Merch Consumer Trends of 2023

Branded merch has become more and more of a necessity for brands and other service providers. This type of marketing is especially lucrative for online influencers and personalities.

In 2020, we saw a very big dip in overall sales of products such as clothing and footwear. According to ResearchandMarkets, the general merchandise market saw a decline from $1,843.6 billion in 2019 to $1,810 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.9 percent. The decline is mainly due to economic hardships from the pandemic.

With the economy starting to revamp in 2021, we have seen great opportunities for smaller brands that took the time to grow their audience in the past year, to offer new and exciting merch. This is in part due to the fact that most consumer sales are being driven by the ability to connect with ones core values.

---

What are your

Brands’ Values?

According to Faire’s survey data, the most purchased brand value tags were Women Owned, Made in the USA, and Handmade. Consumer purchasing patterns have become more about how they value a brand rather than the actual product itself. Most retailers shopped by brand value in order to find products that resonated with their customers.

Check Out Core Brand Values Examples: Why They Are Key to Differentiating Your Brand

A brand mission statement is important to clearly communicate the brand's purpose, objectives and how it plans to serve its audience. A clear mission allows the consumer to see their own values in your brand and make more on emotional connection. This builds brand loyalty and brand pride.

---

Trends By Categories

More and more businesses are shifting to remote work and this has opened up the potential to offer a variety of merch that otherwise would not be suitable for certain brands before the pandemic. It is important to do your research and find your audience to then gear your promotional products or branded merch towards their specific interests.

Read about How The Pandemic Changed The Way People Shop

Pet Merch

As the pandemic begin extending in 2020, more and more people began adopting pets to help them cope with worldwide lockdowns. With pet adoptions on the rise, pet merch saw an increase of 1 Billion dollars annually.

According to the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 90.5 millions homes. This is a market that is worth looking at if you are thinking of dropping merch. Pet people love to buy toys and clothing for their dogs.

Apparel

Big clothing brands such as H&M and Zara saw a sharp decline in sales at the begging of 2020 but quickly bounced back better than ever in 2021. Despite the losses in 2020, apparel and accessories sales in the United States are expected to reach $495 Billion in 2023.

Athleisure and activewear brands suffered less of a sales decline in 2020 compared to other apparel categories, decreasing by just 2-3% vs 2019. Consumer interest in health and wellness will continue beyond the pandemic, so demand for athleisure and activewear is expected to be strong in 2021.

Although screen printing on athletic clothing can be challenging, there are ways to work around this and get the perfect print for your athletic merch.

Check Out Apparel Ecommerce Market Size in the US from 2016 to 2021

Health & Wellness

Wellness products saw a 10% increase in sales during 2020 and is predicted to increase an additional 15% in 2021 with a big push toward the end of the year. Wellness items have been on the rise for a few years now but it is predicted to hit all-time highs in 2021.

As global consumers are beginning to focus more on their wellness, products such as yoga mats and candles are among the highest sold items. These are products that can easily be manufactured and printed with your logo, they make great promotional merch!

Tech Gadgets & Accessories

Gadget such as wireless phone charges, wireless headphones, and speakers have been on top of the tech chain when it comes to consumerism. In 2021, it is projected that most people will opt for wireless EVERYTHING.

Charger pads can be a great promotional product to display your company logo or brand name. Brand artwork can be laser printed unto these types of surfaces, making it easy, fast, and affordable.

---

The New Normal

Brands and retailers will need to consider how consumer behavior has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many consumers invested time and money in purchasing and learning to use equipment to facilitate fitness, cooking, working, and entertaining from home.

This means that many of the industries that thrived in 2020 could remain elevated above pre-pandemic levels, and at the same time, industries that struggled last year may find their industries have been changed permanently.

Increased remote work may lead to more travel and mobility, and business travel may ramp up, benefiting accessories like luggage and backpacks. The casualization trend that took hold in apparel and footwear last year is likely to remain.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Guide To Designing A Custom Hoodie

We all love a comfy hoodie or sweatshirt and we depend on them in the winter months to keep us warm but also serve style. While blanks are a staple in most of our closets, you need a good graphic hoodie to make a statement and bring your outfit together. For most people, their hoodies will be their most treasured outerwear in their wardrobe. Hoodies and sweatshirts are versatile and can be worn on many occasions, so it’s no surprise that personalized hoodies are a popular choice among brands whose goals are to make a statement.

---

5 Steps To Design Your Own Hoodie

We’ll take you through critical steps to take when designing your own hoodie or sweatshirt. Whether you’re designing a hoodie for yourself or you’re designing a hoodie for your apparel brand, you will want to think about your budget first as this will dictate which of these recommendations to take into consideration.

