Why Choose handmade?
I could easily list far more than 10 reasons I probably could go on into many more!
1. Handmade is very good for the environment
Handmade products are great for the environment, because most small businesses also try and buy local materials and products. At Just Jigsaws we get our prints sourced 10 minutes up the road, our boxes from Leicester, our pegs from 10 minutes down the road and our wood is sourced from Midlands merchants. Also most of handmade products do not require a large production facility, a lot of the items are made in small craft studios or people's own homes that’s where we started in my Grandads shed all those years ago.
Handmade is often very local, so it doesn't travel millions of miles to get to you. When you order from us, you know that your handmade order is coming from Derbyshire and it's made here in the UK by us as well.
2. Each handmade product is unique to you
Unlike gifts that are mass-produced, you will often find unique differences in each handmade item, which really makes the product and the purchase very special. Nobody in the whole world will have exactly the same item at home as you and that’s makes it even more special!
We also make personalised puzzles if you’d like something extra special.
3. Buy handmade directly from the maker/crafter
It can't be any simpler than this. You buy straight from the person who makes your beautiful handmade gift. If you need to ask any questions about the product you will be talking directly with the person who made it what could be simpler than that? They know their product inside out and will be able to give you the best advice.
4. Buy cheap buy twice
Remember those days, when you bought something and it lasted for a very long time? Good times indeed. Handmade products are nearly always made from materials that will withstand the test of time, so it may be a bit more expensive but as my Grandmother always said buy cheap buy twice.
5.Handmade is made by real people
When you buy a handmade gift you know that the maker is passionate about their craft so each gift is made with abundance of care. With handmade items, there's always a lot of love, attention, care and great detail of time is taken on each product to create something special.
6. There is always a story behind each product
Each handmade product has its own story, each handmade shop and the person who created it puts a lot of time and effort in crafting something that's truly unique, beautifully and made just for you. There is a reason, why the product is made in that way, take our first ever product we made the tip and fit it has dice in the corner, and 1 to ten in the bottom right all to help with learning numbers.
7. Buying handmade will support the local economy
When you buy a puzzle from us for example, you directly support UK based manufacture. OK they might not be directly local to you, but the money stays in the UK. And that's a pretty big deal. The money doesn't pay for large international bonuses, where the actual maker receives a fraction of the product price, but it goes directly to the person who made your wonderful gift.
But it's not just about money. Each purchase gives the artist, the maker, the crafts person a confidence in their product A chance to develop their skills further, opportunity to re-invest the money back to their business and carry on producing beautiful works of art.
8 Buying handmade keeps the craft skills and tradition going that may be lost without your support.
By supporting the traditional crafts, such as ourselves at Just Jigsaws, you are helping them to pass the skills to the next generation and keep the art and craft alive, without that support some crafts will be lost forever.
9. When you buy handmade it shows that you care!
If you buy your friend a commercially produced item, the chances are that somebody else will have it too. It might be pretty and it might even be expensive, but it's not necessarily unique. By buying handmade items or a personalised items you show your friend/partner that you took the time to see what she or he likes and that you'll treat them to something that nobody else will have. On top of that you know what, the chances are that it probably won't cost you more than what you originally thought of buying in the first place! Sounds like a win win to me, what about you ?
10. Handmade is quirky and is on trend
Independent designers, makers and crafters are often on trend much quicker than large businesses and commercially produced gifts. Why? Well, they can afford to experiment and make one off item to see whether it will gain interest, they can spot a trend really quickly and design a collection that fits the trend perfectly. To introduce a new product within large commercial organisation can take easily a few years and it could be gone by then.
We hoped you have enjoyed reading this!
John from Just Jigsaws
