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Merch Trends of 2023

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In the ever-evolving world of fashion and design, staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. The year 2023 has brought a fresh wave of innovation and creativity, especially in the realm of merch and swag. From the resurgence of standard fit to the artistry of garment dyeing, the merch trends of 2023 are shaping the industry in exciting new ways. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top trends that are redefining the landscape, offering insights and inspiration for designers, retailers, and fashion enthusiasts alike.

 

Standard Fit Over Slimmer Fit

The return to standard fit over slimmer fit is more than just a fleeting trend; it's a reflection of a broader cultural shift towards comfort, inclusivity, and authenticity. The standard fit, characterized by a more relaxed and forgiving silhouette, is not only comfortable but also versatile.

  • Comfort First: The standard fit's loose and relaxed design caters to various body types, promoting a more inclusive fashion landscape. Unlike the restrictive slimmer fit, the standard fit allows for ease of movement, making it a preferred choice for everyday wear.

  • Versatility: The standard fit's adaptability is another key factor in its resurgence. Whether paired with casual jeans for a laid-back look or dressed up with tailored trousers for a more formal occasion, the standard fit offers endless styling possibilities.

Read more Slim Fit vs Regular Fit T-Shirts: What is the difference?

Commission a Designer

graphic designer

In an age where uniqueness and personalization are highly valued, commissioning a designer has become a sought-after practice. This trend goes beyond mere aesthetics; it's about creating a brand identity and connecting with the audience on a deeper level.

  • Expertise: Professional designers bring a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the table. Their expertise in color theory, typography, and visual storytelling can transform a simple logo or t-shirt design into a powerful brand statement.

  • Customization: By commissioning a designer, brands can ensure that their merchandise is not only visually appealing but also aligned with their values and target audience. This personalized approach fosters a stronger connection between the brand and its consumers.

Puff Printed T-Shirts and Hats

puff printed tshirt

Puff printing, with its tactile and three-dimensional qualities, has become a favorite among fashion enthusiasts and brands alike. This innovative printing technique adds a new layer of creativity to traditional t-shirt and hat designs.

  • Visual Appeal: Puff printing's raised ink creates a 3D effect that adds depth and texture to the design. This visual intrigue sets puff printed merchandise apart from flat, traditional prints, making it a popular choice for brands looking to make a statement.

  • Innovation: The technique opens up new avenues for artistic expression, allowing designers to experiment with different shapes, patterns, and textures. From subtle, embossed logos to bold, textured graphics, puff printing offers endless creative possibilities.

Garment Dyed Tees

Garment dyeing is not just a coloring process; it's an art form that breathes life into fabric. This trend has gained traction for its ability to create unique, soft, and aesthetically pleasing tees.

  • Individuality: Unlike traditional dyeing methods, garment dyeing results in slight variations in color and shade. These inconsistencies add character to each piece, ensuring that no two tees are exactly alike.

  • Softness: Garment dyeing often involves washing the fabric after dyeing, resulting in a softer and more comfortable feel. This added softness enhances the overall wearing experience, making garment-dyed tees a favorite among consumers.

Check out The Difference Between Pigment-Dyed and Garment-Dyed T-Shirts

hALF-Tone Poster Prints for Bands

louise post
half-tone poster of louise post sleepwalker tour

Half-tone printing, with its distinctive dot pattern, has become synonymous with vintage and artistic band posters. This printing technique offers a unique visual appeal that resonates with music enthusiasts.

  • Aesthetic Appeal: Half-tone printing's dot pattern creates a visually stunning effect that captures the essence of music and art. Whether used to create a retro vibe or a modern, abstract design, half-tone printing adds a touch of artistic flair to band posters.

  • Versatility: The technique's adaptability makes it suitable for various designs and themes. From classic rock bands to contemporary pop artists, half-tone printing can be tailored to reflect the music's mood and style.

