Hi, y'all. I decided to make the video that I just released at the Crafty Creators YouTube channel to be for this week's #MarketingMonday. I hope you have enjoyed it and for those that haven't seen it yet, I'll put it here in this post along with some additional information regarding merchandise for your brand.
Why Get Merch?
Working previously in a marketing capacity promoting various courses and programs at a few educational institutions, I became intensely aware of the importance of having quality merchandise in addition to basics such as business cards or making flyers. Items such as pens, note pads, calendars, key chains, mugs and mouse pads are extremely popular, well-used, most visible and easily portable. And let's not forget hats, caps and shirts.
If you have a small business, having your own branded merchandise to give away to current and potential clients is not only an amazing way to build trust that your company is in it for the long haul, but it also serves as a visible reminder to those later on who may need your services in the future. Existing customers using your merch also act as a walking advertisement to those people that they interact with who might ask their friend about your company based on seeing that pen or shirt.
YouTube even suggests creating your own merch so that it can add value to your audience's experience with your brand across multiple platforms. You can also offer your merchandise as part of giveaways to your subscribers. Not to mention, it's just cool to have your own graphics, message and brand name on useful items or clothing.
Where Can I Get Custom Merch?
There are several companies out there where you can get custom branded merchandise for your business, cause or group. The following are a few companies that I've used for my own needs or have familiarity with in previous careers.
My Branded Merchandise Reviews
I had previously tried Vistaprint for my handmade jewelry business where I got some business cards, thank you notes, fridge magnets, shirts, mouse pads and notebooks. I got 3 different kinds of shirts so that I could test them out, however, I was disappointed by their thin material back then. I never gave them a second chance to reorder shirts. I have, however, continued to purchase their other items as they were extremely economical and excellent quality.
Through the process of beginning this new group and platforms for crafty creators, I decided to give Spreadshirt a try based on the high quality of Makenzie Massagli's #ImACreator t-shirts. I recently uploaded my custom made graphics and ordered another Men's Premium shirt in sun yellow, a Women's Premium in pink, and a white mug. While I loved the quality, as expected, for the men's shirt and mug, I was disappointed by the size of the pink women's shirt. I've emailed Spreadshirt and am waiting for a resolution on the issue of it fitting like a full size smaller than what I requested. Otherwise, their men's shirt and mug is wonderful and their website functionality and template is extremely easy to setup quickly.
I have ordered shirts through Teespring and CafePress before with mixed quality results. I find that the best shirts tend to be labeled "premium", "heavy cotton" or "elite" and are not see-through fabric that shrinks quickly after one wash.
I hope this information has helped you to decide to try your custom graphics designs and create your own merchandise. If you do, please leave in the comments so I can check out your shop. Have a craft-acular day, y'all!
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