How to Test if Your Merch Ideas Will Sell Before You Buy

It can be the scariest thing when it comes to buying merch for your business!

• Will anyone want my merch?

• How do I know if my merch will sell?

• What merch does my audience want?

But you don't have to launch by taking a blind leap of faith.

If you’re wondering whether your merch idea will fly off the shelves or flop harder than a soggy biscuit, this blog is for you.

Here’s how to test your merch ideas before you spend a single penny on stock:

1. Ask Your Audience (but do it right)

Don’t just post a “Would you buy this?” poll and call it research!

Instead:

• Show 2–3 mock-ups and ask: “Which one speaks to you?”

• Run a ranking poll: “What would you actually use? Mug, t-shirt, notebook, tote?”

• Ask how much they think it would cost – great for price anchoring. It also shows whether or not your audience will value the merch you are looking at providing.

Hot Tip: People vote with their wallets and emotions, not just their words - so look for commitment signs (comments, DMs, tagging friends).

2. Create a Waitlist or Pre-Order

Pop up a simple form or landing page where people can register interest - all this costs you is some time on a Canva design (and good merch contact - I wonder if you can think of anyone that could help?)

Even better? Collect email addresses and say:

“If 20 people join the list, I’ll make it happen - you’ll be the first to know (and get a cheeky discount).”

If nobody signs up… that’s your answer - for now!

Your audience might not be ready for your merch yet - and that is OK!

Hot Tip: Don't base your decision off 1 post. Always remember that you need to talk about anything you are launching a few times (and then some more) because not all of our audience sees our posts. Give it some love before deciding one way or another!

3. Drop a “Coming Soon” Product Page

Set up a product in your shop marked as Coming Soon.

Then you can start looking at who is engaging with this content. Track:

• Views

• Add-to-cart clicks

• People messaging you about it

This tests both interest and intent.

Ssssshhhhh - this is a Canva mock up!

4. Use Mock-Ups to Create Hype

Before printing a single thing, make it look real.

Mock-ups are gold for:

• Reels and Stories

• Polls and quizzes

• “Should I drop this?” tease posts

Let your audience visualise the product before it exists. This is where platforms such as Canva can be your best friend at creating merchandise images to test the waters.

5. Run a “Founders Launch”

Let a small group (10–20 people) get the first run - super limited edition.

Make it exclusive, personal, and feedback-focused. You’ll get testimonials, real-world photos, and honest feedback.

Not only that, but you will really see who your super duper fans are - they will be the ones who want to be in the know for every new thing you bring out (and these are the people you really want to cherish!)

Final Thoughts

Testing doesn’t mean overthinking.

It means getting clever.

Use your community, tools, and a little creativity to take the guesswork out—and turn merch ideas into merch sales.

And when you are ready to start creating your business merchandise, your first step is to book in a call with us to talk through your options - obviously!

You can do there by clicking here!