Band merch printing is easy, but you might commit some serious mistakes if you’re a first-timer. That’s why we’re here to give you tips and tricks to make your first batch truly exceptional.
In this article, we’ll be listing down the things that you have to know about band merch printing.
Table of Contents
#1. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING YOUR DESIGN
The first thing you will surely think about when you plan your merch is the design that you’ll be printing on it.
In the process of conceptualizing and creating the design, a lot of things must be considered:
- COLOR OF YOUR MERCH
The color of your merch would be your design’s base color. You have to decide on the color of your base to know what to color your design with.
I’m sure you know how color can create disharmony if they’re not paired well making the merch look bad and cheap.
- PLACEMENT OF YOUR DESIGN
There are a lot of places you can have your designs printed on.
For tops like shirts you can have it at the front or back, you can also put it on the hood for hoodies. This helps you determine the size and orientation of your design.
For the sleeves you can go for a snaking or longitudinal design.
- PRINTING TECHNIQUE
There are a lot of different printing techniques but the usual ones are screen printing and DTG printing.
The fate of your designs’ colors would be determined on the technique you’ll be choosing.
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#2. COLORFUL & DETAILED DESIGNS SHOULD BE DTG-PRINTED
So if you’re planning on having a colorful design for your merch, then you will have to choose DTG printing.
The technique is a must, especially if your designs are photorealistic.
It can still be possible to have a colorful design with screen printing but it’ll be pricier. With photorealistic designs, however, it’ll be impossible already.
It would be best to have DTG printing for your colorful and photorealistic designs. That will be the cost-effective decision to make.
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#3. MAKE THINGS SIMPLE BUT NOT SIMPLER
Merch designs can go to the extremes just to make it unique or more visually appealing.
However, doing so much to a design will leave it looking chaotic and not in a good way at all.
When I say simple, though, it doesn’t mean in its literal sense.
What I mean is to just not go overboard about it. It can still be filled with a lot of elements but take a look at it and make sure that everything still looks cohesive. It can still be colorful or sparkling, but make sure that it does not stand out in an odd way.
If your image is extravagant, your design sure needs extravagance. You don’t have to tone anything down, just make sure that you’re not doing way too much.
Check out our custom hat printing service
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#4. UNIQUENESS WILL SURELY GET YOU FAR
Fans love everything that’s unique and original.
If you continue to be your unique self, then fans will stay loyal and support you.
When you decide on the merch and design, incorporate the things that make you stand out from others.
Let’s say you have a color representing you or have a signature style, then try having that included in your merch somehow.
Another way to stay unique is to offer unique merch items.
You can offer custom band merch that’s not usually present in other artists’ merch tables like laptop cases, throw pillows, and jewelry.
Related Articles:
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#5. IT’S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO OFFER MORE THAN ONE MERCH TYPE
When thinking of a merch to have for your merch table, we suggest that you offer at least three different types, excluding the CD, cassette tape, or vinyl record that you might have.
You’ve got to have a wearable merch and small merch items like stickers or pins.
You might be wondering why.
Well, you will surely have fans that won’t be able to afford everything on the table, it’ll be a great thing if you have something that fans, especially minors, will be able to afford.
Additionally, people love to have options.
Fans will likely buy something if there are choices they can choose from instead of just opting for it because it’s the only one there is.
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#6. THERE ARE MUST-HAVE MERCH ITEMS
If you’ve got a lot of merch offered don’t forget to have at least one of the essential band merch items included on your merch table.
Merch items like shirts, pins, stickers, and tote bags are what I’m talking about.
You will never go wrong with these ones because people will surely buy it along with the other merch you offer.
It’s especially true for shirts if you don’t have hoodies offered. It’s not the staple custom band merch for nothing.
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#7. SREEN PRINTING IS COST-EFFECTIVE FOR BULK ORDERS
If you’re worried about the costs for ordering a lot of units per merch item, then you don’t need to worry.
Most printing companies would have screen printing as an available printing option and they’re very cost-effective if you have bulk orders.
You still have to meet some design requirements though, because there are limits to it.
If your designs are not photorealistic and have five colors at most, then you’ll be good to go. You can bulk order your merch with your designs screen printed on them.
Related Articles:
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#8. LIMITED EDITIONS HELP DRIVE MERCH SALES
It’s human nature to want something that only a selected few will be able to have and that’s the reason why limited editions really sell well.
If you’re offering a unique merch item, making it a limited edition will be the best move to do.
You can offer a hoodie or shirt with a new design and offer it in limited stocks.
You can also have the merch item numbered and I’m pretty sure your fans would be very competitive aiming to be the one with the #1 on theirs.
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#9. EMBROIDERED DESIGNS LOOK MORE HIGH-END AND LUXURIOUS
We suggest you have your limited edition items embroidered.
It can’t be denied that when designs are embroidered, they look much more luxurious and expensive.
I bet fans would be digging it.
They won’t just be looking like they’re wearing a luxurious item, but they also got to flex their fave musician.
Check out our custom hoodies printing service
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#10. QUALITY IS EVERYTHING TO A PERSON
No matter how awesome the idea of having a unique merch is, fans would always prefer quality over anything. No matter how pretty it looks, if the item’s not durable then fans won’t want to buy it.
You also have to remember that the quality of the things you put out for fans, may that be music, physical album, or other merch, reflects on your image.
Even if you’re the most talented musician, there will still be a taint on your image if you’ve got a merch full of flaws.
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#11. MERCH PACKAGING IS ANOTHER WAY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE’S ATTENTION
The packaging and presentation of your merch is a way to promote the item it has enclosed within it.
If the packaging’s shabby, then don’t expect people to look at your merchandise a second time.
Your merch packaging should have an element that attracts people, like the design, its reusability, or maybe its uniqueness.
You also have to make your bundle packaging organized, don’t just throw in the merch items in a box and tie it with a ribbon.
Related Article:
How To Choose The Right Merch Packaging
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#12. FANS LOVE TO BE HEARD
After selling your merch items, you have to make sure to get feedback from your fans. They will either have complaints or praises for your merch.
You have to separate them and improve from the complaints and at least maintain the things which were praised.
Fans love being heard so the next time you release a merch, you have to make sure that the complaints they had are resolved. If they have suggestions or requests, you have to weigh them and make it happen if it’s within your reach.
I promise your fans will love you more.
Sooo. That’s all folks!
We hope this list has somehow helped you first-timers prepare or go through the process of band merch printing.
Send us your designs and let’s make awesome merch!
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD, custom vinyl records and merch company in LA
