PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.—Heads up, all you “Duck Dynasty” fans: TBC Corp. and wholesaler Harris Tire Co. are planning to introduce two exclusive Duck Commander-branded all-terrain tire lines for the replacement tire market.
The Duck Commander All-Terrain and Duck Commander Mud Terrain lines are the first tires to carry the iconic Duck Commander stamp and brand name seen in the A&E reality cable TV show “Duck Dynasty.”
“This is the first endeavor that TBC has ever had working with a licensing model, such as a Duck Dynasty or anybody else, to promote a brand other than ours,” Marty Krcelic, executive vice president of sales for TBC Brands, told Tire Business.
Thirty-one sizes for a wide variety of SUVs, Jeeps and pickup trucks will be available by October, he said.
Both tire lines are being manufactured by Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and will feature “by Cooper” on the sidewall, even though it is not a Cooper brand, Mr. Krcelic said.
The tire sidewalls won't be featuring the famously bearded images of Duck Dynasty's Robertson family, but the Mud Terrain tires will be emblazoned with a duck feather design coming down out of the tread area onto the sidewall right above the “Duck Commander” white lettering and the official Duck Commander badge.
“I think that's going to have a lot of appeal not only for the folks that follow the brand but also the recreational enthusiast community,” said Jon Vance, senior director of marketing for TBC Wholesale.
Harris Tire reached a licensing agreement with the Robertson family—stars of “Duck Dynasty” and proprietors of the Duck Commander brand—to be the exclusive distributor of the lines in the Southeast and has partnered with TBC Brands to distribute the lines throughout the rest of North America.
“When Harris first approached us about this venture, we were very excited about the special opportunities this project would create for both tire dealers and consumers, especially recreational and off-road enthusiasts. The Duck Commander tires will add a sense of fun and adventure to any vehicle and we are very happy to be the co-distributor of them with our friends at Harris Tire,” Mr. Krcelic said.
“What started as a casual conversation with the Duck Commander patriarch, Phil Robertson, quickly became a reality once TBC signed onto the project. We are very proud of this new partnership and look forward to making these tires accessible to everyone throughout North America,” said Ken Harris Jr., president of Harris Tire.
“These new tire lines go hand-in-hand with Duck Commander's existing relationships with NASCAR and LINE-X. And the use of the Duck Commander brand will be a unique and fresh endeavor in the independent tire market, offering a quality product with a globally recognizable brand name manufactured domestically by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.”
The All-Terrain line will be offered in 16 sizes, ranging from 15- to 18-inch rim diameters. The Mud Terrain will be available in 15 sizes ranging from 16- to 20-inch rim diameters.
Harris Tire is a wholesale distributer based in Troy, Ala., with six locations across the southeast. The company distributes to Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
Duck Commander is a family-owned and -operated business that was established in 1972 by Mr. Robertson and is based in West Monroe, La. The company began as a duck call manufacturer and has since expanded into other products, including Duck Commander duck-hunting merchandise, Buck Commander deer-hunting merchandise and Duck Commander Family Foods.
To reach this reporter: [email protected]; 330-865-6127. Twitter—@kmcarr.