5 Merch Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales.
And How to Fix Them Right Now.
Let’s be real for a second. If your merch isn’t selling the way you want it to, it’s probably not a demand problem. It’s a product and presentation problem.
I’ve worked with bands and small businesses on their merchandise, and I see the same mistakes over and over again. The good news? Each of them is fixable. And most of them won’t cost you a dime to start turning around.
Here are five merch mistakes that are killing your sales right now and exactly how to fix them.
Most bands lose money on merch without realizing it. These 5 fixes will help you sell more, look more legit, and stop wasting money on products that sit.
1. You’re Printing on Cheap Blanks (And It’s Killing Your Margins)
This is the number one mistake I see. Bands and businesses grab the cheapest blanks they can find thinking they’re saving money, but they’re actually doing the opposite. Cheap blanks feel cheap. They fit weird. They shrink after one wash. And when your customer puts it on and it feels like sandpaper, they’re not coming back for round two.
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: when you use a quality blank that feels good and fits right, you can charge more for it. Your customers are happy to pay $25 or $30 for a shirt that actually feels like something they’d grab out of their closet on a regular Tuesday. That means better margins for you and repeat buyers who come back every time you drop something new.
The fix is simple. Upgrade your blanks. If you wouldn’t wear it yourself, don’t expect your customers to. One switch and you’ll notice the difference in how people respond to your product.
2. You’re Using DIY Printing Methods for Retail Merchandise
I get it. Cricut machines and DTF printers are accessible and they feel empowering. And for personal projects or a one-off gift? They’re great. But the second you start selling products to paying customers with vinyl from a Cricut, you’ve got a problem.
Your customers can feel the difference between DIY vinyl and a professionally printed product. Vinyl peels, cracks, and looks amateur after a few washes. DTF can work in certain situations, but for retail merchandise that represents your brand, you need professionally created artwork that’s separated properly for heat transfers, and you should only be using the best transfers available.
One upgrade in your printing method and your product goes from looking like a weekend hobby project to something people are proud to wear. That’s the difference between a product that sits in a box and one that sells out.
3. You’re Chasing the Cheapest Printer Online Instead of Going Local
There are a million online print shops out there that’ll promise you the cheapest price on a hundred shirts. And sure, the price looks great on paper. But what you don’t see until the box shows up is inconsistent colors, crooked prints, and blanks that aren’t what you ordered. Now you’re stuck with inventory you can’t sell and you’re out the money.
Find a local screen printer who actually gives a damn about your project. A local printer is going to care about the quality of your merch because their reputation is tied to it. You can see the product before it goes out. You can build a relationship that pays off every single run. And you get that solid plastisol screen print feel that lasts way longer than heat transfers and looks incredible.
The relationship you build with a great local printer is one of the best investments you can make in your merch game. They become a partner in your brand, not just a vendor.
4. Your Brand System Isn’t Dialed In
This one is huge and most people don’t even realize it’s the problem. If your brand system isn’t established, your merchandise is going to feel disconnected and unrecognizable. Your colors are all over the place. Your fonts change from product to product. There’s no visual thread tying everything together.
Your customers are not going to buy something they can’t relate to, especially if you’re trying to tie it back to yourself or your band. People buy into brands they recognize. Think about the brands you love. You could spot their stuff from across the room. That’s what you’re building toward.
Get your colors, your fonts, your visual identity locked down first. Once your brand system is solid, every piece of merch you drop hits harder because people already know it’s you. This one step alone will save you from wasting money on products that don’t connect.
5. You’re Using Flat Lays and Mockups Instead of Real Models
Stop showing a shirt with a logo floating on a blank template. I know mockup generators are easy and quick but they look lazy and your audience can tell. People scroll right past a generic mockup because there’s nothing to connect with.
When you put your merch on a real person, everything changes. Your customers see themselves in that shirt. They imagine what it looks like on them, how it fits, how it moves. That’s what makes someone stop scrolling and actually buy. It’s the difference between showing a product and selling a lifestyle.
One photo shoot can give you content for months. Grab a friend, find some good light, and shoot your products on real people. It will outsell a mockup every single time and it makes your brand look ten times more legit.
The Bottom Line
Your merch should work as hard as your music or your business does. Every one of these five tips costs you nothing to start implementing today, but they will fundamentally change how your customers see and buy your products.
Better blanks. Professional printing. A local printer who cares. Solid branding. Real models. That’s the formula. It’s not complicated, but most people skip the fundamentals and wonder why their merch doesn’t move.
Don’t be most people.
Ready to level up your merch game?
Timbo.Slices helps bands and businesses build brands that connect and merch that actually sells.
Let’s talk about your next project.