These Are The Top 5 Best-Selling Merch Items

It’s just about a given these days that if you’re out gigging, you’re also selling merch as well. Even if you have to split some of the proceeds with the venue, it’s still a high-margin revenue source that most artists and bands need. If you’re just selling online then you can do print-on-demand so there’s no upfront money required, but if you need the merch to sell at gigs, that’s coming out of your pocket first. That means you have to be careful about selecting the merch you buy. In order to make this a decision a little easier, Bandzoogle determined the top 5 best-selling merch items.

Some of these you’ve probably guessed already, but there is one that might be considered an outlier.

#1 – T-Shirts. They’re easy to design and there are a ton of places to purchase them from. The problem is that you have to stock multiple sizes for both men and women. An even bigger problem for some is figuring out what to charge.

#2 – Hoodies. At one point in time hoodies wouldn’t have even made this list, but times have changed as it’s now acceptable to wear a hoodie almost any time and any place. I see people wearing them with the hood up even when it’s 90 degrees out here in Los Angeles. Again, sizes and pricing are the big decisions.

#3 – Hats. Hats are a lot easier to stock because so many of the ones available are one-size-fits-all. They don’t appeal to all demographics though, so you have to make sure that this is something your audience wants.

#4 – Bags. Once again, this is an item that might not have as popular 5 to 10 years ago. These days with everyone being a lot more green-conscious, most people carry at least one bag with them when shopping. In some countries in Asia, people carry a big with them at all times for their trash, since there are no public trash cans (yes, really). No need to worry about sizes, although having a couple of colors makes for a nice selection.

#5 – Drinkware. Mugs have always had a place at the merch stand, but today drinkware has expanded to glasses and tumblers. The problem is that if you order an item that’s porcelain or glass, it’s somewhat fragile. I can remember going with an idea for some mugs to a number of companies I worked with and everyone being terrified because of the fragility. That doesn’t seem to be a problem these days though.

Yes, there are many more merch items available, as you’ll see from any manufacturer’s catalog. If you’re just starting the merch game, you’re better off staying with these top 5 since they’re proven winners right now.