Changing Design to Fit with Season

Seasonal design changes are more than just a marketing strategy; they're a way to keep merchandise fresh, relevant, and aligned with consumer needs.

gget summer tee

gget Los Angeles summer tee

  • Relevance: By updating designs to reflect the changing seasons, brands can ensure that their merchandise remains current and appealing. Whether it's incorporating seasonal colors, patterns, or themes, these design changes create a sense of novelty and excitement among consumers.

  • Creativity: Seasonal changes offer opportunities for creative exploration and expression. Designers can experiment with new ideas, trends, and inspirations, keeping the merchandise line fresh and engaging.





Eco-Friendly Merchandising Practices

In 2023, the fashion industry has seen a significant shift towards sustainability and environmental consciousness. Eco-friendly merchandising practices are not just a trend but a necessity, reflecting a global movement towards responsible consumption.

  • Sustainable Materials: The use of organic, recycled, and biodegradable materials has become a priority for many brands. These materials reduce the environmental impact of production, promoting a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.

  • Ethical Manufacturing: Ethical manufacturing practices ensure that merchandise is produced under fair and humane conditions. This includes fair wages, safe working environments, and adherence to labor laws.

  • Low-Impact Dyeing: Traditional dyeing processes can be harmful to the environment, consuming large amounts of water and chemicals. Low-impact dyeing methods minimize these effects, using water-efficient techniques and non-toxic dyes.

  • Waste Reduction: From design to packaging, waste reduction strategies are being implemented across the merchandising process. This includes using minimal packaging, recycling excess materials, and designing products that have a longer lifespan.

  • Consumer Education: Brands are also focusing on educating consumers about the importance of sustainable consumption. This includes providing information about the materials, manufacturing processes, and care instructions that promote longevity and responsible use.

The adoption of eco-friendly merchandising practices is a testament to the industry's commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It's a trend that goes beyond aesthetics, reflecting a deeper understanding of the impact that fashion has on the world around us. By embracing sustainability, brands are not only enhancing their image but also contributing to a more ethical and environmentally conscious world.

 

Conclusion

The merch trends of 2023 are a rich tapestry of innovation, creativity, and cultural relevance. From the comfort-driven shift towards standard fits to the artistic brilliance of puff printing, these trends offer a glimpse into the future of fashion and design. By embracing these trends, brands, designers, and consumers can engage in a more meaningful and personalized fashion experience. The trends of 2023 are not just fleeting fads; they're a reflection of our evolving values, tastes, and desires, shaping the way we express ourselves through fashion.

 

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The Art of Hat Personalization: How to Create Your Unique Style with Custom Caps

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Crafting your unique style is all about showcasing your personality, and what better way to do this than through the art of hat personalization? Custom caps offer a platform for your creativity, allowing you to stand out from the crowd while making a statement. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the vibrant world of custom cap design and the various techniques involved in achieving a tailored look. Whether you're a business looking to promote your brand, a team wanting to demonstrate unity, or an individual seeking to express your unique flair, our insights into the process and benefits of custom hat printing will be invaluable. We invite you to explore how you can leverage custom hat personalization to create a style that's unmistakably yours.

The Versatility of Embroidered Hats

Embroidered hats have become a modern fashion staple, resonating with all ages and styles, due to their unrivaled versatility and the personal touch they add to any outfit. This hat personalization technique allows for intricate designs to be sewn directly onto the hat, creating a high-quality, durable product that is equally at home or on the sports field.

embroidered hat

  • Durability: The embroidery process creates a design that is resistant to wear and tear, ensuring your logo or custom image remains crisp and clear even with regular use.

  • High Quality: The depth and texture of embroidery impart a premium feel to the hats, reflecting positively on your brand.

  • Versatility: From a delicate monogram to a detailed logo, embroidery can handle a range of designs, making it suitable for both personal and business use.

