Forbes: Is The $400 Million Duck Dynasty Merchandising Empire At Stake?

[Initech]

When I wrote a story on Duck Dynasty’s $400 million merchandise empire for a recent issue of Forbes, one quote stood out during my reporting.

“It’s a huge risk, taking on personalities,” said Charlie Anderson, CEO of retail marketing agency Shoptology. “Look at what happened with Paula Deen,” he said, referring to the Southern chef’s racism scandal and resulting loss of lucrative partnerships.

Anderson added: “The Duck Dynasty guys have flaws, but they’re wholesome.”

Hmm. Wholesome, if you get warm fuzzy feelings from horribly outdated, ignorant anti-gay rhetoric.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-stars-anti-gay-rant-is-walmart-and-aes-400-million-retail-empire-at-stake/

Please... please! I'm tired of seeing their crap everywhere!

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. I've never seen the show and would never buy any of their merchandise.

It just doesn't appeal to me.

[Marrah_G]

2. There is a VERY loud vocal group of fundies out there screaming about his suspension

I doubt they will be able to make up for the lost revenue.

[Initech]

3. Sadly they're a small minority at that.

And they're definitely on the losing end of this argument.

[Savannahmann]

8. They aren't that small

I saw on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Philrobertsonsupport?fref=ts where they are supporting him. It is just under half a million, and they couldn't have been in existence for more than a day so far.

So what is going to happen? They've already shot all the episodes for the current season, they've got three left for this season and at most are editing. They can't edit a third of the episodes out of existence to make Phil go away. They aren't going to put it on a shelf and just write it off, it cost them too much money to make. Besides, with it being their most watched program on the network, the controversy will almost certainly pump the viewership up to over 20 million from the reported 14 million.

So what do you think is going to happen? Do you see this as Paula Deen or Chick Fil A? Chick Fil A got a big boost to their business. Rush Limbaugh makes sure to say something to stir up the outrage whenever his ratings start to drop a bit. Then it's a jump in the ratings as everyone tunes in to hear what outrageous thing he'll say now.

We're playing their game is the point I'm trying to make. The remainder of the current season is set, according to A&E's website, it's next episode is on January 15th. http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty Episode list. http://sharetv.com/shows/duck_dynasty/episodes?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=duck%20dynasty%20season%204&utm_campaign=Bing+Campaign

So what is going to happen? Worst case for them, A&E says adios to the Duck Dufus crew. Fox Television picks it up, and the viewership doubles, or triples. The Duck Dufus gang is given full creative control, and every episode contains some slur against a Homosexual. They might even get someone to play an outrageously attired homosexual just to give the dufus crew a chance to look surprised and uncomfortable.

Think it through and see what will happen. I'd bet money that the Duck Dufus crew wins in the end. That is based upon the history of Chick-fil-A, Limbaugh, and the rest of the Outrage generators. Paula Deen was the exception to the rule, and I'm not ready to write her off yet.

[Blue Owl]

4. Charlie's a quack

n/t

[msongs]

5. not so long as people watch what they know is fake and believe it is real nt

[grasswire]

6. excellent point nt

[politichew]

7. From what I understand, they had a diverse audience.

Because up until now they've remained largely nonpartisan.

So while the vocal minority of bigoted, fundie rednecks will stick around...

I wouldn't be surprised to see a good portion of their dynasty fall.