Selling merch on Shopify is one of the lucrative ways to make money online. However, without proper research and plans, this can be your worst nightmare.
Before kicking off a merch store, you need to answer questions that’ll keep you running for a long time.
Questions like who your target audiences are, what you want to sell and avenues to market your products.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of selling merch on Shopify, from conceptualization to marketing, ensuring your success in the merch business.
What is Merch?
Merch, a short name for merchandise, are any type of goods that you can sell in your store. It can be anything from hoodies, backpacks, coffee mugs, tees, and accessories.
If you can brand it, and you can sell it, it’s a merch.
Why Sell Merch?
Here, are some of the reasons why you need to sell merch in your Shopify store:
1. To Generate Revenue
Every profitable business has a unifying goal – make sales and generate revenues. Selling merch on your Shopify store is one of the easiest and fastest ways to make money in your online store.
Merch such as Tees, hoodies and bands, a recent fashion fad, have high demands and turnover because of their perceived values in society amongst younger generations. Selling these secure a steady stream of income.
2. For Engagement
Merch serves as a tangible connection between the creators and the audience. They are used as a bond between both parties and are perceived as ways to render support to their favorite creators.
For instance, in the football world, clubs sell over 3 million units of jerseys yearly. The same goes for musicians, athletes, wrestlers and other sports that sell merch to their fans and audience.
When your audience buys your merch, it gives this sense of loyalty and trust to your brands, showing their solidarity with you. It also creates more engagement for the said club or store.
Selling merch fosters engagement and connection between the creator and their community.
3. For Brand Identification
In the past, branding and advertising were limited to TV, radio stations and newspapers. Contemporary brand identity and marketing factors in merchandise. These products act as a means to showcase your logo, catchphrase, artwork or other unique elements that define your brand.
The more recognisable and relatable your merch is, the more it solidifies your brand’s presence in the minds of your audience.
For example, the “head of the table” merch is the name associated with one of the wrestlers “Roman Reign”. It also serves as his brand identity in and out of the wrestling ring.
And when you hear, “You Can’t See Me”, you only think of John Cena. That’s one thing merches achieve – brand identity distribution.
4. Community Building
Another reason to sell your merch is to create and build your community. When your fans and audience wear or use your merchandise, they become part of a larger community that shares similar interests and passions.
For example, Tim Hayden, the CEO of Hagleywest, a wristwatch brand gained massive traction and has a massive community on social media among cricketers and watch enthusiasts because of his brand style and marketing strategy.
He plays hide-and-seek games with his audience; whoever can find him in the fastest time with the phrase “Love Your Journey” wins a Hagley West wristwatch. Recently, his story went viral on TikTok with his videos gaining the attention of over 350,000 viewers.
Getting Started
Selling merch on Shopify is no different from selling clothes on Shopify and as such require a strategy. Do you want to sell your merch under your existing business brand? Do you want to create your merch as a sub-brand?
Choosing to create as a sub-brand presents the most challenges. This will require intensive marketing strategies and may not bring in more sales in the beginning.
On the other hand, you can leverage your existing brand to market and advertise your merch by including your sub-brand in its content.
Creating Your Merch
Creating your merch isn’t always about placing your logo and brand name on random tees. It requires careful planning and execution to produce merchandise that resonates with your existing customers.
1. Know Your Audience
The first step to selling your merch or running any business is understanding your audience. What platform are they most active on? What are their traits and shopping habits?
Answers to these direct your merch creation process. Also, requesting feedback from your audience leaves them with the impression that they are part of the process and the merch you eventually create.
2. Deliberate on Merch Ideas
Here is where the actual brainstorming is done; you have to create a brand that appeals to your audience and meets their taste. Your level of creativity will affect your merch designs.
Putting out mundane and boring designs will be detrimental to your brand. Creating and selling unique merch designs will attract more customers to your brand and you’ll be ahead of your competitors.
Asides tees and hoodies, you can try these options:
- Tote Bags: This bag is fast-selling because of its multifunctional purposes and convenience.
