BEHIND THE BRAND

The Original Wooden Duck Company, better known as DCUK, has been making handcrafted wooden characters since 2004. Each duck or feathered friend is a genuine one-off: hand-carved and individually painted, then raised from bamboo root that would otherwise be discarded. A team in Indonesia rescues the unwanted roots and turns them into something altogether more lovable, while the business itself is run from Devon. DCUK describes itself as ambitious, altruistic, creative and caring, with a simple mission to make life a little bit better through its characters.

How it began

The idea took shape in 2004, after an encounter with a creature that would change everything. In a field outside an Indonesian village, a very determined Indian Runner Duck outpaced its owner. Standing upright like a penguin and equally flightless, it was unlike any duck the founders had met before, and its curious nature, social graces and audacious speed proved completely charming.

Back in Britain, they formed The Original Wooden Duck Company. The aim was straightforward: design and hand-craft gifts from the sustainable bamboo they had seen on their trip, so that people would smile on receiving a duck just as they had when meeting its living relations in Indonesia. Thanks to the skills of the designers and makers, it worked. Through imagination, charm and quality, the result is a product intended to provide a lifetime of love.

Loyal customers and the appeal of the work

DCUK has an unusually loyal customer base. Most buy several characters, either to create a talking point at home with friends and family or to give as a memorable gift. The biggest thrill for the team is hearing about the genuine difference these characters make to people’s lives, whether that means making someone smile, marking positivity and kindness, or improving a person’s way of life. Spreading happiness, they say, brings joy time and time again.

Advice for a younger version of the business

Looking back, the best advice would be to think like a challenger brand at all times: like a brand that is new on the scene, with nothing to lose and everything to prove. In practice, that means not being afraid to do things differently, putting yourself out there, taking risks, and embracing failures as something to learn from. Just as important is to stop being modest about the brand’s potential and its impact on customers and trade partners, and to harness the positivity.

What is coming next

Visitors to the show will be greeted by the friendly faces of the duck collections, alongside some brand-new products never seen before. The Baker Ducklings are being launched for trade, having been comfortably the most successful online-only range of the past year or so.

An exciting range of Wild Strawberry Boots is also being unveiled across popular styles, together with new Cyclist Dinky Ducks to complement the ever-popular Duckling versions. Pre-orders for both ranges will be taken at the show and until the end of September. The Baker Ducklings, however, are available now.

Personal favourites

It may be a cliché, but every duck has a special place in the family, from the new Beekeeper-themed characters to the Hedgies and the much-loved Welly Boots collection, not to mention the original Natural Finish ducks that started it all. The team agrees that their favourites are the ones where expertly-carved natural bamboo root shows through between the hand-painted details, which is why the new Baker Ducklings probably get their vote.