UT Texas Rubber Ducks Almost Sold Out!
Bevo Ducks Make a Splash with UT Fans
UT fans are known for their unyielding loyalty to Bevo and her boys, and now, thanks to former Austin resident Craig Wolfe, fans can replace their rival-Michigan spirited yellow rubber duckies with a bath time friend who sports a UT twist: a Bevo rubber duck.
CelebriDucks, the company behind the bath tub Bevo, was recently voted as a top 100 gift to give by Entertainment Weekly. The company created the first ever celebrity rubber ducks to resemble the greatest icons of film, music, athletics, and history. They have produced CelebriDucks for the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, NASCAR, NCAA collegiate mascots and also for famous people, such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Barack Obama, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, James Dean, KISS, James Brown, The Blues Brothers, Mr. T, Shakespeare, and the world’s first ever 100% recycled “Green” duck. To date they have created over 200 different CelebriDucks and have pioneered a whole new collectible.
When asked how he came up with the idea to turn icons into rubber ducks, Wolfe answered that Austin is “a very inspiring and creative place to be to come up with good ideas.” Since launching, the company has received a tremendous amount of publicity, having been on almost every news network from NBC, Fox, the CBS Evening Magazine (three times), CNN, to ABC, and more. They have been featured in a range of periodicals spanning U.S. News and World Report to Playboy, and CelebriDucks have even been guests on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, twice.
Trying to explain why CelebriDucks has so many media outlets and customers quacking, Galen Jones of Red Nightlife Magazine explained, “These little critters are amazingly detailed, while still maintaining the charming qualities that make rubber duckies so, well, collectible.” The ducks, all claiming Canardland as home, are proof that Austinites have a knack for keeping things both weird and waddled. Wolfe cautions, though, “If people want a Bevo, they better act quickly; he’s going to be sold out shortly and we don’t know yet when new arrivals will come in.”
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CelebriDucks Working at Home!
WAHS Podcast #160 Craig Wolfe of Celebriducks
This week I interview Craig Wolfe of Celebriducks! If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Resources listed on the show:
Celebriducks
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Rubber Duck Interview with Business 2 Community
Entrepreneurial Success: 6 Questions with Craig Wolfe
Craig Wolfe was the president of Name That Toon where he developed the first ever animation/advertising art lines for Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, M&M/Mars, Pillsbury, Campbell Soup, Hershey, and many others. The company grew to become the largest publisher of advertising/animation art in the world.
In 1998 he created Celebriducks which made the first ever celebrity rubber ducks of the greatest icons of film, music, athletics, and history. They have produced CelebriDucks for the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, NASCAR, NCAA collegiate mascots, and numerous Fortune 500 companies. Their ducks have appeared on numerous TV shows including The Tonight Show, CBS Evening Magazine, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien and were voted one of the top 100 gifts by Entertainment Weekly. They have created over 200 different CelebriDucks and selling over a million ducks while pioneering a whole new collectible.
1. What made you take the entrepreneurial leap?
I never really enjoyed working in an office while doing something I wasn’t really passionate about and for someone else, no less! For me, once I felt emotionally connected to an entrepreneurial venture, whether it was large or small, I knew there was no choice but to move forward. A business consultant, Carol Roth, shared a great quote from Winston Churchill who said “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” In truth, most great ventures had great setbacks, but over time became successful through the learning curve and passion of their founders.
2. How would you rank the following factors in determining a startup’s success: Idea, Market, Team. Please explain.
When you have startup, the idea is absolutely key. More money is thrown after poorly conceived ideas that you could ever imagine. Next, It’s really really important to study the market you are intending to serve and just as importantly get as much feedback from people you trust before you begin. And finally, surround yourself with the best team possible no matter where they reside as with outsourcing anything is possible today.
3. What is the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
You’re on your own, baby. You can’t blame anyone for your lack of drive, insight, success, or lack of income. There is no steady paycheck. It’s up to you to bring your vision to life. For some that’s hard as laziness and bad ideas are not suffered lightly. There is no cushion to fall back on. So to be an entrepreneur you have to have a temperament that can deal with uncertainty and also one that can self-generate in any situation. And as an entrepreneur, you will be called to do just that in more ways that you could ever have imagined!
4. What is the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur?
Passion for what ones loves and the creative process in and of itself is what drives all true entrepreneurs. You create what you love, in the way you want it created, and it’s all yours with no-one to tell you what you can or cannot do. It is an amazing experience. I always say in my estimate, over 75% of the people wake up each day and wish they could be doing something different. An entrepreneur is doing what they love every day and thus going to work, rather than a burden, is an exercise in creativity, fun, passion, energy, and excitement for what lies ahead.
5. What’s your advice for someone who is thinking about starting a business?
I do a lot of interviews in the media and I always tell every budding entrepreneur and small business owner that you are your brand that first and foremost when starting a business you have to set realistic goals and not try to own the world and your niche tomorrow. Patience is key!! So don’t bankrupt yourself in the first year!