How Heat Pressed Hats are Made

Heat pressed hats are another popular option in the realm of hat personalization. This technique uses heat and pressure to transfer a design from a special type of paper onto the cap. Heat pressing allows for the reproduction of complex, multi-colored designs with a smooth finish that feels part of the hat fabric.

  • Speedy Production: Heat pressing is a quicker process than embroidery, making it an excellent option for bulk orders.

  • Detailed Designs: This method can reproduce intricate, multicolored designs with ease, which may be challenging with embroidery.

  • Cost-Effective: Heat pressing typically has a lower setup cost compared to embroidery, making it a budget-friendly choice for startups and small businesses.

These two custom hat techniques offer distinct advantages and can be chosen based on the specific needs and preferences of the individual or company.

Why Custom Hats are a Fan Favorite

Custom hats have become a quintessential part of band merch, providing fans with a wearable symbol of their loyalty and support. From embroidered logos to heat-pressed tour dates, custom caps offer endless possibilities for bands to connect with their fans.

  • Fan Engagement: Custom hats enable fans to show their support in a fashionable, practical way.

  • Variety of Options: With so many customization options available, each band can create merchandise that's as unique as their music.

  • Revenue Generation: Custom hats are not just a fan favorite, they're also a great source of additional income for bands, making them a win-win solution.

The Popularity of Ebbets Field Style Hats in Modern Fashion

The timeless charm of Ebbets Field style hats, with their vintage aesthetic and comfortable fit, has captured the attention of modern fashion enthusiasts. Named after the iconic ballpark, these hats mimic the style and quality found in the caps of yesteryears.

  • Historical Allure: Ebbets Field style hats are steeped in nostalgia, making them an appealing choice for those seeking a classic look.

  • Quality Craftsmanship: These hats are typically made with premium materials and high attention to detail, resulting in a comfortable, long-lasting product.

  • Versatility: From casual wear to themed events, the vintage appeal of Ebbets Field style hats allows them to fit in effortlessly wherever they are worn.

Band Merch Essential: Why Custom Hats are a Fan Favorite

hart house restaurant merch

HART HOUSE Merch Window

Custom hats have become a quintessential part of band merch, providing fans with a wearable symbol of their loyalty and support. From embroidered logos to heat-pressed tour dates, custom caps offer endless possibilities for bands to connect with their fans.

  • Fan Engagement: Custom hats enable fans to show their support in a fashionable, practical way.

  • Variety of Options: With so many customization options available, each band can create merchandise that's as unique as their music.

  • Revenue Generation: Custom hats are not just a fan favorite, they're also a great source of additional income for bands, making them a win-win solution.

Comparing Custom Hat Techniques: Embroidered vs. Heat Pressed

When it comes to choosing between embroidery and heat press for your custom hat designs, understanding the strengths of each technique can inform your decision. Here's a comparative breakdown to help:

  • Detail and Texture: Embroidery stands out with its distinct, tactile quality, which is excellent for simpler designs or logos. Heat pressing, on the other hand, is more suited to complex, multicolor designs, as it provides a smoother finish.

  • Durability: Both methods offer excellent durability, but embroidery may have a slight edge as the design is woven into the fabric, providing resistance against fading or peeling.

  • Cost and Time: Heat pressing generally has lower setup costs and faster production times, making it ideal for large orders or tighter budgets.

It's essential to consider the intended use, audience, and budget for your hats before deciding which method is the best fit.

By understanding these elements of hat personalization, you're well-equipped to start your journey into the world of custom caps. Whether you're looking to create a piece of nostalgia with an Ebbets Field style cap, craft the perfect piece of band merch, or build a brand-forward image for your business, there's a custom cap solution that fits your needs. Get creative, have fun, and watch as your unique style comes to life through the art of hat personalization.

The Strategic Use of Custom Caps in Business

A strong, brand-forward image is crucial in today's competitive business landscape. Custom caps serve as a mobile billboard, consistently putting your brand in the public eye.

