The Backpack: Issue #65

• Trend Alert: F1 THE MOVIE is fueled by merch
  
• What's new in commonsku: Six minutes from order to truck?
  
• AI + Merch: Smart toys that talk back
• Can’t Miss Content: The rise of merch vending machines

F1 THE MOVIE is fueled by merch

As you check out summer’s biggest big screen hit, note this while you watch: Expensify just made a brilliant pit stop in Hollywood with their seamless integration into F1® THE MOVIE. Rather than settling for typical product placement, they've secured a genuine role as an official sponsor of the fictional APXGP racing team. Tommy Hilfiger is also accelerating into the F1 movie scene with a collection that further builds the fictional APXGP team's world. This collaboration joins Expensify's integration, where each brand becomes a character in the story rather than settling for typical product placement. What makes these partnerships rad is how naturally they fit in the film's universe—combining high performance, precision, and strategic brand alignment that feels legit. With F1's exploding US popularity and perfect mid-race season timing, these brands aren't just ads — they're racing into cultural relevance with perfect execution. Collection here.

Tiny Chef’s million+ views matches its cool merch

Get this: Nickelodeon cancels the Emmy winning show Tiny Chef. So, the creators responded by creating a video of Tiny Chef receiving the news. The result? It’s been viewed over 100 million times on X. The cancellation resulted in legions of new fans now contributing to the show to help it cook on. And how is Tiny Chef’s merch game? HOT. Check this Tears are OK denim tote bag. Or “Gweat” Adventure Pack and this cheffy sticker. But the pièce de résistance? It’s a toss up between the Tiny Chef Talking Plush, 6th edition — or this teeny-tiny limited edition chef figurine (both keep selling out.) We’re with you Tiny Chef!

Crumbl's "Moonbeam" cookie and merch

Sweet encore? Crumbl's making history by bringing back Benson Boone's psychedelic Moonbeam Ice Cream Cookie for a second consecutive week—something they've never done before! (If you’re not familiar, the cookie company has been blowing up and here’s a great brand lesson on why). Meanwhile, Crumbl's summer merch is absolutely baked with their "Sunbeam" and "Summer Grid" collections that perfectly complement their cookie game. We love their merch tag too: “Bringing friends and family together over the best merch in the world.”

3 Game-Changing updates you need to see

If you've been playing hide-and-seek with your business data every week, we feel you. Distributors kept telling us the same thing: "I spend more time hunting for insights than actually using them." So we fixed it. What's new? Client Comparative Reports that show growth opportunities without the Excel acrobatics. Automated report delivery -- straight to your inbox. And a Zapier integration that connects to 7,000+ apps. 😎 Your website leads now flow directly into your CRM while you sleep, and clients get project updates automatically—no more "Did you get my email?" ping-pong. Plus, we solved the checkout fee puzzle and more. Ready to reclaim your time? Dive into the features if you're already with us, or, if you're new to commonsku, take our platform tour to see what you've been missing!

Drop in for our AI update on LinkedIn Live!

It's time for a mid-year check-in with our VP of Product Development, Charlie Moscoe, as he steps out from behind the code to share commonsku's biggest 2025 releases so far and the biggest to come --- including an AI update! In 15 minutes we'll share our biggest feature drops to-date, a future roadmap vision for our Advanced and Enterprise users, our AI-first attitude (plus a sneak-peek into developments) and more, sign up now!

Merch F1 Collection: From trackside to toolkit

We turned that Hollywood racing moment into a merch collection: "July's Pop Culture Pit Stop." Think:
→ "Blockbuster Apparel Design"
→ "Coordinated Summer Sets" with official sponsor energy
→ "Tiny Sized Big Personality" pieces that hit different
This is how cultural moments become your sales goldmine.
Explore the Pit Stop collection here!

Meta's AI "Dyadic Motion Models"

Forget flat lay product photos! Meta's new AI is bringing virtual models to life with natural gestures and movements. Picture digital avatars that can twirl a jacket, show how a bag hangs on a shoulder, or demonstrate a product's features while answering questions in real-time. These responsive digital models could transform online catalogs into interactive showrooms where customers truly see products in action before buying. Speaking of models, instead of hiring models for your next merch runway show (yes, that’s a thing in the merch biz), maybe your next show is with virtual models?

🌟 Hey merch pro — you realize you’re famous now right? It’s a cool time to be in the biz, from Forbes: As Artists Monetize Fandom, Absolute Merch Rules Touring

👗 Fashion watch parties turn Paris runway shows into bar-scene spectacles, with crowds cheering designs like football fans. Next round: merch opportunities?

📉 Online shopping's historic plunge breaks a decade-long growth trend as consumers delay purchases amid tariff uncertainty.

🇻🇳 More tariff news: Vietnam's Tariff Deal Drops to 20% while other nations nervously watch the clock. 

🤯 Marketing heads-up: YouTube's CEO drops mind-blowing stats at Cannes: 200 billion daily Shorts views and AI dubbing 20M+ videos. The new TV? It's YouTube, baby!

✨ We just love Selena Gomez’s simple take on comfy sweats for her beauty brand Rare Beauty.

🤖 More merch vending machines are popping up at stadiums.

🍗 As creative as KFC is (and we do think KFC is one of the most creative brands using merch), they might have phoned it in on this one.

😴 Why is PGA merch sooooo boring?

🎨 Here’s a great primer on how to design merch that actually sells and looks good doing it!

💀 More brand mascot carnage, this time, RIP Hinge.

👕 Adorbs: Ed Sheerhan steps into the “My Husband is Going to Show You” trend on TikTok with his tees.

 🏨 Whitestone’s epic shop showcase: “We designed the shop like your going to different floors of a hotel.”

📡 Want to learn more about commonsku's AI-driven future? Join us on LinkedIn Live as our VP of Product Development, Charlie Moscoe steps out from behind the code to share our 2025 biggest releases so far and sneak-peek at an AI update. Register here!