New Deal Playing Card Company Awarded WPBA Tour License

New Deal Playing Card Company Awarded WPBA Tour LicenseCard Company Dealt Three-Year AgreementCharlotte, NC – The Women’s Professional Billiard Association and New Deal Playing Card Company – a leading playing card company - have entered a three-year agreement to design and manufacture licensed WPBA playing cards. Under the terms of the agreement, New Deal Playing Card Company will introduce a deck of WPBA-logoed playing cards within the next month. Another set of playing cards, complete with player photos, is planned for release in early 2004.
New Deal’s patented design is the only playing card manufactured to fit the shape of one’s hand. The ergonomically designed decks have a “form following function” wave on the top and bottom of the cards that allows for an easier grip, simpler shuffling, and MORE FUN! New Deal’s “Ergo Cards”, lauded in the New York Times as “Playing Cards with a difference”, were created and perfected by Lance Rake, a University of Kansas Associate Professor of Design. New Deal’s “Ergo Cards” are currently being sold in more than 340 retail stores in 35 states nationwide. The WPBA-branded cards are expected to retail in $5-6/deck price range and will be sold at selected mass- and specialty-retailers, billiards retailers, WPBA tour events and on the WPBA’s online Pro Shop. “We see a great opportunity to work with the world’s premier women’s billiards tour,” says Kermit Krantz, founder of the New Deal Playing Card Company. “The WPBA is building a solid licensing program focused on understanding the billiard consumer’s needs and working in partnership with its licensees.” Referring to the 2004 deck featuring the WPBA Players, Krantz expressed that his company “couldn’t be more pleased” to showcase the world’s best professional women billiards players on a deck of cards. The increasing popularity of billiards, particularly among families, has created a unique opportunity for the WPBA, of which the organization plans to take full advantage. “Our association with New Deal Playing Card Company is just the beginning of a long list of WPBA licensed merchandise that we will be bringing on line over the next year,” says Kathy Kopacz, WPBA Director of Licensing, in announcing the agreement. “New Deal Playing Card Company is known for producing quality work and we look forward to working with them on this exciting new venture.” The WPBA is the oldest professional player’s organization for billiards. The WPBA governs all aspects of female professional activity; represents the media and participation rights of professional and semi-pro players; governs rules, regulations, and conduct, ethics and equipment specifications for professional sanctioned tournaments; and, develops, produces and sanctions tournaments. For more information on WPBA Licensing contact Kathy Kopacz, Director of Licensing at (386) 673-7655 or kkopacz@wpba.com. New Deal Playing Card Company is an 8-year old privately held company based in Leawood, KS. New Deal Playing Card Company’s products are known as “the card that fits your hand”. For more information on New Deal Playing Card Company, please visit the company’s website at www.Ergocard.com. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest from the sport of billiards and pool.

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