Online stores say Scots sales of jigsaws are surging during coronavirus lockdown

After weeks in lockdown, Scots are getting out of our box in the best way possible as online stores report a surge in the sale of jigsaws.

And the good news is that not only are the puzzles in pieces fun – but they are expanding our brains, according to experts.

In just a month, sales of puzzles have increased by 100% as people across the country look for new hobbies to fill their free time. And jigsaws are on Amazon’s bestseller list.

This week, Kodak launched the world’s largest puzzle, with 51,300 pieces, offering the ultimate challenge for puzzle fans during lockdown.

Even celebrities are getting in on the act, with X-Men star Sir Patrick Stewart showing off his completed masterpieces on TV and actress Michelle Keegan – who has admitted she does jigsaws when she’s stressed – was spotted picking up a new puzzle at the beginning of lockdown.

House of Puzzles, whose jigsaws are famous on screen as a favourite of Coronation Street’s Roy Cropper, said the nation has gone “bonkers” for jigsaws.

The firm’s Grant Watson said: “It’s just gone absolutely crazy. In the last few weeks the world has gone jigsaw mad. Shops might be closed, but we are still shipping puzzles out by the palette. We sanctioned one of the companies we supply to sell on Amazon – and it has just taken off.”

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Grant, who has been involved with the Invergordon company for 21 years after leaving a career in the oil industry to follow his love of jigsaws, added: “Just today, I’ve had queries from Germany, France, America, Australia, the Czech Republic and New Zealand. It’s manic. We are stretched to the limit. But if people want puzzles, we will provide them.”

Gary Clark, head of related product at Waterstones, said: “We have seen a significant increase in demand across both adult and children’s jigsaw puzzles during the lockdown period, with our customers looking for entertainment and educational products.

“Sales of jigsaw puzzles for adults are more than 100% up on the year, with larger, more intricate jigsaws being very popular. Another trend we see is increased demand for children’s jigsaws, in particular those with an educational element.”

Puzzle development expert, Sarah Stevens, from jigsaw makers Ravensburger said: “There has been a trend towards more adults taking to jigsaws over the past few years, as more and more of us look to spend time away from screens. The current lockdown has seen a further rise in that demand in both adult and kids puzzles, because people are looking for all kinds of entertainment to keep themselves busy.”

Of course, they are a source of entertainment and fun, but doing jigsaws, according to Dr Andrew Morgan, a research assistant at Glasgow University, actually improves our brains too.

“When we complete jigsaw puzzles, we have to predict what visual information is missing, and then compare puzzle pieces to our mental predictions to find a match. The main benefit of doing jigsaw puzzles is that they are fun!

“That aside, there was actually a recent clinical trial showing that jigsaw puzzles strongly engage multiple cognitive abilities, and that puzzle experience might benefit cognition.”

Dr Morgan added: “I think one of the main reasons we are fond of jigsaw puzzles to pass the time is that they involve so many small victories.

“We all love finishing a puzzle, but every piece that clicks into place is an achievement.

“This is all the more important during the current lockdown, when people have fewer opportunities to concentrate on our normal daily activities and feel the joy of accomplishment.”

Sarah Stevens’ top tips for puzzlers

Put the edge frame of the puzzle together first, and then sorting the remaining pieces into colour groups but you will soon find a method of building that works.

Don’t put yourself under pressure. There is no time limit in puzzling and it’s not a competition. Just a few minutes, or several hours a day, it’s completely up to you.

Choose an image that has a wide mix of colours and features, and leave those tricky puzzles until you’re a bit more practiced.

Start with a lower piece count. Five hundred pieces is a good starting point.