Categories
Creator success Creators Holiday Season Promoting merch

Optimize Your Store for the Holidays: 4 Simple Steps to Attract Shoppers

We know it’s past Halloween, but here is a scary stat: 82% of consumers are less likely to make a purchase if a store looks “dated.” 

Since shoppers are 5 times more likely to come to your storefront during the holiday season, it’s time to do some Holiday Housekeeping! Luckily, refreshing your storefront can be done in four easy-to-follow steps! 

Step 1: (Super) Hero Banner

It’s called a “Hero” banner for a reason. It’s the first thing that a visitor sees and it’s the most visual aspect of an online store. If you think about it, the hero banner alone can grab a chunk of sales! And first impressions are no joke. Did you know that it only takes 60 milliseconds to make an impression on the human brain? In fact, 75% of consumers form an opinion on a store based on its design. That’s everything! 

To update your banner:

  • Click on the hero banner in your store editor to drop in a new image.
  • Add a holiday touch with festive photos of yourself or your fans. 
  • If you don’t have the time, tools like PlaceIt make it easy to create eye-catching lifestyle mockups. Just upload your design file, and you’re good to go.

Step 2: Refresh Your Content

As you evolve as a person, so does your brand and style. Re-evaluate your designs and products; how they represent you, your brand, and your voice in the world. 

As you scrutinize your store, pretend you’re a fan on your first visit. Here’s a checklist to help: 

  • Get rid of old messaging and add any new catchphrases. 
  • Make sure your products are up to date! If something isn’t selling well, deprioritize it. Does that T-shirt need a new color? Change it up!
  • Consider refreshing your logo.
    • To add a logo to your store, clock on Stores – Edit Store. 
    • Click on the Navigation bar. 
    • Read some great tips on refreshing logos here
  • Revamp your navigation bar and footer to make sure the aesthetic is consistent with your brand. Tip: coordinate the background and text color. 
  • Re-order your products to highlight your newest products and best sellers. Featured products will appear at the top of your store, and there’s no limit to how many you can feature. Here’s how:
    • Go to your Store Editor
    • Click on Products
    • Click on the Star Icon to feature products
    • Another method to reorder your products: Remove them from your store (clicking on the circled x) and then re-add them based on the order you want them to appear. 
    • P.S. New products get added to the bottom of your store, so add the ones you want at the top of your store first!

Step 3: Add Festive Holiday Flare

You’re already refreshing your store, so why not give it a holiday face-lift? Rinse and repeat for the navigation bar and footer. Your fans appreciate a creator who’s got lots of spirit.

Step 4: Integrate Your Socials! 

Your social channels are the lifeblood of your business and how you drive fans to your store.  50% of consumers are disappointed when a brand has no social media presence, so get with it this holiday season and integrate your channels. 

Here’s how to connect: 

  • Go to Stores.
  • Scroll down to Social Profiles.
  • Connect your social media accounts. 
  • Enable “Display Links” in your store editor under the navigation bar and footer.
  • If both are enabled, your social icons will then appear on the right-hand side of your navigation bar, as well as in the center of your footer. 

And that’s it! These four steps will get you merrily on your way. Have fun connecting with your audience, fans, and customers. Happy Holidays and Happy Selling!

Categories
Creator success Creators Design contest

12 Days of Digital Products: Exciting New Products to Sell Through the Holidays!

Switching from physical to digital products is effortless—especially if you utilize existing designs! Plus, digital products offer instant downloads, no shipping required.

From 12/12 to 12/23, join our 12 Days of Digital Products Contest! Each day you sell, you’re entered to win fun prizes like gift cards and samples. Sell daily, and you’ll be entered 12 times!

With 20 new digital product categories launching, now’s the time to give your fans even more holiday shopping options!

So you ready? First, here are a few digital products you can launch *today* by using an existing design:

  • Custom Digital Wallpapers: Just add your design and go live.
  • Printable Coloring Book: Let fans add their own creative spin to your designs.
  • Custom Digital Art Prints: Your designs are art, so treat them as such!
  • Gaming Emotes & Overlays: Got some cool characters? Get them downloadable!
  • Editable Template: Add your brand to all sorts of templates that fans can easily customize.

Want to offer more? Here are some exciting new products in our expanded digital categories:

Pet

  • Exclusive Pet Video Series: Turn your furry friend into a star with a fun video series that’s equal parts adorable and entertaining! 
  • Pet Health Tracker: Help pet parents stay on top of their furry family’s well-being with this easy-to-use health tracker. 
  • Pet Care Guide: Perfect for new pet owners, this guide is a thoughtful holiday helper for keeping pets happy and healthy. 

