well as the new ones entering the popular market. Puzzling, however, has quite a following. If puzzlers know you carry a more eclectic assortment of puzzles games, they may come to your store.

I recommend: For true puzzler aficionados, try Verdes Innovations S.A.'s V-CUBE or a homemade puzzle by William Waite. For a much larger selection of games and puzzles, Kadon Enterprises, Inc. sells a large selection games and puzzles.

Include business puzzles in your store

If your store is in or close to a business district, sell a few games and puzzles that appeal to businesses. Team leaders and HR staff are always looking for ways to build company unity and morale.

I recommend: Bizzyballs.com will imprint puzzles and games with motivational sayings as well as company logos. Consider selling a few of these business puzzles by your checkout stand. C Squares sells team building games and puzzles.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider carrying books of ideas that carry crafts, puzzles and games for children as well. These can be lifesavers for parents on long, rainy days and car trips.
• •  Also, consider carrying a section of educational games and puzzles for teachers and parents who home school.

Before creating, manufacturing, or distributing games or puzzles, it is important to undergo some type of games and puzzles education and training. Many different games and puzzles are available for consumers. In order to be successful, manufacturers and distributors must educate themselves in the needs of consumers. Most games target a specific age range of people. Games also target and require a certain level of skill.

Before designing, distributing, or manufacturing a puzzle or a game, educate yourself on the types of games and puzzles available. When considering the creation of games and puzzles, think about the following:

1. What age groups do board games target?

2. How are games and puzzles alike and different from one another?

3. Whom do game and puzzle vendors target most often?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Delve into various purposes of games and puzzles

Games and puzzles serve several different purposes dependent on their design. Some games and puzzles are simply for entertainment purposes. Others focus on an educational skill such as spelling or math. Some creators design games and puzzles to strengthen a physical or mental component such as fine motor skills or memory. Puzzles games and brain teasers are popular for increasing thinking.

I recommend: Check out sites such as We Love Puzzles. They offer creation tips and a section of creating your own puzzles. You must be registered for this area of the site. Fit Brains offers suggestions on how games help keep your brain active.

Learn what makes certain games and puzzles desirable for specific age groups

Not all games are suitable for every age group. Do not design preschool games that have small pieces, like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, or that have detailed reading. Older children do not like games with simple skills and cute designs. Adults enjoy games that are more challenging such as business puzzles and strategy games. Knowing which age group to target is important when designing a game or puzzle.

I recommend: Wise Geek takes a look into the best board games for teen-agers. Teens are often thought to be the most difficult age group for focusing. Puzzles Plus offers an article about puzzles and how they benefit adults.

Evaluate situations in which playing games and puzzles is enjoyable

People play games and puzzles in various situations and environments. In some cases, puzzles and games are used as entertainment for groups. One of the most common is party games. Some play games and puzzles while traveling to pass time. Some play sole games such as solitaire to pass time alone that might otherwise be a time of boredom. Different games are appropriate for different situations.

I recommend: Get information about designing games from looking into why people enjoy games and puzzles. Xeo Design and Geo Cities look deeper into what makes games and puzzles appealing to people in general.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that games and puzzles involve reactions from people. Some reactions are verbal while others are physical or mental. All games may not be suitable for people with handicaps. Therefore, special games may be necessary for persons with disabilities. When gaining education about puzzles and games, remember to review these games also.

If your business consists of a traditional office environment, you may work hard to keep your employees from playing games and puzzles during business hours. However, if they have this habit, you may be better off embracing it. It could help your bottom line in the long run.

The key here is to involve them in mind puzzles and games that actually help your business, instead of time-wasters like Minesweeper or World of Warcraft. There are three games and puzzles basics you can use to incorporate games into your corporate culture without becoming known as the boss that allows employees to slack off during business hours.

1. Hold a corporate team building day where employees solve games and puzzles as a way to promote cohesion and corroboration.

2. Invite employees to use board games and puzzles as ice breakers at the beginning of meetings to get people thinking out of the box.

3. Purchase branded puzzles from game vendors and give them to employees to take with them to lunch. You never know who will see them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hold a corporate team building day where employees solve games as puzzles

If your workplace requires a lot of team tasks, yet employees rarely seem to be on the same page, mind puzzles and games can help them better understand the group mentality they need to use. Taking them on a corporate retreat where they play these kinds of games for a few hours can help you out -- if you have the time and the budget.

I recommend: The Wilderdome Store provides a long list of indoor or outdoor team building games that you can set up on your own. Then all you have to do is find an appropriate venue. If you'd rather have everything taken care of for you, consider a place like the Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center in Maryland. The facilitators take care of everything. All you have to do is show up.

Invite employees to use board games and puzzles as ice breakers

Some games, often known as business puzzles when used in a corporate setting, can help employees get in the groove when you need them to think of new ideas. It may be time to bring one out if you find yourselves sitting at the conference table staring at each other.

I recommend: Try placing a jigsaw puzzle, such as the ones MGC Puzzles manufactures, in the middle of the table. It will contribute to a more laid back atmosphere that could lead to idea generation. Or engage in a quick game of Scattergories, where people have to come up with words in specific categories that start with a certain letter. You can buy the game from any Parker Brothers retailer or make your own version.

Purchase custom puzzles, games and other diversion items to use as advertising

Lots of game and puzzle vendors sell party games that are fun to play on quick breaks. They are great for employees to take to lunch, since the camaraderie factor is there and you get some free advertising out of it. When people see your employees laughing and having a good time, they may ask them what they're playing. That is their chance to mention your company. It will also make you look good to job candidates.

I recommend: Basics are not the way to go when considering branded games and puzzles. You want something that will attract attention. For example, you could order a Make Your Own Opoly game from TDC Games and customize it for your business. If that isn't up your alley, check out the selection at IdentityLinks. This company has literally dozens of games to choose from, including a desktop foosball table.