Press Releases

Music Merchandise Companies Form MerchFriends

New organization will serve as a forum for merch companies, screen printers, fulfillment houses, and other merchants.

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2022

(PRESS RELEASE) PHOENIX, AZ — Independent merchandisers, screen printers, vinyl manufacturers, and fulfillment houses announce the formation of MerchFriends.

The new 501(c) 6 organization will serve as a forum for merch companies, screen printers, fulfillment houses, and other merchants from around the globe to learn and discuss best practices, source goods, share success stories and address challenges, fostering community communication through recurring webinars and live events.

Led by Hello Merch co-founder Sam Means (The Format), MerchFriends’ mission is to unite independent merchandise makers to support and sustain the industry and artists that they serve.

Early partners include Rough Trade, Bandsintown, Night Owls, Easy Partners, Hamster Labs, Awesome Merch, Ambient Inks, Sound Merch, Second City Prints, Hello Merch, Hello Screen Printing, and WASTOIDS.

MerchFriends will launch Band Shirt Day (BSD) on Friday September 16, 2022, establishing an annual celebration dedicated to band tees, an iconic merch staple since the 1950s. Band Shirt Day will offer artists, labels, and merchandisers a day to proclaim their love of band shirts while raising funds for charities of their choosing. Further details about exclusive merch and live event celebrations to come.

Music Merch sales account for a significant portion of artists’ touring revenue, with the iconic “Band T-shirt” serving as the backbone of the industry. Although business has begun to rebound with the return of live concerts, the independent music merchandise industry continues to face challenges. Printers and vinyl manufacturers continue to face capacity constraints, forcing production and timeline delays. MerchFriends aims to address this issue head-on.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve had conversations with so many peers about how we can all genuinely help each other out and this project was born out of those talks,” explains Means. “Merch Friends will serve as a support network for independent creators, embracing the DIY spirit but also honoring that we can do it ourselves together if we share the things we’ve learned along the way.”

“The music industry can be a lonely and isolated place. We’re excited to be part of building community, transparency, and the opportunity to learn and grow with our fellow merch friends,” says Christopher Moon of Ambient Inks in Eau Claire, WI.

“It’s exciting to see a community of like-minded individuals come together to share stories, ideas, successes, and failures,” adds Quinn Murphy of Hamster Labs in Phoenix, AZ.

“We have an opportunity to collaborate across the merch landscape, to set merch standards and build a better experience for clients and artists” says Bob Curtin, Second City Prints in Chicago, IL.

For more information visit here or send an email to hello@merchfriends.org.

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