The Backpack: Issue #71

• Trend Alert: Limited drops - so hot they're gone
  
• What's new in commonsku: AI Recommendations!
  
• Can’t Miss Content: Showgirl era, Basquiat, Cheez-It club

MLB Playoff Merch: Who’s Actually Winning in Style?

TL;DR, in this order: Dodgers, Mariners, Jays, Brewers. Why? Dodgers drop straight fire—gold Ohtani jersey and also streetwear collabs that work anywhere, not just the stadium. Mariners —in case you haven’t heard, had a stadium moment so epic it was caught on earthquake monitors— "moment" tees to follow for sure, like this “Dump 61 here” fan tee (IYKYK); and Blue Jays gear is selling out like playoff tickets. Brewers stick to the classics but also use merch to celebrate a moment (”fly the L”). Playoff merch isn’t just about logo drops anymore, it’s about celebrating moments that only true fans will know. BTW: Sports merch has become so elevated, the WSJ has an elevated guide here, go grab some inspo!

Jet-Set, Spanx Style: Delta’s Latest Drop Takes Off

Delta and Spanx are turning the jetway into a runway with their ultra-soft, travel-ready collab—think AirEssentials fabric, Delta widget details, and Centennial pops, all exclusive to the Delta Shop. From gate to getaway, these bold basics bring serious lounge vibes and Atlanta cool. We especially dig the little details in the merch like the Delta zipper pull. Brilliant use of merch in a utilitarian + elegant way. Another fave? These black sweats: chic.

Merch: Ghosted by Cool

Is limited release merch the hottest trend? Dutch Bros and Lonely Ghost just mashed up streetwear and sips, serving hoodies, stickers, and even a cherry chai with cinnamon sprinks. It’s a vibe that tastes as good as it looks—so good it's already gone! 

Domino’s merch brings ’80s Nostalgia, Extra Cheese

Domino’s clocks 40 years and celebrates with an 80’s capsule collab that screams “Hot Since ‘85.” It was only available for just 10 days (brilliant FOMO play there), but you’ve got to check out their merch video. This drop delivers faster than a pepperoni pie. 😎

Stop Leaving Money (and Time) on the Table

Reality check: Your platform can do way more than you think. In our latest skucast, Charlie Moscoe walked through game-changing features already live—like AI recommendations that gets smarter with every order you place, presentation templates refined over a full year (they're finally ready for prime time), and bill matching automation launching soon. Translation? Less manual grunt work, faster proposals, fewer costly mistakes. Plus, upcoming AI will flag issues before they turn into expensive problems. Dive in here →

50 minutes to transform your Shops game forever

Think your Shops are already pretty good? Cool. Now make them legendary. CSU just unleashed The Shops Masterclass—50 minutes of advanced tactics that transform your Shops from "yeah, that's nice" to "shut up and take my order." We're diving into the features you've been sleeping on, the design psychology that converts, and the personalization moves that make clients feel like you read their minds. Top distributors are already using these strategies to dominate. Time to join them. This isn't a beginner course—it's your competitive edge in a Shop-friendly wrapper. Let's go! 🔥

🤠  That Mexican OT has a cool vibe and rad merch and also just dropped a collab with The Houston Texans.

🎮 This is a loud but very cool use of design on this gamer tote bag for Help Me Buy Milk.

✨ Well, apparently, I’m in my showgirl era cause TS’s merch is fire: rapturous tee, sweatpants, and prob yet another grail hoodie, but the real drop? This black stain bomber jacket. 

🎨 Would artist Basquiat have hated the merch era? The Guardian says maybe so, but note this line: “It’s fascinating to talk to 30-something collectors…for them, Basquiat has always been in the pantheon. And the first time they ever heard of him was from a Uniqlo T-shirt.”

🎣 Pharrell drops by his Virginia brand merch pop-up to greet fans. What’s cool about Pharrell’s merch is that the colorways are built to match the new Addidas jellyfish sneaks. Going back.

🧀 Cheeze-it opens a night club. You read that right. Get your Studio Cheez merch drop here. And read the “Too Cute to Miss” deets here. 

🎄 Yes, it’s too early to celebrate Christmas but we’ll give Starbucks a pass because of this Glass Bearista Cold Cup.

🍊 Orange isn’t just a color, it’s a mood—and Zabar’s gear turns deli devotion into wearable attitude. Still reigns as NYC’s most flex-worthy food swag.

🤡 Pennywise merch is coming for your closet—think toys, makeup, and Crocs. Dive into the wild, creepy product universe from the new HBO series. Float on—if you dare.

🏀 Move over, GOATs—Caitlin Clark’s Nike logo merch hit the store shelves.

🍗 No one does merch quite as hard as KFC, like this KFC Singapore drop.

☸️ Buddhistcore is now a thing. NYT writes that the new merch frenzy is an attempt to reach a younger audience, ““We try to do it in their language and at their eye level.”

🎵 Def Jam’s new heritage collection drops iconic graphics and a nod to Rick Rubin’s dorm room roots—check it now for a true flex at Def Jam Shop.

🏥 ePO news! We're thrilled to announce that Scrub Authority has joined commonsku as a Connected+ Supplier with full ePO enablement for their extensive blank apparel collection.