What other creators are doing
Many savvy accounts have already launched their merch shop promos, so let’s take a quick look at a couple of examples and see what we can learn from the successes of other users.
Barstool has had its own merch for a while now, but with the launch of the TikTok Shop feature, they’re making new and engaging TikTok content promoting their merch.
Among other merch-related content, Barstool created a series of skit-like TikTok videos, showing how their interns are struggling to get help from the rest of the team to create merch:
This is a funny and creative way of promoting their merch store, and the videos have gained over a million views combined. Viewers get to see the real people behind the brand while also being entertained, which makes for great promo for their target audience.
Happy Soul Sisters
This clothing brand from Atlanta blew up with a genuine and sweet video about their first TikTok Shop order. Focused on the behind-the-scenes excitement of preparing the order, the video gained over 11M views, which gave them over a thousand extra orders in the following 2 weeks alone.
The honesty and joy of the video made potential customers happy to support the business, with users congratulating the brand on their new-found success in the comments.
Best products to sell on TikTok
The product category you decide to sell will largely depend on your niche. Some creators make their own merchandise or art and promote their small businesses on TikTok, so the answer for them is very clear. But if you’re not selling TikTok merch you made yourself, your choices should be based on your content and audience.
Valuable read: Surprisingly Creative Merch Ideas + Examples
T-shirts
The most common (and popular) option when creating custom merch is to sell clothing. And while custom t-shirts may seem like a boring or overdone option, they’re at the peak of popularity in the online world. Google searches for the term “t-shirt” reached their highest point in the summer of 2023, compared to the past 5 years.
T-shirts also provide a lot of freedom during the creative process of designing merch. They work great for slogans, logos, art, jokes, and even patterns. It’s a staple part of anyone’s wardrobe and can be made relatively affordable for fans. If your plan is to launch your own clothing line, start with a cool t-shirt.
Hoodies
The next best merch option is a custom hoodie. It’s generally a slightly more expensive option for your audience, but hoodies are more durable and allow you to create special features like sleeve designs.
Hoodies are much more seasonal, but they’re still popular enough to sell throughout the year.
Bags
Bags are the most popular accessory category and it gives you a lot of options for styles and designs. While backpacks used to be a clear leader among merch bags, their popularity (in blue) has stagnated, with tote bags (in red) gaining steam over the past few years.
The exact type of bag you offer, from fanny packs to duffle bags, will depend on the needs of your audience. Not sure what they would prefer? Ask them! Followers love seeing the behind-the-scenes process and feeling that their input is valued.
Leisurewear
Items like sweatshirts and sweatpants, though seasonal, have become wardrobe staples even outside of the gym. Their popularity has been consistent over the past 5 years, with sweatshirts (in blue) being the more popular option.
Leisurewear is an especially fitting category if your content relates to fitness or cozy hobbies like reading.
Tech accessories
People love showcasing their personalities with more than just their clothing. You’ll often see clear phone cases with photos or stickers behind them, so let your fans get a custom phone case from you directly!
Custom tech accessories are more likely to be used for merch than ever before, which also includes things like earphone cases, laptop sleeves, and mouse pads.
If your TikTok profile is focused on tech reviews or tips, this may be the best category for you.
How to sell merch on TikTok in 7 easy steps
Selling merch may seem daunting, considering how much time, research, investment, and design skills it used to take in the past. But creating and selling merch is now easier than ever. You can make your online store in days with low risk, minimal knowledge, beginner design skills, and almost no investment.
Using services like on-demand production and selling merch on free platforms like TikTok provides a unique advantage: products are only made when they’re ordered, and you can connect your TikTok account directly to your manufacturer. As you sell your merchandise, the orders automatically go to your print-on-demand partner who does the rest of the work for you.
