Product Spotlight: Rubber Ducks

Have you ever thought about how many kinds of ducks there are in the world? You got your Mighty Ducks, Daffy Duck, Donald Duck, duck soup, duck(t) tape, and many more. 

But if we had to name the true king of the ducks in the universe, it’s gotta be the Rubber Duck. Look around you. They’re everywhere from your child’s bathtub to the dashboards of Jeeps. (It’s a Jeep thing. We don’t understand.)

Seriously, we’re talking about rubber ducks?

You bet we are. They’re a ridiculously popular promotional product. Our catalog features more than 100 rubber duck-related products. But we’ll get to their promotional uses later. Let’s start with a history of the little quackers.

The History of Rubber Ducks

Judging by their popularity, you might think rubber ducks have been around forever. They haven’t really, but their origins do go back to the 19th century. Their story is one of innovation, cultural impact, and surprising versatility.

The rubber duck’s beginning is a humble one, beginning in the industrial age of the 1800. Charles Goodyear’s invention of vulcanized rubber in 1839 made durable and flexible rubber products possible. Inventors experimented with molded rubber to produce many kinds of goods, including toys. 

Unlike real ducks, the first rubber ducks didn’t do one important thing – they didn’t float. Made of a harder rubber, they were promoted instead as chew toys for teething infants. 

Ducks Refined

By the early 1900s, manufacturing innovations led to softer and lighter duck designs that enabled them to float. They quickly became a bath-time favorite.

Sculptor Peter Ganine is credited with creating the classic rubber duck as we know it today. He first created a sculpture of the duck in the 1940s. He patented the design, which included eyes and a classic bill, had it manufactured and sold more than 50 million ducks worldwide. That’s a LOT of duck bucks.

Ernie Sings, Ducks Fly (off the shelves)

1970 saw rubber ducks became a true cultural phenomenon, thanks to a Muppet. Ernie (of Bert and Ernie fame) sang an ode called “Rubber Duckie” on Sesame Street. Released as a single, the song climbed the charts that year, reaching Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. From then on, the rubber duck was a beloved part of the culture.

Ducks Evolving

Over the years, the classic yellow duck with orange bill has changed, adding more colors and variations. Character ducks that represent professions, memes, politicians or celebrities are increasingly popular.

Technology is integral to some modern ducks too. You can find rubber ducks that quack, glow in the dark, change color, or are illuminated. Some even feature mechanisms that allow them to “swim” rather than just float. 

Rubber Ducks in Pop Culture

It’s just about impossible to miss rubber ducks today. They’re just about everywhere, from advertising to art to charity fundraisers. They even pop up in parking lots, thanks to a fun tradition known as Duck Duck Jeep.

It’s no secret that Jeep owners tend to have a strong connection to their vehicles, and that creates a unique bond among fellow owners. For several years now, a popular trend is for owners to leave rubber ducks on Jeeps for their owners to find and place in or on their vehicles. They post them on social media, using #duckduckjeep.

Even royalty has adopted rubber ducks. A British tabloid reported in 2001 that Queen Elizabeth II kept a rubber duck, complete with crown, in the royal bathroom. Sales of rubber ducks in the United Kingdom reportedly increased by 80% for a short time after the story ran.

Want a Bigger Duck? You Got It

When it comes to that meme about duck-sized horses vs. horse-sized ducks, be careful what you wish for, especially with rubber ducks.

Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman has created several giant floating sculptures of rubber ducks. They have appeared temporarily in bodies of water around the world, including in Beijing, Amsterdam, Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, and Pittsburgh.

The giant ducks typically remain in place as public art for a week to a month, depending on the location. Their playful spirit has drawn millions of viewers worldwide.

Working Ducks

Rubber ducks aren’t just for fun any more. They have practical uses, some of them surprising.

Take the “Friendly Floatees” spill, for example. In 1992, during a storm in the North Pacific, a shipment of 28,800 Floatees (the brand name) bath toys washed overboard from a container ship bound for Tacoma, Washington. The shipment included yellow ducks, red beavers, green frogs and blue turtles.

Oceanographers were able to track marine currents for years, based on when and where they ended up. Some of the Floatees traveled more than 17,000 miles before washing up on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States in 2007. Trivia: Bleached by sun and seawater, the ducks and beavers faded to white, while the turtles and frogs kept their original colors.

Rubber ducks help calm young patients in healthcare facilities too. Clinicians use them to help distract children during medical procedures. Therapists also use rubber ducks to help patients with developmental disorders or anxiety. 

Promo Ducks

Rubber ducks can be valuable marketing tools for many businesses, schools, teams or other organizations. Their cheerful, lighthearted style makes them perfect for branding campaigns.

You can customize the ducks with your logo, slogan or other elements that fit your brand identity. They’re perfect for trade shows, conferences and other corporate events. They make great conversation starters and memorable reminders of your brand. 

Promotional ducks can be customized to represent specific professions or trades. A law firm could give away ducks dressed as judges, while a heath care organizations could dress them in white coats with stethoscopes. Motorcycle dealers can have ducks in black leather jackets. It’s fun for all age groups, and for just about any business you can name.

 Seasonal promotions with rubber ducks are a great way to attract attention on social media and increase customer engagement. Limited edition ducks can even become collectors’ items.

Speaking of Collectors…

People around the world have discovered the joy of collecting rubber ducks. It’s become a passionate hobby for many. Collectors look for unique designs around the world. Guinness World Records recognizes an American collection of more than 5,600 rubber ducks (as of 2011) as the larges in the world.

Collectors gather online and at conventions to trade ducks, share stories and celebrate their favorite toy. Limited-edition releases have increased the hobby’s popularity even more.

Rubber Ducks as Symbols of Joy

Let’s face it, it’s hard not to smile when looking at a rubber duck. That’s why hospitals, community groups and charities of all kinds use them to spread cheer and messages of hope and support. Many sponsor “Duck Derby” fundraisers, which attract high participation and provide valuable financial support to nonprofits, many of them important to local communities.

Rubber ducks aren’t complicated. They’re fun! That’s what makes them so well-suited for promotional products. If you’d like to find out more about our rubber duckies to promote your organization, call or email us.