  • Brand Recognition: The more your logo is seen, the more recognizable your brand becomes. Custom caps provide an opportunity for your brand to be seen in various settings.

  • Unity and Professionalism: Custom hats can also serve to unify a team at corporate events or trade shows, presenting a professional and coordinated image of your company.

  • Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to many traditional forms of advertising, custom caps can provide considerable brand exposure for relatively little investment.

Each of these methods offers unique ways to use custom hats, whether it's for personal fashion, band merchandising, or brand promotion.

4 Benefits of Embroidered Custom Hats for Your Brand

 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the world of hat personalization provides an abundance of opportunities for individual expression, brand-forward marketing, and creative merchandise. From the durability of embroidered hats to the detailed designs achievable with heat-pressed hats, each technique brings its unique advantages to the table. The nostalgia-evoking Ebbets Field style hats make a stylish statement, while custom caps serve as a go-to fan favorite for band merch. Whether you're a business seeking a cost-effective marketing strategy or an individual looking to express your personal style, understanding the art of hat personalization can empower you to create unique, impactful designs that truly stand out. Don't miss out on the incredible potential that custom hats offer in today's fashion and business landscapes – start exploring the world of hat customization today!

 

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How Choose The Right Colors For Your Merch

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

Color is important; Research shows that up to 85% of consumers believe color is the biggest motivator when choosing a particular product, while 92% acknowledge visual appearance as the most persuasive marketing factor overall. In This article, we will take you through the process of selecting the right color for your product.

Why Are Brand Colors Important?

Firs impressions are EVERYTHING. Establishing brand colors is important because they elicit emotions and feelings which directly correlate with your product or service. Color is also used to convey certain information that allows for customers to form an initial impression without even knowing what your product is about.

Color helps consumers decide whether they want to engage with the product or not.

Check Out Best Promotional Merch Ideas


Translating Color

Colors translate certain emotions or can be used to associate with a specific message. For example, the color red is often associated with danger and green is associated with nature, but both have additional meanings and associations.

Color Psychology in the branding space is used to affect perceptions and behaviors. It allows us to understand color and use it to our advantage, especially when it comes to marketing and branding.

According to a study, use of colors can contribute not only to differentiating products from competitors, but also to influencing moods and feelings – positively or negatively – and therefore, to attitude towards certain products. Given that our moods and feelings are unstable and that colors play roles in forming attitude, it is important that managers understand the importance of colors in marketing.

“About 62‐90% of a product assessment is based on colors alone.”
— Singh, S. (2006), "Impact of color on marketing"

The Psychology of Colors

Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue; these colors are often used in food products or businesses such as McDonalds and Coca Cola. When you think of most fast food restaurants, you can clearly see that most of them use the color Red and Yellow. The psychology behind fast food colors is not coincidence, it is meant to make your brain hungry.

According to color psychology, yellow has long been associated with feelings of contentment, happiness, competence, and comfort. One simple color is responsible for that sense of nostalgia and friendliness you feel whenever you pass by those golden arches.

Red is associated with danger, excitement, and energy. It’s also known for being the color of love and passion.

Pink is feminine, it’s sentimental and romantic. Different shades, like hot pink, can be youthful and bold.

Orange is fresh and full of vitality. It’s also creative, adventurous, and associated with being cost-effective.

Yellow is optimistic. It’s a color associated with being playful and happy.

Green is natural, often used to demonstrate sustainability. But it can also align with prestige and wealth.

Blue is trustworthy and reliable. It’s calming or often associated with depression.

Purple is royalty and majesty. It can be spiritual and mysterious.

Brown is down-to-earth and honest, often used for organic wholesome products.

White is pure. It conveys simplicity and innocence, often with a minimalistic feel.

Black is both sophisticated and elegant. It can be formal and luxurious, but also sorrowful.

Multicolor is united or open to anything. It’s great for capturing the spirit of diversity.

