Merchandise refers to a wide range of products that you can sell online such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more. You can create your own designs or collaborate with artists to come up with unique and appealing merchandise. The key here is to offer products that connect with your target audience and stand out from the competition.
Are you a musician looking to take your brand to the next level? One effective way to do so is by investing in high-quality merchandise that resonates with your audience. High-quality merchandise can be a game-changer for your income as it’s one of the best options for a side income. In this article, we will be talking about why musicians should sell their own merchandise products and we will discuss some examples of musicians who are earning billions with this side venture.
Why Do Musicians Value Merch?
It’s not that merchandise is only about extra pocket money, they are there for building a strong connection with your audience. When fans purchase your merchandise, they are not only supporting your music but also becoming walking billboards for your brand. Merch is basically like shortcuts to recognition and brand positioning.
What Type Of merchandise can Musicians Sell?
There are endless options when it comes to merchandise musicians can sell. Some popular options include t-shirts, hats, bags, accessories, coats, food items, and sneakers. The concept of merchandise is simple, it should reflect your brand’s core values and should be according to the preferences of your fans.
Merchandising Models
- Promotional merchandising: Promotional merchandise is when you use discounts to bring sales and attract customers. Look at these customers. Are attracted to the ideals and incentives and so the retailers create a sense of urgency and lure them into buying.
- Visual Merchandising: Visual merchandising involves designing eye-catching product displays that capture customers’ attention and entice them to make a purchase. This model uses creative techniques such as color, lighting, and layout to lure customers into buying the product.
- Category Merchandising: Category merchandising streamlines the shopping process and makes things easier for customers, in this way they find it easier to shop without wasting any time.
Why Do Merchandising Models Matter?
Merchandising models matter when you are choosing the type of products you want to sell. Merchandising models help retailers showcase their products in the most appealing and persuasive way possible. They can increase sales by guiding customers through the buying process and they highlight key product features and benefits. Effective merchandising models create a cohesive brand experience that eventually results in customer loyalty and profitable business.
8 Reasons Why Musicians Should Sell Merchandise?
So, are you thinking of adding a side venture into your music career? Or maybe you want to create more investment options for yourself and not limit your career to music. Here are 8 reasons why you should consider selling your own merch:
- It’s an Effective Marketing Strategy
All the best marketing strategies are on one side, and merchandise is on the other side. Because when you market things, you definitely have to invest money. With merchandise, your fans are just like your walking billboards without having to invest a single penny. Buying merchandise is a way for your fans to show their love and support for your music and how much you connect with them. Selling your own merchandise is a great way of attracting new fans. They promote your music while people who are unaware also want to check out on you.
- They are Easy to Sell
Adding merchandise to your website is as simple as adding any product. Nowadays, you will find a website for anything and everything. So if you are an artist, you can add your merch on your official websites. And you don’t even have to worry about storing the stock as you can opt for the print-on-demand option. As soon as your customer places an order, the products will be printed and shipped. The only difficult thing here is to set up a store which once set up, you don’t have to worry about it. Having a website gives numerous advantages as you are able to reach a large audience and you can cater to various locations as well.
- It’s just like Playing Live
Live shows are a great time when you can build strong connections with your fans and your fans are more likely to buy your merchandise when they are enjoying your show. So with Print On Demand, you have a ton of options as you can send your merchandise to the venue or you can send fans back to your website after the show is finished.
- It’s in line with your Music
To refocus attention on your earlier releases, you can use merch sales with creative designs. Picture a vintage sweatshirt featuring an old album cover, drawing fans back to that release. Also, you can drop albums smartly, like in December, aligning with winter vibes, to keep the spotlight intact on your music.
- It’s a Helping Hand in the Industry
If you have a handsome amount of merch selling fast and being sold out the moment it hits the stores, then it’s a sign that you can manage the business side of your career well and it definitely will boost your reputation. It shows that you are equally good at business and art, and your fans will love you even more.