1. Garment Type

First things first, choosing the type of garment can determine some of the criteria below. You have a range of options varying from Polyester to organic cotton. Organic cotton is environmentally friendly and tends to last longer, putting this option at the top of the price range but guarantees high-quality.

If high-quality is not as important and you want to get the most bang for your buck, a good option is a blend. Most hoodies are a blend of 80% cotton and 20% polyester or other synthetic materials. The blends are a good option in terms of breathability and flexibility.

2. Thickness

Weight and thickness are an important consideration when designing a hoodie, these decisions will determine how comfortable and warm your garment is. You probably want to create a quality product and it’s worth spending a little more for a thicker and softer fabric.
ranging from 280 to 350 GSM (grams per square meter), the top end being a chunky, heavyweight garment catering to those who want their garments especially thick. What to look for when buying a hoodie.

3. Design Application

So you have a cool design and you’re thinking, what is the best application? The application can depend on the design, for example, if your design has a lot of small, thinner lines screen printing would be perfect as opposed to embroidery for which the lines need to be a certain thickness.

Screen Printing is the most adaptable application for most brands as it allows a little more freedom with the type of design and depending on the number of colors used, it can also be a more affordable route.

If you’re printing a smaller amount of units and or have a more complex design such as a photo image, DTG (direct to garment) printing will probably be the best option.

4. Placement

This may sound like a no-brainer - front and center is the most popular placement, but doing something different can set you apart from the competition, or if you’re customizing just for yourself, it will set you apart from the crowd.
It’s also possible to print on the sleeve of your hoodies, which could be a good addition or alternative to printing straight on the front or the back. 

One thing to note, however, is that printing on the sleeves is only possible with screen printing or a hand-held inkjet printing gun. The apparel printing gun is not something that is common and not a lot of print shops offers, but you can always ask!

5. Extra Customizations

Additional customizations include adding a visible tag to the cuffs, which can add a more personal and unique flair to a garment. Other extra customizations include adding a patch anywhere on the hoodie, for example, if your hoodie has a screen printed design on the back but you would like to add an additional logo or tagline to the front, you can always have an embroidered patch added. Patches are often rare on hoodies and that can be an attractive addition for buyers.

---

“If you’re looking for success with your design but can’t afford anything fancy – it doesn’t have to be. Only 14% of analyzed clothing stores had printed sleeves for their hoodies, for example. Another interesting fact – only 5% of the stores that have been studied have design placements on the back – and only 23% have graphics on the side of the pocket. Additionally, 50% of the designs are logos or quotes and 55% of the colors used are white and black.”

---

What Application Is More Durable?

While durability often depends on use, we think that there are other factors to take into consideration, such as the application. DTG Prints are more economical because there is usually no minimum and tend to be more sustainable, while screen printing requires a minimum amount of prints. Screen printing is technically more expensive and less sustainable.

With an embroidered design, you often need a high-quality fabric that is thick to avoid bunching and it can be hard to keep the shape of the design once the hoodie has been washed a few times. However, opting for an embroidered patch that is placed on the hoodie can be an excellent alternative.

Bottom line -

Figuring out your budget and the type of design you would like will determine which method to use. We recommend that if you have a big budget, always opt for the highest quality and the best durability. This will ensure that your brand will be well regarded and is known for high quality is what you want for a clothing brand. Additionally, the quality will dictate how much your customers are willing to pay.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Share this article with your friends!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Promotional Merch Cultivates Brand Loyalty

Investing in promotional items does not have to feel like a loss. In fact, promotional merch should be considered standard practice, because the consumer market is so saturated with brands selling the same products or services, it’s good to stand out. We’ll take you through some stats and reasons why branded promotional items will generate revenue in the long run.

“The U.S. alone accounts for an estimated $298 billion in ad expenditures annually and was recently named the world’s largest advertising market.”

— Moumita Das

Why Does Promotional Merch Matter?

With so many marketers focusing all of their efforts in digital marketing, tangible promotional products have taken a backseat. Unfortunately, businesses that have chosen to dismiss such products, are missing out.

Infographic by PPAI Research

A 2017 study by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) explains everything you need to know about the effectiveness of promotional products. According to the study, most people keep promotional products for an average of eight months. That means your advertisement is sitting in front of someone longer than a simple PPC ad or pop-up on a website.

