The Backpack: Issue 44

New merch competitors don’t look like distributors

A unique breed of competition is emerging in the merch market: Highsnobiety just created a pretty sick merch campaign for German sportscar maker RUF. The almost-sold-out campaign includes a leather bomber jacket, a knit crewneck, and a motion blur tracksuit. And in another competitor category, influencer Marcus Milione created a merch project for Nike and even shares the behind-the-scenes story. As you watch it, notice how familiar it sounds? He’s basically running through your daily life as a distributor. Are fashionistas and influencers the new merch competitors?

Cities wear their hearts on their sleeves

Local merch is "a cultural signifier" writes our friend Linni Kral. So it’s no surprise that the city of Seattle celebrates its Seattle-ness by sharing its favorite local swag. Seattle Met created a beautiful celebration of merch featuring locals who wore their fave products. “Merch offers a window into our city’s soul: a simple band tee might be worth a thousand first concerts, a sturdy diner mug worth a thousand Sunday morning coffees. Merch connects us to our favorite places...” Check out the rad photo shoot and the article here!

Mergers and acquisitions with Joe Sommer, Whitestone

Founded in 2013 in New York City, Whitestone has graced the Inc 5000 List for Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for the last seven years. Founder and President Joe Sommer recently acquired Merchful (who operates in Canada and Europe) plus San Francisco-founded distributor Design Like Whoa. We catch up with Joe on the skucast to talk all about acquisitions as a growth strategy!

Want to get paid faster?

Did you know you can quickly find your unpaid vs. paid invoices in commonsku? Check out this 30-second explainer and if you need more encouragement to make this simple report a habit in your workflow, here’s why it’s so important!

Lucky Beverage Co’s Lucky Fcks

Bold brand name but you gotta hear the backstory for context: The name comes from their founder, Richard Laver, who at the age of twelve survived a tragic plane crash that killed 136 passengers including his father. Homeless, with $22 to his name, the survivor grew up, and one day was forced to create a plant-based drink that would save the life of his newly born daughter who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Fast forward: Laver later founded the better-for-you energy drink Luck Fck Energy. The name came from his son who said that people claimed his dad was the “unluckiest f*ck in the world.” Well, Laver rejected that title and embraced a different perspective, he went on to create one of the most inclusive merch campaigns we’ve seen to date, featuring survivors who have thrived. Check out their Freedom to Fly t-shirt or F*ck around hoodie. The whole collection is damn lucky.

Dunkin’ out Dunkins itself with new drop

Just when you think Dunkin’ couldn’t out Dunkin’ itself, it does: As part of their Dunkin’terns campaign, the coffee masters dropped an exclusive capsule collection with Tokyo fashion brand AMBUSH including this killer windbreaker, this “grab me a glazed” hoodie, and the you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it iced coffee iphone case. Grab the backstory here and check the reels: Instagram | TikTok

KitKat’s demure merch drop is simple and dope

From KitKat: “KitKat is all about the break. That’s why we’re bringing the break beyond the bar, with our exclusive merch drop. From t-shirts, to tote bags, we’ve got you covered...So, show the world how you make (and break) the rules as you sport KitKat’s latest collection.” Love what KitKat does here, simple graphics, basic items (like the belt bag or “you do you” t-shirt), very demure. Best merch tagline: “Give your wardrobe the break it craves.”

🏊 Cool happenings in the merch world and the Paralympics, BeGlobal is a Dutch distributor who is the proud sponsor of the Paralympic swimming team in the Netherlands, here’s their story.

🚗 Probably the biggest merch item we’ve ever seen and not at all demure: LL Bean’s car-sized bootmobile. And not just one but a whole fleet! Campy? 😂

👀 Paramount’s Big Brother merch is 🥱.

🛍️ Land’s End is selling $1 canvas bags to end the tote bag war (Fast Co)

😜 The meme-ification of political merch (Vogue)

🔥 Hot Wheels + Wrangler merch collab — huh?

🍫 Ahhh, here’s a good one: Reese’s (yep, peanut butter, mmmmm) creates a collab with WNBA star Angel Reese. 🤓

📚 Supportive boyfriend Austin Butler, wearin’ Kaia’s book club merch.

😵 Um, this might hit the “worst merch” category? Keurig + Green Day collab? Brain stew? You’d think it was a big miss but Green Day has their own coffee? 🤷🏼‍♀️