Primary Brand Colors

Primary brand colors are the main, consistent colors used in all graphics, publications, signage, ect. Primary brand color rarely change because they are central to the brand’s visual identity.

Secondary Brand Colors

Secondary brand colors act as a complimentary color pallet to the primary brand colors. These colors are updated more frequently and often change to reflect strategy trends and marketing goals.

The secondary brand colors can be used throughout your brand’s website, social media, and packaging but should not consist of more than 50% of the overall design.

How Many Colors Should You Have?

Generally, you should have up two 3 primary brand colors and up to 4 or 5 secondary colors.

Having variety of secondary colors will help you stay on brand more often because it will provide you flexibility and variety in your design needs.

Guideline For Choosing Merch Colors

When managing your brand colors follow these guidelines to grow a strong and consistent brand identity:

  • Select up to 3 brand colors for apparel printing

  • Select up to 4 secondary brand colors for accessories

  • Select colors that match your brand’s essence (personality) and

  • Select colors that will offer flexibility and longevity depending on the merch type

  • Offer color variations using your primary and secondary colors

Check Your Competitors

Not only do you want to avoid using the same colors, but you will be able to learn what people are responding to and what they are not responding to. Study the psychology behind the colors that are often used for merch within your space.


Check out A Guide To Branding

Color Variations

Colors have different shades, identifying a type of color is important to ensure your product is connecting with your customer.

Color Hues

This refers to variations of the primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. As you'll probably recall, these three colors can create any other color, depending on how they’re mixed.

Color Shade

This is when black is added to a color, and the amount of shade refers to the amount of black added.

Color Tint

This is the white version of shade, adding white to make the color lighter.

Color Saturation or tone

This is when you change a color’s appearance by adding both black and white.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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How To Prepare a Design File for Screen Printing

 
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Screen Printing file setup is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving a high-quality print, and this is largely due to minimal knowledge on how screen printing works. There are specific ways in which the artwork needs to be submitted for your printer to ensure a perfect print. We will go over two file types and their attributes as well as the common mistakes made and which file types to avoid.

What Type Of File Should I Have?

There are two main types of files for apparel printing that you should know, Vector and Raster. A vector file is always the best option and most printers will ask for this file type as it will always produce the best results. Raster files are the alternative option and a necessary option in some cases, especially for photographic artwork. Raster files should be high-resolution with minimal compression for the best print possible.

The most problematic files are those that are low-resolution and compressed raster images, which is the reason why vectors are favored as they will not require as much work to prepare for printing, and in some instances, bitmap files will require for the artwork to be recreated entirely.

Vector & Rasters

There are instances where both file types are needed for one single print. A raster can exist within a vector file, for example, if a graphic requires an element of smoke or a photograph then the raster file will need to be converted by using a raster imaging processor; This is a software program like a PostScript Driver that can convert the raster artwork and the information it holds to halftones. When converting to a vector format, or rasterizing, image parameters such as resolution, antialias, color mode and color profile are set.

Vector Graphic Files

A vector graphic is made up of points and distance between those points where each of these point relates to each other and define the shapes of the graphic elements. This type of graphic is based on the Cartesian Coordinate system which is based in complicated mathematics. Within the vector file, there are other components of the data that include colors, gradients, font type, and effects. One of the best features of this type of file is the ability to resize your graphic as big as you need it to be without losing the quality, as well as taking up less space in your computer’s hard drive because instead of mapping large pixel arrays it just maps out the coordinates of the points in the file.

regular and outline mode.png

There is a downside to Vector files, however, if the grid has a lot of points this may cause a delay whenever a change is made as it will re-calculate each point and will require a lot of RAM.

Raster Graphic Files

A raster file is a grid of pixels that has information stored for each one of them containing the position, color, and brightness. A raster file is a less complex file than a vector, it is the simplest way to present image data. JPEGs, TIFFs, and PNGs are common raster image types. Almost all of the photos found on the web and in print catalogs are raster images.

