Resources > The Backpack: Issue 43
Sep 03, 2024
Friday, August 16
The latest viral merch moment sold a million dollars worth of caps in 24 hours. In one pic, Tim Walz used a branded cap to make a huge statement: “I’m from the Midwest and I’ve got the cap to prove it.” With 2.7M views, his “capping off the night” camo cap made a def impact. Some say it was also a nod to Chappell Roan’s “Midwest Princess” cap. Where the Harris-Walz campaign might be winning with merch is the “pure fun” category, Harper’s Bazaar called the election merch “witty,” The Harris campaign now features merch for potential First Gentleman Doug Emhoff like this “Throwback Doug Mug” (and honestly, young Doug’s kinda a hottie), plus t-shirts and tanks. Vanity Fair even created a new category, “thirst trap merch.” But what’s trending in both Repub and Dem camps is rogue merch, with companies like RAYGUN pushing you comfortably out of your comfort zone like this Balz to the Walz t-shirt. Question, backpackers: Does merch make political candidates rock stars? We think it might.
Skims created a rad pop-up shop in Paris featuring their branded Olympic merch but what’s really cool? They are one of the few brands who are featuring paralympic merch in their Olympic merch category. Though we kinda threw some shade at the Paris Olympic’s mascot (even the NYT called it "bizarre") “Phryge” merch was trending at the Olympics, and honestly, we take it all back cause the Olympic merch pros did right with this adorable Paralympics plush.
The Globe and Mail published the article, “Companies need to stop giving corporate swag that people just throw in the trash.” It’s yet another article published over the years (by a major media outlet) calling into question the value of merch. Here's a response you can share with your clients and teams.
82% of small businesses fail because of cashflow issues. That’s why getting paid from clients quicker is crucial. Failing because of cashflow challenges means you can still do everything right: increase sales, increase profit, and minimize expenses, but if you have a problem collecting cash, it’s game over. And it happens faster than you think! Learn why and how commonsku’s integrations make cashflow breezy.
With more than 40 years of experience, over 760,000 logos, 33 billion stitches, and a ton of innovation, Vantage Apparel is one of the 5 largest suppliers of custom merch in North America. We talk with Rob Watson, CEO of Vantage about their moonshot of 1-pc minimums, their Redwood Classic’s partnership, and why they’ve won PPAI’s Distributor Choice Award thirteen times!
You know all those neighborhood cleanup movements? What happens if you incentivize them with merch? Well, Tito’s is partnering with manana, Austin’s only land-locked surf shop, to create a special collection as a fundraiser and for volunteers who want to support the cause to help "Keep Austin Beautiful" by cleaning up Lady Bird Lake. Check out manana’s merch vid here! Clean waterways + clear liquids + merch = win!
Well, well, well. Wendy’s, late to the chat, thrums McD’s and Tim Horton’s with their new drop. Wendy’s merch “has never been cooler thanks to this fan-fave Gen Z streetwear brand,” Lonely Ghost. Remember how we said merch is the new press release? Well, Wendy’s used this merch to launch their nationwide release of Saucy Nuggs. Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. chief marketing officer for The Wendy’s Company said “Our saucy collaboration with Lonely Ghost allows us to celebrate community and being better together with both brands’ fans” (Food & Wine). Check this collection and especially this trendy wide-leg sweatpant and “bootleg” hat featuring an off-brand Wendy herself as “Lonely Ghost” (already sold out).
Mina Lee has 1.5M subscribers and it’s clear to see why, her editorials YouTube videos are smart and insightful and her latest commentary is on how the merch industry might have gone too far. But she’s also balanced with her admissions about merch: “I considered buying a Janus Films tote bag last year from the Criterion online store (maybe still will) but I just feel like tote bags are in abundance and no one should buy a tote bag." Mina made the video wearing the “I Told Ya” t-shirt, made famous by the movie “Challengers.” It's a great op-ed on the challenge of ironic merch. Her last statement: "Merch does do something.”
😍 Ummm … this Vanderpump Rules related restaurant sold over $1.8 million in merch? Is it really that good?
😎 Ryan Gosling + Olympic merch. Need we say more?
🐻 More Season 3 “The Bear” merch for those who celebrate.
🏆 This Simone Biles merch is gold.
🎥 “How A24 won the movie merch game” from Fast Company.
💥 Not to be outdone by A24, Focus Features drops (dead) 20th anniversary Shaun of the Dead merch, “20 Bloody Years.”
🍗 Cold plunge much? Sometimes we think KFC has hit peak merch and then they do something like this.
👻 Hypebeast notes that Journal Standard, a Japanese fashion brand, dropped some official Ghostbusters merch that taps into our love of the 1984 classic. Every sweatshirt looks like it could have been lifted from 1984. “Are you a god? What do you want? Merch?”
🔥 WSJ declares “We’re in a matchbook renaissance."
🍿 The war of the branded popcorn buckets, a story you gotta read to believe.
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