Promotional products provide brands with a reliable path to reach the target consumer group by positioning their message as it will be best received. In fact, according to PPAI research, promotional products are the most welcomed form of advertising by all generations and considered most effective in providing a rationale to respond. Promotional products not only allow brand messages to effectively reach their intended audience, but they also spread the word to anyone who sees the product displayed, used, or shared.

89 % of consumers have received a promotional product in the past six months; that’s nearly nine in 10 who own a promotional product, nine in 10 who use promotional products, and nine in 10 walking billboards for a brand.

Read more: Top 10 reasons to use promotional merchandise

Swag and Brand Representation

Brand ambassadors or brand representatives are also an essential part of driving your promotional product marketing strategy forward. In many instances, your promotional products are being distributed at large events and festivals. For a successful campaign, you will need an energetic team to help promote your brand and give out your branded swag.

Check Out 18 Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want For 2021

Every brand needs a face and voice that will go hand-in-hand with the product. It’s not just about choosing the right product, you must also find the right people to promote your brand, a friendly face with a charismatic demeanor can help build confidence in your brand. A simple pleasant interaction with your brand ambassador will eventually result in brand loyalty.

Know Your Audience

In order for you to grow your brand loyalty, you should understand who your current customers are; but no only WHO they are, but WHAT they are – in terms of their needs, their wants, and what drives them to choose you over a competitor. By focusing your time on collecting this type of audience information, you can easily build a large following that is loyal to you and your business . Once you have a good grip on who your target audience is, you can seal the deal by presenting them with custom promotional products that appeal to their specific lifestyle .

Read How To Find Your Target Audience And Create The Best Content That Connects

Continued Engagement

Show that you appreciate their business! If your brand sells products or services, a good way to ensure continued engagement and brand loyalty is by providing free gifts after a purchase has been made or after a client connection has been made. These small gestures keep you fresh on their radar and they will associate your brand with a positive feeling.

So, How does a Promotional Item Promote Brand Loyalty?

It is important to create a promotional item that is of high quality because people will associate the premium quality of the gift or promotional item with the quality of your business. This will help a lot in keeping the first-time buyers of your products forever.

Promotional products can drive consumers to your business in a cost-effective way. Giveaways bring instant brand recognition. You can expand the reach of your products or services amongst a larger audience, and these items are also excellent for building a solid customer base and driving customer loyalty.

---

3 Tactics for Promoting Your Branded Merch

So you don’t have the capital to give our free promotional items? Well, we think that you can make a decent return by selling them through your website for an extra revenue stream. This will of course depend on what type of business you have as it may not apply to everyone.

Check Out Launch like Steve Jobs: 7 Ways to Build Buzz for Your Next Product Launch

Limited Run

You can create a buzz around a product that is a limited-run item that would be worth buying. Find an item that would be useful, things that can be used in every-day life or that can be great decor. A good option would be to collaborate with an artist or another business to then create something unique, this way you will also attract the audience of that other artist or brand.

Promotional Discounts

Providing a promo discount code to loyal subscribers is also a great way to push your product, especially if it’s during a holiday or a special sales day such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Bundles or BOGO Deals

Promotional merch can also be an added bonus to a purchase of another product. Many times this tactic drives the buyer to chose your product over the competition if it means they will get an extra item to compliment their purchase.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

A Guide To Creating Your Own Merch

Creating a brand is a way to develop your unique business personality, connect with the consumer and establish yourself within the corporate market. Once you have solidified your brand, the next step can be creating merchandise that is exciting and viable to market to new or existing customers.

Some businesses may appear more suited for merch than others. For example, creative businesses or businesses that deal in similar merchandise may seem more well-placed to sell custom promotional products on the frontlines. However, the truth is that all businesses can benefit from creating merch for their own brand, no matter the product or service.

Creating merchandise for your own brand can give you the freedom to sell and use swag as custom products for any service. It’s a great and creative way to get your brand design out in front of other people and make some extra income while doing so.

---

“Conversation is not simply a two-way process, but also a continuous process. Brand research enables brands to ask the questions and listen to their customers, allowing them to keep their finger on the pulse and adapt appropriately.”

---

Research

Researching your audience whether you’re a service provider or a product retailer is a must. By identifying your customer demographics, you will be able to gear your merch products more specifically and ensure a successful launch.

When doing your research, you’ll want to follow these questions.

• How old is your audience?

• What are generally their interests?

• What is the general socioeconomic status?

• What is their employment industry?

The use of social media often can also be very revealing. Sometimes people aren’t that willing to share details over interviews or creating an account on your platform / store, or simply aren’t aware of their own habits.

