Scramble Squares® 9-piece brainteaser puzzles were first designed by Kathie Gavin in 1993, based upon ancient Egyptian tile patterns, and with Kathie’s husband, Marshall, were introduced to the gift, toy and educational products markets in 1994.
In the 31 years since their introduction, Scramble Squares® have been honored with numerous awards in all three of those markets. Adding new designs every year in multiple interest categories, there are now more than 163 styles of Scramble Squares® puzzles.
About b. dazzle, inc.
b. dazzle, inc. is the manufacturer of award winning Scramble Squares® 9-piece brain teaser puzzles and Color ‘n Seek® hidden pictures art activities for All ages of children, teens, adults and senior citizens, from 4 to 104!
Founded in 1993 by Kathie Gavin, b. dazzle introduced its first products, four Scramble Squares® puzzles and four Color ‘n Seek® 2-poster flat packs, in January, 1994. Our high value, low cost, made in the USA mind stimulating activities have received a tremendous response from the market and the trade media from the time that they were first introduced. A buyers’ survey by GIFTBEAT of a national network of gift buyers, in its February, 1996 issue, ranked b. dazzle, inc. among the top 5 puzzle and game companies, based upon a rating of the gift stores’ top three selling items! Both Scramble Squares® and Color ‘n Seek® have been winners of The Great American Toy Test.
Adults and seniors love our made in America puzzles at least as much as do children, teenagers and college students. Although each Scramble Squares® puzzle has only nine 4″ x 4″ square pieces, Scramble Squares® puzzles are Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle®! At under $15.00 each suggested retail, Scramble Squares® puzzles make inexpensive, but highly valued gifts for both men and women alike… for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Graduation, Travel, Get Well, Easter baskets and other baskets, Birthdays and for the Holidays. Scramble Squares® puzzles are Easy To Play, But Hard To Solve®! Over 160 exquisite styles of colorful original art are available on nature, sports, history, culture, geography, science, technology, gourmet, occupations, fantasy, hobbies and activities, and more new styles are added throughout each year. Here are internet links to articles attesting to the value of Scramble Squares® puzzles and their popularity among senior citizens:
http://www.eldercareconversations.com/
http://brainaerobicsweekly.blogspot.com/2008/06/beautiful-way-to-challenge-your-brain.html
2007_Spring_Senior_Lifestyles.pdf
Scramble Squares® puzzles are among the most honored products in the gift, games and educational products industries: The Black Capped Chickadees Scramble Squares® puzzle was honored as among “Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Products and 10 Best Socially Responsible Products of 2012” by the Institute For Childhood Resources in San Francisco.Two Scramble Squares® puzzles,”Ice Cream, You Scream“and”Sea Shells” were honored as Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Children’s Products of 2012. “Bald Eagles” and “Salmon,” were among only 17 recipients worldwide of Dr. Toy’s Best GREEN Product Award for 2012! Four Scramble Squares® puzzles, “Bears,” “Diggin’ Dinos,” “Hoops!,” and “Hummingbirds,” were honored as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2012 ”from among only thirty-two picks overall! The Ladybugs Scramble Squares® was selected among Dr. Toy’s Best Picks for Children’s Products – 2011. The Black Bears Scramble Squares® puzzle and the Squirrels Scramble Squares® were selected as among Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Toys-2011. Four Scramble Squares® puzzles, “Butterflies,” “Serengeti,” “Soccer” and “Tropical Fish were honored by Dr. Toy’s Guide as among only forty (40) products selected worldwide as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011!” The Cows Scramble Squares® puzzle was the recipient of Dr. Toy’s Best GREEN Product Award for 2011, and the Turtles Scramble Squares® puzzle received that same honor for 2010. TheDragonflies Scramble Squares® puzzle was honored as among the 10 Best Educational Products of 2010 by Dr Toy’s Guide. The United States Armed Services Scramble Squares® was selected among Dr. Toy’s Best Picks for Children’s Products – 2010. The Kites Scramble Squares® puzzle was a winner of the 2010 Learning magazine “Teachers’ Choice for the Family” award and was featured in Learning magazine’s Spring, 2010 issue. Four Scramble Squares® puzzles, “Baseball,” “Dolphins,” “Puppies” and “Frogs,” were honored as “Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2009.” The Scramble Squares® line of puzzles received the “TOP TOY 2008 AWARD” from TDmonthly, an online trade publication for the toy, hobby, gift and game industries, rated in May, 2008 by Google as the No. 1 site in the world for wholesale trade directories. The National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA), a program sponsored by Dominion Parenting Media and promoted in association with parenting publishers across the United States, named six Scramble Squares® puzzles as 2007 NAPPA HONOR AWARD winners: Noah’s Ark, Pirates, Planets, Puffins, Swimming Champions and Teachers. The GREAT AMERICAN TOY TEST, for its 25th Anniversary Awards, named 5 Scramble Squares® puzzles as among the Best Products for 2004 in its “Games & Puzzles” category, more awards than received by any other company! Scramble Squares® puzzles were awarded the “Chicago’s Choice Awards for 2004,” presented during the January Chicago Gift & Home Market to acknowledge distinctive gift products exhibited at the January Chicago Gift & Home Market. GAMES magazine’s “100 BEST GAMES RATED” buyers guide issue has rated Scramble Squares® puzzles as among the TOP 100 GAMES for all ages.