 
 

Because raster graphics are created from pixels, when you expand your image, you are expanding those pixel blocks. That’s why the image becomes blurry if you make it too large.

““Raster graphics are pixel-based and work on a large grid. Think of a mosaic where all the tiles up close just look like a bunch of different colors, but when you view it at a distance it becomes a very detailed picture of the Mona Lisa.””
— Alex Meiners, Family Industries Head of Art Department

Preparing Your File

Photoshop

Before creating your artwork in Photoshop you should ensure that your file is set to RGB color mode and at least 300 dpi. If this is not set correctly before you begin your design phase, resizing it later will result in a blurry image and jagged edges on fonts.

 
PS-SETUP.png
 

Adobe Illustrator / Affinity Designer / Corel Draw

If you are designing your artwork on Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer or Corel Draw all you need to do is set your file to the size you want to print. Programs like illustrator will have an option to turn your Raster artwork into a vector.
Normally, any raster artwork (created in Adobe Photoshop or CorelDRAW PHOTO-PAINT or other raster software program) has to be separated into four process colors or simulated process color prior to printing out the films used to expose each screen.

Transparent Background

To isolate the white channels in a color separation an image needs to be masked onto a transparent background. Using a transparent background provides control over the transition from the garment color to the printed colors, and can be used to manage the ink deposit as well. Image areas that fade to shirt color when screen printed should fade to a transparent background in the image file.

Most Common Mistakes

Fonts

The most common error people make when submitting a design to a screen printer is not converting the fonts into outlines. This means converting your editable text into shapes, this will save your printer time, otherwise, they will need to find the exact font then download it and load it into your design. Keep in mind that once a font is converted into shapes, you cannot edit your text.

 
 


Luckily, at Family Industries, we understand this process can be overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry! Our super knowledgeable staff are here to help you get through any design challenges that come your way. Ask Us How!

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Art & Merch Design with Coco Nella

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In honor of Women’s History Month, we decided to interview some Los Angeles women artists, designers, and business owners. We start this series by talking to artist and designer, Coco Nella who has paved her way through the Los Angeles art scene after relocating from the Tri-State area. Coco has worked with several brands and businesses to elevate their brand with her abstract designs.

Who Is Coco Nella?

Coco Nella is a Los Angeles-based mural & custom artwork business owned by Corinne “coco” Pulsinelle. Coco hails from the east coast, where she grew up fascinated by abandoned buildings and street art. After attending SUNY Purchase Art Conservatory in New York, she was able to refine her style and scale up her designs into large murals.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Coco’s painting style has caught the attention of major corporations, interior designers, business owners, and independent clients looking to have custom artwork in their homes. Her illustrations have also been used on packaging, clothing, and merch specifically in collaboration with local breweries.



Coco’s Background

Growing up in New Jersey, Coco became interested in the arts while taking an art class at her high school. Growing up, she took a specific interest in photography and graffiti as her artistic outlet. While in high school her teacher encouraged her and helped her apply to art schools.

After relocating to Los Angeles, Coco made connections with local interior designers and she began doing large-scale paintings and home murals as well as retail and office spaces. She has been able to create these connections through the years and building a brand for herself.

Although Coco’s primary work is painting murals and graphic design, she majored in Screen Printing while at SUNY Purchase where she learned the art of printmaking. This knowledge helped her understand design and plays a big role in how she works today. Coco has been able to pivot her knowledge of design and printmaking to create artwork for beer cans and apparel.

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10 Questions with Coco Nella

We sat down with Coco to talk about her story, her inspiration for what she does, and the women in history that paved the way for her.

Q: How do you think learning the art of Printmaking in college influences your art today?

Coco: Printmaking is a cool knowledge base to come from because it is process-heavy and I am better at setting up a project overall because of it. For example, I approach murals by having a completely planned-out design first and pay close attention to things like color order as you would in printmaking. The heavy focus on design and image layering is definitely something I think is evident across my work.