Following your audience on social media can most often give you a very good idea of what they are into, this requires a lot of time but can be very rewarding.

Design

After the research phase, design becomes the focus. It may be enough to add your logo to a cool gadget or a wearable good, but if you are looking to make a profit, adding an element of design can really bump up the interest in your merch. It’s necessary to try to make a statement by either creating a clever design or creating a product with a lot of color and character.

Some companies may hire an artist to create a work of art to be printed unto their merch, which makes those pieces a little more valuable than if it was just your logo or a simple component of your branding aesthetic.

Diversify Your Merch

Not all merch is created equal, and not all merch is equally useful for everyone.

By diversifying the products offered, you’re giving the consumer a choice of products that best serves them. Your demographic according to your research may have different variants, this is when you should make the decision of creating different products for different people.

Anyone willing to buy merchandise is usually happy to browse a range of products and see what you have on offer, rather than only having the option to buy one thing. Happy merchandise consumers may also return to your online store to buy a different item next time, so having a choice is key.

Budget

Maximizing your budget can make all the difference. If you’re unable to offer a variety of products, concentrate on the product you think will perform the best according to your audience research.

Many brands will also launch a pre-order product(s) and can fund their merch production using this method as the purchase will be done upfront making it easier to increase your budget. While this works for most companies, we suggest you advise your customer of potential lead-times as printing and production times my vary.

Read more about What To Include In Your Promotional Products Budget

Fulfillment

If your budget allows it, we recommend using companies such as Family Industries for all your fulfillment needs. The good thing about this process is that you will never have to touch the product, they will be made, printed, packed, and shipped all from a single source. Fulfillment can become overwhelming if you have a large following and a healthy stream of daily orders, and services like fulfillment can be a time-saver and allow for you to focus on your overall business.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Finishes That Take Your Brand To The Next Level

Custom finishes can be the thing that sets your brand apart from your competition. These customizations can range from small and simple to being a little more involved and a bit more expensive. We think that investing in details is the best way to take your brand to the next level. In this article, we will go through all of the custom finishes available as well as comparisons and options for smaller budgets.

---

What Are Apparel Finishes?

Custom apparel finishes are collar tags, interior tags, screen printed logos inside the garments, price tags, as well as packaging. Most of what apparel finishes refer to are markers withing the garment that shows off your brand’s logo and other brand characteristics.

Check Out A Guide To Branding

Examples of Custom Finishes:

• Neck Tags

• Custom Woven Tags

• Fold & Bag

• Sticker Application

• Brand Info Tags (hanging tags)

Why are apparel finishes important?

Creating a brand new tag on your shirt is an excellent way to promote a business’s brand. Imagine including your logo on every tag knowing that everyone will check to see the size. Customizing the tag allows everyone to see your logo and details about your business in a unique and effective way.

Every piece of clothing comes with a tag already printed and it is usually on the back of the neck. The tag’s purpose is to provide the wearer with all the relevant information they need to know about the garment. But imagine replacing all that with your company’s logo, brand, and info. This can build brand loyalty.

Check out Guide To Product Packaging & Labeling

Neck Tags

Neck tags or collar tags are the most common types of apparel finishes. Neck tags can either be woven or printed directly unto the garment.

Woven tags are a little more involved as these are separate pieces that need to be sown unto the garment, therefore, adding more steps to your finishing services. However, tags look more professional and you have more freedom to add color.

Printed tags are done directly unto the garment, these types of tags are easier and can be more cost-effective depending on the amount of units you or your local screen printing shop are producing. This type of finish is typically done in a single color, which is recommended to ensure a good rate from your screen printer.

If you are looking to place a tag on the sleeve or the bottom hem, woven tags will be your only option. These placements can make a big difference when done right, this is usually a premium service that is provided by a merchandise agency such as Family Industries.

---

Hanging Tags

When you add hang tagging to your custom apparel, it gives your garment a professional look that is ready for retail. All you need to provide is the info for the hang tagging and where you want to place it, then a merch agency such as Family Industries will take over the rest.

Hanging tags are generally applied to hi-end apparel and allows for you to include more information about your brand such as your mission statement, your logo, and any other branding elements. As a merch agency, we supply and print all custom tags in-house, as well as apply the tags to your apparel.

---

Packaging & More

Personalized packaging such as poly bags or box tape can also elevate your brand presentation. Little details can go a long way when presenting your product. These types of finishing services can be an added bonus when deciding to invest in your business.

As a merch agency, we always recommend adding your logo to the package either by stickers or printed unto whatever the surface may be such as a box or tape.

