The Only 2 Must-Haves in Your Custom Merch Program

Do you have a branded merch program that isn't working out how you envisioned?

• Maybe you have recently decided that it makes sense for you to implement a branded merch program, but you are not quite sure where to start.
• Unless you have a branded merch program that is up and running perfectly, this post is for you!
  
  You only need two key things to ensure you have the best possible branded merch program. Keep reading to learn what they are!

1. A Branded Merchandise Partner as Opposed to a Vendor or a Supplier

There is a huge difference between a branded merchandise partner and vendors and suppliers.

• Vendors and suppliers only provide products. 
• Partners provide you with products, but also bring much more experience and resources to your relationship.
• A vendor or supplier is simply an order taker. They leave it up to you to figure out what you want. When they make “recommendations” they are limited to the small number of options they can deliver.

Branded Merchandise Partnerships Provide Experienced Account Managers

The account managers for branded merchandise companies will listen to what you want to accomplish with your brand merch or coporate merch and make suggestions based on your goals and what they know performs well in the market.

Branded Merchandise Companies Should Be a Dedicated Point of Contact for All Your Needs

• A branded merchandise company should have a dedicated account manager, customer service rep, and someone who is designated to be your quarterback for whatever needs you may have.
• You shouldn't have to call different people to get help or call a rolling support desk where you don’t even speak with the same person every interaction.

A Full Range of Account Services

You want a branded merchandise merchandise that can do everything on your behalf, leaving you free to do what you are best at. The best mech partners don’t focus on just one part of the merchandising process such as producing your branded goods (while providing no support on product design), consulting, or fulfillment.

Some merch vendors position themselves as creative agencies. They are skilled at generating creative ideas but outsource production, fulfillment, or anything else that you need done. This gap creates the potential for costly risk for your end product.

Does Your Branded Merchandise Company Have The Ability to Source All Your Product Needs?

• Apparel 
  • Shirts
  • Custom embroidered hoodies
  • Custom embroidered hats
  • Childrenswear 
    
• Drinkware
  • Tumblers
  • Coolers
  • Custom water bottles
    
• Bulk order stickers
• Drink coasters
• Christmas ornaments
• Anything else you can envision

The right branded merchandise company will be able to create anything you want to build your brand merch program.

Partner with a Branded Merchandise Company that Offers Flexible Financial Options

You should work with a branded merchandise partner who is willing to take all the financial risk off your plate by setting up a royalty agreement if that works best (to learn more about Huge Brand's royalty programs, fill out this form and we'll chat).

Alternatively, as you become comfortable with the volumes of what you can sell, a good partner allows you to take on increasingly more financial risk in your branded merch program in return for larger share of the profits.

2. Retail Quality Merchandise

It's all in the details. If your customers aren’t in love with your brand merch, it doesn’t really matter what you do with the rest of your program. Bottom line: your customers have to love wearing, using, or displaying your corporate merch. 

A Branded Merchandise Company that Produces Quality Designs

Poor design = sub-optimal sales.

You will never regret spending money to have an experienced graphic design professional work with you.  

If you *only* have enough budget to go all in on one area, spend it on a quality graphic designer. 

Does Your Merch Partner Use Quality Blank Goods?

If a shirt doesn’t fit right and feel good, your customers won't wear it.

If the drinkware you provide feels cheap, your customers are going to put it in their cupboards and never get it out again, or ask for a refund.

If a hat feels like it's cheaply made, it won't be your customer's go-to headwear. 

This can derail your entire brand merch program and cast a poor light on your overall brand promotion strategy.

Your merchandise partner should provide a wide range of blank goods from a wide range of wholesalers, and you should have input into which products and wholesalers they choose.

A Merchandise Provider that Offers Upscale Quality Add-Ons

Make sure that the branded merchandise company you partner with can provide you with custom private-label size tags, hem tags for a retail finish, hang tags for additional branding, and bag and sticker your branded apparel for inventory integrity. 

Skill in Multiple Processes

When you are screen printing, make sure you have a partner that can provide the exact look and feel you want. 

These are other factors to consider when selecting a branded merchandise partner:

• Do they work with both Plastisol and water-based inks?
• Can they precisely match the colors and detail you have in your designs?
• Do they work with all types of specialty inks including discharge, metallic, sueded, puff, glitter, crackle, and even glow in the dark?.
• For hats, can they do embroidered patches, woven patches, leather patches, etc. – whichever best represents who you are?
• Do they offer custom embroidery on all clothing?

You get the idea. Too often vendors will “recommend” what is best based on their own limitations.

Conclusion

When done correctly, brand merch is always a good idea:

• Branded merch provides a secondary income stream 
• It creates more brand awareness that is represented by your most avid supporters.
• Brand merch and corporate merch will become a valuable resource for your overall brand promotion strategy

What could be better? If your brand merch program can be improved, start with the two areas discussed in this blog post:

1. Make sure you are working with a partner and not just vendors or suppliers

2. Don't settle for brand merch that isn't retail quality.

At Huge Brands, we are a branded merchandise company that practices what we preach. Give us a call at (801) 355-0331, or shoot an email to info@hugebrands.com, or fill out this form if you want to about how to provide the best brand merch in your space.

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