Villager Puzzles Expands Across Canadian Retail Market

Founded in 2023, the Canadian company now distributes puzzles featuring local art to 900 stores nationwide.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Scrapbooking

Screen-print poster illustration of four wooden jigsaw puzzle pieces with stylized mountain art, evoking Canadian regional craftsmanship. — Canadian puzzle distributor Villager Puzzles has reached 900 retail locations nationwide, scaling its regional-art business model to 200,000 units sold in 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Since its founding in 2023, Villager Puzzles has grown from a small operation to a major distributor of jigsaw puzzles across Canada. The business, based on Vancouver Island, sold 200,000 units in 2026.

Why it matters

The company serves as a platform for Canadian artists to monetize their work through royalties while providing consumers with puzzles featuring regional art. This business model emerged after founder Kelly Striemer transitioned to the industry following a corporate layoff.

The company now serves 900 stores across Canada and contracts with 30 artists annually. These contributors receive royalty payments that have exceeded $10,000 in some individual quarters.

The players

Kelly Striemer

She is the founder of Villager Puzzles and a business leader based on Vancouver Island.

The details

Villager Puzzles utilizes high-quality, low-glare printing and precise interlocking pieces to distinguish its products in a crowded hobby market. Kelly Striemer leverages extensive marketing experience and social media engagement to drive brand visibility.

Villager Puzzles was founded in 2023.
The company reached a milestone of 200,000 units sold during 2026.

Culture Shift

The rise of independent puzzle manufacturers featuring independent artist collaborations marks a departure from mass-produced, generic puzzle designs that historically dominated the retail landscape. Villager Puzzles follows the industry pattern of partnering with independent artists to differentiate products within the hobby market.

Consumers across Canada can now find these puzzles at 900 retail locations, including partners in cities like Victoria. The prevalence of these products makes high-quality, locally themed puzzles more accessible for hobbyists seeking to support Canadian artists.

The takeaway

Supporting independent puzzle brands allows hobbyists to directly contribute to the earnings of local artists through royalty structures. Opting for high-quality, low-glare puzzles can also improve the overall experience of long-term assembly projects.