{"id":2259,"date":"2024-01-18T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/letteringexpress.com\/?p=2259"},"modified":"2024-01-21T07:18:14","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T13:18:14","slug":"merchandise-branding-101-how-to-tell-your-story-through-custom-prints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/letteringexpress.com\/blog\/merchandise-branding-101-how-to-tell-your-story-through-custom-prints\/","title":{"rendered":"Merchandise Branding 101: How to Tell Your Story Through Custom Prints"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever been on the receiving end of a T-shirt cannon? You suddenly focus all your energy and adrenaline on fulfilling your wide-receiver dreams and catching a free T-shirt in your own hands. There\u2019s something magical about free stuff. It\u2019s why merchandise branding has remained a pillar of marketing strategies: it works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re designing merch for your business, you don\u2019t just throw colors and fonts together and hope it\u2019s effective. It has to be cohesive with your brand image and illustrate your brand\u2019s narrative. But how do you convey your brand\u2019s story through merch? That\u2019s where a dynamic combo of high-quality graphic design and expert storytelling<\/a> comes in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Merchandise Branding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Merch is an easy way to connect with your audience. It lets the public feel like they\u2019re part of your brand community. You can turn any product or apparel<\/a> into merch by putting your logo on it. From T-shirts, hats, and hoodies to tote bags, water bottles, and portable chargers, merch incentivizes your audience to connect with your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using custom prints in your merch helps customers identify with and recognize your brand. There may be other businesses comparable to yours that sell similar products. You can use varying fonts, colors, and graphics to create unique prints that set your merch apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your business\u2019s merch determines how the world perceives your brand. If you can create merch your audience responds to positively, they\u2019ll associate that sentiment with your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, merch turns your clients, customers, and team members into walking billboards for your business. It\u2019s your job (or your marketing team\u2019s job) to promote your brand identity and stand out from competitors. Top-tier merch sets your business apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crafting Your Brand\u2019s Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A brand story is a cohesive narrative that encapsulates your company\u2019s mission, purpose, and values and builds a connection between your brand and your target audience. It informs your audience why you exist. Customers who can find a personal, memorable connection with your brand are more likely to remain loyal. Your story must be true to your business origins and authentic to your values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your brand story should have a clear voice and tone. It answers questions your audience is asking. Who are you? What does your brand seek to accomplish? Why does your brand exist? If your brand story is strong, it will elicit an emotional response from your audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t just rely on facts and figures to tell your story. Customers are 22 times more likely<\/a> to remember details when communicated through storytelling. Ensure your story is cohesive by making it consistent across all branding, platforms, and merch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structuring Your Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

However you structure your story, you must hook your audience from the beginning. It works well to tell your story chronologically if your business has an interesting origin or creation. You can open with a compelling anecdote and then frame your story in the order events happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another method for structuring your story is through thematic blocks, which focus on different aspects of your business. These blocks could include your brand\u2019s values, mission, purpose, customer experience, location, or what people say about your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pack your story with interesting narration, relevant details, and unique facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Elements of Effective Brand Storytelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To focus your story, you need to use the key elements of effective brand storytelling. Those elements are presented by \u201cthe four Cs:\u201d conflict, characters, community, and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Conflict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Present the problem that your customers experience and how your brand offers a solution. \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take organic pet grooming company WildWash<\/em><\/a>. They were concerned about harmful chemicals in the shampoos they used on their own pets, so they developed a range of natural products that are transparent about their ingredients and really work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through their brand story, they articulated the problem and presented a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Wildwash<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Characters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Illustrate the human element behind the brand\u200b\u200b. Who are the founders, and why did they start the business? Who are the people who invest their time and energy in the business? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicate your brand\u2019s personality through a conversational tone. After all, you\u2019re just humans speaking to other humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Community<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

When you involve your audience in your brand story\u200b\u200b, it builds credibility and encourages brand loyalty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use your story to address issues important to your brand and illustrate how your brand gives back to the community.\u00a0Beelove<\/em><\/a> is a Black-owned ethical honey company that trains and employs formerly incarcerated people. Their custom hoodies sport the phrase, \u201cThere\u2019s power in honey,\u201d illustrating the brand’s influential impact on educating, offering opportunities, and supporting their community.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Beelove<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Beelove's<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

4. Confidence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The brand story isn\u2019t the only place to share your values. Your pride and belief in your brand\u200b\u200b should be evident across all your marketing materials, branding, and products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you believe in your brand\u2019s mission, others will feel inspired to follow. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to create custom merch that communicates your authentic story so your team and clients will be proud to rep your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that your story should be empathetic to the problem your brand seeks to solve, attention-grabbing, and aligned with your business goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encourage your audience to engage with your brand story by sharing stories of how they\u2019ve been positively impacted by your brand and wearing your merch with pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using Custom Prints to Enhance Your Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To translate your brand story into custom merch, you can express your brand\u2019s values through fonts, colors, shapes, and textures. From screen printing to digital printing<\/a> to embroidery,<\/a> how you execute your merch can change the vibe of the final product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a brand that\u2019s modern, sophisticated, and chic, design merch may cater to a minimalist look with a classy design, delicate fonts, and a muted color palette. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your brand keeps it fun with a style that\u2019s funky and youthful. Explore creative fonts, curved shapes, and quirky designs. Find what makes your brand unique and express that style through the beautiful custom merch you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Custom merch creates a tangible connection between your brand and the customer. That\u2019s why your merch matters. It translates what makes your brand special into a wearable design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the sustainable coffee company Easy Jose<\/a>. They harvest and regeneratively farm coffee beans, work alongside the indigenous community, and provide ethical wages. Easy Jose\u2019s brand story revolves around building strong relationships with the indigenous community in the Peruvian Amazon and preventing deforestation. Their brand story is evident through their custom merch.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Man<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Easy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Practical Tips for Merchandise Branding and Storytelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brand storytelling makes your business more memorable than just facts about your product. When merch accurately reflects a brand\u2019s story, it leaves a lasting impression on anyone who sees it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for fusing merch branding and storytelling include: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n