A Mini-Guide to Brand Merch
Don’t slap your logo on a t‑shirt and hope it sells.
Merch is an overlooked, yet incredibly valuable tool in building your brand world. Because when you’re obsessed with every detail, you’ll be obsession‑worthy.
After nearly 10 years of designing merch for my clients, here are 5 quick tips for improving yours (T‑shirt edition):
01. THE PRINT METHOD
Never digitally print.
(That’s DTG, DTF, HTV.)
Avoid these at all costs.
Find a local screenprinter.
If you care about long-term quality and brand perception, screen printing wins every time. Richer inks. Unmatched durability. A finish that feels like all t‑shirts used to.
02. THE TSHIRT SUPPLIER
Opt for Comfort Colours.
Something heavier, higher quality, and worth the price.
Because: if you don’t invest in quality, your ideal customer won’t either.
03. GET IT DESIGNED
Your logo alone is not enough to sell shirts.
(You aren’t Nike… yet? 👀)
Go a bit further.
Hire a designer or illustrator to create a graphic that’s brand‑aligned. It could be an inside joke or secret language to your target audience. It’s a community builder, and actually worth‑wearing.
04. FOLLOW THIS SAFE FORMULA↓
Front: simplest logo, simple phrase (2–3 words), or mark.
Back: large illustrative or type-driven graphic.
05. BE BRUTALLY HONEST…
Swap out your business behind it for your competitor’s and…
Would you wear it?
Would you buy it?
Spend money on it?
Or are you just hoping someone will?
The goal of merch design is to create something actually worth wearing.
Not only does it instantly make your brand feel intentional & elevated… If done well, it can also generate you a bit (or a lot) of 💸 💸 💸
Invest in your brand, and you’ll be invested in.
