Summary: Liz Gray, LCSW, RPT, Clini-Coach® of Organize and Thrive chatted with Amanda Hofman of Go To Market Studio to learn how to create your own merchandise store. Guess what? It’s easier than you think!

More than just a logo

As a creative entrepreneur, I dreamed about a merchandise store so I could share my love of organization with others and have branded items to gift my VIP Day clients.

The therapist in me also wanted a way to share affirmations and reminders to slow down and simplify (both for myself and others).

[Oh, and mugs. I just LOVE mugs!]

While I wanted a merch store for a while, I didn’t know where to start. I had so many questions, including:

• How much inventory do I need and where do I store it?

• Do I have to pack, label, and ship everything on my own?

• Where can I get beautiful designs (NOT just my logo stamped on a t-shirt)?
  

The Solution: Create Your Own Merchandise

The solution to all of the questions above is simple: create your own merchandise store!

If you’re an overwhelmed therapist, creating a coaching or consulting business with a merch store is a great way to diversify your income!

Amanda Hofman and her business partner Jessie Glass of Go To Market are the “dream team” when it comes to branding and design. When I met with Amanda and Jessie, they took time to understand me, my business, and my brand. Together, we brainstormed messaging, products, and design that perfectly fit Organize and Thrive!

We ended up with these messages and products in my merch store:

Do Less (mugs & pouches)

Simplify: Less is More (t-shirt)

I believe in boundaries (notebook)

Permission Granted (water bottles & blanket)

Before I get too ahead of myself… let’s start with the basics.

What is Branded Merchandise + Print on Demand?

Branded merchandise is anything that has your name, logo, and/or brand on it. Typically this would be drinkware (mugs, thermoses, water bottles), apparel (tees, tanks, hats, leggings, hoodies), and office and home goods (phone cases, laptop cases, coasters, pillows).

Print on Demand is when each merchandise item prints after it is ordered so there is no wasted inventory or spending. This means there is no inventory management (hooray!) and no need to run to the post office every time someone makes an order. It’s cost efficient and sustainable for the planet! Plus, with flexible designs, you don’t need to commit to one color or style.

How you can use merch to support your business:

Here are some ideas!

Brand your feed – always wear your brand on your social media feed when you’re representing your business.

Incentives for big ticket purchases – help people buy a program or a package if you add in a free t-shirt / hoodie / journal with purchase.

Strengthen partnerships – send your merch to key partners to deepen your connection to them & nurture relationships.

Gifting – give your customers promo codes to get free or discounted merch from your store.

Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for! The 4 steps to create your own merchandise store:

1. Plan your products. Think about your customer / (non-therapy) clients / partners who you want to use your merch. Where are they using it? The gym? Office? What do they use or wear? Phone cases? T-shirts? Blankets? Mugs?
   
   
2. Create your designs. Think about creative and fashionable designs people actually want to own and wear. Ideally, what you come up with will reflect your brand’s identity. Unless you’re Gucci, people typically don’t want to wear just a logo on a t-shirt! Make a free account on printful dot com or printify dot com and start designing.
   
   
3. Add to your website. Integrate your products into your website via Shopify Lite for $9/month. There are free ways to set up your store as well depending on your website provider.
   
   
4. Market and share. Now that you’ve created your merch, it’s time to share it with the world! Think about ways you already market your business- email list, social media, website- and how you can promote your brand via merch in these different avenues. Remember, the point is not simply to make money (passive income NEVER really means passive income!) but to connect with customers and partners.

If you’re an overwhelmed therapist, creating a coaching or consulting business with a merch store is a great way to diversify your income! Check out my Organize and Thrive Merch Store for inspiration (and to treat yourself to a new piece of merch)!

If you’re a business owner who would like to create your own merchandise store, I highly recommend Amanda and Jessie at Go To Market Studio.