Business & Finance

  • Business Strategy Workbook: Set your fans up for success with this all-in-one guide to mapping out a winning strategy! 
  • Budgeting Spreadsheet Template: Every dollar counts! So create a practical tool for fans to master their finances.
  • Business E-Book: Your brand is a business that’s booming, so share the wealth with your expert tips and tricks for building a thriving business. 

Entertainment

  • Special Commentary Track: Got some opinions? Share your POV with fans by creating a commentary track. The topics are endless!
  • Exclusive Video Series: Create exclusive VIP videos just for fans! 
  • Downloadable Music Tracks: Let the gift of music strike a chord this holiday season. 

Health & Wellness

  • Guided Meditation Video Series: Help your fans find their zen this season with a soothing video series.
  • Meal Prep Plan & Recipe Guide: Got some skill in the kitchen? Share delicious, healthy recipes for your fans to make!
  • Fitness Routine PDF: The new year is when everyone is looking to kickstart their fitness goals. So give them your best routines!

Political/Social/Religion

  • Documentary Video: Shine a light on the stories that matter most with an impactful doc.
  • Meditation or Prayer Guide (Audio): Offer personal and heartfelt affirmations for fans to get into a positive mindset each day.
  • Faith or Social Justice Digital Journal: Choose your most soothing designs to create a meaningful space for fans to document their journey and progress. 

NOTE: For digital products, you can upload a file up to 600MB. If you have multiple videos, you can compress them down to under 600 MB. 

Launch digital products now and sell through Christmas and on into the New Year. Keep an eye out on our socials for contest info and inspiration. Happy Holidays and Happy Selling!

Categories
Creator success Creators Holiday Season Selling Tips

Last-Minute Holiday Sales: 5 Quick Ways to Drive Purchases Before Year-End

The holiday shopping season is booming! Are you cashing in? It’s not too late to get your piece of the holiday pie!

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to give your online merch store a final boost. With shoppers on the hunt for gifts and end-of-year deals, here are five easy strategies to drive purchases and end the year on a high note. Ready? Let’s go. 

1. Create a Sense of Urgency

It’s hard to believe, but there are only THREE WEEKS left until 2025! That’s it! Use this to create urgency. You want to encourage your fans to shop now vs. later. This is where limited time discounts come into play, because they have a deadline. So a simple post like, “Order by [date] to get XX% OFF my merch!” can create the urgency shoppers need to act quickly. 

Pro Tip: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) comes in all forms. In this case, use the “ticking clock” method to speed up their action. Add a countdown timer to your website or share daily reminders on social media to keep the deadline at the top of their mind.

2. Leverage Video through Stories and Reels

It’s easy to scroll past another “buy my merch” text post. So go for the “pattern interrupt” with creative videos. It’ll be a scroll-stopper to see you having a blast showing off your merch. Use Instagram Stories, TikToks, and Reels to showcase you and your merch in action with engaging content like “Top 3 Reasons This Hoodie Is a Winter Must-Have” or “Me Unboxing My Newest Merch.” 

Pro Tip: Highlight fan photos and testimonials in your content to build hype around your products and create FOMO. 

Reminder: Be both authentic and engaging in your videos. That energy is contagious and leads to more fans and sales. 

3. Offer Exclusive End-of-Year Promo Codes

FOMO works in every category, but one of the best ones is through the use of promo codes. Everyone loves a deal, especially during the holidays. Grab last-minute shoppers by sharing a promo code (like “YEAREND10” for 10% off) to drive traffic to your store. Make these offers for a “limited time only” so fans have to act fast. You can even tease them ahead of time so that fans have to keep an eye on your content for when the deal will launch.

Pro Tip: Add this deal to your bio on your social channels and pin your promo post so fans won’t miss it.

4. Launch & Promote Digital Products

Physical shipping deadlines don’t mean the sales have to stop. Digital products like e-books, art prints, music tracks, recipes and downloadable wallpapers are perfect for those shoppers who waited until the absolute last second to buy gifts. And guess what: 91% of people admit that they have made holiday purchases at the last minute. Lucky for them that these products are instantly delivered—no shipping required! Spring has a wide array of digital products, even for pets! Check out the selection on your dashboard. 

Pro Tip: Create an eye-catching design that can flow across different digital products and bundle them together in your content to entice fans to buy them all!

5. Collaborate and Cross-Promote

The great thing about selling merch is…you can piggy back OTHER people who sell merch! It can be a symbiotic relationship. Since the new year is coming, send off 2024 by teaming up with another creator to double your fan reach and your sales. Some ideas include shouting each other out on social media and recommending each other’s merch, or hosting a giveaway to generate buzz and attract more shoppers. 

Pro Tip: Use your merch as a prize in a holiday-themed contest, encouraging followers to engage and share. 

