In an earlier blog post we briefly talked about making merch and why it is still so popular today. Today we'll focus instead on how to make merch that is high quality and that people genuinely care about.
There's no point making merch just because it's a trend right now or because it's a cool thing to do. With merch, what matters is telling a story and the message you want to pass on to others, and the creativity with which you do it all. Also, that the product stands out from the crowd. These days keywords such as individuality, character and standing out play an ever bigger role. Whether it's wearing your own art on T-shirts and hoodies or everyday items with a crazy look. An added bonus is the popularity of the merch creator. If you are a so-called hot topic right now, you'll definitely be much easier to sell, because people know you and want to be like you. Creators with slightly less influence need to invest more in marketing to get noticed.
Just as the whole world is constantly changing, the merch trend is changing too. More and more is being invested in higher-quality blanks and a well-rounded overall look. Whereas cheaper blanks used to be the norm, now more and more is being invested in quality so as not to disappoint fans.
A good example of boundless creativity is Tommy Cash and his merch, which can be found at: https://tommycashshop.com/. Tommy's big advantages are of course his talent, fame and huge fan base, which have given him the chance to collaborate with major fashion designers such as Rick Owens and Maison Margiela.
Good merch involves factors such as the product quality already mentioned above, relevance and speed. Also the ability to be in the right place at the right time. New additions are sustainable production and organic cotton blanks. The whole process from idea to execution has to be well thought out and well planned. Things thrown together in a rush tend to fail. Creating merch can be simple if you put your signature or logo on a T-shirt, hoodie or hat, for example, but sometimes that's not enough for success and a distinctive factor is crucial.
Today you can make merch on an on-demand basis, which means you don't have to hold huge amounts of stock yourself, as products are made according to demand. It's a super convenient solution that rules out overproduction, which is an increasingly serious problem in the clothing industry, for example. Nowadays, when sustainability is more and more on people's minds, this kind of production is the only right choice.
If you have an idea to make something cool but don't know how to take your idea forward, get in touch with us: allprint@allprint.io. Let's not let great ideas go to waste!