Q: Growing up, who were the women that you looked up to as inspiration for making art?

Coco: I have always been inspired by strong women in general, especially those who are accomplished in male-dominated industries or have overcome very big challenges. I can’t pinpoint a particular idol in the art world, but I will say that seeing my grandma react to the drawings I was doing as a kid for example made me feel like maybe I had something worth pursuing. So maybe I didn’t know all of the art icons & hadn’t been to many galleries, but I had strong women around me who I looked up to and wanted to make proud.

Q: How do you help brands develop their visual assets?

Coco: My approach to working with brands is based on making a personal connection and understanding the ethos of the company and who their customer is. Developing color schemes, fonts, and images. Those are all tools we can utilize to communicate. Sometimes I feel like a translator, taking what it is a company wants to express and simply putting that into the language of design. I am not short on unconventional ideas and I value freshness and originality while keeping things approachable.

Q: What is your process when designing merch for a business?

Coco: On a technical level, it’s important for me to understand what the design is going to be used for. An image that translates well on a digitally printed t-shirt might not work on an embroidered hat for example. Once that part is sorted out, I really just focus on making the merch look eye-catching and awesome. People often buy merch because it’s nostalgic… you had a great time at a new brewery and there’s an awesome t-shirt hanging in front of you that you can wear and remember that awesome time. It’s built into the experience for the customer, but it’s also built into the advertising of the business. It’s a proper win-win scenario that should be treated as a fun and enjoyable creative process.  

Q: What do you enjoy about working with local breweries?

Coco: Local breweries are often down-to-earth social environments where things behind the scenes are often very creative and experimental. I feel like my goal as a visual artist to bring people together parallels the goal of many brewers that I have met, and that alignment allows for really cool artwork to happen.

Q: How important do you think it is for breweries to have label art for their cans?

Coco: Label art on almost any product is an integral part of creating/product brand awareness and making sales. A lot of people like myself will engage with a new product almost exclusively because I like how it looks, after all that’s often all you know about the product until you’ve tried it.

Q: What is the best part of working with a local business?

Coco: The best part of working with a local business is that I am also a local business and we speak the same language, a lot of times as far as understanding the hustle, the highs, and lows. I come at those projects from a place of support and I really appreciate the support in return.

Q: What do you like most about designing beer can labels?

Coco: Craft beer is specifically cool to make art for because oftentimes the customer will sip on a beer and have a rare moment of pause where they can actually look at the can. I like to bring a lot of detail into these labels and give people lots to look at, it’s just fun and part of the whole experience of unwinding with a good beer. Plus I’ve seen people either collect or turn the can into planters so that’s been a meaningful and unexpected demonstration of how people respond to the work I’m putting out.

Q: What is the most challenging part of designing merch?

Coco: The most challenging part of designing merch for me is creating the best strategy ahead of time so that whatever artwork I send to the printer will translate really well onto whatever product we are making. At the same time, I want to create artwork that is versatile for my client, so if they decide in the future to turn the same image into a patch or a pin I need to hit that sweet spot of having visually interesting details, but not so many details that they get lost on the item or can’t be made at all. It’s not always possible but that is often a challenge I face being in between the client and the printer.

Q: What inspires your creativity when designing merch?

Coco: When I design merch, I am always on the lookout for unconventional sources of inspiration that can bring freshness and originality. I don’t look at other merch as much as I might look at old photos, advertisements, and even just cool color combinations that I might notice while I’m out on a walk. 

Designed by Coco Nella for the 2020 Los Angeles Brewers Guild

Designed by Coco Nella for the 2020 Los Angeles Brewers Guild

Beer label designs

Coco has worked with some Los Angeles County-based breweries such as Lucky Luke Brewing and Pacific Plate Brewing designing their cans. She has been able to bring a brighter concept and an out-of-the-box approach to label design.