Make the Most of the Year-End Shopping Season

So, there it is. These quick strategies can help you capture last-minute shoppers and boost your year-end sales. Remember, consistency is key—keep your promotions active and engaging, and don’t forget to thank your fans for their support throughout the year.

Here’s to finishing strong and setting the stage for an even more successful new year! Happy Selling!🎉

Categories
Creator success Holiday Season Promoting merch

5 Ways to Make the Most of Our Black Friday Sale

The holiday shopping madness has arrived, and so has Spring’s sitewide Black Friday/Cyber Weekend Sale! 🎉 From November 29th to December 2nd, your fans can score 15% off your products with the code MERRY15—on us! 🙌 This is your shot to boost sales and get your merch into the hands of even more fans during the biggest shopping weekend of the year.

To help you crush it, we’ve put together a few tips to maximize your sales and get prepped so you’re ready to shine when the sale goes live! 

1. Plan Ahead

Preparation is everything when it comes to Black Friday weekend! 🎯 Start creating your posts, stories, and videos now, so you’re ready to roll as soon as the sale goes live. Schedule content to drop early on Black Friday to catch those morning shoppers, and have more posts queued up throughout the weekend to keep the momentum going.

Pro Tip:

  • Use a content calendar to map out your posts for the weekend.
  • Mix up your content formats—try stories, carousels, videos, and even polls to keep your fans engaged.
  • Sneak in reminders about the sale in comments and DMs when interacting with your fans.

2. Share Everywhere

Don’t leave any platform out of the loop! Whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, or your email list—let your fans know you’ve got a sale going on. 

Here are some ideas of what to post:

  • Use Canva to whip up bold, scroll-stopping graphics that catch attention fast.
  • Film a quick video or story talking about your products—it’s the easiest way to connect with your fans and stand out in crowded feeds.
  • Shout out your stocking stuffers! Lower-cost items are total holiday wins and way easier to sell.
  • Need inspo? Check out our Stocking Stuffer Collection and add some to your store today!

Blast your sale across all platforms and make sure every fan knows where to snag your merch this season!

3. Show Off Your Products

Got product samples? Now’s the time to put them to work! 🎥 Post unboxings, try-ons, or styled flat lays to give your fans a closer look at your merch. Seeing your products in action makes them way more likely to hit “buy.”

No samples yet? No problem!

  • Use product images from your store to highlight your designs.
  • Try mock-up tools to showcase your products on models or in real-life settings—this helps fans imagine how they’d use or wear your merch.

Extra Tips:

  • Create a quick video showing how your products make great gifts or stocking stuffers. 🎁
  • Pair your designs with festive props (think lights, ornaments, or holiday decor) to make your visuals pop!
  • Don’t forget to include captions that shout out the 15% off sale to drive urgency.

Pro Tip: Use stories and TikTok to share behind-the-scenes content of your designs being used, styled, or gifted. It’s personal, fun, and super engaging! 💡

4. Post, Post, Post

One post isn’t going to cut it during Black Friday weekend—everyone’s scrolling for deals, so you’ve got to stay in their feed! 🛍️ Keep sharing about the sale until the very last moment. Think updates, stories, and quick reminders to keep the hype alive.

Tips to Stay on Top:

  • Share stories throughout the day with different angles: show your merch, post countdowns, or highlight the 15% off deal.
  • Engage in the comments! Reply to fans, answer questions, and remind them about the sale—it’s a great way to stay visible.
  • Try going live! Give fans a tour of your shop, talk about your designs, or even host a Q&A about your products.

5. Create Urgency

Everyone loves a good deal—especially when it’s limited-time! ⏳ Let your fans know they don’t have forever to grab 15% off your merch. Use phrases that create FOMO and keep the energy high:

  • “Only 2 days left to save 15%!”
  • “Last chance—sale ends tomorrow!”
  • “Get it before it’s gone!”

Tips to Amp It Up:

  • Start using countdowns in your Stories as Cyber Monday gets closer. Show exactly how much time is left to take advantage of the deal. ⏰
  • Add “final hours” posts to your feed on Cyber Monday to push those last-minute buyers into action.
  • Use phrases like “Limited stock!” or “Don’t wait!” to build excitement and urgency.

Let’s Make This Weekend Big!

With Spring covering the 15% discount, this is your moment to boost sales and attract new fans. 🎉 Use these tips to create hype, engage your audience, and maximize the sale. Don’t wait—prep your content now and be ready to share as soon as the sale drops! 🚀

📅 Mark your calendars: 11/29–12/2
🛍️ Promo code: MERRY15

Let’s crush it this Black Friday/Cyber Weekend! 💸

Categories
Creator success Holiday Season

How To Drive Holiday Sales With Product Samples

Make the most of your winter with Spring!

Puns aside, the holiday season is for real. It’s a time of year when creators can make 300%-more-sales-than-the-rest-of-the-year…For real. 

