*Glass shatters. Intro music blares. Cue the entrance.*
Ben “The Biz Brawler” Gibler storms down the ramp to:
WHOOP. YOUR. glASS...
...and retail merch into shape.
Winning at retail merch? Yeah, that's a tough match.
But lucky for you — Grandstand is your Merch Mania tag-team partner.
“Everyone wears shirts” isn’t the best strategy.
It’s a lazy catchphrase.
Knowing your audience? That’s the real finisher.
Whether your customers are young tourists or old-school locals, you’ve got to figure out what pops for them.
Because when you really know your audience, you’re not just selling your logo — you’re building hype, loyalty, and turning customers into a community.
In the merch ring, the crowd tells you what’s working. Only offering a black tee with a simple one-color logo?
That’s a heel move full of boo's.
Does the cream rise to the top?
Look at Summer Moon Coffee.
Great gear. Clean designs. Excellent execution.
They didn’t overthink it.
They leaned into what made their brand feel right:
Warm, welcoming, and Texan.
Summer Moon outfits their team in gear that reflects their brand.
From baristas to managers, everyone wears pieces that are on-brand, on-trend, and built to be seen.
It’s not just shirts and mugs to them. It’s their whole identity. It makes the brand more recognizable, more unified, and more connected to their customers.
(Kinda like the Hulksters mustache.)
The fans? They don’t leave the merch sitting on a shelf for long. They wear the crewnecks. They use the mugs. They come back for more.
Want to get it right? Start here:
- Read the crowd. What gets your core fans fired up?
- Ask the audience. Story polls, Q&As, and social media make it easy.
- Cut a promo. Don’t forget to hype up the merch drop, brother.
- Don’t stall. Hit 'em with something fresh while the spotlight’s on you.
- Mix it up. Yes, you need the go-to tees. But sprinkle in the WoOoOo! factor.
- People want to associate with your brand - not just your logo.
- Dont be the John Cena of merch. Can they see it?
Your brand isn’t just what you say it is. It’s the entire experience. Check out how Southern Tier works their crowd with unique merch in our Customer Spotlight blog.
TL;DR
Don't drop merch just to check the box. Know your people. Speak their language. Make stuff they want to rock or display on their shelf.
No need to take on the whole match solo.
With low minimums, fast turnarounds, and a massive product lineup, Grandstand is in your corner, ready to Stone Cold Stunner those branding goals with you.
No matter what your retail plan is-
"You need to think about the bottom line, cause Grandstand said so..."
Ben "The Biz Brawler" Gibler,
Account Manager and the current Intercontinental Big Business Champion.
Are you ready to be the new merch champ?