How Independent Artists Can More Easily Sell Merch Online

From stock to storage, selling merch has its headaches — here’s how musicians can sell online without needing inventory 

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It’s no secret that the economics of touring are tough for musicians, particularly independent artists. With such slim margins, artists have increasingly depended on merchandise to make up the difference. From T-shirts and totes to physical media sales, including vinyl and CDs, the merch booth can make touring viable and profitable for musicians both big and small.

Beyond the physical merch booth, setting up an online storefront connects fans who can’t make it to the gig. For indie artists, getting started with online merch can be challenging, but there are online tools that can streamline the merch-selling process. 

How Can Artists Make Their Own Merch?

Artist merch has gotten increasingly creative, expanding beyond T-shirts to housewares and quirky items inspired by lyrics and song titles. As for clothing, musicians are bridging the gap between merch and fashion. 

But not every artist can afford to hire an established designer or enlist a studio for their merch. Fortunately, something as simple as your album art on a blank tee can go a long way. By using the album art they already have for pieces like T-shirts, mugs, and sweatshirts, musicians can connect with fans and boost their revenue.   

One simple way to sell merch without needing to create new designs is DistroKid Direct. DistroKid, one of the leading online music distributors for independent musicians, has tools for musicians ranging from website creation to music mixing. Direct lets musicians upload their album art from their artist page to create pieces like T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, and tote bags. 

How Can Musicians Start Selling Their Merch Online? 

One of the challenges of selling merch is handling stock — between carrying the right shirt sizes and dealing with products that don’t sell, merch can carry its own logistical headaches. One option, particularly for artists who are still growing their fan base, is on-demand merch. 

Made-to-order merch can prevent unsold stock from piling up. While it’s not efficient for big artists selling a lot of T-shirts, it can be a great option for indie musicians who are just finding their footing. 

DistroKid Direct utilizes this model, with pieces printed once the order is placed. That means artists don’t have to keep track of inventory or deal with storage. Artists can also set their own prices, and DistroKid only deducts the production cost. Available merch includes T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, tote bags, and prints. 

With the right tools, it can be surprisingly easy to sell merch online, with minimal upfront costs.