Maybe you’ve spent all year pouring your heart and soul into creating killer designs and products (read here if you think you may have missed a step). Or maybe you haven’t been giving it your all and now you’re ready to make a big holiday push.

In either case, here comes the real challenge: Making sales and getting the word out there to make it happen. The answer to that challenge is showcasing product samples.

Here us out: Using samples of your products in your content is the easiest way to spread the word about your holiday products. 

Why is this so effective? 

First, it lets people see the product IRL. It’s one thing to see a static picture of a T-shirt, it’s another to see how that shirt looks on a human being (you). 

Second, it sends a subliminal message to your fans that you are also a fan of your product. Your fans (and potential customers) are thinking, “They must really believe in their product if they’re showcasing it in their video.” A fan is your fan already because they like your style, trust you, and want to follow your lead. And to a potential buyer it’s a lot more credible than a stock image of your merch. 

So, with that and Black Friday in mind, let’s triple your sales and more!

Step 1: Order Your Sample

This is the “duh” step. You can’t show off products in your content if you haven’t ordered them, so don’t delay—the sooner you order, the sooner your content gets made, the sooner you can promote and get sales in before shipping deadlines! 

To order samples, watch this video or follow the steps below:

  1. Sign into Spring
  2. Click “Listings” on the left-hand menu
  3. Click “Order a sample” of the product you want to order
  4. Fill out your shipping and payment information
  5. Click “Place your order”

You can also click here to go directly to your listings page.

Samples need to ship, so make sure you order them at least a week before you want to start posting content about your products! 

Step 2: Create content using your samples

Ok. The samples have arrived. Now what? Maybe you already know what you’re doing, great. But maybe you feel lost. You have no idea how to create content with samples. 

Here are a few tips to get started:

  1. Un”Wrapping” Videos

Your first video may end up starting before you’ve even opened your sample! This is the time to really spread the hype! The excitement of watching you open your products for the first time in an unboxing video is contagious. And since the holidays are all about the excitement of opening gifts, treat your sample as a gift you just received in the mail. Show how special it is to open. Heck, wrap it up like a present and dig in! Then your fans will want to spread that experience to others, or even gift themselves your merch! 

  1. Holiday Photo Shoot

Get into the Holiday spirit, literally! Make your merch look like it belongs under the tree! Top it with a bow! Get creative.

It’s not terribly expensive to light a photo shoot well, but you should read up on lighting basics if you’re not familiar. The goal is to shoot your products in different styles and settings. 

Whether it’s a DIY photoshoot at home or a professional one, showcase your products and how they can be incorporated into either special occasions or everyday life. 

Experiment with different lighting techniques, backgrounds, and accessories to create content that is visually appealing. 

  1. Livestream a Try-On Party

Doing a livestream infuses spontaneity into your merch. Why not host a try-on sesh to demo your products in real-time? 

When you’re LIVE, you can take questions from your audience, they can provide you with instant feedback, and even vote on their favorite designs and styles. 

The interactive approach helps you build community, invites your fans to help you make future product design decisions, and of course showcases your current products!

  1. Product Comparison Reviews

Ever wonder why so many advertisers use before-and-after pics? People naturally want to improve things, no matter what they are. It’s the same concept when comparing one product to another. 

Pick any item in your house to compare to your product. Let’s say your product is a tank top. Hang it side-by-side to an average tank that pales compared to yours. 

Or maybe your product is a coffee mug with a killer design on it. Put yours next to a plain white mug that really makes yours pop! 

  1. Showcase Styling Ideas

Let’s say you have multiple product samples that are either accessories or apparel. Show your fans how you can mix and match them with other pieces to complete a cohesive outfit. Example: You throw on some jeans, a blazer and some shoes with your branded tee that will make the whole outfit pop. 

Or if you have a summer tote bag, try on a cute summer ensemble that goes great with your bag. 

  1. Influencer Holiday Collaborations

There’s no validation like 3rd-party validation. Another legit influencer or creator who endorses your merch is gold. But remember: You need to return the favor and do the same for them. 

Join forces for epic collabs like videos, giveaways, or photo shoots that showcase both your brands. Make it a Holiday brand party! It’s a win-win that’ll help you boost your street cred and reach new audiences at the same time.

  1. Storytelling and Brand Narratives

Are you a natural storyteller? If not, can you spin narratives? Or at the very least, share the heart and soul of your brand, whether it be customer testimonials, the inspiration behind your merch, or personal anecdotes. We just did a blog on telling your story! Check it out here.

The holidays are rapidly approaching!

There’s no time to wait! You need to start promoting now to get those sales rolling by Black Friday.