Also, you want to start by promoting your brand not yourself! Your branding of yourself is only as good as your brand. Thus you should always create a great brand and then the natural extension to promote yourself as the brand will happen organically. Promoting yourself first is not only a bit egoic, but has no substance behind it. Richard Branson with Virgin, Steve Jobs with Apple, etc….they all had the brand first and then personality naturally followed to become intrinsically intertwined with the brand at that point. So spend your money to intelligently build up your brand.
….and this is huge for new entrepreneurs….it’s not how much money you make…it’s how much you keep!….so overhead is key….it takes down more businesses that you can imagine. Hey, you can easily bankrupt yourself through ill conceived overspending…especially in technology, rent, and personnel!!
And finally, learn to responsibly outsource. You have to know what you can do and what you should not do and what is the best use of your time. And you have to become a master of communication when you do outsource. It’s the key to making any business work. So bottom line, you really do have to have a great support staff no matter where they live, but you must know how to responsibly interact with them. Learn that and the sky is the limit!
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Rubber Duck USA
Hatched in the USA! – Wall Street Journal
Rubber Duck Industry Returns to the U.S.
Name: Craig Wolfe
Business: CelebriDucks
Headquarters: San Rafael, Calif.
Industry: Consumer Manufactured Goods
Year begun: 1998
What was the challenge your business was facing as a result of the economy?
The Rubber Duck was invented in America. Now every one is made outside the U.S. Rising prices, longer delivery times and quality-control issues were becoming a major factor in working in China and threatening the company. We decided to bring the industry back to America to Ohio where it all began.
What was the innovative idea you put in place?
We were already the only U.S. company doing our artwork and sculpting here for rubber ducks. Now we were going to bring back the actual final production to America. Everyone said it was impossible with labor costs and safety-law requirements. We were willing to take the risk!
What significant milestone has this innovative idea lead to since Jan. 1, 2009?
We suddenly have companies and businesses lining up to get made-in-America ducks! Not only can we produce them in America, but we can do smaller production runs so more companies can have their own custom ducks made here. Plus our delivery times are now shorter, opening up so many more possibilities.
Please explain your innovation at greater length.
I was the largest publisher in the country of artwork from television commercials, creating the first ever animation art lines for Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, M&M/Mars, Pillsbury, etc. The rubber duck, like jazz, is an American art form that originated here. Thus CelebriDucks was born as a side business where we created the first ever line of celebrity rubber ducks of the greatest icons of film, music, history and athletics. We felt we could take the level of detail in the sculpting and painting of rubber ducks to a whole new level and elevate the art form altogether. We were even voted one of the top 100 Gifts by Entertainment Weekly and thus sold off the animation business to concentrate on ducks!
Although the rubber duck was invented in America, over the years with all the outsourcing of our manufacturing, it got to the point where not one rubber duck was even made here anymore. In fact, we were the only U.S. company still doing our artwork and sculpting here. But I wanted more than that. I wanted to bring the whole industry back. And then something very unique happened.
We got a call from the Seiberling Estate. Seiberling was one of the original rubber companies in America and they went on to create Goodyear Tire. They also were one of the first ones to create rubber duckies! They are in Ohio where they offer tours of their beautiful estate. Back in the early 1930s, with the release of Disney’s Snow White, Seiberling’s director of marketing approached Walt Disney about becoming one of their first licensees and creating a line of rubber Disney characters including a rubber Donald Duck. They were tremendously successful.
When we started speaking to Seiberling, we all agreed that it would be an extraordinary story to actually create a rubber duck for them right back in Ohio where it all began. Our art department was already in Cincinnati. Our new factory was also in Ohio. So why not start to bring the whole industry back here. Seiberling was very excited and the joy of seeing it all come full circle not only to Ohio, but also to the actual place where it all began and create our first made-in-America duck for Seiberling and also for hundreds of other companies has become a reality!
And so we are currently in the process of making ducks here. It has been much more creative with costs and governmental laws, but we are doing it. To deal with the intricacy of our hand painting, the wife of the owner of the factory created a group of stay-at-home moms who are artists to form a painting cottage industry. Bottom line, I am so happy and proud to be able to bring this industry back here. May it be the first of many!
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Rubber Duck M.O.
Rubber Duck M.O.
“Word of mouth has been huge for us and most of the time people in media call us as opposed to us searching them out all the time.”
The days of the classic rubber ducky are in the past because of Craig Wolfe’s creation CelebriDucks. CelebriDucks is the original creator of the first ever celebrity rubber ducks of the greatest icons of film, music, athletics, and history. They have produced CelebriDucks for the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, NASCAR, NCAA collegiate mascots, and numerous Fortune 500 companies. Their ducks have appeared on numerous TV shows including The Tonight Show, CBS Evening Magazine, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien and were voted one of the top 100 gifts by Entertainment Weekly. They have created over 200 different CelebriDucks while pioneering a whole new collectible.
