Decipher has just launched its Countdown to the King promotion, which is designed to drive store traffic in the run-up to the release of Lord of the Rings:  Return of the King this December.  Decipher distributors are offering retailers three different mixes of product along with a range of free-with-purchase promotional items.  The three packages all contain product with combined MSRPs of around $5500 at a wholesale price of $2500, offering a great margin with promo items to help sell through the product.

Bestseller Package

1 - Case The Fellowship of the Ring Boosters
1 - Case The Two Towers Boosters
1 - Case Battle of Helms Deep Boosters

1 - Case Ents of Fangorn Boosters

Holiday Package

1 - Case Ents of Fangorn Boosters
2 - Cases The Lord of the Rings Fellowship Anthology
2 - Cases The Lord of the Rings Two Player Starter with CD
1 - Case The Two Towers Deluxe Starters w/POP Display
1 - Case Battle of Helms Deep Boosters
1 - Case The Fellowship of the Ring Boosters

The promotional items are shipped in quantities that are twice the amount that would be associated with the product sold as part of the package in order to help retailers move existing inventory as well.  The promo items are:

• 64 copies each of 18 different, exclusive LOTR CCG Alternate Template promo cards.
• 65 copies each of LOTR CCG:  FOTR and LOTR CCG: TT block posters (one extra for the retailer to put up in his store)
• 64 oversized checklist cards listing the Alternate Template cards.
• A counter card and program stamp for tallying collector's progress. 
• 64 Redemption cards for the Grand Prize Binder that will contain four preview cards from LOTR CCG expansions that will be released up through 2007, all of which will depict characters or creatures that have not appeared in the motion pictures.  Tom Bombadil has been announced; the other three will be announced this fall.

Decipher has also developed two refill assortments with a different product mix that will be available to stores that purchased a core kit. 

The Countdown Collection - Refill Assortment #1
1 - Case Ents of Fangorn Boosters
1 - Case The Lord of the Rings 2 Player Starter with CD
1 - Case The Lord of the Rings Fellowship Anthology
$1,877.16 MSRP - $900.00 store cost
Special Promo Pricing Available Until 9/30/03

The Countdown Collection - Refill Assortment #2
1 - Case The Lord of the Rings 2 Player Starter with CD
2 - Cases The Lord of the Rings Fellowship Anthology
$671.88 MSRP - $335.00 store cost
Special Promo Pricing Available Until 9/30/03

Retailers participating in the program will be listed on the Decipher Website.  The Website is also supporting the promotion by featuring the promo cards and hosting discussion boards. 

Organized play events will also support the promotion by sanctioning higher K value booster draft events in September and October. 

According to Decipher Sales Manager Scott Gaeta, the Countdown to the King promotion was developed in response to retailer requests for programs to build retailer traffic.  'The #1 thing retail stores have asked us for is a way to get more customers in their stores,' he said.  ''That's really what the program is designed to do.  It builds repeat business for the store and allows them to build their customer base.'

A complementary 'theater program,' designed to get fans of the film into game stores in December, will also be unveiled soon.