👋 Good morning. If you woke up to a wet nose pressed against your cheek, this one’s for you: Sleeping with your dog in the same room could negatively impact sleep quality, according to a study of 1.5k+ American adults published in Scientific Reports. Participants who co-sleep with pets reported poorer sleep quality and more insomnia symptoms than those who didn’t, despite 93% of those who co-slept believing their pets had either a positive or neutral effect on their sleep. Maybe beauty sleep doesn’t involve coughing up a hairball?
THE BIG IDEA
Why Ravensburger is the gold standard of jigsaw puzzles
For some, jigsaw puzzles are a relaxing pastime. For others, a competitive sport. Or, if you're like me, they're half completed, collecting dust.
But for Ravensburger, a 143-year-old German company considered the gold standard of jigsaw puzzles, putting the pieces together is big business.
Ravensburger didn't invent jigsaw puzzles — that was London cartographer John Spilsbury in 1760 — but it's become the world's leading puzzle brand in a market expected to exceed $5B by 2028.
So, how does Ravensburger beat the competition — without cutting corners?
Lock in
Founded in 1883 by Otto Maier, Ravensburger produced its first interlocking puzzles in 1964. They've grown considerably since:
- 20M+ puzzles sold annually
- Puzzles earn $200m/year
- Covers 24% of global puzzle market share
- Designs range from children's puzzles to some of the world's largest
More than a pretty puzzle
Ravensburger's designs are part of an elaborate strategy that caters to different markets and demographics.
- Over 300 new designs are added annually to a 2k puzzle catalog, with 30k+ archived designs.
- Creatives and trend specialists develop seasonal themes based on data and past performance.
- Using artists worldwide keeps designs diverse.
- Landscapes and cityscapes account for 40% of the catalog.
- Others aim at trends (e.g. K-Pop Demon Hunters) and new audiences (e.g., home decor puzzles for millennials).
While many companies buy premade puzzle patterns, Ravensburger designs everything by hand.
- Puzzles are printed on reflection-free, linen-embossed paper that's laminated onto signature blue cardboard.
- Puzzle piece shapes are hand-drawn.
- Tool makers create individual steel blades to cut pieces with 1000 tons of force for precision edges.
- Puzzles are boxed by hand.
Putting the pieces together
The final piece of Ravensburger's strategy is getting puzzles into the hands of fans.
- Specific consumers are targeted with designs and where they buy (e.g. regional markets, hobby stores, online, etc.).
- Test batches of new puzzles are distributed to select markets.
- The most puzzles are sold in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, followed closely by the US.
These days, Ravensburger finds itself more relevant than ever as more people seek a digital detox with puzzles.
Maybe it's time I dust off that puzzle and finally finish it.
BILLIONAIRE MINDSET
Breaking down tricks of the rich
This is a guide on how billionaires use obscure laws, geographic checkpoints, and regulation loopholes to low-key buy-up influence.
And how you (yes, you) can ethically use the same methods.
Read on for fast tips, case studies, and mental models used by the rare breed of humans who waste food. And overuse paper towels whenever they please. We’re not bitter, we’re busy taking notes.
NEWSWORTHY NUMBER
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Years of US history crammed into a vial no taller than a quarter, per Fast Company. To commemorate America’s 250th birthday, the Library of Congress used artificial DNA molecules to pack one gigabyte worth of significant documents and other media into a mini time capsule, which will be buried this summer and won’t be unearthed until 2276.
When the day eventually comes — assuming the tech is still accessible 250 years from now — future humans will find digitized American artifacts, like the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and, for some reason, a 3D rendering of Abraham Lincoln’s hand, which was apparently important enough to make the cut.
AROUND THE WEB
📅 On this day: In 1957, Paul McCartney and John Lennon met for the first time following an outdoor fair at which the latter’s band performed.
🗺️ That’s interesting: Cartographers critique maps from movies.
🎵 Game: Identify the movie from its score.
🧂 Useful: Search for an ingredient to find what to pair it with.
🦜 Aww: Just a bird enjoying a croissant.
SHOWER THOUGHT
Dogs are participating in a perpetual game of “Capture the Flag,” but with pee. SOURCE
Today's email was brought to you by Juliet Bennett Rylah, Danny Jensen, and Singdhi Sokpo.
Editing by: Sara "I’m puzzled" Friedman.
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