- Merchandise Can Make You Money
There are times when your music sales are declining, but selling merchandise is just like a business, and if you have the right strategy and your store is set up, then there is no reason that your merchandise can’t be a big seller. After all, it’s just about effective marketing and personal branding. If we see the merchandising ticketing market worldwide, it is estimated to reach a revenue of US$242.4 million by 2024, so this means that artists are definitely earning a handsome amount by selling merchandise.
- It Helps Build a Rapport with your Brand
Emotional connection has its own place, but physical connection takes the bond to the next level. Merches are like teddies which are gifted from loved ones and whenever you hold them they remind you of your loved ones. It’s that music can provide you with emotion, but a t-shirt or a hoodie from your favorite singer is much more emotional and it helps to manifest something physical, something you can hold on to. So whenever fans wear merchandise or they see them, they are transported to that amazing concert and song that has inspired them for so long.
- They can Convert People into Fans
You can experiment with different types of merch, as there are more options, unlike t-shirts only. T-shirts are an idea of the past, nowadays brands are selling unique products like phone cases, blankets, mugs, and fun designs for their fans. They are basically working on the concept of fan psychology and what they prefer as products. It’s also a great way to make your existing fans happy and gift them these customized merchandise as a reward for staying a loyal fan. And since your fans are just like your walking marketing agents, they can indirectly help you with their word of mouth, which is a potent marketing tool.
Steps To Sell Merch As a Musician
After you have decided that you want to sell merchandise on a print-on-demand service then you have to make a strategy. Let’s move on to discussing the strategy:
Start with a Plan
The first step is designing the baseline, and deciding what products you really want to sell. Decide on the color, fonts, material, fabric, etc. You can see what other brands are selling in the same genre and then decide for yourself what is the best product that aligns with the current trend. It is not necessary that you can only sell T-shirts there are tote bags, hoodies, mugs, etc. You can also add a tinge of your personality to these items so that it reflects that this is designed by you, and you are virtually representing this product.
So whenever your fans will buy these products, they will have a sense of belonging and connection. You have to sign up with a print-on-demand company that will take the responsibility of shipping and printing your products. Selling merch at first will require a lot of research, because it’s just like designing artwork, and you don’t want to design something that is not out of the blue.
Design Your Merch
You should choose a merge that will work on all of your products and look decent enough like it should not be too loud or too low profile. Before reaching a final conclusion, choose from various fonts, patterns, colors, designs, and premium images as well. Nowadays due to AI tools, it has become more easy to make your merch look unique. You can use image generation tools to help whatever design you have in mind convert into reality using a bunch of prompts.
Design the Store
The next step is that you will need to set up an online store, there are many platforms for it, for example, e-commerce platforms like Big Cartel, Shopify, or Bandcamp. While choosing the platform, make sure that these are user-friendly and have features that can showcase your products effectively. After you are done with the store, you should make sure that the images you insert are high-quality, with detailed descriptions, pricing information, etc. You can also consider adding bundle deals or limited edition items to give incentives to fans.
Market Your Merch
Once your store is up and running, it’s time to start marketing your merch to your fans. Use your social media channels like email newsletter, and website to promote your products and drive traffic to your store. You can also run special promotions or giveaways to create buzz around your merch and encourage sales.
You can also collaborate with other musicians or influencers in your genre can also help you reach a wider audience and attract new customers. Think about partnering with bands you have toured with and featuring your merch in music videos or in sponsoring events to bring your products some visibility.
