Setting the Record Straighter!
- ari-phillips
- 7 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
It seems there's been some controversy surrounding the recent release and pre-launch of my latest project, QUICKDRAW, on Kickstarter. I think it's time to clear the air and set the record straighter.
QUICKDRAW IS NOT A COPY!
LET’S CLEAR THIS UP.
Let’s be clear from the outset!
QuickDraw is not a copy, not a replica, and not an imitation of the mind hacker Push & Go holster. The idea that it is undermines both the development journey I’ve taken and the respect I have for the community of creators I’m part of.
While I understand the frustration when similar products enter the market, it’s important we distinguish between inspiration and imitation, between shared function and identical design — because they are not the same.
Key Facts About QuickDraw:
Original Design & Functionality:
QuickDraw is not just a deck holster — it offers more. It’s designed to hold cards with or without the box, and has a super quick and easy open finger access which allows a signle touch to access all the cards - a key design detail that can be used for deck switches without the box that sets us apart.
One touch
The push and go is not infact a one touch system like QuickDraw. Albiet quick, it’s not the same. You need to change grip between finger and thumb to get the deck out the holster; this makes it impossible to be used easily for a deck without the case. I have been developing this quickdraw for over a year and on tour in the USA I met with the lovely Rhett Bryson who had also developed previously a one touch system in metal and leather that was vertical. I didn't proceed with developing it this way as there is already a 'speed deck ' holster on the market for vertical decks. We discussed how my holsters were perfect for this style and that the key to making it different from ANY other on the market (including the push and go) is by having one single opening. I added this but not just by opening up the design, The entire pattern, construction and method needed to be reviewed and re designed from the ground up to enable it to keep its strength and be fit for purpose. I confidently say that both QUICKDRAW PRO and QUICKDRAW LITE have achieved this..
The Push & Go Double Action
Having a double action like this movement needed in Push & Go makes it impossible to grab a loose deck of cards out of the box from the holster in once clean swift action.
The QUICKDRAW Swift Single Action
No hesitation, no grip change, nothing in the way! A true slick and swift single action!
Orientation
I offered a holster in landscape orientation — long before being listed online. They’ve been seen at conventions and tested by performers in the field. I simply didn’t release them formally earlier because they were premium designs and costly to produce and didn’t offer enough margin to scale at the time. Mine even had a magnetic flap, useful for holdouts — something Push & Go didn’t introduce
Construction:
QuickDraw is available in ABS and premium leather versions.
The premium hand stitched veg tan leather is a superior thick leather that has been wetformed to keep its shape. All the stitching is neatly hidden and concealed on the back / base so its not visible and allows more space for personalisation too.
Both my models feature an integrated metal clip. I had been using metal and plastic clips as well as leather belt loops in my holsters and other products long before they were introduced into the Push & Go line. I assume he added the clips after seeing them on my line of products. These are not the same materials, not the same internal structures, and not the same results.
Plastic Injection Moulding (ABS)
While the samples I've shown so far have been produced using a high-end commercial 3D printer, the goal of the Kickstarter funding is to move into plastic injection moulding. This will allow us to seamlessly integrate the metal clip into the casing - eliminating the need for rivets, resulting in a cleaner, more refined design.
We haven’t shown this final version in the campaign yet because we’re being completely transparent about where we are in the development process. What you see is exactly the stage we're at as we launch.
A
Versatility & functionality
QuickDraw is made for additional and different performance needs in mind. It offers flexible carry style, allowing you to have the deck anywhere on your belt either on the side or back of you and even under the jacket for very concealed access. As you don’t need the thumb to grip you can access the deck in a more concealed way from under the jacket. This also aids a much quicker, seemless deck switch when using the deck without the box or a much more convincing steal if performing an invisible deck, omni deck, brainwave for instance.
Let’s Talk Industry Norms and Ethics
Many magic products appear similar on the surface, especially to the untrained eye — from chop cups to wallets to card-to-wallet effects. My own Ringo Hanky, Nest of Wallets, and Chop Cups could all been questioned by those unfamiliar with their unique methods and mechanics — but each has its own identity , functionality, make up and method.
If we apply the same logic being aimed at QuickDraw, should we question his Greek Peek Wallet as an imitation of the Shelby Wallet with a money clip added? Or his version of Out to Lunch with an integrated pen holder, released after I had already created my own with similar features?
These aren’t accusations — they’re examples of how iteration, variation, and reinterpretation are common across all creative industries. Just like Bicycle cards and Card Shark decks serve the same purpose but differ in feel, design, and target user — so too can our holsters.
To be blunt: a copy is a replica. One thing for certain “copy’s” are 'inferior in every possible way.' - That’s just a false replica. But QuickDraw is not a replica in the slightest.