Whether it’s through user-generated content campaigns, styled photo shoots, or unboxing videos, each method offers a unique opportunity to connect on a deeper level with your fans, which of course drives them to making the purchase. 

Oh, and by the way…Doing all of the above automatically checks off one of your Holiday Bingo Squares! 

Remember, there are real cash prizes to be won! So start taking those steps—they will help you have a profitable holiday season!

Categories
Grow your following Holiday Season Promoting merch

The Power of Storytelling: Share the Story Behind Your Designs to Boost Engagement

Question: What’s the best way to build a bond with your fans? 

Answer: Tell a compelling story. 

Human beings are born storytellers. It’s how we communicate our hopes and fears with our loved ones and communities. Being active on social media is the mass sharing of your story with a much bigger community!

  • Want to build a community of fans? Share engaging stories on your feeds.
  • Want more sales? Share the story of how your products and designs came to be. 
  • What inspired you? Why did you choose those particular designs over another? Your fans want to hear your story! 

And guess what? It’s not as hard as you think. Just a simple post or reel about the “why” behind your design not only gets fans interested in your merch, it checks off another Bingo square!

Remember Bingo? You’re playing for big cash prizes! So let’s dive into how to share your story to get you closer to B-I-N-G-O! 

Why Sharing Your Story Matters

Social Media is a crowded medium with everyone vying for attention. What will help you stand apart? Being real and authentic. Some points to consider:

Authenticity is rare: Many people struggle with being transparent or knowing who they are.

Being yourself attracts fans: Influencers with millions of followers often succeed because they allow themselves to be vulnerable and authentic.

Emotional connection matters: Fans relate to and love creators who are genuine, creating a deeper bond.

Stand out by being real: Authenticity and transparency make you memorable in a crowded space.

Your story adds meaning: Sharing the backstory of your designs gives your product a personal, emotional touch.

Combine connection and storytelling: Emotional connection and storytelling are key to building lasting fan relationships.

Crafting the Story Behind Your Design

So you’re thinking, “Great! Emotional connection and a compelling story will drive sales, but how do I do that?” Let us help:

  • Identify Your Why: Share the inspiration behind your design, whether it’s a personal experience, theme, or community feedback. Be authentic—talk about your fears, desires, and goals related to your product. Why does your brand exist? What impact does it have on your fans? Explore these questions deeply.
  • Be Transparent: Fans value personal stories and meaning. Share how your design came to life, the challenges you faced, and why it’s significant. Transparency builds trust and engagement, turning fans into loyal customers.
  • Be Honest. It’s scary to be transparent but when you are, you’ll be surprised at how many people will engage with you, your brand, and ultimately will become dedicated followers.  

Share Across Your Socials

Once you have your story down, it’s time to share. This isn’t a one post and done type deal. You are sharing a journey. Start at the beginning, capture the steps to the finale and then celebrate when done! In other words, create lots of content and share across channels and across mediums! The more the better!

Some ideas:

  • Instagram and other social posts: Share snippets of the creative process, whether it’s early sketches, mood boards, or behind-the-scenes looks at how the design evolved. There is no such thing as posting too early. Start when you haven’t even started yet. 
  • Videos & Live Sessions: Go live or post videos explaining the story behind the design. Share why you created it and what it means to you, encouraging interaction from your fans. Again, there is no such thing as filming too early. You can even start while you’re sitting there, having done nothing, trying to brainstorm ideas of what to create. It might even be interesting to show you come up with an idea that you end up abandoning because it didn’t ring true. You’re filming yourself being inauthentic, before becoming authentic! How interesting is that!? 
  • Don’t forget Product Descriptions: On your product page, you can use the description area to tell the story. Instead of just listing features, explain the thought process behind the design and what makes it unique. This will also make you stand out from the crowd because it is so underused by most of the community. 
  • BINGO! Any of the above steps will allow you to cross off the square “share the story behind your design” on our Holiday Bingo board. Imagine doing all of these things to grow sales, and winning a cash prize just for doing what you would have been doing anyway! 

Share your story in your holiday promotions!

By incorporating storytelling, authenticity, and transparency into your brand marketing every time you launch a design, you’re not just driving sales—you’re building long-lasting relationships within your community. In fact, you’re enlarging your community, which means those relationships are increasing in proportion to that growth. 

Keep in mind this also helps you cross off another Bingo square and for every Bingo you hit, you’ll have your name entered to win the BIG CASH PRIZES!  

Happy Holidays, Be Real. Be You. Be Prosperous! 

Categories
Holiday Season Promoting merch

How To Create Hype For Your Holiday Drop

Branded merch is one of the best ways to connect deeply with your fans. And you don’t need a huge following; the goal is to have a passionate following. How do you accomplish this? Building hype!

You need to build up hype for your next merch drop, which in turn will give you a killer launch that’ll propel your sales into the stratosphere during the biggest buying season of the year. 