In a market where all classic rubber duckies are made in China, CelebriDucks is determined to bring the production back to the USA. Craig has a factory in Ohio and artists in Cincinnati have the whole process rolling!
MO:
First question first, Why Rubber Ducks? What initially drew you to this specific product?
Craig:
Bottom line, I wanted to create a business based on my passions. I realized that everyone loves rubber ducks and I wanted to do something totally creative with the concept that had never been done before…thus CelebriDucks. I also noticed that it’s one of the most common consumer products found in most every home in America and virtually every one of us had one as a child. But I felt that the level of detail in the sculpting and painting that was truly possible with this artform hadn’t been done yet and I was drawn to the creative untapped possibilities.
MO:
I think it is great that you are choosing to have production of the CelebriDucks in the states. Can you explain how you are dealing with the added costs this creates for your company?
Craig:
Yes, this is a big deal for me. The rubber duck was invented in America and yet none are made here anymore. We were already the only US company doing all our artwork and sculpting here, but I wanted to do all our production here.
The Syberling Estate, who began Good Year Tire, contacted us not too long ago to see about producing a rubber duck for them which would be amazing since they
were the ones who created the first ever rubber duck! They even were one of the first licensees for Disney producing the first Donald Duck rubber duckie
in the 1930′s.
After Syberling contacted us, I started the process of finding a way to bring this industry back here and funny enough bringing it back to the actual state where it all started!
Sure, the cost will be more, but we are a more expensive rubber duck to begin with so more able to absorb some of that cost and I am wiling to make less. It’s just time to bring some of this industry back and thus we were committed to find a way to make it work. Just think, the rubber duck which was invented in America is no longer made here….literally, every one is made outside the US. So we will change that and I have to trust that we will also benefit in people wanting to purchase from an American company making US produced duckies! I also feel that for part of the line, I can make one basic duck and use the same mold for different jobs by only varying the painting and pad printing.
MO:
How can people use CelebriDucks as a fundraising tool?
Craig:
This is a very important area for me. Right now, you can only do duck races with perhaps one major company. We want to be an alternative. We want to be able to offer events that are unique and different that can gain so much more PR as you can now float celebrities such as Elvis and Pink Flamingos and Penguins in your race. And how about a Green Regatta with our Mr. Green which is the world’s first and only 100% recycled rubber duck. Then we have this whole other option of actually doing a duck race with ducks that are Made in America. It’s just a great story and everyone benefits!
MO:
You have obviously made a big splash with CelebriDucks being named one of the top 100 gifts by Entertainment Weekly. Can you explain what marketing techniques you have implemented that have made CelebriDucks so successful?
Craig:
We have been fortunate that we have one of those unique products that if you give the media one, they will tend to use it on TV, radio, and in newspapers and magazines. It’s just quirky, fun, and unique enough to provide something different and it’s a great visual. Every time we do our custom work for a client the client always finds that the media is very interested in showcasing it. The PR just builds upon itself. Plus the Hollywood community really has embraced us and seems to really enjoy our products so we end up in a lot of the Award Show gift baskets.
Word of mouth has been huge for us and most of the time people in media call us as opposed to us searching them out all the time. That’s how we ended up on The Tonight Show, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, CBS Evening Magazine, and so many other shows including being a question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? We never had even contacted any of these folks. So we are very grateful that we have a product that people can have fun with.
MO:
I see that you can buy CelebriDucks on the website, and they are given as promotional items by a lot of big name companies, but besides there website are there other avenues for the average consumer to buy CelebriDucks?
Craig:
Actually, if you look at the contact section on the website you can see we have distributors around the world who sell thousands and thousands of them. We sell our Blues Brothers at the House of Blues around the country, our Pink Flamingos at The Flamingo in Vegas and in hundreds of gift stores around the country. We work through gift and pool and spa distributors so they get them out there. But it’s hard to find a store that carries the whole line…thus CelebriDucks.com where you can find them all!
MO:
Which CelebriDuck has been your favorite?
Craig:
Wow, this is a tough one as I like different ones for different reasons. I think our KISS ducks are just amazing. The sets sold out, but we will always keep Gene in the line as long as he is willing. He has been wonderful in his kind support of our company. I always thought Popeye was one of the best things we ever did. I just felt the sculpting and look of him was just amazing and his gift box is just gorgeous. Now we do all our ducks in their gorgeous gift boxes which adds a whole other level to their collectability. I love the Wizard of Oz ducks and Mr. T remains our top selling duck worldwide. I guess I am also especially proud of our new Canard (French for duck) food themed ducks representing Cupcakes, Wine, Chocolate, Coffee, and now BBQ (well he’s a pig!) And I do think our Devil Ducky that is just about to arrive here is probably the cutest looking devil duck ever made.
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