The Backpack: Issue 48

Here’s how to do a simple shop right

We could all learn from Vanderbilt, who just kicked off a cool fundraiser using merch. Donors who give $35 get their choice between dress socks or athletic socks, and $50 donors get their choice between a trucker cap or a Hatch Show Print poster. Great tips here: 1) Keep the product selection simple, Vanderbilt uses only four products. 2) Great copy, images, promotion, and engagement  (check out their promotion video). Oh, and BTW, programs for donors are pretty simple to execute with a pop-up shop that allows for individual packing slips and easy tax calculation at checkout! 😉

“But did you vote?” merch wins the merch election

If we had to vote for best merch, it wouldn’t go to any candidate, instead, it would go to this amazing campaign to get out the vote, a collab between designer Desyree Nicole, TUNL, and NBPA Foundation. What’s TUNL? The merging of fashion and sports. According to The Zoe Report, TUNL was initially inspired by “tunnel outfits,” a.k.a. the look an athlete wears before a game. Check out the merch drop on IG and their reaaallly cool but simple shop (we love the “paved by TNL” tagline). Fashion + sports + merch = WIN.

Emma Watson's gin company's merch is 😅

Outta the way Ryan Reynolds, we have a new merch crush: Emma Watson owns a gin company with her brother Alex called Renais Gin and they recently dropped a high-end merch collab with Del Toro, a handmade Italian footwear fashion brand. “With sustainability being a major focal pillar of both Emma Watson’s personal philosophy and the brands’, Alex Watson said that it was the first thing they talked about with the Del Toro team. The collection uses recycled materials where possible and importantly, managed and monitored waste accordingly.” Best part? Luxe merch like this Flapper Girl martini sweatshirt, crew neck zip, corduroy cap in navy and bone (gorgeous), and rad retro gym socks.

Marketing made easy: commonsku + PromoPulse

Our new partnership with PromoPulse allows commonsku customers special pricing and access to powerful tools to amplify your marketing, including automated email, social and video, and the AMP ideas generator powered by commonsku suppliers. As a commonsku customer, you can get $300 off AMP Email+Social+Video annual plan or pay monthly and get $30/mo off your first year. More benefits here but act NOW, special pricing offer only good through Nov 8th! Want to learn more? Check out our podcast with founder Jason Nokes!

Wanna check out commonsku ... 

... but you don't like the pressure of a 1:1 demo? We got you: Every second Wednesday of the month, we’re now featuring a live demo delivered by our very own Jacob Dyck. Next one up? Nov 13th, register now!

Win with presentations, portals, and shops!

In a competitive market, standing out from the crowd as a distributor is critical to strengthen your existing customer base and secure new business. Join Bobby Lehew for a deep dive interview with Mikas Agarwal, Chief Digital Officer at Akran Marketing, on how they provide value to their clients, effortlessly, using commonsku. We’re talking smart presentations, self-service portals, and shops: Register here!

The Merch is the Message

Our last political merch roundup of the season 😅: First, Elizabeth Goodspeed wrote an article about the new battleground of political swag. “From ‘Kamala Walz’ camo trucker hats to Trump’s infamous red ‘MAGA’ caps, modern campaigns know that the right piece of merch can say more than any policy speech.” Regardless of which side of the aisle you stand on, you should read Elizabeth’s piece because it brings into sharp focus what’s happening in culture with merch. Elsewhere: How merch defined the 2024 presidential election. And for both candidates, here's a nod to their merch: Trump’s MAGADonald’s shirt | Kamala’s Team tee. And finally, for undecided voters, here’s your New Era cap with both the Yankees and Dodgers logo, you’re welcome.

How big is the music merch biz? $16 billion by 2030

A famous ad agency founder once said, “You know what business a distributor is in in? You’re a fan factory.” A new study by MIDIA Research shows music merch will grow to $16 bil. Why does this matter to the merch pro? Fandom. The merch biz creates fans for brands, whether a fan is defined as an employee, a client, or a community. From MIDIA: “Do not forget that the entire merch business rests on fandom, and it must be nurtured, not harvested.” BTW: Sabrina Carpenter or Billie Eilish or Chappell Roan? Us? We love Becky G’s affirmation merch. 

Merch smackdown: FISHWIFE vs. Jose Gourmet

Don’t laugh: canned fish is a seriously lucrative trend, growing at a few billion a year. So, which canned fish has the coolest merch? FISHWIFE. Quirky, cool brand with a loyal following and a fun vibe and the merch fits their ethos, like this classic crewneck and tee. But Jose Gourmet swings the other away, investing in few but deep, like this limited, first edition sardine fork handcrafted by Hanau-based silversmith Martin Hardt or this $380 keychain made of 925 sterling silver. Honorable mention? Siesta Co. with its botijos and bandanas (20% of sales go to LA’s Children’s Hospital). Backpacker approved!

🍂 Biggest fall trend for merch? Toss me that throw! Glossier’s throw and Ghia’s throw. (Perfect for cuffing season?) Oh, and unrelated but cool: basket tote.

💪 BTW: Another “merch works" story: Univ of Tennessee launched a merch campaign called “Mountain Strong” to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, the result so far? $200,000 raised and all on pre-orders.

🐻 Okay, okay, collabs have gone too far but at least ACID FC admits it’s a collision not a collab.

👀 New Roku (yes, Roku) comedy show featuring Charlie Puth might be an up-and-coming hit and Puth’s merch game? V, v strong. And on brand, like this “What If There Was A Tote Bag” tote bag

😍 Heads-up competition alert: Does the new distributor agency look like this?

🎥 From the new Andrew Garfield/Florence Pugh “We Live in Time” movie, we don’t know which is cuter: The Andrew Garfield “What’s the rush?” kitchen timer, the Carousel Horse tee, or the Meet Cute tee. 

👊 Don’t let this happen to you: What happens if you don’t have a good proofing system or ePOs 😜

😎 commonsku customer Genumark has a great explainer on understanding product materials (clothing)

👯 New-but-old merch trend? Vintage french workwear for Sweetgreens (by our friends at Harper+Scott).

🔥 Pssst! Have you heard? Hit Promo is now a Connected+ Supplier on commonsku with live product data and fully decorated ePOs. Set up your credentials now!