So, let’s get going! Here are 6 sure-fire strategies to help you create hype for your upcoming holiday drop!

Plus, use these tips to cross off some of your holiday bingo tasks and be entered to win up to $3000 in our raffle! 

1. Get to know your fans really well

For those of you who have this down, you can skip to the next step, or just stick around if you want a refresher. Growing your fanbase involves researching what your fans are interested in. 

  • What is it that drew them to you and your channel(s) in the first place? 
  • What do fans respond to? 
  • Which posts get engagement and love, and which ones don’t? 

Go through your feed and do your research! Learn your followers’ likes, mehs, and cringes. When you design with their likes in mind, word of mouth will do the rest as far as building excitement over your new products.

2. Choose products that are relevant

Designs are done. Check. But what products do you print the designs on? HINT: Refer to step #1. This is where knowing your fanbase pays dividends. 

Example: If you’re creating holiday-themed products, it might not make sense to put your winter wonderland on a tank top. Why not opt for a hoodie or fleece blanket? And throw in a cozy mug while you’re at it.

Niche is also important. If your fans are techies, skip the beach towels or shower curtains and get right to tech accessories, like phone cases or a desk mat. Hot tip: we now offer jigsaw puzzles! The original gamer’s night in!

Not sure which products fit your niche? Check out our core collections for some great ideas!

3. Capture behind-the-scenes content before you launch!

Your products are ready to go! But wait! Don’t launch yet! It’s time to build excitement. Announce your upcoming merch drop (again, see step #1 for why your social media audience will care). Tease samples in your content, giving fans a sneak peek of what’s to come. Get them guessing what you’re about to launch! 

Then, start dripping some BTS (behind-the-scenes) content. Here are some ideas:

  • Get footage of you actually creating your design, whether that’s drawing, choosing fonts and colors, or choosing products on your dashboard.
  • Tease the holidays! Why not play some festive music, wear some holiday attire in your content to get fans excited to start shopping the minute you launch?
  • Unbox your sample live (these videos are still popular, by the way). Wrap it up like a gift and open it so fans will want to repeat the experience!
  • Narrate your videos. Talk directly to your fans about your merch so they can have a window inside your mind into why you created your design and what inspired you. 

Don’t just say, “Check out my new merch.” Hyping up the holidays and hyping up your products in your content NOW will create an emotional connection with your fans, which by default increases sales when it’s time to holiday shop. 

4. Countdown the days

🎵It’s the Final Countdown! 🎶 

Countdowns work because they’re fun. Watching that time ticker gets us excited to pounce, especially if we know we’re going to get a deal (see next point). 

Create a series of countdown posts leading up to your merch drop so fans are reminded of exactly when you launch. For a good rule of thumb, countdown weeks at first and then days when it’s less than a week away. What else can you communicate on your countdown posts? Discounts, of course. That’s next!

5. Discounts! Discounts! Discounts!

Who doesn’t look for great deals during the holidays? There’s a reason why everyone lines up for Black Friday sales and then hits the computer for Cyber Monday. Everyone wants to feel they’re special because they’re saving more than the next guy. So make your fans feel special! Hook them up with discounts before you even launch. Share promo codes over socials in advance; Encourage fans to use the codes the second your merch goes live and keep the promos going up to Black Friday and beyond. 

Three tips: 

  1. Don’t forget to set up the promo code before you launch.
  2. Offer the best deals in the first 24 hours of your drop to get fans to act quickly.
  3. Make it clear when the code ends. No one wants to feel they were deceived, even if by accident. 

You can create codes easily on your dashboard here. Discounts are one of the best ways of creating serious FOMO and getting your fans to scramble for your merch ASAP before the discount ends. After all, nobody wants to miss out on a deal, right?

6. Create a “limited edition”

FOMO is a real thing. So is the trusty “limited time only” sales tool. No one wants to miss out on something special. If your collection is only available for a short period of time, it means not everyone can have it. That’s why offering “limited edition” merch is GOLD! You snooze. You lose! 

A few ideas to capitalize on this tactic during the holidays:

  1. Create a unique design exclusive to this time of year using holiday themes and colors or winter-inspired designs.
  2. Choose a past best-seller and add a holiday twist to the design, treating it like a special holiday edition.
  3. Take one of your past designs and refresh it, mixing in something old with something new. Promote both designs, old and new, for a double feature!
  4. Be a rebel. Ignore the holiday themes—create a new design based on something recent from your content and roll it out for the holidays and beyond.

If your launch is hugely successful, you can always bring it back in the future “by popular demand.” This also sets up expectations for your fans to be ready to pounce the next time you have a merch drop. 

