What Makes merch Sell?

Merchandise (merch) is a great way for fans of a brand, event or other organization to show their allegiance and mark themselves as a supporter. On the opposite side, it’s a chance for brands to make money, but also primarily to create a community that naturally boosts their visibility and following. 

But what makes merch sell? In this post, we explore four factors that help make your products sell out fast. 

Matching the products with the audience

Ultimately, merch is there for your audience, so it’s vital that you create something that they’ll be interested in and buy. In order to get this right, you’ll need to conduct some market research to understand what sort of things your fans are looking for and buying already. 

You can also ask them yourself via a survey – this direct kind of feedback can be massively beneficial in getting a product that is right, but also for building excitement in the fanbase ahead of any official launch.

Unique designs

If your designs aren’t unique, you risk your customers simply trying to find the cheapest option on the internet, rather than buying yours – especially now, when money is tight for many people. Unique designs can also boost the overall desirability of your products, especially if you do limited print runs that make the items feel exclusive. 

You may also want to consider allowing an element of personalization. Gen Z, in particular, are heavily drawn towards personalized products, with one study finding that 75% of Gen Z are more likely to buy a product they can customize.

Material choice

Your material choice is an important part of your merchandise offering, as quality materials can help justify the higher cost that merch tends to command. If your customers feel that they’re investing in a piece that can be worn for a long time, they may be more willing to spend more money in the first place.

Your choice of material can also increase the desirability of the product simply because customers enjoy wearing it, and then recommend it to others. Beware, the opposite can happen too – if your products are low quality, you’ll struggle to sell them. Poor reviews can also harm your brand reputation. 

Effective marketing

Finally, once the products have been researched, designed and the prototypes made, it’s time for your marketing team to get to work. If no one knows about your product, it won’t sell – it’s all about creating a sense of excitement around your merch and bringing fans together to celebrate your community. 

Social media is a great tool for this, thanks to the fun and interactive nature of the platform. You can even create shoppable links directly in your posts – 86% of marketers do this, and it makes it as easy as possible for fans to buy the product right away, without having to separately open up their browsers. 

Make your merch sell

Creating merch that sells is all about understanding your audience and creating something personal to them. It’s not based on trends, or what will sell en-masse; instead, it’s creating items that enhance the feeling of fandom and community.