Selling Merch

Let’s get into something fun: selling merch! Whether you’re a creator, influencer, or small business owner, creating and selling branded merchandise is a great way to connect with your audience while earning extra income.

From t-shirts and mugs to tote bags, stickers, and phone cases, selling merch can be a way to build your brand, give your fans something tangible, and—of course—bring in some cash.

And here’s the best part: You don’t have to be a design expert or hold a bunch of inventory to get started. Thanks to print-on-demand services and eCommerce platforms, you can design and sell merch without worrying about upfront costs or managing piles of inventory in your garage.

Sound like a win-win? Let’s dive into how you can start selling your own custom merch online.

What Does It Mean to Sell Merch?

Selling merch (short for merchandise) means creating and selling branded products that represent you, your brand, or your business. These products could be anything from apparel (like t-shirts or hoodies) to everyday items (like mugs, water bottles, or notebooks), all featuring your logo, artwork, or slogans.

Here’s how it works:

1. You design a product—whether it’s a cool t-shirt, a mug with your logo, or a motivational quote on a tote bag.
2. You sell it to your audience through an online store, and they get to represent your brand in their day-to-day life.
3. You earn money every time someone buys one of your products.

You can also use merch as part of your brand identity, giving your audience a chance to support you while getting something fun and functional in return. And it’s easier than ever to get started, even if you’re not an artist or designer!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Merch to Sell

Before you dive into selling merch, the first thing to figure out is what kind of products you want to create. The options are endless—apparel, home goods, accessories—but the key is to choose items that resonate with your audience and reflect your brand.

Here are some popular merch ideas:

• T-shirts and hoodies: Apparel is the most common type of merch because it’s wearable, versatile, and relatively easy to design. Plus, people love repping their favourite creators or brands with a cool shirt.
• Mugs: Coffee mugs or travel mugs are super popular, especially if your audience loves to start their day with a little caffeine. Add your logo, artwork, or a funny quote, and you’ve got a winner.
• Stickers: These are low-cost items that fans love. Whether it’s your logo, a catchphrase, or cool artwork, stickers are a fun way for people to show their support.
• Tote bags: Tote bags are practical and eco-friendly, and they give you a lot of space to get creative with your design.
• Phone cases: Everyone’s got a phone, right? Offering branded phone cases can be a great way to get your brand into people’s hands (literally).
• Hats and beanies: If your audience is into fashion or streetwear, branded hats or beanies can be a stylish addition to your merch line.

When deciding what to sell, think about what would appeal most to your audience. If you’re a fitness influencer, maybe your followers would love branded water bottles or gym bags. If you’re a podcaster, maybe your listeners would appreciate a cosy hoodie to wear while they tune in. The more aligned your merch is with your audience’s interests, the better.

Step 2: Choose a Print-On-Demand Platform

Once you’ve decided what type of merch you want to sell, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to produce and sell it. One of the easiest and most popular ways to get started is by using a print-on-demand (POD) platform. These platforms handle everything from printing to shipping, so you don’t have to worry about managing inventory.

Here’s how print-on-demand works:

1. You upload your designs to the POD platform.
2. The platform prints and ships the products whenever someone places an order, meaning you don’t have to order products in bulk.
3. You keep the profit after the platform takes a cut for production and fulfilment.

Here are some of the best POD platforms:

• Printful: One of the most popular POD services, Printful offers a wide range of products (from apparel to accessories) that you can customise with your designs. It integrates with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy, so it’s easy to set up a store.
• Teespring: Teespring is another great option for selling apparel and other merch. You create your designs, set your prices, and Teespring handles everything else, including production, shipping, and customer service.
• Redbubble: Redbubble specialises in art-driven products. If you’re an artist or designer, this is a great platform to showcase your work on products like t-shirts, stickers, home decor, and more.
• Society6: Similar to Redbubble, Society6 is perfect for creatives looking to sell art-inspired products. You can sell wall art, home goods, apparel, and accessories featuring your original artwork.

Once you choose your platform, create an account, and start designing your products. Most POD services offer mock-up tools that allow you to visualise your design on various items before you list them for sale.

