Welcome to the era where YouTubers don’t just make videos; they are also savvy business owners.
YouTube is the second most popular social media platform, so it’s no surprise that YouTubers, Streamers and Content Creators sell merchandise. It is a surprise, however, how much it can boost their brand visibility, connect creators with their audience, and rake in additional revenue! The most successful YouTubers understand that merch isn’t just about making money; it’s about extending their brand beyond the screen and into the real world. But what is YouTuber merch, and where do YouTubers purchase such products? What types of merch do they sell?
Where do YouTubers get their merchandise?
There are many places where YouTubers source their merchandise, and there is no secret or one-box-fits-all situation.
Print on demand services
Many YouTubers use print on demand (POD) services to create their merch. POD services allow creators to focus entirely on producing their content while the provider handles production, fulfilment, and shipping of their merch.
Print on demand is perfect for beginners because it allows you to print items as ordered, significantly reducing initial investment and risk. You only pay for the items when they have sold, meaning there’s no upfront cost.
However, POD services typically only provide product and printing options, leaving the creator with marketing and storefront management.
Merchandising platforms
Larger-scale YouTubers often work with specialised platforms that can manage all aspects of their merchandising, allowing them to take an even more hands-off approach.
Merchandising platforms may offer integration with print on demand services, but they also provide tools for setting up an online store, managing products, inventory, pricing, and even customer engagement.
In-house production
YouTubers with a large following sometimes have a merchandise production team or work with local manufacturers to have more control over the quality and design of their products. This is particularly important for creators who want to maintain high trust with their audience or artists looking for creative control over bespoke merch.
In-house production allows YouTubers to experiment with and modify designs quickly. They can adjust designs, colours, and materials based on feedback from their audience or changing trends.
Direct partnerships
Direct partnerships or collaborations between YouTubers and brands or other creators have become a highly effective strategy in the world of merchandise.
Collabs often lead to the creation of limited edition or co-branded merchandise that engages both partners’ audiences and adds another level of marketing. This promotion can be hugely successful, especially if both partners have large, engaged followings.
It also provides a backing of quality and trust, especially if the brand or other creator is known for their high-quality products.
If you are considering selling merchandise, there are many providers to choose from! Make time to research and find the perfect fit for your brand and values.
Create custom merch with A.M. Custom Clothing
If you’re interested in creating custom YouTuber merchandise. We work with creators to design exclusive collections that can include:
- Premium T-shirts and hoodies: Made with high-quality materials and tailored designs.
- Custom embroidery: For a more upscale, unique look.
- Limited-edition drops: Perfect for YouTubers looking to create an exclusive product line.
- Sustainable merchandise: To align with your brand’s values and do our bit for the planet.
With our platform, you can create unique products while our print on demand factory handles printing, packing, and shipping.
What are the most popular merch items that YouTubers sell?
The type of merchandise content creators sell on YouTube is based on their brand and niche, but there is a huge scope of items. Selling a lot of merchandise depends on getting the right product for your audience/customers and ensuring the quality lives up to the hype. That way, your audience trusts you, purchases again, and engages with your content. Here are some of the most popular products:
T-shirts and hoodies
When you think of YouTuber merch, you probably immediately think of T-shirts and hoodies. Almost every YouTuber offers T-shirts or hoodies with their logos, catchphrases, or unique designs. It’s a great tool to boost brand awareness and create a sense of community with an audience.
DanTDM (Daniel Middleton) is a gaming YouTuber who has done incredibly well selling merchandise. He has over 29 million subscribers and has created a successful merchandise line that includes T-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel items. His clothing line is highly popular among his younger fanbase, and his strong brand has allowed him to generate significant revenue from product sales.
Hats and caps
Hats, caps, and beanies with logos or unique designs are often favoured because they are so practical. Plus, they are worn in a highly visible way, making them perfect for showcasing a YouTuber’s brand.
YouTubers with younger audiences tend to favour caps commonly associated with casual, youthful fashion. They are relatively low-cost items to produce and can generate significant revenue.
Stickers and posters
Smaller, more affordable items like stickers, posters, and prints are also great for YouTubers to sell. These are generally less expensive items to produce and ship, making them an accessible way to start selling merch. For YouTubers, small items like stickers and posters can be designed to reflect specific themes from the channel or showcase fan art, inside jokes, or popular catchphrases.
Not every viewer can afford high-priced items like branded apparel or limited-edition products. Smaller items like stickers and prints are much more affordable, making it easier for fans of all financial backgrounds to purchase and support the creator.
Fitness and lifestyle gear
The fitness and wellness space is huge on YouTube. This is driven by the growth of fitness influencers, wellness advocates, and lifestyle creators. These creators have turned YouTube into a platform to share their workout routines, health tips, and lifestyle advice and promote and sell products that complement their brand and message.
YouTubers in the fitness, wellness, or lifestyle spaces typically sell products like gym apparel, water bottles, and yoga mats. This allows their brand to extend beyond YouTube and become a lifestyle brand, offering functional and motivational products to followers.
Exclusive or limited edition products
Featuring exclusive or limited-edition products can work wonders! We all saw Prime by Logan Paul and KSI completely dominating social media and creating a frenzy in shops. They leveraged their huge online followings to develop a distinctive brand identity, and now they are formidable competitors in the sports and energy drink market.
Prime tapped into that urge of exclusivity. Its limited availability and surprise drops built up huge excitement. The brand offers a limited-edition collectors’ series featuring some of the rarest Prime flavours, such as Glowberry Holo, Prime Lemonade Venice Beach Edition, and KSI Prime. This strategy of scarcity generates a buzz and maintains high demand, particularly among younger consumers who enjoy the thrill of the chase.
How can selling YouTube merch benefit my channel?
The obvious benefit of selling YouTube merchandise is the extra income, but the benefits go way beyond the additional profits. You can take control of your brand, build a connection with your audience, and establish a sustainable business model that remains resilient against the fluctuations of YouTube’s algorithms.
YouTube merch can enhance your brand recognition
When your audience begins to wear your merchandise, they transform into living advertisements for your brand. This showcases your products and helps spread the word about your channel.
If you’re creating YouTube merchandise, consider how your merchandise can most effectively encourage engagement. What items would look appealing in a selfie? What could catch someone’s eye from a distance, ignite conversations, or bring back cherished memories?
Offering YouTube merch is a way to diverse your monetisation
Merch is a significant revenue stream for YouTubers, especially as channels grow. Merch sales can provide a more reliable source of income alongside ad revenue, sponsorships, and other business ventures.
Selling merch can help you to engage with your audience
Fans love to support their favourite creators, and buying merchandise is a way to feel part of a community. It is crucial to listen to your audience and get their feedback. You could use the YouTube Community Tab or social media to gain input and discover their likes and dislikes. That way, you will create merchandise that resonates with your audience and build a strong, engaged following.
It has the potential to secure you cross-promotion
If you start selling merch, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with other creators who have similar audiences. You can promote each other’s merch or work together on exclusive merchandise lines. By collaborating, you can reach new audiences who might not have been exposed to your content previously, increasing cross-promotion.
So, in summary, YouTubers get their merch in various ways, such as print-on-demand platforms, merchandise platforms, or in-house production.
Whether you design and sell casual T-shirts people will wear and never want to take off or feature exclusive drops your viewers absolutely need to get their hands on, selling merchandise via YouTube is a great way to expand your reach and solidify your community. Don’t underestimate how powerful a tool merch can be regarding branding, fan engagement, and revenue generation.