Build Your Brand
Building your brand is an ongoing process but you have to take some initial steps to start the journey. Consider these tips:
- Introduce preorder to create hype around the product
- Create a social media account and make posts
- Use Facebook ads to reach a wider audience
- You can create polls for social media
- Send newsletters to your fan base
- Dont skip the call to action on your websites landing page
- Add a unique merch item or one that is out of the box
- Add special offers like a discount, a free gift or loyalty points
- Hoist some giveaways
7 Successful Examples of Musicians Who Sell Merchandise
It’s probably a tricky game for musicians to get their fans to buy their products as requires an acute sense of business. If done correctly it can drive huge revenue, so here are some popularly sold merchandise by musicians around the world:
- OVO Merch by Drake
Drake, the Canadian rapper and singer, is known as the king of merch because his branded merchandise is completely done right and we will see why. OVO stands for October’s very own and sells subtle, simple, and classy designs that look minimalistic. This brand is highly based on apparel but it also produces bags, footwear, and home goods. They also sell a wide range of luxury items like hoodies, varsity jackets, and sweatpants. You might be curious about Ovo’s most expensive product which is the fur coat costing around $5000. Drake has also collaborated with another popular streetwear brand known as Soupy. And he has produced a ton of limited edition merchandise which was sold out the moment the product hit the stores online.
- Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper is one of the very few rappers who runs a successful merchandise intended for philanthropic work. He could have done it to sell his own products and make revenue but his interests were different. His merchandise features t-shirts, caps, stickers, hoodies, and posters.
- Lady Gaga Merchandise
Lady Gaga is someone who’s associated with merch but her merchandise takes into consideration her fans’ health and well-being as well instead of just a few million dollars. Her merchandise features apparel, accessories, and food items as well.
- Travis Scott
Travis Scott isn’t just a chart-topping rapper, he’s a merchandising mastermind. Travis Scott understands the power of exclusivity. He frequently releases limited-edition merch capsules tied to tours, albums, or collaborations. This creates a sense of urgency and encourages fans to snag a unique piece before it’s gone.
Scott’s record label “Cactus Jack” isn’t just a name, it’s a brand. This brand identity is heavily woven into his merch designs, creating a recognizable symbol that fans proudly wear. Partnering with established brands like Nike and McDonald’s has allowed Scott to tap into new audiences and amplify his reach.
- Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino is another musician. His unique merchandise is something that has transcended this second venture, because he has an artistic approach to his goods, as he adds a layer of creativity to each of his items. When you take a look at his website, it’s aesthetically appealing as well as has a message attached to it. This rapper has encouraged many of his fans to start their own merchandise and make a few bucks out of it, so it’s not just about merchandise, it’s creating your identity as well.
- Kanye West and his Yeezy Season merchandise
Garnier West is an experiment-oriented person and it reflected in his merchandise which is known as Yeezy Season. Yeezy Season is one of the most ambitious undertakings when it comes to merchandising. It has a huge variety including footwear, bags, apparel, and home goods. This rapper has gone to lengths to showcase his collection decorated in a theatrical setting for the audience to see, and he has received a lot of criticism because people think that he was overdoing it or becoming overly ambitious. Not all of his merchandise is indeed successful, but it does not stop him from experimenting or trying new things out.
- Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is known for her catchy tunes and relatable lyrics, but she’s also become a queen of crafting creative and successful merchandise. Taylor Swift isn’t afraid to team up for merch magic. Partnerships with companies like Stella McCartney and Everlane have produced unique and sustainable clothing lines, appealing to a wider audience while staying true to her brand.
Like Travis Scott, Taylor Swift understands the power of exclusivity. Limited edition merch drops tied to albums, tours, or special events create a frenzy among fans, eager to snag a one-of-a-kind piece.
Conclusion
Merchandise transcends a simple sales tactic for musicians. It’s a powerful tool that strengthens their brand identity, fosters a sense of community with fans, and generates additional income. By following the strategies explored in this blog, musicians can craft merch that becomes an extension of their artistic expression. This thoughtful approach not only sets them apart from the competition but also fuels their creative endeavors and cultivates a loyal fanbase.
In essence, effective merch allows musicians to amplify their music and connect with their audience on a deeper level, creating a win-win for both artists and fans.
