Dear Backers / Members
Firstly I hope this message finds you well and you are having a successful 2018 so far and enjoying some late spring sunshine wherever you may be in the world. The sun is out today in the United Kingdom (shocker, I know) and after I post this message I do intend to go and enjoy it myself.
I am writing today to give our valued previous backers and also members of United Cardists (https://unitedcardists.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) one month’s notice of the launch of our ‘Vegas V2 Diffractor Playing Cards’ deck.
We have been working extremely hard over the last 6-9 months to update and upgrade our brand and our product. As you may notice, we have also had a re-branding. Going forward any playing card deck we produce, whether an original or a collaboration deck, will be known as ‘(Insert Name) Diffractor Playing Cards’. So the ‘VERTEX DECK’ from 2017 will stand alone as our first ever edition with a different and unique name.
We have also changed our brand name to ‘VXD International’, mainly to reflect our long-held plan to release a Diffractor deck for each of the most influential and significant tourist cities in the world. However, we decided that, being our first, the Las Vegas edition needed a V2 edition making so that it would fit into the series to follow (re branding and look), before we move onto London, New York, Paris, Rome, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Monte Carlo etc etc. The list will go on and is not currently in a fixed order – fyi.
So now a little about the Vegas V2 edition, which will launch on June 6th on Kickstarter (time to be confirmed).
You may recall that for the last release, we wanted to be able to deliver our unique patented playing cards in two forms – in our bespoke all-metal cases and also in traditional card ‘tuck’ boxes and that we were not able to deliver the traditional tucks eventually. That is the first thing we are remedying this time, with our ‘Vegas V2 Diffractor Playing Cards’ deck. We understand there are a lot of collectors out there who can’t fit our metal cases into their displays and storage devices easily. The metal cases do feature however, for those that are now fans of them. Another benefit in offering traditional tucks though, is reduction in prices and therefore greater reach to the public in general.
One of our main areas of focus in the last 6-9 months has been in talks with and arrangements with our factories (4 factories in total) in order to reduce overall manufacturing costs. As many have realized and stated in feedback, after they received the ‘VERTEX DECK’ in the post, we have taken every step to ensure the highest quality of our product. For the Vegas DiffractorTM Playing Cards’ deck, we will be delivering the same high level of quality, but at slightly more affordable levels, due to our recent efforts with the factories. I will post a table directly after this message on this thread on United Cardists (########), which shows the upcoming Vegas V2 price levels and the bulk discounts on offer, for the traditional tuck variant.
The whole edition will be a Kickstarter-only and all decks will be limited. More on those limited numbers on launch day. Numbering of traditional tuck units received by backers, will be on a first come, first serve basis, starting from #010.
Since the V1 launched, nearly exactly a year ago, we have been quite active on social media and grown a good following (particularly on instagram) and we have been inundated with questions about the playing cards and requests to buy, from collectors, magicians, cardists and poker players, who had no idea that we had launched or that this type of playing card even existed. So this launch is also for all of those people as well.
We did next to zero marketing prior to or during the last launch (which is a good thing for owners of the VERTEX DECK of course). It was purely a word-of-mouth thing, along with the original single thread put up on United Cardists.
The Kickstarter goal this time will be at $45 000, which is the minimum necessary for us to be able to fund this upcoming project. Those close to us know that we personally funded about 70% of the production costs for the last one, on top of the KS funding received. We are hoping that our marketing efforts over the last few months and the vital support of our existing backers, will get us to that goal this time.
I can’t go into exactly what will be coming as that would detract from the launch day on June 6th but in summary I can say that there will be some elements that remain from the first edition and some elements which we felt could benefit from improvement and upgrade. All will be revealed at the start of the campaign and also as the campaign passes various points.
Take care and enjoy your weekend.
Kind regards
, it will be good if you don't use the text on the backs.
. Regardless, I will still be backing, but probably for less decks than if I liked the back 
. Here are some more social media countdown preview vids for anyone interested......