We should all recognize the marketing efforts of John Deere especially as we have spoken before with regards to their TOYS. They have a complete line of nearly every tractor or agricultural attachment they make available in small, micro size.

http://www.johndeeregifts.com/category-category_id/236946

By instilling brand name with kids they are creating a culture of future customers and brand name recognition. The reason I bring this up, since it is not a new issue is that these toys are on the shelves of Wal-Mart and they are really selling well, right up there with Match Box and Hot Wheels. Other smart companies are NASCAR and Harley Davidson, which also have many die cast products flowing off the shelves. And it makes sense all the way around. NASCAR is now following the Baseball Card idea for drivers and that is also a big hit, really big. I talked to a guy who was a wholesaler traveling the country stocking stores up on these kids cards as impulse items and the customers also cannot keep them in stock. NASCAR also has board games like Monopoly and penalties of the dice for pit stops, tire flats, crashes and the game is very fun to play and kids and dads really love it. Generally such toys are out of stock.

If you think about it here is one Brand Name signing up with another brand name to further both brand names, such synergy strategies is used also by our team. Very smart marketing that they do not seem to understand at the top American business schools and the Thesis Projects and Dissertations on the subject really are lacking and the HBR