Colorful and eye-catching beer label designs have recently become a very integral part of the craft beer business in Los Angeles. Having a well-thought-out, colorful and fun design on a beer label has proven to increase sales, and breweries all around the country are beginning to notice that combining art and beer is a good way to create brand awareness and loyalty.

Check out The 20 best beer label designs of 2020

Read How to design a beer label: The ultimate guide for craft brewers

Merch Design

Having a well-thought-out design printed on a t-shirt or stickers can get you noticed. Coco has created some very cool designs to establish a brand visual asset for some of her clients such as Leo & Mamas, which is a women-owned lifestyle brand and shop in Lancaster, California, and a cool bandana collab with Lady Luck Print Co. which is a women-owned print shop located in Carlsbad, California.

As a business with regular customers, selling t-shirts, mugs, or stickers at your events or establishment creates a beautiful flywheel effect: the more merch you sell, the more money you make, and the more your brand gets promoted by your regular customers. A nice mention on their social media also helps promote your brand and gets you noticed by orders in a way that is fast and easy.

Read 8 Reasons why your company needs branded merchandise

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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Best Merch For Festival Season 2023

With Coachella coming back after a 2 year hiatus due to Covid-19, other festivals are following suit - as a brand you may be thinking about what the best merch is for festivals in 2022. Festival merch is unique in the sense that in order to be successful, it should be a product that can be used during the event or have a limited-edition feature.

How To Make Great Merch

Band merch for festivals can be tricky because people expect to see new merch made specifically for the festival. Many artists will design specifically for their events with new artwork and only available at the event.

Band Merch That Is Useful

Creating merch that can be used during the event is a great way to incentivize event goers to make a purchase. Useful items such as bags, blanket, or sweatshirts (depending on the weather).

Keep it simple. It’s easy to get carried away on a merch stall at your own show, but at festivals, there are too many other bands and musicians to keep people’s attention for long.

Know Your Market

As always, it helps to look at some data. According to studies, merch spend varies quite significantly depending on a festival’s predominating genre. ‘Alternative’ events have the highest spend, followed by rock and metal. Attendees of EDM and indie festivals tend to spend much less.

However, rock and metal festivalgoers buy disproportionately more merch that carries branding for a specific artist or festival.

Be Prepared

get your merch well prepared, choose one or two designs, and make sure your booth is presented in a way that is inviting and easy for the eye to scan. Selling custom band merch that is specific to your fans is key. Alongside creating and performing music, your store can become an extra stream of income.

Having a physical product on-site is necessary, however, giving the eventgoer the ability to order the merch to then be sent to their mailing address is an even better option! especially if you’ve run out of product - this could be a good way to reduce cost and prevent overstock.

Pro Tip: The best way to sell band merch is by partnering with a print-on-demand company. POD is an order fulfillment method where items are printed and shipped to your customers as soon as an order is made.

Read more about The Benefits of Merch Fulfillment Services

Best Festival Merch

The best merch for festivals is novelty items that cannot be obtained online. Limited edition products are also a good way to promote sales at events and give your fans something to look forward to.

Apparel

Apparel such as t-shirts, hoodies, and hats are essentials for any merch booth. Apparel is also the most cost-effective item that can be sold for a good profit.

Bags

Bags are the best festival merch because they are useful to carrying around water bottles and other personal items, this is the reason why they’re so popular at big events. Tote bags and backpacks are the most common types of bags, but with the 90’s coming back in style, fanny packs or cross body bags could be a great alternative and set you apart from other merch booths.

Pro Tip: Backpacks, tote bags, and fanny packs can also be personalized on-site by adding live embroidery or screen printing at the event.

Accessories

Get creative! Some artists have come up with great accessories that speak directly to their fans. Megan Thee Stallion nail tattoos and Dolly Parton puzzles are a great example for out-of-the-box merch that resonates with their fan base. Don’t shy away from non-traditional merch as this could really be the thing that pushes your sales the most.

Author: Irene Floridia - Content Creator

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