Marvel branded characters fed into the Disney's marketing machine have produced huge returns for the Mouse House. Since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, the 10 films that have been released have grossed over $7 billion in box office revenue. Of course, films are only the starting point of Disney's revenue streams.
Disney Synergy
Perhaps no company is better than Disney at taking a character, TV Show, or movie and turning into a money making franchise. In addition to creating a series of movies, episodic TV shows, and online serials, Disney takes the characters and licenses them for toys, games, apparel, and a wide variety other merchandise. There is even a Mickey Mouse watch face app for the new Apple Watch. If there is a way to monetize a property, Disney will figure it out, and create numerous channels through which to distribute it.
What makes this money machine possible?
Of course, at the heart of its ability to make money, is Disney's ownership of content that uses its proprietary cast of characters. Starting with Mickey Mouse, Disney created a world of animated actors that are unique to Disney. If you want a product associated with any of these creations, money flows into Disney's pockets. Once created, Disney has the ability to use these characters in television shows, movies, theme parks, and just about anywhere and everywhere. They can also license them to others and make money from license fees.
Mickey Mouse club
Dating back to the Mickey Mouse Club of the 1950's, Disney created a series of brand extensions. The kid actors on the TV Show were called Mouseketeers. The shows targeted young baby boomers that loved to watch them and couldn't wait for the next one. New characters, such as Davy Crockett were created with additional opportunities for merchandise that kids wanted to buy. The Mickey Mouse Club evolved with new young talent including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
Successive generations
After three successful runs of the Mickey Mouse Club, the Disney synergy machine created new characters, such as Lizzie McGuire, played by Hillary Duff, and Hannah Montana played by Miley Cyrus. In addition to the TV show, Miley portrayed Hannah on record albums, Disney Radio, and the Disney channel, and in "sold out" concert performances. Disney even launched a Hannah Montana clothing line in 2007.
Marvel gives Disney more opportunities
With the acquisition of Marvel in 2007, Disney has many more franchising opportunities to leverage the branded characters that already have relationships with many in their target audience. The parents that have a relationship with these characters can pass on, and share their experiences with, their kids. From the success of the movies, books, comics, and related merchandise, this acquisition appears to be a windfall for Disney and its shareholders.
Cross-branded product placement deals
Disney's Marvel studios has struck a lot of cross-branding product placement deals with Dr. Pepper, Audi, Samsung, Kia, Acura, and Southwest Airlines to name a few. In addition to the brand building potential of these deals, the revenue possibilities for both parties is also exciting - especially when a Marvel property becomes a hit.
What businesses can learn
If you achieve uniqueness and desirability in your brand and products, you can augment your revenue model in many synergistic ways. You can...
- Merchandise. Create additional products that promote your brand such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, mascots, and other promotional items you can sell or give away.
- Partnerships. Strike licensing and product placement deals with business partners that will promote and distribute your products via their channels.
- E-commerce. Make electronic versions of your products available for sale on your Web site and via other online distributors.
What gives you control and enables you to expand your revenue model is the uniqueness and desirability of your brand and your various products. Uniqueness that provides clear benefits to your target audience is a wonderful thing to have because at some point in the purchase process somebody in the distribution channel has to pay you.
Marvel characters provided a whole cast of unique brands, and Disney's marketing machine is able to find more and more value in these brands from their movies, TV shows, radio stations, toys, theme parks, and licensing. Moreover, they can distribute them through a variety of lucrative channels including their Web sites and Disney stores. It's amazing that this all started with one little animated mouse.