Whether you’re a musician looking to make extra money at gigs, a rising YouTube star wanting to supplement your income, or a business trying to grow your brand, merchandise can come in handy. Not only does branded merchandise bring in extra revenue, but it can be a great way of getting your name out there.

If you’re thinking about creating merchandise for your punk band, your latest brand, or your social media followers, keep reading. We’re going to take a look at unique options for merchandise, how to create your own and more. Learn more with Adobe Express.

What are the benefits of branded merchandise?

Branded merchandise not only looks good, but it comes with a range of benefits. Some of which, you may not have considered.

• Increase brand awareness. A two-week billboard display in the UK can cost £1,000. But who needs billboards when your fans will wear a T-shirt featuring your logo or name? Merchandise is a great way to get your name or brand out there, boost awareness and generally advertise yourself.
• Boost profits. Unless you’re giving away your merchandise for free, selling merch can be a useful way to increase your income.
• Encourage consumer engagement. It’s hard for consumers to forget you if they’re carrying your name on a key chain. Not only does branded merchandise foster consumer engagement, but it also keeps you relevant and boosts brand retention.
• A tool for brand storytelling. What you choose to sell says something about you. If you sell sustainable merch, it shows you’re eco-conscious. If your offerings are appropriate for fans of all ages, it shows you’re family-friendly. Ultimately, you can use your merchandise to share who you are.

20 company merchandise ideas to get you started.

Promotional merchandise can come in so many formats that it can be tricky to know where to begin. We’ve assembled some of the most common choices to help you decide which would work best for your business.

1. T-shirts.

T-shirts are universally well-loved as a merchandise idea. Available in a range of sizes, colours and styles, they can be suitable for almost everyone. They’re also great for platforming your logo or brand – effectively turning the wearer into a walking billboard. Find out more about creating T-shirts with Adobe Express.

2. Jumpers and hoodies.

Much like T-shirts, jumpers and hoodies are a fantastic way to show off your brand. If you’re looking for cool merch ideas, a hoodie or jumper is a quick win. Effortlessly popular with people of all ages and styles, you can easily advertise your logo and designs with a hoodie.

3. Hats.

Hats off to whoever thought of putting brands on headwear. One of the best merchandise ideas available to you might be putting your logo on a hat. Whether it’s a warm woolly hat, or a summer cap with a peak, including your brand on a hat really puts you front and centre.

4. Tote bags.

Tote bags are a handy way of sharing your brand. In fact, you likely have a handful already in your home. Simple to make, and relatively cheap to produce, tote bags are available in a variety of colours and designs, making them a great choice if you’re looking for a different merchandise idea.

5. Socks.

It’s fair to say that, once you’re over the age of 18, you often start looking forward to getting socks for your birthday. So, what better merchandise idea than a pair of socks featuring a cool design and your brand?

6. Mugs.

Mugs are always a popular merchandise idea, purely because most people will have a hot drink at least once a week. So, if you’re putting your brand on a mug, you’re also putting it at the forefront of your customers’ minds.

7. Water bottles.

Hydration is important for your body and brain. Look around any office, or any street, and you’ll see an assortment of water bottles. You can use clever designs and logo placement to turn your average water bottle into a creative merchandise idea.

8. Phone cases.

Phone cases are just as ubiquitous as phones themselves. So, if you’re looking for branded merchandise ideas that can be found everywhere, look no further. However, at any given moment, there are multiple models in circulation – so you’ll need to do some research to see which phone cases would be most profitable.

9. Notebooks and diaries.

A picture may paint a thousand words but get your logo on a notebook and you’ll be there for every word along the way. Think about the colour, design and style of your notebook and pick one that suits your brand.

10. Other stationery.

This merchandise idea works well with notebooks and diaries, and can include the likes of pens, pencils, rubbers and rulers. Consider your brand and think about which stationery would work best for you.

11. Coasters.

Coasters can be found in homes and workplaces across the country, and pair well with any branded mugs you may sell. When designing your coaster, try to think creatively with the design and the ways you can stand out.

