The Robertson family of West Monroe, La., stars of the reality TV show
Duck Dynasty,
now command an empire that includes an array of branded merchandise in addition to their core business of selling duck calls and related gear,
a
New York Times
profile said.
Walmart now offers
Duck Dynasty
merchandise in six different departments, the Times reported.
Willie Robertson, president of the family’s Duck Commander company, made “a conscious dive into the entertainment world,” the
Times
report noted.
The Robertsons got their start on TV when some family members appeared on an Outdoor Channel show on duck hunting. The A&E cable network realized the potential for a reality show, the
Times
article said.
Willie Robertson’s father, Phil, who founded the business and now prefers to devote his time to preaching, originally did not want to do the show, the report noted.
Willie Robertson told the
Times
that he gained valuable experience working outside the family business in his 20s:
“I was able to watch the family business from afar,” he said. “I was able to come in with a lot of energy and a vision for growing it even bigger.”
(Source:
New York Times,
Aug. 25, 2013.)
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