7. Build an email list of your customers

Keep track of all those purchasers! Send ‘em emails with a discount for their next buy. Emails are yet another way to achieve step #1. Remember step #1? We’ve only mentioned it 5 times or so. Not all fans are customers, but the ones who need to be kept in the loop about your merch drops. You need to send out regular emails about upcoming drops, special deals, and any other exclusive content that they can hear from you about before it hits your feed.

Don’t have an email list yet? Hit us up at creatorhelp@spri.ng to see if we can help you reach your past buyers with news about your merch.

So there you have it. If you build hype, they will buy. As always, happy selling, and keep playing holiday bingo for your chance to win our $3000 raffle! 

Categories
Holiday Season Launching products

Hottest Holiday Products of 2024

The holidays are knocking on the door. Literally. Get your candy ready. 🍭

Every year, October, November, and December dominate sales. They represent the busiest shopping season, especially for online retailers. According to one poll, 62% of holiday shoppers expect to buy mostly online, and many of them plan to do so before Halloween.

So, in other words, it’s time to launch already!

If you’re not sure what to offer, we’ve got you covered with a list of best-sellers and unique stocking stuffers to help get your creative juices flowing.

Or, if you want to just jump straight into our launcher to browse for yourself, check out our holiday best sellers collection and stocking stuffer collection

Top 10 products to launch this holiday season:

  1. Embroidered Designs 

Elevate your style with embroidery: it has a handcrafted feel and looks luxurious! A great choice for simple designs, like your logo with a holiday twist, maybe? Spring has a few options to choose from:

  1. All-Over Prints

Why stick to the middle when your entire garment can rock your design? All-over prints are just that – they take over the entire space. Go wild with creativity and bring in some holiday themes while you’re at it.

  1. Mugs

A staple for every home, mugs are popular gifts as they can communicate almost anything! Try adding some humor to the holiday, or go big with your brand. 

🔥Hot tip: create 4 compatible designs that can go together as a set! That’s 4 sales at once!

  1. Jewelry

Add some glam to your online store with jewelry. While tees are always an instant hit, sometimes people are looking for more. A necklace or bracelet with your custom design might just be the perfect accessory! Cart building ensues!

  1. Socks

The ultimate stocking stuffer. They’re also a blank canvas for you to show off your brand. Go crazy and design socks for all the holidays. Or create multiple designs so people buy up several pairs. Custom-designed socks are a sure-fire way to boost holiday sales.

  1. Blankets

Bundle up your fans in style this winter with a cozy fleece blanket. This is a chance for you to flex your creative style. Experiment with colors, shapes, and phrases. Get your brand seen by anyone who wants to cuddle up on a cold night.

  1. Tote Bag 

It’s your brand on the go! At the mall! At the grocery store! At the park! Tote bags can literally go anywhere, which means you have instant advertising for how cool your brand is. Create a few options, one for Holiday and one that goes year-round.

  1. Notebook

Taking pen to paper isn’t dead; it just needs a creative push. Top a notebook with your design and place it on desks and in bedrooms as people write out their dreams or to-do lists. You just might inspire your fans to be creative, too!

  1. Art

Your designs are not just T-shirt toppers; they’re art! Or at least, they can be. Spring has a vertical gallery-wrapped canvas just waiting for your brand. Add images and text, experiment with colors…If you need help creating your design, try out Adobe Express, which is now integrated into Spring! 

  1. Puzzles

We know what you’re thinking. Does Spring have jigsaw puzzles? Yep! They’re not only a great gift, but they turn your best designs into a game. Try it out!

Hopefully, you have just been inspired to try out some new products. As a reminder, if you want to launch, promote, and sell for the biggest shopping season of the year, you need to act fast. Below are shipping dates for regular US-based POD products to keep in mind:

  • 12/6 for Standard
  • 12/8 for Rush
  • 12/10 for Super Rush

Don’t forget that launching a new product is a square on our Holiday Bingo, where you can be entered to win up to $3000! Make sure to play along, and happy selling!

Categories
Partnerships

How Amaze and Pietra Are Simplifying Custom Product Development

Amaze, the world’s leading creator commerce platform, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Pietra, a global leader in eCommerce enablement. This partnership will allow creators on the Spring by Amaze platform to easily bring their unique brand visions to life. Launching on October 16, 2024, this collaboration simplifies the custom product development process and gives Spring by Amaze creators access to over 50,000 unique products that can be shipped globally. 

Creators on the Spring by Amaze platform are becoming the world’s most interesting brands due to their ability to uniquely connect with their fans. With this partnership, these brands will now be able to expand their catalog assortment to include anything the creator can imagine. Together, Amaze and Pietra bring mass product development to millions of creators who are already monetizing their community and building loyalty with unique on-demand products. Amaze and Pietra are the leading platforms for sourcing on-demand products and custom products, and together, they will offer rapid growth to emerging brands. Amaze and Pietra will handle the heavy lifting of development, sourcing, production, and fulfillment, allowing creators to do what they do best: create amazing content. 