12. Posters.

Posters are loved by music fans of all ages and can really liven up a space. But posters aren’t just for musicians. If you’re looking for cool merchandise ideas, think about how Adobe Express can help you make the most of posters.

13. Magnets and stickers.

Magnets and stickers make great little gifts and can be used in a range of situations. Whether you use them to decorate a laptop, phone case or just brighten up your possessions, magnets and stickers are easy ways to inject some fun into your merchandise.

14. Mouse mats.

While mouse mats aren’t as common as they used to be, they’re still reasonably prolific. With a fun design or clever use of branding, you can take everyone back to the noughties.

15. Laptop bags.

With so many people splitting their working time between home and the office, laptop bags have never been more useful. For promotional merchandise, try to come up with several ideas that combine your branding and the product in insightful ways.

16. Lanyards and fobs.

Lanyards and fobs make it easy to carry your essentials in one place. They’re also a great option for advertising. Because space is limited on a lanyard or fob, think carefully about your designs.

17. Keyrings.

Keyrings can be a really fun way to advertise your brand or logo. Whether you opt for engraved or embossed material or go for a custom design, you can include inside jokes, lyrics and more on your keyrings.

18. USB sticks.

Depending on your brand or company, USB sticks could be the ideal merchandise idea. If you work with data, informational technology or computer systems, offering a USB stick featuring your logo can be a great way to get your name out there.

19. Flags and banners.

Much like posters, flags and banners offer a large blank canvas to share your image. Ideal for decorating homes, or flying at festivals, if you’re looking for a branded merchandise idea, you can put almost anything you like on a flag or banner.

20. Branded free samples.

If you create products of your own, you may find it beneficial to create your own free samples. These may not function like your typical corporate merchandise but, by including your name and contact details on the product, you can let people know where to go if they want to buy more.

How can Adobe Express help you design your company merch?

By now, you should have a good idea of the types of merchandise that are available. But how do you go about designing your merchandise ideas? Adobe Express can help you design and develop your company merchandise for free.

1. Browse a variety of free templates.

It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for creative merchandise ideas, but with Adobe Express you can access a range of free templates. These templates can be the basis of your design or you can tailor them to your specific needs.

2. Use AI tools for inspiration and design generation.

If you have a vision for your branded merchandise idea but you can’t find the image you want, you can use AI to generate inspiration. Adobe Express has the tools to let you create any image you like within seconds. Try it out today.

3. Apply your branding.

If you want to apply your branding to everything you create, you can use Adobe Express to apply your branding guidelines. It takes away the stress of keeping things consistent.

4. Print your own business cards.

If you’re attending conventions or networking events, you can use Adobe Express to create your business cards. Not only can you pick a design you like, but you can also print your cards through Adobe Express.

5. Share your merch at business events.

If you’re planning an event, you can use Adobe Express for all your advertising needs. From flyers and invitations to brushing up your logo, see what Adobe Express can do for you.

Create unique company merch fast with the Adobe Express AI template generator.

Creating branded merchandise doesn’t need to be a complicated or time-consuming. Adobe Express’ innovative AI template generator can help you bring you company merchandise ideas to life with no fuss. Using this intelligent tool, you can kickstart your design process by generating customisable templates which can be edited to suit your unique brand identity.

All you have to do is enter a description of what you want to create – using just five words or more – then the generator will create a suitable template for you to work from. Whether you’re creating a collage for a mousepad, posters or mugs, creating cool company merchandise is made easy with Adobe Express.

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Good to know.

How do you come up with company merch ideas?

Begin with some research. Explore suppliers and look into how much they charge and what you can afford. From there, think about the types of merchandise that would suit your company and what would be useful. If you’re struggling for ideas, consider making merchandise a group project and ask your team members or employees for inspiration.

How does merchandise help a brand?

Merchandise can help a brand to advertise and increase awareness. Plus, everyday interactions with branded products can help build customer loyalty. It can also be a great way for fans of your brand to show their support.

What is the cheapest merch to make?

The cheapest merch will depend on a variety of factors. Things to consider include the complexity of your designs, the amount you want to order, your chosen materials and the availability of stock. For the best prices, shop around and speak to several suppliers.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.