How do you find out about new cards on the market?

[Kathyc]

As the world's largest card and magic wholesaler, we carry a variety of playing cards.

Here is a link so you can get a feel of what we currently have (sorted newest to oldest):
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Search.aspx?c=184&lz=playingcards&th=1&fd=1

So my question is this, what would help YOU (and be the most useful) way find out about the newest playing cards?

Thanks!

[Don Boyer]

Hey, Kathy,

I didn't realize you were THAT Kathy!  How the heck are ya!

People post about decks here as well as on the competing forum, United Cardists.  They also check out Kickstarter a lot as well as the major deck retailers, not just the big magic companies like Ellusionist, Theory11 and Penguin but also card specialty places like PlayingCardDecks.com, Gambler's Warehouse's retail site and CollectablePlayingCards.com and places like that.  Sometimes they go to the smaller magic companies, brick-and-mortar stores with a web presence.  Sometimes they're on the designers' own websites, like Randy's and Jackson's and Alex's and so on.  And of course, there's places like Kardify.com and reviewers like Ender'sGame and Magic_Orthodoxy, so yeah, they check out YouTube and Instagram as well.  52+J club members hear about stuff sometimes in the magazines we print on occasion, but a lot of our coverage is admittedly post-release rather than pre-release.

In short, it's everywhere.  They do try to keep up over at UC, but there's just SO many new decks all the time.  If you folks at Murphy's did some kind of consolidating of data, like posting a simple website with a regularly-updated schedule, perhaps tap a few reviewers to post about products, you'd do well with that, I suspect - not a retail site per se, but a site promoting the decks, announcing when they'll be selling and maybe even putting in a few ads from your retailers who are selling them.  I think a site like that could really do nicely.  Call it Murphy's Decks!

[EndersGame]

As Don says, most people rely on numerous sources, but there are a few key forums where collectors and magicians especially congregate and keep up with the latest.

These are especially:
- United Cardists forum - https://www.unitedcardists.com
- Playing Cards subreddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/playingcards

What many people look for especially is the latest news on projects ahead of them hitting the market, being launched on Kickstarter, or when particular creators or publishers are set to release a new deck or have a special offer via their website.

Murphy's is a distributor, so your role is a slightly later stage in the process.  Even so, you can play a role in letting people know when particular decks have hit retail channels and are becoming widely available.  You could, for example, have one of your staff post regularly in forums like United Cardists or Reddit, to officially inform people when a deck has hit retail and available from Murphy's Magic suppliers.  Even posting a monthly list of new decks that have been released, for example, might be a good idea.

In most cases reviewers will already be posting details about decks, but I think having a monthly post that informs people with a list of decks released that month, or even a short post as soon as something hits the market at the distributor level, might be something to consider.

[Kathyc]

Ok thanks.
We will consider a consolidated post and/or "it's here".

Michelle is putting together something cool that might address your thoughts too. Will let you know as it gets closer.

In the meantime, this might help as a consolidated link because it ONLY shows cards..(newest on top).
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Search.aspx?c=184&lz=playingcards&th=1&fd=1

Thanks for the feedback.

[Don Boyer]

Ok thanks.
We will consider a consolidated post and/or "it's here".

Michelle is putting together something cool that might address your thoughts too. Will let you know as it gets closer.

In the meantime, this might help as a consolidated link because it ONLY shows cards..(newest on top).
https://www.murphysmagic.com/Search.aspx?c=184&lz=playingcards&th=1&fd=1

Thanks for the feedback.

I took a look at the page.  It's actually kind of nice, for a way to just "see it all," as it were.  But here's an important question.  Are the cards presented in order of most recent releases to oldest releases?  Can they be shown that way?

I look forward to seeing what Michelle comes up with.  If you folks want a little help with it, feel free to give me a shout; I'd be happy to do what I can.