What Merchandise Works Best?

It's the most common question that people want the answer to - what merchandise works best - so they know where to spend their money to get the best results!

But there is no one particular product that has the best results - sorry!

In order to find out what the best merchandise is going to be for your business, you need to do a little bit of brainstorming first of all. So, here are some questions to get you started!

Step 1 - How do I define my merch goal?

Before you pick a product, you need to know what you want your merch to do for you. Are you trying to generate revenue, attract new people into your world, or keep your brand visible in day-to-day life? Each goal requires a different merch approach. That’s why defining your goal is the first step - without it, you’re just buying stuff and hoping it sticks.

So, ask yourself:

What do you want to achieve from your merch?

• To make money (selling products direct either online or in person)?

• To gain a new audience (using giveaways, event merch, freebies)?

• To get more visibility (getting your brand into everyday spaces)?

• To say thank you to your audience (prizes and thank you gifts sent directly to your current audience)?

Your goals will guide the kind of merchandise that’s going to work hardest for you.

Step 2 – How do I choose merch my audience will actually use?

The best merch isn’t about what you like - it’s about what your audience reaches for daily.

Think about their lifestyle, habits, and what they’d genuinely find useful.

• If your people are coffee lovers, mugs and travel cups will land.

• If they’re event-goers, tote bags are perfect.

• If they’re office-based, notebooks and pens make sense.

If your merch doesn’t fit into their lives, it won’t get used, which means your brand won’t get seen.

When it does align with their lifestyle, it won’t just get used, it’ll get shown off - and that means your brand ends up in rooms you're not even in.

That's the dream right?

Step 3 – Why does merch quality and longevity matter?

Cheap merch doesn’t just break or get binned - it makes you and your business look cheap. And that’s the last message you want to send! Investing in quality means your merch sticks around longer, gets used more often, and gives your brand more visibility over time.

Now, I am not saying you need to gift everyone a designer handbag or an iPad, but don't bulk buy the cheapest thing just because it's affordable. You are much better off getting less of something that is great quality - quality over quantity every time!

The best merchandise is the kind that lasts - that tote bag they use every week, the water bottle that sits on their desk, the hoodie they wear to the gym. Every use = another touchpoint for your brand.

Think of it like this: would you rather hand out 100 throwaway pens or 10 tote bags people use every week for years?

Longevity always wins.

Step 4 – How do I make sure my merch is on brand?

Your merch should feel like an extension of your business. It’s not just about slapping a logo on something. Let's be honest, most logos are not stylish enough to stand alone on a t-shirt - and make people want to part with their money for it. Sorry (not).

• A yoga teacher with a branded water bottle? Perfect.

• A copywriter with a notebook of cheeky one-liners? Spot on.

• A dog walker with branded pens? Not so much (unless they’re chew-proof).

When your merch lines up with your brand values and audience, it reinforces your message and creates a consistent experience.

So think about what you do as a business and who you serve - then think of products that will say that.

When merch tells the same story as your business, it becomes part of your brand experience.

So… What Merchandise Works Best?

The answer: the kind that’s useful, relevant, and connected to your brand and your goals.

The best merch is the kind that gets used, loved, and remembered.

The worst merch is the stuff that gets thrown away.

Final Word

At Mother of Merch, we don’t just do 'any old merch.'

We help you figure out the strategy behind it so you’re not wasting money on products that gather dust, you're investing in merchandise that actually works for your business.

Want help choosing the right merch for your audience?

Drop me a message and let’s make merchandise with you at the heart!