Trend Watch: The Power of Community Merch

Have you ever worn a t-shirt or put a bumper sticker on your car to show your support for a favorite brand or cause? That's the power of merch! It's a simple but mighty tool that helps bring people together and create a sense of community. 

You're not just showing off your style when you sport that t-shirt or display that sticker. You're showing the world that you're part of a community and proud of it! Plus, buying merch supports the community, by generating revenue for the cause you believe in.

So let's dive in, and we’ll show you real-world examples of the difference merch can make by bringing people together and nurturing a strong community.

Tech Brands & Their Unique Merch Strategies

Tech companies are all about being innovative and creative, and that extends to their merch too. Here are two creative examples from Notion that demonstrate how tech brands use their merchandise to show off their values and bring together their community (even its tiniest members!) around a common goal. It's a fantastic way to show the world what they stand for.

Microsoft uses merchandise to build a solid fanbase of customers and supporters. They teamed up with designer Gavin Manthieu for a special collection called Hardware that throws us back a few decades into an iconic era of style.

This relates to two pieces of content we shared a few months ago. The first is a skucast episode featuring Gavin Mathieu discussing the Hardware merchandise collection, and the second is a trend post on companies hiring designers for their merchandise collections, “Trend Watch: Fashion Design + Branded Merch”

The tech community is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to support their favorite projects and companies. Imprint Engine has done just that by creating awesome merchandise for the Github tech community! With a focus on quality and design, Imprint Engine ensures that every product is a true reflection of the Github community and its values.

Merch for a More Inclusive Community

The LGBTQ+ community is an incredible example of using merch to further a cause. They have embraced merch as a means to spread awareness about social justice and equal rights for all. Through various forms of merchandise, such as T-shirts, stickers, and accessories, members of the LGBTQ+ community show the world that they are proud to be part of the community and support its values. This bring people together and gives a strong message about the importance of equality and inclusivity.

Coach has joined the trend of using merch to show support for a cause and bring community together. Their latest Pride collection is meant to spread love and support for the LGBTQ+ community. By aligning products with company beliefs, they strengthen consumer and brand relationships.

The Women Who Startup project is making waves in promoting equality and supporting women entrepreneurs. To spread the word and raise awareness, they've produced cool merch, like t-shirts and stickers, that let everyone show their support for this important cause.

Want to know more about inclusivity? Check out our article on "Building a More Inclusive Industry"!

We delve into the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry and explore ways that we can all work together to make a positive impact.

UofT Community Merch by Genumark

commonsku is always proud to see our distributors taking the initiative to create community merch. Take Genumark for example - they recently partnered with the University of Toronto to create merchandise for the UofT community. It's amazing to see the positive impact that community merch can have, bringing people together and promoting a sense of belonging.

Did someone say skummunity?

If you're looking for a prime example of how merch can bring people together and build a sense of community, look no further than commonsku! Our company knows the power of a well-designed piece of merchandise, and that's why we keep our community united by regularly creating cool merch for our events and other initiatives. These products are not just cute, but they also show off what we stand for and what our skummunity is all about!

Check out our latest skucon 2023 Merch Lookbook and see it for yourself!

When it comes to showing your love for a brand or cause, merch is a big deal. It can create a sense of belonging around a brand, cause, or community. From tech giants like Microsoft to equality movements like LGBTQ+ rights and Women Who Startup, they’re all using merch to show their pride.