Nothing says fan like merch (which of course is the popular term for top promotional products associated with a brand). Whether you wait in line for hours or spend way more than you intended, branded gear shows how much you care. From sold-out concerts to the most-watched shows and movies of the year, merch keeps stardom alive. Get inspiration from these buzzworthy promos.
Superstar Beyoncé kicked off her Renaissance World Tour last Spring, dazzling fans with out-of-this-world performances and fashion moments. Queen Bey left social media buzzing, inspiring fans to recreate her looks. Official merchandise could only be bought during the tour. Some VIP ticket holders received a chrome tote bag, a motorized fan that projects the phrase “fan me off” and a Renaissance tour hat.
But Beyoncé fans will do anything to get her merch – even make it themselves. Fans who missed the show can rely on the Beyhive for custom fan-made merch. These Renaissance-inspired sweatshirts, T-shirts, keychains, candles, hats and mugs feature song lyrics and tour elements.
To celebrate the final season of the critically acclaimed show, Apple partnered with Nike to create a line of Ted Lasso apparel. Since its debut, Ted Lasso has won four Emmy awards. This show’s fans “believe” it’s one of the greatest. The final episode streamed last May, and the apparel hit (virtual) shelves shortly after.
Before this, Nike was already selling Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond apparel, but this was the first time fans could buy merchandise directly from Apple. Warner Bros., the show’s producer, also sells exclusive promo like jerseys, a soccer ball, a teacup & saucer set and dartboards. No cardboard cutouts, though, sadly.
HBO’s intense corporate drama Succession (all about rich people behaving badly) aired its last episode last May. Fans finally saw who ultimately succeeded in this über-rich modern family dynasty. No spoilers here!
While we say goodbye to Waystar and the Roy siblings, some things will last forever. The characters’ famous one-liners and appalling insults will live on in memes and pop culture. It’s not enough to retweet or post a clip from the Emmy-winning show. Fans want to wear it. Iconic moments, like Kendall Roy rapping “L to the OG” or Tom Wambsgans sending 67 emails in one evening with the title “You Can’t Make A Tomlette Without Breaking Some Greggs,” are memorialized in merch.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour had a tumultuous start. But even after a ticket sale debacle, with lawsuits hurled at company Ticketmaster, fans remain undeterred. The Grammy-winning artist continues to sell out shows and amass hour-long lines for her exclusive merch. Before her tour even began, Swift released a collection of Eras Tour merch. But there are some items you can only get at the concert, like a blue crewneck that went viral on social media.
Cosmopolitan says it’s one of the reasons why fans are camping out for concert promo. One fan told the New York Times, “I’ve been having nightmares about getting this crew neck. I haven’t been sleeping.” At a Tampa show, Swifties lined up in the rain, with lawn chairs and blankets, 12 hours before merch trucks arrived. In Houston, the merch line could be seen from helicopters. But one mom in New Jersey takes the cake, spending $11,000 on concert merch for her daughter’s sweet 16.
Can these merchandising ideas be used by smaller businesses? Of course! Give us a call at APTCO to get started.
“The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.”
~ William Jennings Bryan
