Why should my band sell merchandise?
There are many reasons as to why a band should consider selling their own merchandise, but to us the following three are the most important
Another way of interacting with your followers
Merchandise gives fans a different way of interacting with their favourite artists. Products that relate to a band will give followers new topics of conversation with other enthusiasts and also provide them with a new way to showcase their pride.
Raise awareness of your career
Merchandise tends to work like little mobile billboards that won’t expire. As you keep selling them, the bigger the chances of being seen are and the more people you reach.
Extra Cash
While selling merchandise won’t make you as rich as Jay-Z overnight, it’s still a new source of income. How much money you will make depends on many factors such as the popularity of the group, promotion and how “trendy” the items are.
It no longer requires a lot of investment
Back in the day, producing merchandise used to be really expensive. Bands would have to order a minimum and if they didn’t sell, run the risk of assuming all the costs themselves. Luckily, this has changed due in part to “on demand” platforms that allow creators to produce items one at a time as they are ordered.
Types of Merchandise
Technically, anything can be sold as merchandise. While, there are certain objects that we relate to the practice more than others, there’s is not a definitive list of what counts as “merchandise” and what doesn’t. Here are some of the most common merchandise items:
- T-Shirts (duh!)
- Vests
- Hoodies
- Beanie
- Caps
- Tote bags
- Drawstring Bags
Because these items are so popular, it will be easier to find someone to manufacture them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they should be the only option.