From Concept to Market: A Seamless Creator Experience

Bringing a product from concept to market can be one of the most challenging aspects of building a brand. But with the new Amaze and Pietra partnership, those challenges are a thing of the past. Creators now have access to a streamlined, one-stop solution for custom product development, eliminating the complexities of vendor sourcing and logistics management.

Whether it’s launching cosmetics, apparel & accessories, or home goods, this collaboration ensures a more efficient and lower-cost journey from ideation to final product. By combining Amaze’s global reach and creator-focused platform with Pietra’s expertise in production and fulfillment, creators can focus on what truly matters—building connections with their community, sharing their unique vision, and scaling their brand.

“Our vision at Amaze is to allow anyone to sell anything, anywhere, with simple tools that connect,” says Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze. “This partnership with Pietra is a natural step in that journey. By providing creators with a seamless solution to custom product creation, we’re allowing them to turn their ideas into thriving businesses without the typical hurdles of sourcing, production, high costs, and logistics.”

Ronak Trivedi, CEO of Pietra, added, “We are incredibly excited to work closely with Amaze, an industry leader in Creator commerce, to power the next generation of commerce. This partnership shows that two industry leaders can come together to push an entire industry into the future.”

Revolutionizing the Creator Economy

This partnership between Amaze and Pietra represents a fundamental shift in the creator economy, giving creators of all sizes the ability to turn their side hustle into full-fledged, thriving brands. By removing the barriers to entry, more creators than ever will be able to bring products to market, expand their offerings, and elevate their businesses.

Some key benefits include:

  • Faster Product Launches: With streamlined sourcing and production processes, creators can release new products quickly, capitalizing on trends and community demand.
  • Expanded Product Options: From fashion to home decor, creators can offer a broader range of products than ever before, ensuring that their offerings resonate with their audience.
  • Increased Profitability: By reducing inefficiencies, this partnership leads to lower costs and greater profit margins for creators.

For creators, this opens doors to new opportunities and allows them to act quickly in response to viral content, seasonal trends, or community feedback.

Leading the Way in a Growing Industry

As the creator economy continues to soar—expected to reach nearly half a trillion dollars by 2027—91% of creators still rely on brand deals for their income, according to Influencer Marketing Hub. 

However, with the new partnership between Amaze and Pietra, creators now have the opportunity to go beyond promoting other brands. They can design, own, and sell their own custom products—unique to their personal brand and ideas—unlocking higher profits and greater control over their revenue streams. This collaboration offers creators the tools they need to build something truly their own and maximize their earnings.

Amaze is truly leading the charge in Creator Powered Commerce by removing barriers and ensuring that creators of all sizes can transform their passion into sustainable businesses. This partnership represents a pivotal moment in the creator economy, where the possibilities for success are limitless.

Categories
Holiday Season

Create & Sell Custom Products This Holiday Season

You can create literally anything with Spring! If you can dream it, you can Spring it. No tech skills are required! We handle everything, from product design, inventory management, shipping, and customer service, for free. Your products will be showcased on your personal storefront and you can order samples to show off on your channels to build up the hype.

So why not design an ultra-special, one-of-a-kind custom product that you can promote & sell through the holidays? After all, these next 3 months represent the BUSIEST BUYING SEASON OF THE YEAR.

Why not capitalize on it with something truly special that captures what’s unique about you and your brand? You’ll build a loyal fanbase while you also build sales!

Custom products don’t just fall out of the sky, so you’ll want to kick-start the process today. You can apply to create your own custom product here.

Why sell custom products during the holidays?

If you start the process of launching a custom product today, you’ll be able to sell it to your fans during the holidays, but their orders won’t ship until the new year. So why sell it during the holidays?

Glad you asked! Here is why it’s a smart play:

  • In 2023, US holiday sales rose 3.9% to reach $1.309 trillion. Yes, you read that right.
  • And 63% of consumers were most likely to shop from online-only retailers. That’s good news for creators!
  • Your fans are looking for something special to buy, and custom products stand out.
  • You can tap into your fans’ desires and show that you can create literally anything they want.
  • Sell all season long with exciting promotions.
  • Let ‘em know they’ll get their special product in the new year – think of it like a bonus gift after the holidays are over. Something special just for them.

While the holidays are about giving to others, sometimes we need a reason to give something to ourselves. Self-care! A custom product can fill this need and give fans something to look forward to!

And by promoting your new custom product on your socials, you can also cross off some of your bingo squares. Win-Win!
If you’re interested in selling something as unique as you, fill out this form, and our team will contact you.