Budget-Friendly Family Entertainment - It's 'In The Cards' This Holiday Season

CINCINNATI, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a study released by the National Retail Federation(1), Americans are betting on a budget-friendly holiday this year, with a mere 1.9 percent increase in spending versus last year -- the smallest increase in consumer spending since 2002. BICYCLE(R) Playing Cards, the world's most popular playing card brand, today revealed a series of gift and holiday entertainment ideas that won't break the bank.

With more than 550 card games and rules -- from poker to pinochle, hearts to rummy, magic tricks to card house building -- individuals can find card playing inspirations at http://www.bicyclecards.com. The possibilities are nearly endless for bringing together family and friends; and even starting a little friendly competition.

Just in time for the holidays, BICYCLE(R) introduces sure bets for stocking stuffers this holiday season:

Personalized Holiday Cards -- A New One-of-a-Kind Tradition

For the person who has seemingly everything, create a truly personal gift: a personalized deck of BICYCLE(R) cards. Individuals can go to http://www.bicyclecards.com, upload any original photo and have it placed on a standard to jumbo index BICYCLE(R) Poker-size deck. Choose from 23 characters of text in different fonts and colors and custom border.

Environmentally Friendly Play

Turn a family fun game into an eco-friendly get together. Made from sustainable forest papers, starch-based laminate and vegetable-based ink, the Eco Edition playing cards help the environment one hand at a time. Sold in mass market and food and drug retailers, BICYCLE(R) Eco Edition Playing Cards are available at a suggested retail price of $4.99 per deck.

No Joke, Custom Jokers

Express your personality with their new Limited Edition Series playing cards. The series will include 10 variations, all featuring one-of-a-kind packaging and designs. Each series is individually numbered and includes a unique custom joker design. Sold in mass market and food and drug retailers, BICYCLE(R)'s Limited Edition Series playing cards are available at a suggested retail price of $4.99 per deck.

New Slight of Hand

Impress families and friends with the new BICYCLE(R) Guardians Playing Cards. The Guardians deck, designed by Theory11, is crafted from ancient art with a touch of modern design. From the detailed Ace of Spades to high quality, sturdy paper, these cards feature dark, elaborate, and modern takes on the classic imagery found on BICYCLE(R)'s playing cards. These premium playing cards have chilling aura with muted tones on the face cards and darker, deeper reds on the red index cards. Whether an amateur magician or a social gamer, players won't want to put these down. Sold in mass market and food and drug retailers, BICYCLE(R) Guardian playing cards are available at a suggested retail price of $4.99 per deck.

"With tough economic times, Americans are looking for new, inexpensive ways to enjoy family fun this holiday," said Doug Kruep, vice president and general manager of Games and Arts & Crafts for Jarden, makers of BICYCLE(R) Playing Cards. "For roughly $4, playing cards can rekindle family memories and build traditions for years to come."

"The bicyclecards.com official rules guide is also a great resource to make sure grandma isn't cheating," jokes Kruep.

What's The Deal: Survey Says ... .

According to a recent BICYCLE(R) survey(2), individuals named Poker as their favorite card game, followed by Solitaire, Rummy, Hearts and Spades, respectively.

    Game                                     % playing

    Poker -- (Hold'em and other)                60
    Solitaire                                   55
    Rummy                                       27
    Hearts                                      25
    Spades                                      23

Find these games and a full house of card playing ideas at http://www.bicyclecards.com.

About BICYCLE(R)

BICYCLE(R) Playing Cards, the world's best selling brand and product of The United States Playing Card Company (USPC), has been bringing families and competitive players together for more than 120 years. USPC is a leader in the production, distribution and marketing of premier brands of playing cards, children's card games, collectible tins, puzzles and card accessories, including: BEE(R), BICYCLE (R), AVIATOR(R), HOYLE(R), KEM(R) and CONGRESS(R). For more information, visit http://www.bicyclecards.com or http://www.usplayingcard.com. USPC is part of the Branded Consumables segment of consumer products leader Jarden Corporation.

About The United States Playing Card Company

The United States Playing Card Company is the leader in the production and distribution of premier brands of playing cards, including BEE(R), BICYCLE(R), AVIATOR(R), HOYLE(R), KEM(R) and CONGRESS(R) playing cards. BICYCLE(R) has been the best selling playing card brand in the world for more than 100 years. Founded in 1867, the company manufactures markets and distributes playing cards, children's card games, collectible tins, puzzles and card accessories and is part of the Branded Consumables segment of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH). BEE(R), BICYCLE(R) (R), AVIATOR(R), HOYLE(R), KEM(R) and CONGRESS(R) are registered trademarks of The United States Playing Card Company. For more information, visit http://www.bicyclecards.com.

About Jarden Corporation

Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH) is a leading provider of niche consumer products used in and around the home. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well-recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia(R), Berkley(R), Campingaz(R) and Coleman(R), Fenwick(R), Gulp! (R), JT(R), K2(R), Marker(R), Marmot(R), Mitchell(R), Penn(R), Rawlings(R), Shakespeare(R), Stearns(R), Stren(R), Trilene(R), and Volkl(R); Consumer Solutions: Bionaire(R), Crock-Pot(R), FoodSaver(R), Health o meter(R),Holmes(R), Mr. Coffee(R), Oster(R), Patton(R), Rival(R), Seal-a-Meal(R), Sunbeam(R), VillaWare(R) and White Mountain(R); and Branded Consumables: Ball(R), BEE(R), BICYCLE(R),Crawford(R), Diamond(R), Dicon(R), First Alert(R), Forster(R), HOYLE(R), Kerr(R), Lehigh(R), Leslie-Locke(R), Loew-Cornell(R) and Pine Mountain(R). Headquartered inRye, N.Y., Jarden has

over 25,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.jarden.com.

1. National Retail Federation Consumer Survey, October 2008

2. Meridian Consulting Group LLC, 2007

SOURCE BICYCLE Playing Cards

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