Scramble Squares® puzzles teach patience, perseverance, fine motor skills and critical thinking skills and help maintain mental agility in older persons, while providing stimulating entertainment as either a solitaire game or a cooperative activity. Each puzzle package includes an interpretive panel of fascinating facts on the subject of the puzzle, as well as a trivia question and hidden answer, all packaged in a unique and handy resealable clear vinyl pouch which can be collected and stored easily in a standard 3-ring binder.
Retailers using Scramble Squares® displays can offer consumers a free Scramble Squares® puzzle if the consumer can solve the demonstration Scramble Squares® puzzle within 5 minutes. Once a consumer tries to solve a Scramble Squares® puzzle, he/she usually gets “hooked” and wants to buy at least one to take home and prove that he/she can solve it (or to torment friends and family)! Often consumers who have taken The 5-MINUTE CHALLENGE™ buy two or three or more puzzles at a time!! b. dazzle, inc. will replace for the retailer at no charge any puzzles won by a consumer in our 5-MINUTE CHALLENGE™ promotion. We know that we give away, on the average, only one puzzle for every 5,000 sold!
Color ’n Seek® is the only poster art available with hidden pictures and educational word association. The Color ’n Seek® Portfolio Gift Set is a value unmatched in the craft & hobby market, with six 11″ x 17″ 70 lb. paper stock posters and ten markers for only $11.99 suggested retail! Fourteen styles of hidden picture posters are available in two-poster flatpack sets, for a suggested retail price of only $9.99! Color ’n Seek® hidden picture art activities are the recipients of the Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Awards “Seal of Excellence for 2003,” recognized for their excellence in promoting creativity in play.
Almost every day b. dazzle, inc. receives unsolicited testimonials about our products from retailers and from consumers; a small sampling of these great letters can be seen in our current catalog and on our web site.
b. dazzle, inc. is an Official Member of the “CHARACTER COUNTS!” COALITION of the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles: http://www.charactercounts.org (800-711-2670; 310-846-4800). The purpose of the “CHARACTER COUNTS!” Coalition is to fortify the lives of America’s young people with consensus ethical values called the “Six Pillars of Character.” These six key character values, which transcend divisions of race, creed, politics, gender and wealth, are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Because our society places such a high value on material success, there is the tendency in human nature to pursue success by any means, whether fairly or unfairly, honestly or dishonestly. We strongly believe that with our success comes a duty for us to contribute to our society. We wish to do so by advancing the principles of good character and ethical behavior, not only by operating our business in accordance with ethical standards, but also by advancing and promoting the importance of ethical business practices and ethical behavior throughout our industry and our society at large.” The “CHARACTER COUNTS!” Coalition has become the nation’s leading character education system, now reaching five million youngsters through a widespread partnership of schools and youth-serving organizations. Two United States’ Presidents, the Congress, most states and countless municipalities have endorsed the Coalition’s approach and declared the third week in October “National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week.”