Tarot Deck for sale...can you help me?

Madre de Scorpion

I have a friend who is an artist and has created a beautiful Tarot deck. I am looking for information on where we can submit this deck for sale. Or does anyone have any other ideas on how to sell the deck? What other options do we have? Internet? Retail stores? Thank you!
 

baba-prague

I think the lack of replies you've had so far may be down to people not being sure HOW to reply. Asking where to sell a deck is a bit like asking where to sell a book - it depends on so many things. For instance, if the deck is an expensive hand-made self-published one it's very unlikely a chainstore would stock it. But if it's special, you might do very well selling via the internet and some specialist shops.

Perhaps the best thing would be for you to tell us a bit more and, if possible, post some pictures. I'm sure many people here would love to see the deck, and once they do, it may be easier to give you some helpful advice. It's always good to hear of a finished new deck - exciting!
 

HudsonGray

Right, we can get very little from what you said so far. Has it been printed already? How many copies have been made? How is it packaged? What's the theme, if it has one? Knowing these things can help people give advice.

Many artist produced decks sell by word of mouth & never hit the stores at all. The artist would most likely post pictures up online, put out messages on tarot bulletin boards, have a copy sent for review to a few places online, and sell their decks that way.

If the deck is finished, the artist can also try to contact US Games and Llewellyn and see if they're interested--follow the format they give on their sites as to how to present the project (some want it on CD, with a cover letter, and a sample card, etc.) You can also check with smaller publishers like Bear Company. There's a list somewhere on the Deck Creation archives.

If the bookstores are going to carry it, the deck has to be in a box with an ISBN number, or they can't order it (warehouses are set up this way now, items without the ISBN number just can't get into their ordering system for stocking the larger chain stores). Smaller bookstores that are independantly owned, new age stores, etc. can be contacted separately & queried. But for display of the deck, it would have to have a nice looking box to interest the customer (and to sit properly on the shelf at the store without getting damaged).

There are other things to try, like contacting AzureGreen (or is it AzureBlue?) which is a metaphysical clearing house sort of, on the internet. Or eBay sales. Or selling it at a table at the local science fiction conventions, spirit fairs & SCA events.