Hello Puzzle Bomb fam!
We're getting super close to the launch of Bumfuzzled subscriptions in February, so it's time to spill the beans on the details! But first, backing up a bit, a little on why we're pivoting to subscriptions.
Why a Subscription Service?
A few big reasons!
Reason #1: Convenience - While it's been effective, let's face it; crowdfunding is anything but convenient. I appreciate all of you that slogged through it with us, but it's time to make it far easier!
With crowdfunding, you have to get word of the launch (every time, I'd get emails at the end from folks who missed it). Then, you have to make the pledge, requiring an account on the crowdfunding platform, Then, you have to wait, Then, you have to catch the pledge manager phase and complete that process. It's a bunch of steps that technically work, but with a lot of friction; too much work to simply buy some puzzles.
With subscriptions, you make a one-time transaction, and everything is automatic from there. If you want our puzzles, you've got them with minimal attention and effort.
Reason #2: Stability - If you've been with us for a long time, you've seen how up and down these crowdfunding campaigns have been. One will fund for $80,000, and the next will fund for $40,000. It makes it really tough to judge our production runs and cash flow.
In contrast, subscriptions are very predictable, and they're like a snowball that builds over time rather than behaving erratically. They also give us more reliability in projecting and gauging my production runs, giving me more time and energy to be creative rather than fussing over finances and logistics.
Reason #3: Fun & Surprise! - Our family has a few subscription boxes for our kids. It's just plain exciting for them when that box comes each month with a new surprise craft or project. Why should kids have all the fun!? :D
Subscriptions create that wonderful element where we set it and forget it until we're wonderfully surprised by a package in the mail. It's your birthday every month!
So How Does It Work?
(Note: The following functionality is for our US-based customers. I'll explain at the end how we'll continue to serve folks who live elsewhere.)
Instead of our traditional flow of three puzzle releases announced and released once a quarter, we'll now give one new puzzle the full spotlight each month, retiring it at the end of the month. When you view the puzzle on our website, you'll see buy options like this, starting with the February puzzle release (minor puzzle spoiler!):
I'm not quite done with the set-up, but you'll have the following options:
1) Bumfuzzled Monthly - You'll receive the first puzzle for just $1, and then receive a new puzzle every month for $49/month. Additionally, you get:
- Free shipping!
- A yearly surprise puzzle gift. Warning: it's going to be something really cool. I have a lot of ideas that don't fit either the Bumfuzzled or Party in the Back series, and this will be my way of getting to be creative in those areas without diluting the brand.
I won't make the surprise puzzle exclusive to subscribers, but I have this year's already designed, and I'll likely be retailing it for $99, so it's rather significant, and you'll get it for free!
2) Less Frequent Bumfuzzleds - The screen shot shows a quarterly option, and I'll also be adding a bi-monthly option. While most of you reading this are much more interested in the monthly option, this is for folks with lower budgets, or who find a puzzle every month to be too overwhelming.
These tiers will be $59/puzzle. Similar to the monthly folks, the first puzzle is $1 and shipping is free. However, these subscriptions don't come with the yearly surprise puzzle gift.
A question I know I'll get: "If I do a quarterly or bi-monthly Bumfuzzled subscription, can I choose the puzzle I want for that quarter/bi-monthly period?" Since subscriptions are highly automated, and there's no mechanism to know your preference, the answer is "no" on this. So, for example, if you choose quarterly, you'll receive the January, April, July, and October releases. I wish I could offer the choice, but it would add a lot of complication and defeat the benefit of automated subscriptions.
What If I Don't Live in the US?
Due to technical limitations and wanting to keep the offer on the website as easy to understand and uncluttered as possible, I unfortunately don't have a good solution to automate subscriptions outside the US.
However, I know where y'all live, and will contact you once per quarter with a similar offer for a 3-pack of that quarter's puzzles at a discounted rate, orderable from the website. I'll also get you the free surprise puzzle in the quarter it's released!
As a consolation for the less slick functionality, I'm mulling over offering you all three puzzles at the outset of each group of three puzzles. So, you'll get the revealed puzzle for the quarter, plus two mysteries, getting you some of the effect of the subscription, as well as the benefit of two of the puzzles earlier than US folks.
In the end, while not quite as convenient, it should still be less friction than crowdfunding, and I can ship orders direct duties paid so you don't have to deal with that hassle.
Excited for February!
I'm so excited to be on this journey with you all as we provide you these monthly doses of joy, satisfaction, and relaxation!
Love and blessings,
Chad and the Krizan family, aka Puzzle Bomb
20 comments
For international interested parties, anything we need to do right now, or just await further instructions?
Thank you for still thinking of international customers, Chad. It would be helpful to know what you are thinking in terms of where in the cycle you would offer a quarterly product and whether you are planning to keep some stock back to make sure we don’t miss out on- for instance, februarys puzzle looks spectacular and I’d hate to miss it because there’s only a few international packs in April.
Appreciate the approach you’re taking to minimise shipping costs on that too. As fun as getting one monthly would be, shipping does really up the cost of a single puzzle.
Steve, no worries! If you check out the screenshot, there’s still an option to buy the puzzle at full price on an individual basis. So, subscribing isn’t a requirement for acquiring puzzles.
Very excited for this.
I would prefer an option to buy a puzzle that I’m truly attracted to for a higher price (no discount) and not be committed to buying the next few releases if they don’t interest me. I like the very modern “artsy” puzzles but not the more scenic puzzles – that’s just me. I just recently found you and the puzzles I wanted to buy were already sold-out retired. So I’ve been waiting for this years releases hoping I would want to buy at least one or two. If I have to commit to purchasing designs unseen, then I guess I’m out? What if I wanted to buy just one puzzle for a friend as a gift?
Excited! I’m buying them all anyway….
Thank you for making a way to efficiently take my money :-)
Everyone who sees these puzzles is amazed, and can’t help themselves from trying their hand.
James, I’m aiming for one Party in the Back every year or so, but I’m not 100% decided on how I’ll release it. I haven’t designed #5 yet, so there won’t be one in 2026 (I’d need to be getting a sample made now for a 2026 release), but I’m aiming for early 2027.
I’m still leaning toward crowdfunding for that series, as that line is much more expensive to produce, so the quicker return on investment (and additional exposure on crowdfunding platforms) is nice.
Sounds great; can’t wait!
Sounds good. I’m ready for a monthly subscription. Are Party in the Back puzzles just going to be add on orders? Is there a planned schedule on how often those are released?
Looking forward to it. And a guaranteed $49/puzzle looks nice, too.