Crafting custom merch your brand audience will like: a guide to designing and selling products online

Am I right to think that pretty much every brand has its own custom t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, or some kind of merchandise nowadays?

At least it feels that way.

It’s not just celebrities and sports teams selling their jerseys and caps; even small influencers have their own apparel.

And it’s not a bad thing, you know?

Creating merchandise isn’t just about making money.

For the fans, it can be exciting to wear a t-shirt design or any other merchandise that shows everyone, “I really support this cause.”

It can also be a great conversation starter.

It’s like wearing a flag that says, “Come over and talk to me if you’re a fan or know of this niche too!”

For brands and creators, having their brand on different merchandise is a great way to get free promotion.

When someone sees your custom t-shirt being worn by a friend and it has a cool design, they might ask, “Where is that from?” or “What is that name on your shirt?”

You are spreading awareness of your brand and potentially reaching more people who might share the same interests.

This is why it is important to create high-quality products that match your brand, connect with your fans, and help your business grow.

Allow me to share some insights on how you can design merchandise that your fans will love to purchase and that will leave a lasting impression on people who don’t know your brand yet.

Make your own merch match your brand identity

Before you even start your merch design process, you have to figure out what your brand is all about.

What is your brand personality like?

Are you going for sleek and modern or fun and quirky?

What colors and designs represent you best visually?

Whatever you make, from shirts to stickers, should all look like they belong to the same family.

Stick to your style to make sure everything you create fits together.

That means using the same colors, fonts, and logos on everything, so people know it’s all from you.

It is best to have a brand guide sorted out to ensure consistency in your merch and other marketing materials.

And not only to your merchandise but also to your online persona and physical marketing materials, if you have plans to create any.

Create and sell merch your fans will actually like

Think about the people who will buy your items.

What are they into? What do they care about?

The more you know about your fans or audience, the better you can make merchandise they’ll love.

People have their own preferences when it comes to buying or using things.

You might think creating the perfect t-shirt is all about the graphic design on it, but you also have to consider what sizes, colors, and styles the shirts should be in.

Does your demographic prefer bright sleeveless tank tops and crop tops, or do they prefer comfy long-sleeve shirts and hoodies?

It helps to create personas of who your typical customers are.

Are they young gamers or busy moms?

Creating personas helps you understand what they want and how to give it to them.

Making your custom products fun and engaging

While some people just slap their logo on a tee and call it a day, you’ll probably want to make your merchandise more engaging.

You can do this by letting your merchandise tell a story about your brand.

Here are some additions that will make your merchandise uniquely yours:

• A quote you often say
• A witty pun your audience would associate with you
• A design that has references to your brand, how you got started, or what you believe in

By adding little stories to your designs, you make them more meaningful.

Also, think about how you can make your merchandise more interactive for your audience and fans.

People love surprises!

Include a secret message on the tag or a hidden design inside the shirt as a fun Easter egg.

Take advantage of print-on-demand services

You don’t have to manually source a supplier and stock your merchandise anymore.

There are print-on-demand services like Printful and Printify where you can simply upload your designs.

They will produce a bunch of products like custom shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, stickers, and even postcards with your designs.

Some sites offer virtual prototypes that let you see what your merchandise will look like when worn or printed before you let them produce it.

But it is still best to get samples of your design to make sure the quality of the item showcases your custom design.

Your design is often put in mockups for your audience to browse through and order, but you have the option to include custom photos of yourself wearing the products.

At times, they will even take care of everything from production to delivery, so you don’t have to worry about managing inventory!

Promote your custom merchandise

Don’t forget to build excitement around your merchandise!

Start talking about your new merchandise before it’s even available.

Share sneak peeks on social media, run countdowns, and team up with influencers to get people excited.

To make sure people interested in your brand can get your merchandise, post about it on social media, send out emails, and put it front and center on your website.

Constantly check on the sales of your custom merch

At the end of the day, your followers and audience should always come first.

Listen closely to your customers. If they love something, give them more. When they offer suggestions for improvement, take note and make changes.

It’s also important to define what success means for your merchandise.

Is it hitting a sales target for shirts or garnering plenty of likes on Instagram? Are you thinking of it as a one-time thing, or do you plan to expand to custom designs for more items in the future?

Set clear goals so you know what you’re aiming for.

Creating the perfect merch for your audience

Making awesome merchandise isn’t rocket science, but it does take some thought and effort.

By staying true to your brand and understanding your fans, you can create merchandise that people can’t wait to get their hands on.

With Deer Designer, it’s even easier to design your custom merchandise.

Just send in your design requests, and our team can create designs for you!

So go ahead, have fun, and let your merchandise do the talking for your brand.

Key takeaways

• Creating brand merchandise works both ways: you let your audience engage with your brand better, and you get to promote your brand to more people.
• Sell custom merch that not only looks cool but is also high-quality to encourage people to purchase it not only for your brand but also for its quality.
• You should first sort out your brand identity before you begin to make custom merch. This will serve as your ultimate guide and make sure all your marketing efforts align with your brand.
• Do some research on your potential client personas to cater to their needs.
• Make your merchandise tell a story related to your brand, and think of some freebies and surprises your customers would be into.
• There are print-on-demand sites that allow you to create merchandise easily without having to worry about production, inventory, and delivery.
• Don’t forget to promote your merchandise so your audience knows you are designing a custom item they can purchase.
• Make sure to listen to feedback from your audience. They will help you make merchandise that appeals to more people.