The Timeline and Real-World Use
I invest heavily in development, testing, and marketing. My products are seen and tested at conventions long before they hit my website. My landscape-style holsters were out in the wild before Push & Go was launched — just not sold formally yet due to production challenges.
After Push & Go’s release, I decided to release my own version publicly — not in response, but to avoid confusion and misrepresentation. That doesn’t make it a copy. That makes it a separate product that had already been in existence.
And yet, he has quietly sold products at conventions where I invested and paid to exhibit, sometimes approaching my own customers, asking why they didn’t come to him instead. If we’re going to talk about ethics, that’s worth mentioning.
It's also worth mentioning that I founded GRUM several years before he had even considered working with leather. Early on, he reached out to me for advice—asking about leather craft techniques, recommended suppliers, and even discussing a wallet he wanted to create for personal use. He reassured me at the time that he had no intention of competing and that it was purely a recreational interest. I had no idea then that he was actually planning to enter the same niche and would later become a competitor in the magic sector.
A Broader View of the Market
Innovation doesn’t mean being the first to ever make something — it means bringing a fresh approach, a better method, or a new take. QuickDraw does exactly that.
Let’s not pretend that competition equals copying. Almost every niche in magic — wallets, index systems, even Equivoke variations — has competing options that share surface-level similarities while being fundamentally different in use.
QuickDraw is a distinct product. Anyone who compares the two holsters side by side — in construction, feel, function, and performance — will see it clearly.
My Track Record
•I designed and released my Double Cross Pen Holder, which was followed closely by another version released at the same time, not only from the Mind Hacker, but also one of the original creators of double cross. I said nothing.
• I created Equivokey Pro, which included a prediction inside a leather keyring — long before Chipnosis came out with a similar outcome. I said nothing
•I released a utility device for 21st-century phantom and a version of Out to Lunch with an integrated pen clip — both of which were followed by similar offerings by The Mind Hacker later on. and again I said nothing.
• I also developed poker chip holders, coin holders, and many styles of packet trick holders using the same approach. Each design was intentionally non-trick-specific, allowing them to be used for a variety of effects. On occasion, I offered custom color options to complement new product launches—for example, with Craig Petty’s Evoke. Unfortunately, that particular release was not well received by him, who happened to be launching a similar case at the same time. He advised me against offering my generic 3-poker chip holder, as he was doing one also (for a specific Michael Murray effect) and even suggested I refer my customers to him—despite the fact that I had already shown him my version at the Magic Circle just a day before his release. I questioned why, if that was his stance, he had earlier produced a 21st Century Phantom case when he knew I was already offering them. While I was disappointed by these repeated actions, I ultimately chose to let it go—there’s room in the market for both of us. Again, I said nothing.
And yet, I didn’t call anyone out. I trust performers to make their own comparisons and choices. There’s room in the market for both of us.
One More Thing
When some people first supported his recent posts, they later deleted their comments after seeing the full story. Once the facts were clear, they saw the accusations didn’t hold up. A side-by-side comparison shows clear differences in method, purpose, and design.
Final Word
I admire his work. It’s high-quality and clearly made with care. Just like mine is.
Different styles suit different performers. That’s the beauty of our craft.
This isn’t a matter of knockoffs or counterfeits. There’s no IP infringement here. This is simply another valid solution to a shared need, executed differently and built for a different styles of performance.
R&D doesn’t mean Rip Off & Duplicate.
It means Research & Develop — and that’s exactly what I’ve done.
Google defines R&D as " activities aimed at acquiring new knowledge or developing new or improved products, processes, or services. Essentially, R&D is about innovation and improvement."
Let’s encourage innovation, not stifle it.
I appreciate all your support and understanding.
I will be proceeding with this project that I'm passionate about with kickstarter and if you want to be one of the first to get the QUICKDRAW LITE or QUICKDRAW PRO at the best prices only available on kickstarter then please do register your interest on the links below.
Thanks so much
Ari
Be First to Draw — Quickdraw Is Almost Here!
🔥 Get Ready for Quickdraw – The Fastest Deck Holster in Magic!
✨ Quickdraw — the fastest, slimmest deck holster ever made —
is launching on Kickstarter!
Don't just take my word for it. Check out what the pro's are saying. Here is a sneaky preview from the up and coming trailer.
Check out the speed of QUICKDRAW. ONE Motion - NO Hesitation!
Whether you’re performing with a full deck, partial deck, or even cards without a box, Quickdraw gives you instant access without magnets, flaps, or changing grip.
🎯 Launch Date: Will be updating you very soon!
Add your details below to be notified of the launch date
and Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page
🎁 Early Bird Rewards: Limited and exclusive to early backers!📬 Click here to be notified by kickstarter the moment we go live:
Thanks for all your support—can’t wait to share Quickdraw with you.
Stay magical,
Ari Phillips
Founder of GRUM
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