Break from the boring and bring some creativity to your company merchandise

Is your merchandise line stuck in a rut and needs a little more interest?

Chances are your competitors are in the same boat because most merchandise providers are only offering the basics. If you have been to the mall lately, you will see so many unique looks that grab your attention and cause you to part with your hard earned money.

When is the last time you actually put deep thought into your own merch line to try and give it the perceived value like those at the mall?

If you haven’t been there lately, let me put my top 4 unique decoration techniques that you can apply to your merchandise to take it to the next level.

1??PATCHES:

   Patches are all over retail wether it is on hats, jackets, or even bags. Patches give you flexibility to use them on different styles, colors and products. The attached picture is a Leather Base with a woven label sewn on top using a zig-zag stitch. My favorite is woven & PVC patches, but full embroidered, chenille & screen printed are great classics that work well with many garment types.

2?? APPLIQUE:

    This is basically fabric sewn on to an item that has been cut out by a laser. Two main styles when building an appliqué are vintage/rustic & clean/sporty. The style you are looking for will determine the fabric type, stitch type, layering and finishing. Appliqué is great on fleece, cardigans, polos & headwear.

3?? PUFF or HD INK:

   A great way to elevate a standard screen printed tee that creates texture and depth is puff or HD ink. Streetwear is the most popular style that uses puff ink and HD ink works for sporty looks and futuristic/technology driven designs. All because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Meaning using this type of ink should be thought through and used strategically to bring more interest and depth to a flat design.

4??TONE ON TONE:

   Tonal printing has been one of my favorite decoration techniques for the the last year or two. Coming up with the perfect ink formula for tonal dark & tonal light is key. The great thing about tone on tone ink is that you can use multiple garment colors in one run and not have to change ink colors to achieve the perfect outcome. It truly gives the graphic a subtle tone and a soft hand. I have used tonal light & dark in the same 2 color design, but also works great with a 1 color print.

Separate yourself from the masses and create a product that your customers will love! If you need any suggestions on how you can elevate your current merch line, I am happy to give you some ideas!