Yellow Rubber Duck Takes on Local Flair as Taike and the Third Prince  Businesses Tap into Creative Culture Amid the "Duck Craze"

▲Yellow Rubber Ducks transformed into "deities" have captured hearts and sparked a buying frenzy. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

Reported by Chen Zi-Yin / Kaohsiung

With the arrival of the Yellow Rubber Duck in Kaohsiung just around the corner, businesses are gearing up to ride this wave of the "Duck Craze." A digital imaging company located just a few hundred meters from Glory Pier has launched dozens of Yellow Rubber Duck-themed merchandise, integrating local Kaohsiung characteristics into the designs. The duck merchandise features figures such as the Third Prince (San Taizi), the God of Wealth, Mazu (Goddess of the Sea), as well as workers, fishermen, and farmers. Products range from mugs and playing cards to photo frames and plush pillows—all customizable with customers’ own photos.

Lei Ching-Li, who has been running an imaging business in Kaohsiung for decades, said, “We hope to combine the rubber duck with local features using our existing equipment. All our products carry a Kaohsiung identity—from design to craftsmanship, everything is created locally within our cultural and creative industry.” Among the most popular items are the Third Prince, Guan Gong (God of War), the God of Wealth, and...

In terms of occupations, with many workers, fishermen, and farmers in Kaohsiung, Lei asked his designers to create a series of “Kaohsiung-flavored” Yellow Ducks, including a foreman duck, little angler, Ah Tu Bo, and Kai Xi Po.

The best-selling product is the Yellow Rubber Duck plush pillow, available in a variety of styles and multiple sizes—small, medium, and large. Over a hundred have already been sold. Lei Ching-Li said that besides infusing creativity into the image designs, the pillow material is also different from mass-produced ones. The fabric used is dust-mite proof, and an extra “polishing” process is applied to the surface, making the pillows especially soft and comfortable to touch.
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Since Lei Ching-Li originally specialized in customized imaging services, all merchandise—including the fixed Duck items—can be personalized. Customers can choose their preferred designs and upload their favorite photos.

 
▲Businesses have developed several “Kaohsiung-flavored” pillows, shown left to right: little angler, foreman duck, Ah Tu Bo, and Kai Xi Po. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

 
 
▲There are also dozens of other Yellow Duck products, including phone cases, playing cards, mouse pads, and keychains. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

▲Customized Yellow Duck photo albums are also popular as souvenir gifts. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

[Today’s Color Digital Imaging Output]
Address: No. 88, Yongping Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: (07) 331-0948, (07) 953-9580
Product Prices: Small Yellow Rubber Duck pillow – NT$500 each; small deity or occupational character pillows – NT$800 each; extra-large Yellow Rubber Duck pillow – NT$3,500 each.