On this episode we're joined by Alastair Matthews and Michael Hunter, Co-founders of the artist-run jigsaw puzzle company, Le Puzz. They share their journey of turning a hobby into a successful business while emphasizing the importance of community engagement, strong branding, and adapting to the evolving macro environment. They discuss the impact of tariffs on their pricing strategy and their vision for future growth. We hope you enjoy it.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:52 Navigating Challenges: The Early Days of Business

05:45 Manufacturing Decisions: The Quest for Quality

09:00 Shipping Woes: The Freight Crisis

11:56 Bootstrapping Success: Funding and Growth

14:36 Building a Brand: Aesthetic Choices and Design Collaboration

17:52 Evolving Operations: Day-to-Day Changes Post-COVID

20:39 Retail Relationships: Securing Partnerships and Sales

33:53 The Evolution of Puzzles Post-COVID

38:41 Understanding Customer Dynamics in Puzzle Design

42:54 Building a Community Around Puzzles

48:12 Navigating International Trade and Tariffs

55:12 Outro