- Throw pillows and Blankets: These can serve as gift items and home decoration pieces.
- Phone Cases: The flashier, the more attractive to your prospective customers.
- Coffee Mugs: Good for the home, offices and on the go. They also make a great prop for viral TikTok and Instagram videos, which is why everyone loves a cool mug.
3. Product Designs and Mockups
This is the move from design to reality. From sketches to the actual designs and mockups. Though it is one of the crucial points and exhausting, there are several ways to achieve this:
- Through Design Software and Apps – Adobe Illustrator is one of the best design apps for vector illustrations and graphics design. It permits integrations that are necessary for embroidery and screen printing.
- Hire a Merch Designer – You can outsource these steps to a professional merch designer who can help you bring your ideas to reality. Communicate your expectations and objectives to ensure you’re both aligned. Looking to source professional design freelancers? Consider Fiverr and Upwork.
4. Source for Manufacturer or Print-on-Demand Companies
As a new business or brand, setting up your printing press can be expensive and cumbersome. Start with a manufacturer to help you with the printing of your merchandise.
All you need is to communicate with them your brand name, your design and the merchandise you want the print on. With this method, you can always have your inventory ready for sale.
Besides that, you can choose to work with print-on-demand partners. Here, the merch is printed only when an order is made. The company buys the merch, prints your design and ships it to the customers.
The advantage of this method is that it’s cost-effective and risk-aversive. Its disadvantages? You have little to no power over production, limited production or delay in product production and delivery.
Promoting Your Merch
Here are some of the interesting ways to promote your merch online;
Leverage on Social Media
Utilize social media platforms to showcase your merch. You can integrate your product into your content in many ways. First, wear it in your videos. For example, Woody and Kleiny, founders of Lucclothing, wear their merch during their Instagram videos as a way of directly promoting it while entertaining their audience.
Other ways are by directly promoting it in social media posts or creating contests around it to be the ultimate prize. Whichever concept you choose, ensure that your account is active and you are engaging your audience.
Social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok can be powerful tools for promotion.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is another way to promote your merch online. Writing valuable content related to your niche or starting your content blog is another way to sell your merch. Writing about your product or similar products in your niche can attract organic traffic to your store and establish your expertise in the field.
Retarget your existing audience
Promote your merch by remarketing to your existing audience – people who have come in contact with your brand either by product purchases or subscribing to your channel.
Keep them informed about new product launches, new arrivals, promotions and updates with email marketing. Run retargeting ads with a focus on existing customers on your website.
Paid Adverts and Influencer Marketing
The influencing industry is another creative way to promote your merch on social media. These people have a large social following and are active on social media platforms.
Partnering with influencers or content creators who align with your brand can expose your merch to a broader audience.
Selling on Marketplace
There are various marketplaces where you can sell your merch and display your products alongside other creators.
Also, you can create your online store with Shopify to sell your merch exclusively or incorporate other products within your store.
Next, we will discuss how you can set up your Shopify online store.
Setting Up Your Shopify Store
1. SignUp and Account Setup
Visit the Shopify website and sign up for an account. Follow the prompts to set up your store by choosing a store name, and custom domain and selecting a Shopify plan that suits your needs.
2. Design Your Store
Shopify offers a variety of customization themes. Choose a piece that aligns with your brand and products. Customize the theme to reflect your brand’s aesthetic and values.
3. Add Products
Add your merch products to the store. Provide high-quality images, and detailed descriptions and set appropriate prices. You can categorize products, set inventory levels, and apply variants when necessary.
4. Payment and Shipping
Configure payment gateways to accept payments from customers. Shopify supports various payment options like credit cards, PayPal, and more. Set up shipping options and rates based on your location and target audience.
5. Legalities
Ensure your store complies with legal requirements. This includes setting up refunds and return policies, terms of service, and privacy policies. If applicable, consider trademarking your brand name and logo.
Conclusion
Selling merch on Shopify can be rewarding, however, your success is dependent on your dedication and strategic planning. Leveraging these steps and staying committed to providing value to your customers, you can build a thriving merch business and establish a strong online presence.
