First, let's explain what merch is in simple terms. It is clothing, a souvenir, an accessory or another thing with the symbols of a certain brand. Simply put, it is a branded item - an artifact-symbol of the company. It works as a marketing tool that helps the brand "communicate" with the audience.
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TOYOTA merch
In the 60s of the last century, among the branded artifacts were fan T-shirts from Western rock stars. Today, the concept of "merch" is much broader. It includes noses and caps, sweatshirts and jackets, water bottles, scarves and wristbands, bags and umbrellas, portable smartphone chargers and other things that represent brands.
Branded artifacts feature a recognizable logo of a company, popular belarus cell phone number list artist, or Internet service. They can be made in corporate colors or decorated with a recognizable company slogan. For example, Alfa-Bank began selling a limited collection of clothing with the inscriptions "for the smart and free" and "nothing to blush about." The assortment mainly includes red, black, and white colors.
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Alfa-Bank merch
Thinking about what a company's merch is, we note that it is a comprehensive phenomenon. From a regular set of souvenirs and clothing items, it has already become a real communication system. And it is not necessary to place huge brand logos on sweatshirts, hoodies and bags. You can act more carefully and still attract the attention of potential customers.
Why does a brand need merch?
If previously branded artifacts were created to attract the public's attention, today we can identify at least six reasons why a company needs them:
Increased brand awareness. Merch draws attention to the brand and enhances its image. Simply put, it informs the audience about the existence of the company, the event, or the musician. This creates and strengthens the connection between the brand and its fans.
Additional income. Selling merch usually brings in additional money. The more fans a brand has, the higher the sales will be. And the income can always be invested in creating new products, organizing marketing campaigns, and other purposes.
Creating a fan zone. Merch helps create a community of like-minded people. Such people can exchange artifacts, communicate and participate in the company's competitions, which has a positive effect on its popularity.