Here's a detailed breakdown of the twenty most profitable merchandising items - pound for pound - based on average costs and expected retail price tags. The data comes from top merchandising provider Jakprints, which compiled and averaged the data from multiple band and retail sites.
Here's a top-level look based on profit margins, specifically expressed as how much larger the retail price is than the cost.

And, here's the more detailed breakdown of average cost and retail price.

But what do you do with this data? The wrong answer is to focus entirely on the highest-margin stuff, simply because there may not be a match with your audience. But faced with limited choices on what to sell and focus on, this can help guide choices.
Jakprints also offered a number of other tips of maximizing returns, and reducing upfront spending:
(2) Know your fans, find out what they want and see what they buy so you can offer products that fit your fan base.
(3) Smaller accessories that fit into pockets or bags are a great way to increase your exposure.
(4) Giveaways such as stickers or patches with a larger dollar purchase creates a fan base that will come back for more.
(5) Keep track of what's selling, what isn't, how much you've invested and what you are selling it for. Track your profits for intelligent future investments in merch.
(6) Pre-sales! See how many people are interested in the product and help quantify what quantity to purchase from your printer.
(7) Space at a premium on your tour? Don't take your entire inventory with you, lots of printers offer drop shipping options. Have your merch meet you in Cleveland.
(8) As you get bigger, don't forget about online merchandising companies. They can take care of your online sales, warehousing, drop shipping, invoices, even printing your merchandise. You'll spend a little bit more money, but you'll have pros stressing about overnighting a t-shirt to Tulsa on Christmas Eve while you relax with your family.

@alexbean Friday, September 07, 2012
I love a good graph on a Friday.

DE1982 Friday, September 07, 2012
This is awesome!

Visitor Friday, September 07, 2012
None of this mentions if it's the cost to the band or the cost to produce it.

Jakprints Monday, September 10, 2012
This is the estimated costs to produce the products, prices will vary based upon the selected printer

solution Friday, September 07, 2012
Well, there you go. 20 things Spotify can sell to make money.
Don't be dinosaurs. Adapt!

@SOCANRodney Friday, September 07, 2012
This is exhausting.

@onerpm Friday, September 07, 2012
Go Figure: Stickers and patches are the most profitable form of band merch.

@wesdavenport Friday, September 07, 2012
Don't get too caught up in margins. Focus on what fans want.

R.P. Monday, September 10, 2012
exactly!

@zzramesses Friday, September 07, 2012
good read!

@saintsolitaire Friday, September 07, 2012
this is very resourceful. thanks

QSDC Saturday, September 08, 2012
Not sure how realistic these margins are.
$3.52 wholesale for a tee shirt? Maybe if you print 10000 of them.

Jakprints Monday, September 10, 2012
Completely realistic depending upon the garment selection, image location and color counts. Jakprints offers 144 Black Fruit Of The Loom - One Color, One Standard Location printing at $3.52 per shirt.

Visitor Monday, September 17, 2012
Can I get your business info???

@billmeis Sunday, September 09, 2012
interesting.

@juliomuniz Sunday, September 09, 2012
Please make some S's t-shirts.

@musicconnection Sunday, September 09, 2012
Perfect for a DIY musician!

@HeatherDCook Sunday, September 09, 2012
Stickers?! Who knew!!

@JenMusicMaven Sunday, September 09, 2012
Stickers it is!!

@theraelkdub Sunday, September 09, 2012
Nimbus Business Students!

Schineller Monday, September 10, 2012
Excellent Informatic - Thank you - this is very useful.

@pumpsessions Monday, September 10, 2012
Great post and resourceful profit margin graph...

CDMaker Wednesday, September 12, 2012
This is a lot of great information put together in a way to really help a band figure out how to create additional revenue at gigs. Looks very actionable - can't wait to forward this information along to our clients

@CamilleJTA Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sadly the top dogs are bit... boring

David Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Here's a detailed breakdown of the twenty most profitable merchandising items - pound for pound - based on average costs and expected retail price tags. The data comes from top merchandising provider Jakprints, which compiled and averaged the data from multiple band and retail sites.
Here's a top-level look based on profit margins, specifically expressed as how much larger the retail price is than the cost.

And, here's the more detailed breakdown of average cost and retail price.

But what do you do with this data? The wrong answer is to focus entirely on the highest-margin stuff, simply because there may not be a match with your audience. But faced with limited choices on what to sell and focus on, this can help guide choices.
Jakprints also offered a number of other tips of maximizing returns, and reducing upfront spending:
(2) Know your fans, find out what they want and see what they buy so you can offer products that fit your fan base.
(3) Smaller accessories that fit into pockets or bags are a great way to increase your exposure.
(4) Giveaways such as stickers or patches with a larger dollar purchase creates a fan base that will come back for more.
(5) Keep track of what's selling, what isn't, how much you've invested and what you are selling it for. Track your profits for intelligent future investments in merch.
(6) Pre-sales! See how many people are interested in the product and help quantify what quantity to purchase from your printer.
(7) Space at a premium on your tour? Don't take your entire inventory with you, lots of printers offer drop shipping options. Have your merch meet you in Cleveland.
(8) As you get bigger, don't forget about online merchandising companies. They can take care of your online sales, warehousing, drop shipping, invoices, even printing your merchandise. You'll spend a little bit more money, but you'll have pros stressing about overnighting a t-shirt to Tulsa on Christmas Eve while you relax with your family.

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