Pro Tip: Make sure to check each platform’s fees and profit margins. Print-on-demand platforms typically charge for production and fulfilment, so choose a platform with pricing that fits your budget and goals.

Step 3: Create Designs That Resonate with Your Audience

The success of your merch depends heavily on the design. Your audience is more likely to buy your products if they feel connected to the design, whether it’s funny, meaningful, or just visually appealing. Don’t worry—you don’t have to be a professional graphic designer to create something awesome.

Here’s how to come up with great designs:

• Use your brand’s personality: Think about what makes your brand unique and how you can reflect that in your designs. Do you have a catchphrase or inside joke that your audience loves? Use it on your merch. Is your brand all about bold, bright colours? Incorporate that into your designs.
• Keep it simple: When it comes to merch design, less is often more. Simple, clean designs tend to look great on products like t-shirts, mugs, and stickers. Whether it’s a logo, a phrase, or a small graphic, focus on clarity and style.
• Use free design tools: If you’re not a designer, no worries! Tools like Canva, Placeit, or even Adobe Spark offer pre-made templates and easy drag-and-drop functionality so you can create custom designs without needing advanced skills.
• Hire a designer: If you want something more polished or don’t have the time to design yourself, consider hiring a freelance designer through platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. You can give them your ideas and they’ll bring your vision to life.

Pro Tip: Test your designs on a few different products before launching your full line. What looks great on a mug might not translate well to a t-shirt, and vice versa. Most print-on-demand platforms let you create mockups to see how your designs will look in the real world.

Step 4: Set Up Your Online Store

Now that you have your designs ready, it’s time to set up your online store where your audience can browse and purchase your merch. This is where your brand really comes to life!

Here’s how to set up your store:

• Choose an eCommerce platform: If you’re using a print-on-demand service like Printful or Teespring, they often integrate seamlessly with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy. These platforms make it easy to list your products, track orders, and process payments.
• Create product listings: For each product, write a clear, engaging product description that highlights the features and why your audience will love it. Use high-quality images (many POD platforms offer product mockups) to show off your designs.
• Set your pricing: When setting your prices, take into account the production and fulfilment costs from the POD platform. You want to make sure there’s enough margin to make a profit while keeping prices reasonable for your audience.
• Add branding to your store: Customise your store to match your brand’s vibe. Use your logo, colour scheme, and fonts to create a cohesive shopping experience. Make sure your store feels like an extension of your content or business.

Pro Tip: If you already have a website or blog, you can easily add a “Shop” section and integrate your print-on-demand store directly with your existing site. This keeps everything under one brand and makes it easier for your followers to find and buy your merch.

Step 5: Promote Your Merch and Drive Sales

Once your store is up and running, it’s time to promote your merch and start driving sales. You’ve already done the hard work of creating and setting up your products, so now you need to let your audience know they’re available.

Here’s how to promote your merch:

• Leverage social media: Share photos of your merch on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Post stories showing behind-the-scenes moments of the design process, or wear your own merch in videos and photos to showcase it. You can also run polls or ask for feedback from your followers to get them more invested in the process.
• Collaborate with influencers: If you know influencers or creators with an audience similar to yours, send them some free merch in exchange for a shout-out or review. Influencers can help spread the word and introduce your merch to new potential customers.
• Create limited-time offers: To build excitement, you can offer a limited-time discount or free shipping for the first week after your launch. This creates urgency and encourages your audience to buy sooner rather than later.
• Run paid ads: If you’re ready to invest a little in promotion, running Facebook Ads or Instagram Ads can be a great way to reach more people. Target your ads to your ideal customers, and use high-quality images of your merch to grab their attention.
• Email your audience: If you have an email list, send out a special announcement to your subscribers letting them know your merch is live. Offer a discount code for your email list as an exclusive perk to boost engagement.

Pro Tip: Show your personality while promoting your merch. Whether it’s through funny videos, personal stories about why you created the designs, or even goofy bloopers from the photoshoot, the more authentic you are, the more people will connect with your brand and want to buy.