5 Tips to Earn from your Band’s Merchandise
Merchandise. A musicians best friend. This is how you showcase your brand and offer something viable to walk away with (in most cases). There are so many items at this point that a musician can put their logo and brand on to sell. The list is literally endless. No longer are the major acts like Kiss, Ozzy, Metallica, and Slayer the ones who can offer unique items to their fans. Here are 5 tips from myself, a full-time artist manager and indie label owner on how to earn from your band's merchandise.
- DESIGNS- What I mean by this is the genre of music you perform and the image you are portraying the need to pair with what your merchandise has to offer visually. My advice is to look at the top 10 bands that you compare yourself to in some way and see if your designs look the part compared to those top acts currently. Not sitting on the same designs for too long and changing them up often as well offering limited printings of select designs if something that I’ve personally found to work.
- MAILING LIST- If you are a band or musician, you should have a mailing list. While nothing is guaranteed, again, I’ve found this to be a really unique way to not only communicate and interact a bit more directly via email, but this also has proven again, to myself that it works. Offer a special discount code, an exclusive chance to buy or pre-order items before anyone else are a few ideas. You can host a mailing list a multitude of ways and I’m sure some are free.
3. LIMITED EDITION- People like limited things. It’s just proven. I’ve found if you offer a specialty item especially timed out just right, an artists fanbase will most certainly want whatever that item is. It helps that it could be useful like a wearable, but that list again, endless on how you can formulate. An example might look like this. “Hey everyone! We’re offering this exclusive limited edition windbreaker. Only 100 will be printed. Deadline to get yours is XX/XX- While They Last!” this prompts the fan to make a choice one way or another. Most cases on or before that day you have given them with the need of urgency that only a select amount will be made.
4. ONLINE STORE- Hosting an online store is crucial for a band. With so many different hosting sites, based on your need, you can choose which suits you the best. Having this and integrating the store into your website and social media is the key. If fans don’t know the store really exists, they can not visit it to make the purchase. Try posting weekly or bi-weekly with targeted ads. Email past purchasers a discount code on upcoming or select items. This can earn a band easy residual income with a little bit of work, planning, and focus.
5. SUBSCRIPTION MODEL- This is certainly a newer model and I’m curious to see how it can continue to thrive for many bands to come. Starting your own form of online monthly or yearly subscription model is highly recommended right now again, in my opinion. With subscriptions being such a big splash right now if you can offer your fans for example- 1 album, 2 posters, 4 t-shirts or 2 shirts and 1 hoodie over the course of a year through a monthly subscription. This could work. The designs and items would only be available to your diehard subscribers. You could offer different tiers based on the fan. A small level could start at $4.99 monthly while a die-hard might be willing to invest $9.99 or even more? Through offering them both online exclusive content paired with physical merchandise is a win-win to everyone. Who doesn't like having a nice box show up on your doorstep monthly, quarterly, etc. with a new surprise in it? I do!
If any of you have further input, opinions or advice, I’d enjoy hearing your feedback.