Stickers are the cheapest option if you are on a budget and adding more to the bag is also a good way to get your brand in front of other people and most customers like these details.

Check out Classy Ways to Use Stickers on Your Packaging

For a more economical way to add a personal touch, you can invest in a stamp of your logo. A stamp can be used in just about any surface which makes it easy to brand your packaging such as shipping boxes, tape, and packing paper or poly bags.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Do you have more questions about premium merch printing?

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

---

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com

Merch For an Entertainment Brand or Agency

Working in the entertainment world whether you are an artist, a content creator, or a marketing agency, having merch that reflects your brand can be a challenging task. Nevertheless, having merch can only help you further reach your target audience and provide a way for your fan base to support you to continue making content. In this article we will show you the ways you can brainstorm to achieve the best merch line that will result in sales or brand recognition.

---

Merch For Entertainers

Artists, Bands, and content creators are in a unique position. They are one of the few entities that can create revenue directly from branding themselves. Very similar to professional sports teams, musical artists, and entertainers can sell merchandise that bears their name and likeness that will in turn create awareness and provide revenue for their brand. That brand being their name, logo, music, social media, podcast, & YouTube channel.

As entertainers, most of the revenue comes from selling tangible things. This is especially true for musicians as touring can be expensive and venues do not pay well unless you’re a recognized artistist. Selling band merch can be your way to not only advertise your music but also help you sustain a lifestyle of travel to get your music out there.

With the rise of TikTok, original content creation has become the lifeline for social media. Without original content, these apps would not have the success they are experiencing now.

While apps like TikToK and sites like YouTube will pay for content contributions, unless every video gets millions of views and comments, you’re not making enough to sustain a balanced lifestyle. This is why we believe that offering merch is a necessary step to maintain a steady stream of income.

Check Out Merch Ideas For Streamers and YouTubers

Podcast Merch

Sword & Scale Glow in the dark Skull Tee

Generally, podcasts will focus on specific topics and follow a theme such as true crime, comedy, storytelling, and relationship advise. Most successful podcasts will have a merch store comprised of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and maybe a travel mug.

What can you do to mix up it up? Well, this will depend on what your podcast is about. For example, Sword & Scale podcast has a glow in the dark skull t-shirt, which correlates with their true crime theme. They also sell shot glasses with a mug shot of different serial killers. This is a way to capitalize from your core content.

Additionally, knowing your audience will need to be a focus when creating merch. Sword & Scale knows that their demographic is primarily female, this is why they offer options for a lady’s cut tees and other more “female” centered designs, where as other podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience has mostly unisex cut t-shirts and other items that primarily target a male audience.

Pro Tip: You don’t have to just use your podcast name. Get creative and use a tag line or a quote from your show.

Youtuber Merch

Zack King card deck

A good YouTube channel has a specific theme. Honing into what content gets the most views and and figuring out your style will help you come up with merch that fits into the overall message of your channel. Your subscribers will want to see the general merch such as t-shirts, hoodies, & drinkware but we believe that in order to really push your merch, you will need unique merch items.

You may recognize Zach King as the new-age YouTube magician and optical illusions mastermind, Zach has become YouTube legend and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen his videos.

Zack King has developed a brand for himself with his wildly entertaining video content - and with so much success it’s only logical that his merch will reflect his brand. Zack King’s merch includes a magician playing card deck, which lines up perfectly with his content and overall branding.

Check Out The Best Eco Friendly Merch

Entertainment Agency Merch

Family Industries Event Screen Printing

Unlike YouTubers and Podcast hosts, entertainment agencies don’t have a face or a specific voice, they mostly rely on live events such as festivals which attract a variety of people depending on the type of event. For an agency, having a specific understanding of their demographic can be challenging.

Live merch printing has been a great way to develop revenue based on the type of event as it can always be adjusted to fit the specific demographics of the crowd.

A good merch agency can help an entertainment agency develop and expand on different merch items that can be customized on site such as with live screen printing, live embroidery, live sublimation, and much more!

By adding a customization option on site, can excite event goers to get their names or initials printed unto an events shirt, or tote bag. These are very simple ways to get the crowd involved and it can create a stream of revenue.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

---

Looking for The Best Merch printer?

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com, or give us a call at 323.227.1547 and we'd be happy to help.

Our showroom at 2755 Fruitdale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039 is open by appointment only from 10 am - 4 pm Monday through Friday.

---

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

For FAQ, check out our site!

For any inquiries, send us a message!

OR

send us an e-mail at quotes@familyindustriesla.com