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Are you a creator or influencer looking for fresh and unique custom merch ideas to delight your fans and boost your brand? You’re in the right place! From setting up your merch store to inspired designs, popular merch categories and more, we’ll walk you through what you need to know to get noticed.
How to set up a merch store
Setting up a merch store or an online store involves two main steps: creating your merch and having a platform that allows your audience to shop your products. When it comes to selling branded merchandise, clothing, accessories, or any other products, you’ll want to partner with a company that provides an engaging and intuitive way for you to market your brand. Ready to create a merch store, here are two of the best ways to get started.
1. Find a Merch Maker that does it all: Gemnote
Look to a company like Gemnote that can take the guesswork out of managing your store. From providing you with ideas for merch to turning them into quality branded items you can sell, they can also handle details like shipping, tracking and managing swag from remotely.
Further more creators and Influencers like using Gemnote since they trust them to handle the details like order fulfillment. This lets them focus on the good stuff, like product marketing.
2. Create an E-commerce Site: Shopify
For influencers and creators looking for their own website to launch, grow, and manage their business online, Shopify is a popular choice. With millions of merchants on their platform it’s a tried and true way to foster the shopping experience.
For those who don’t have the bandwidth to design and build a Shopify store, Gemnote also offers a simple, out-of-the-box solution that can launch in just a few hours. What’s more, when it comes to outsourcing production and fulfillment, Gemnote also offers integrations. So you can build a beautiful website on Shopify with easy-to-use templates or custom HTML and use Gemnote's Shopify integration to connect your store with their fulfillment dashboard. Best of all, no technical skills are required.
When it comes to catapulting your brand, look for sustainable items that really go the distance. Items like branded drinkware and home goods, custom apparel, logo hats, accessories, and even customized snacks continue to be crowd pleasers.
Need a little inspiration for turning your creative merch ideas into crowd favorites? These 30 items are great for customizing your brand and leaving your audience wanting more.
Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Sweatpants
Loungewear, gym wear, weekend favorites, athleisure? Whatever you call them, sweatshirts, hoodies and sweatpants continue to be a fave among Shopify merch.
1. Branded Crewneck Sweatshirt
Sweatshirts offer a prime canvas for showing off your logo. Whether you choose screen printing, embroidery, patches, or labels, you can’t go wrong with a great crewneck.
2. Custom Hoodie
While there’s nothing revolutionary about a great hoodie, you can’t underestimate its cool factor. If you’re thinking about customizing hoodies for your Shopify merch or for merch for TikTokers, look for features like fleece lining and kangaroo pockets.
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3. Custom Sweatpants
There’s something about a great pair of joggers that just makes life a little cozier. For Influencers and Creators looking to stand out, choose features like pockets, comfy fits, and fabrications that can stand the test of time.
Beauty, Skincare, and Accessories
When it comes to accessory items your influencers and creators will love, give them fun merch worth talking about! Talk to your Gemnote rep for more options.
4. Hair Accessories
Hair accessories are perfect for fashion influencers and creators. Plus, as a merch gift they make an easy and affordable option.
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5. Make Up Bags
Who wouldn't appreciate a custom makeup bag? From make p to toiletries, it’s perfect for keeping small items safe and organized while showing off your logo.
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6. Travel Accessories
Creators and influencers are known for being on the go. Fore merch they’ll love that will also make their life easier, you can’t go wrong with stylish travel essentials like jewelry organizers and custom brushes and combs.
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Cold Weather Favorites
When the days turn shorter and temp drops, help your followers stay nice and toasty. With cold weather staples like these, your branding ideas are practically limitless.
7. Custom Sweater
The winter favorite that’s sure to turn heads. When it comes to sweaters you have an endless array of choices at your disposal.
8. Soft Scarf
Even a scarf can exude your personal branding style and incorporate design trends, like color blocking. Talk to your Gemnote rep for more ideas on customization like labels, tags and more.
9. Branded Beanie
Beanies continue to trend and the style has been known to even bleed into those warmer months.
Home Essentials
Who can resist quality home goods? When it comes to items that are always appreciated and easy to brand, products like these that offer every day convenience are a solid choice!
10. Custom Towels
Looking to make a statement with your ideas for merch? Towels are a great pic and offer plenty of room for creating your own design.
11. Custom Umbrellas
Sometimes, when it rains it pours! For the best Shopify merch that can be customized, don’t forget about a trusty umbrella.There is no shortage of customizable umbrella styles, brands, and colors to choose from.
Must-Have Basics
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to apparel and slip on footwear that’s ready for branding. Talk to your Gemnote rep for more basics like v-necks, pullovers, slippers and the like!
