The Backpack: Issue 49

Okay, which one of you is selling to public transport?

Cause you’re killing it. Atlanta Public Transportation (MARTA) drops a cool new merch store. Standouts? Shower curtain. Believe it. And (awwwww) look at this bus backpack and this colorful weekender tote bag. Also, Camelbak water bottle and fleece map blanket FTW. 'Whenever I wear my MARTA gear, I hear from people who love it and wish they had their own,' said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. 'This is a perfect way to share our pride in the MARTA brand and connect with the communities we serve.' Backpacker approved!

Holiday Merch: Shake Shack vs. Whataburger

Ooooooo, we love holiday merch because it’s sweater season, pumpkin spice season, and peppermint season all rolled up into one deliciously cold Q4! Our faves? Shake Shack drops a drippy selection of merch featuring a crewneck sweatshirt (sweater?) and adorable hand-crafted ornaments like this Shack Burger ornament or Christmas Cookie Shake ornament in partnership with Craftspring. And Whataburger ain’t about to be beat by nobody, they got fry slippers and fuzzy socks. Bring on the wintry merch!

Merch is “expensive because it’s ethical”

Chappell Roan took some flak for her high-priced merch (a $40 T-shirt to be exact, which is not outrageous compared to some tours), and the artist turned to Reddit to respond: 'Saw a post yesterday of the new tour merch and a lot of people commenting and criticizing how expensive it was. It’s expensive because it’s ethical.' That line, 'It’s expensive because it’s ethical,' couldn’t be better said by anyone in the merch business who works with clients to provide sustainable/ethical options for merch. Thred, a Gen-Z think space, wrote, 'The issue isn’t that Roan’s T-shirt is too expensive; it’s that the rest of the industry has normalized paying far too little. We’ve been trained to believe that a $5 shirt from a fast-fashion retailer is the benchmark, not realizing the toll such pricing takes on workers and the environment. The reality is that fashion, when made ethically, costs more because it should.' What do you think, Backpacker? Have we finally entered an era where the market will pay for ethically sourced merch, even if it’s higher? We’d love to hear your thoughts! It’s also worth reading what the market thinks here and here.

Ritz-Carlton's Merch Movie

Ritz-Carlton just dropped a movie mostly about merch featuring Hunger Games actor Josh Hutcherson. Why? To reach a bigger audience. Ritz partnered with Spain-based Late Checkout, a brand entirely comprised of fictitious characters in a fictional travel adventure, all to sell apparel. But this time, with Ritz, it’s for real. What did influencers think? "You don’t expect merch from luxury hotels … this is their way of creating a gateway product," said thisisnickys (Nicky Saunders), breaking it down with astonishment. Orenmeetsworld (Oren John) scooped it first. Check out the full collection here. Our faves? This luxe cream work jacket and this jumper. Read the official story from The Ritz here.

Hit Promo's Amy Rabideau and Jon Norris 

Hit Promo is now a connected+ supplier on commonsku, what does that mean? A lightening fast ordering process, securing inventory quicker, and the elimination of order entry errors by you and your team (and more!) On the skucast, we’re talking with Amy Rabideau, Hit’s VP of Product and Jon Norris, Chief Strategy Officer at Hit, all about what it means for you and also, how to manage big changes in your business, tune in here!

How does Hit Promo's connected+ status help you?

Join our very own Allison Lavigne for a webinar as she walks through how the new connected+ status helps with ePOs, tracking order statuses in real-time, and getting immediate ship notifications—all within commonsku!

skucon is almost sold out, grab your tickets now!

Want to learn how to be brilliant at a moment's notice? Join creative coach Todd Henry, author of the best-seller, The Accidental Creative, and join one of the fastest-rising experts on the economy, Kyla Scanlon, author of the book In This Economy. Plus, come hear Ben Higgins, from "The Bachelor" fame, as he shares how to build a generous business. Register NOW before it’s too late!

Glossier turns 10 (with a brilliant merch celebration)

Yes, we gush over Glossier, but that’s cause they merch sooooo damn hard, like this 'birthday collection' they just dropped to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. Tons of merch inspo here for you: Can’t ship a piece of cake to celebrate with friends? No prob. Create a birthday cake candle and a collectible Zippo with a cool tag line: 'You look good.' And all those stickers you’ve created over ten years? Combine all designs into one T-shirt. Brilliant. And sold out.

Día de Muertos + LA Kings + Delta Airlines

The LA Kings dropped a great campaign with Delta Airlines for Día de Muertos, which featured first-generation Mexican-American artist Francisco Reyes, Jr., who has worked on collaborations with Xbox, Lana Del Rey, The Hundreds, and more. For merch inspo and an inspiring story, check out Reyes’s site, Never Made.

😎 Okay, so you carry a big ole’ Stanley. Cool. But the real cool kids carry a Stanley with a lip oil holder.

🎶 Merch provider Top Drawer Merch is “Moving Artists Into Music’s Superfan Economy” (Forbes)

🎩 “When you walk around Soho, Tribeca, East Village, every single person is wearing” this hat. Upstate New York merch is HOT. Phoenicia Diner cap FTW.

🍿 The popcorn container for new movie releases is hitting new levels.

👄 Bubble skincare launches a lip balm key chain with charms.

👀 Oof. Ever had a client steal your merch ideas and produce them with someone else? It happened to Market Studios and they made it public. Ouch.

📚 Who knew it was “book guy autumn” and that Austin Butler’s the OG of [book] merch?

🔥 You following the latest internet sensation Moo-Deng, aka “bouncy pig?” Well, there’s now official merch and it’s actually not only cute but cool!

🍔 Did you know that Aussies call McDonald’s Macca’s? And they obv know how to merch right cause the proof’s in these Grimace socks. And it’s all in support of a great cause: McHappy Day.

👿 In unhappier news, Slipknot fans are not happy about the new merch.

❌ Formerly known as Twitter, dropped a new shop. How many products? Two, a shirt and a hat. 

🎟️ Tariffs: Our upcoming keynote speaker at skucon, Kyla Scanlon, just dropped an easy tariffs explainer here. Want even more economic insight for 2025? Join us in Las Vegas to hear Kyla live! Grab your spot before it's gone!