If you’re a musician, then you know how important it is to have merchandise to sell. Not only does it help promote your band and get your music out there, but it can also be a major source of income. However, many musicians don’t know how to get started with selling band merch. In this blog post, we will give you tips and tricks on how to make money with band merch and start generating some extra revenue!
Most musicians want to focus all their efforts on music and ticket sales, but band merch is a huge market and is not something to miss out on. There are many ways to make money with band merch, but the most important thing is to have a plan and know how to execute it. If you’re selling t-shirts, for example, you need to consider how much it will cost to produce the shirts, how you will sell them (online or in person), and what the profit margin will be.
Another thing to keep in mind is that band merch is not just limited to t-shirts. You can sell anything from hats and pins to keychains and stickers. Get creative with your merchandising and think about what would appeal to your fans. The more unique and interesting your merchandise is, the more likely people are to buy it.
How to sell band merch
Before you start selling band merch, you should consider some specific things. You should carefully pick your designs, think about who your audience demographic is, where do you plan to sell your merch, and what will your costs and profits be.
Pick your merch designs
You can’t just throw together a design, print it on a shirt, and then start selling. There are some things you have to keep in mind when you are first putting together your merch designs. Sure, there are thousands of band shirts out there that are just the band’s logo, but even that takes some extra consideration.
For starters, you need to think about the size, placement, and color of your design. You also need to consider how it will look on different items like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops. The design files you use for a poster may not work correctly for printing on shirts. The shirt color will also have an effect on how things are printed. Your first step should be to come up with a design, or designs, that are best representative of you and your brand. If you are graphically skilled, then give it a go to create your designs. However, if you don’t do graphic design work for your main job, then you better leave your band’s merch designs to a professional.
Think about your fan demographics
While you may want to splurge for the best quality shirts or want to bust out a nice band hoodie, it doesn’t work if your audience won’t buy it. That’s why your audience demographics are so important when selling band merch. You want to make sure you are selling items that your target market is interested in.
If you’re a metal band, for example, then your audience is most likely going to be younger males. In this case, t-shirts and tank tops would probably be your best bet. If you’re an indie folk band, on the other hand, your audience might be a bit older and more female. In this case, you might want to sell things like tote bags and coffee mugs. Knowing your target market is essential in choosing the right type of merch to sell. If this seems too overwhelming, then start simply with age group, gender, and income level. These three focus points will get you on the right track. For example, if your audience is primarily young college girls with little to no income, then you may try focusing on lower-cost items like tank tops or babydoll T-shirts to start.
Sell online or in person?
Now that you know what type of merch you want to sell and who you want to sell it to, it’s time to decide how you’re going to get it out there. Are you going to sell online or in person? There are pros and cons to both methods, so it depends on what works best for you.
Selling online is great because it gives you a larger reach and allows you to sell to people who may not live near you. It’s also easier to set up an online store than it is to sell in person, and you don’t have to worry about lugging around a bunch of merchandise. The downside to selling online is that you have to deal with shipping costs and there’s always the chance that something will get lost in the mail. You also don’t have the opportunity to meet your fans and build that personal connection.
Selling in person is a great way to connect with your fans and get them even more excited about your music. It’s also easier to sell things for a higher price when you’re selling in person because people are more likely to make an impulse buy. The downside to selling in person is that you have to cart around all your merchandise and it can be a pain to lug everything around from gig to gig. You also miss out on potential sales from people who live far away.
So, what’s the verdict? Should you sell online or in person? The best answer is: both! By selling both online and in person, you can reach the largest number of people and make the most sales. Plus, you get the best of both worlds by being able to connect with your fans in person while also having the convenience of an online store.
Now that you know how to get started selling band merch, it’s time to put your plan into action. Start by designing or commissioning some great merch designs, choose the right type of merch to sell, and decide whether you’re going to sell online or in person (or both!). Then start promoting your new merchandise and watch the sales come rolling in. With a little effort, you can easily make band merch an income stream that matches or exceeds the rest.
Band merch profit margin
One of the most important things to keep in mind when selling band merch is your profit margin. You want to make sure you are making enough money on each sale to cover your costs and turn a profit. The general rule of thumb is that you should aim for a 50% profit margin. This means that if something costs you $20 to produce, you should sell it for $40. Of course, this is just a general guideline and you may need to adjust your prices based on the type of merch you’re selling and your target market.
Making band merch an income stream doesn’t have to be difficult. By following these tips and tricks, you can easily get started and start making money from your band’s merchandise. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start selling!
Do you have any tips or tricks for making band merch an income stream? Share them in the comments below!