12. Custom Long Sleeve Shirts
Looking to offer tees in your merch line up? From polos to graphic tees, you’ll find a variety of styles—like long sleeves available for personalizing.
13. Customized Socks
Whether you’re going for a nostalgic 80’s vibe or want to design and sell merchandise with your brand’s logo, look for styles that wear well after repeated washes and don’t stretch out. Then, have fun creating merch for your brand.
14. Custom T-shirts
For t shirt printing, look to Gemnote for unique ideas on how to design merch and get ready to bring your products to life.
15. A Great Tank
A favorite among popular t shirt stores, you too can set your merch apart with cool customization ideas like this one relaxed fit top.
16. Custom Slides
A classic staple for summer, the best styles for selling merchandise online are the ones you design! Whether you’re opting to sell merchandise on Amazon or Shopify, talk to your Gemnote rep about how we can help with customization, selection, and sizes.
Hats and Caps
Want your branding top of mind? Or at least at the top of their wardrobe? Let your logo take ceneter stage on these headware styles.
17. Bucket Hats
Not just ideal merch for Gen Z, bucket hats offer more shade, design space, and are spot on for Influencers and Creators.
18. Customized Baseball Caps
The tried and true classic isn’t goin anywhere. It’s a year-round favorite that protects from the sun and shows off your brand.
19. Camper Hats
Elevate your hat game with a corduroy style. Not only is this a popular merch choice, but with adjustable straps you can order less sizes.
Merch Ideas for Totes, Duffels, and Backpacks
One of the many benefits of bags, duffels and the like, is all that space for your design!
20. Duffel Bags
Custom-made duffels are anything but boring as this bold screen printed duffle bag proves. With styles this good, even the best Shopify t shirt stores will want to add bags to their inventory.
21. Custom Backpacks
Not just for students, the backpack has come a long way and is still the ultimate convenience when it comes to staying organized on the go!
22. Scripted tote
When it comes to reusable totes, there are endless styles, designs, and brands to suit your audience and your price point!
23. Custom Totes
Love your logo? You should, you worked hard for it! When it comes to mad designs, why not let your hard-earned branding take over, and display it on repeat for all to see?
Merch Ideas for Drinkware
Sustainable drinkware for the win! Custom bottles and mugs are more than just ideal merch for corporate gifts and events, they’re perfect for creators and influencers looking to sell and market their own brand.
24. Custom Mugs
Who can resist a quality mug? A popular choice for YouTube merch since it’s also the perfect prop for your videos. With the help of Gemnote, you cam find your perfect style—with customization of course, that’s perfect for displaying, drop shipping and more?
25. Custom Wide Mouth Bottle
What makes a large wide mouth bottle design so popular? It can be used for drinks and foods! The insulated design keeps hots hot and can also allow for ice when it’s more about keeping liquids nice and cold.
26. Custom Water Bottles
Water bottles and traveler tumblers are still among the best products to sell. And, with a rainbow of colors, brands, and ways to customize, we can see why.
Merch Ideas for Accessories
Whether you go for sleek and sophisticated items that are designed with innovation built in, or classic choices like stickers and keychains, make it memorable with your personal branding. Talk to your Gemnote rep for ideas.
27. Catch-All Tray
Audiences will love having branded items they can use to keep their space nice and tidy. For extra uumph add choose styles like this one that have wireless charging features built in.
28. Custom Keychains
Another creative merchandise staple that’s a popular choice for personalizing are keychains. Whether your recipient uses it as a functional keychain or as an accessory for their backpack, there’s no shortage of styles and colors to choose from.
29. Custom Stickers
When it comes to ideas for merch, how about inexpensive, on-brand items with major sticking power?
30. Custom Sharpies
Let your branding leave a lasting impression, with a custom permanent marker.
Engaging Custom Products for Creators and Influencers
Creating compelling custom merchandise for creators and influencers is an art that melds creativity with personal branding. By tailoring your merchandise ideas to resonate with your audience—while attracting more followers is the key to success. Whether it's a limited-edition apparel line inspired by your signature style or personalized merchandise that connects fans on a deeper level, the possibilities are boundless.
Crafting merchandise that reflects your identity not only fosters a stronger bond with followers, but also serves as a tangible extension of your brand. With a company like Gemnote, you can take your cool merch ideas and turn them into a fashionable marketing vehicle for promoting your brand! Whether you’re looking for custom merchandise in your own designs or are in need of ideas, they can help you from start to finish.
Ready to transform that creative merch idea into a valuable item you can use to solidify your brand? When it comes to engaging with your community on a whole new level, let Gemnote do the heavy lifting! Browse the reach out to a rep or browse the Gemnote Lookbook for more merch ideas.
