Did you know personalized merch alerts can help increase your sales by 30%+ while streaming? Activating personalized merch alerts is easy and you can customize their appearance within Streamlabs too. Once activated your buyers will be able to add a personalized message post-purchase that will be visible to you and all viewers on stream.
Once you’ve connected your Streamlabs x Teespring accounts, make sure you’ve got the “Merch” alert ticked within the Alert Box section of your Streamlabs account (under Features > Alert Box > Merch). Check out the video above for more info.
Using multiple alert providers
You can use Streamlabs for merch alerts while using other alert providers for other alert types. Just make sure there’s no overlap with activated alerts on each platform—for example, if you’re using merch alerts on Streamlabs make sure they’re deactivated on StreamElements.
Setup your Twitch Merch Store
Don’t forget you activate your Teespring x Twitch Merch Store Extension Panel to compliment your merch alerts. The panel enables viewers to purchase your products directly below your stream.
Customizing alerts
You can customize the appearance of your merch alerts directly within your Streamlabs account. Use the sidebar to select Features > Alert Box > Merch to access your alert customization settings.
Millions of product sales have made the PopSocket® brand a popular household name. Their exclusive phone accessories can only be sold through specific, approved retailers…so we’re excited to announce that you can now sell PopSockets. Don’t forget we offer customizable phone cases too—create matching phone case + PopSocket collections to increase sales even more.
Please note PopSockets are a specialty product, so you need to unlock them in the launcher in order to sell them. PopSockets are not produced on demand, so users will need to source a minimum of 100 units in order to sell this product. You have the option to pay for inventory upfront, or you can create a pre-order listing and we’ll process orders using the money generated from pre-order sales . Continue reading to learn more about how you can source and sell PopSockets with Spring.
Part 1: Design your PopSocket
You can customize your PopSocket from top to bottom! Check out all the available options below.
Model
You can choose between two PopSocket models; the original PopGrip, or the new PopGrip – Swappable.
PopGrip: The original PopGrip sticks to the back of phones, tablets or cases with it’s rinseable, repositional gel. Once extended, PopGrip becomes a media stand for phones, a photo or texting grip, or lower for video calls. PopGrip can stick to almost any brand of phone or phone case, but may have issues sticking to silicone, waterproof cases or textured materials like leather.
PopGrip – swappable: Like a classic PopGrip, the PopSwap sticks to your phone with a repositional gel, once extended becomes a media stand and grip. The swappable function makes it easy to remove the PopTop from the base. Swap out the PopTop as needed to match your phone with your mood. Remove the PopTop to use your phone’s Qi wireless charging capabilities.
Color options
You can customize your PopSocket from top to bottom.
PopTop: You can customize the top face (PopTop) with a 2 color, 3 color, or full color design. Note the amount of colors will impact the base cost and setup deposit of your PopSocket (see pricing section below for more info).
Base: Both models’ base is available in three colors options: white, black and white/black.
Design
We require EPS or vector files when creating designs for your PopSocket. You must follow the guidelines provided in the design template so make sure to download it before submitting your request in the Teespring Launcher. Keep in mind the number of colors featured in your design will impact the base cost of the product; you can submit a 2 color, 3 color, or full color (4+ colors) design. Check out our free design collections you can apply to this product as well as our PopSocket inspiration board below. Consider creating phone cases to match your PopSockets—this is a great way to promote product collections and increase sales.
The amount of colors featured in your design and the amount of PopSockets ordered will determine the base cost per product. See the table below for a breakdown of prices and keep in mind the base cost includes inventory transport costs too.
Setup deposit: A nonrefundable setup deposit is required in order to process any PopSocket requests. The deposit is determined by the number of colors in your design. Setup deposits range from $35 for 2 colors, $70 for 3 colors and $105 for full color. The setup deposit only needs to be paid once, so if you order additional stock in the future the deposit will be waived.
Fulfillment fee: As with all custom fulfillment products, a fulfillment fee of 15% (minimum $2) is applied when a product is sold.
Profit per sale: As an example, let’s say you want to source 100 PopSockets with a 2 color design. Your selling price is $19.99. This means your deposit will be $35 and your fulfillment fee will be $2.99 (15% of the $19.99 selling price).
100 units x $5.94 base cost = $594 base cost
100 units x $2.99 fulfillment fee = $299 fulfillment fee
In this scenario you’re earning around $10.71 in profit per PopSocket sale.
Part 2: Source & sell PopSockets
Here’s a breakdown of how the process works once you’ve designed your PopSocket. Please note it will take around 7 to 10 business days from the day you submit your request to listing creation.
1. Submit request
Once you’ve unlocked this product you’ll see a ‘PopSocket’ product icon in the Launcher. Click the icon and fill out the form with your PopSocket characteristics and submit the request. We aim to process all requests within 24 – 48 business hours.
2. Pay setup deposit
Once we receive your submission we’ll send you a non-refundable deposit payment link. The deposit goes towards the set-up fee required to enable the machines to print your custom design. Setup deposits range from $35 for 1 color, $70 for 2 colors and $105 for full color. The setup deposit only needs to be paid once, so if you order additional stock in the future the deposit will be waived. Keep in mind you will only be able to withdraw profits from sales once orders are shipped to customers.
3. Approve quote & mockup
Once the deposit is paid we will process your request and follow up with a prototype mockup and quote for approval. Keep in mind inventory transportation and storage costs are included in the base cost quoted.
4. Source & sell
You have two options for sourcing and selling PopSockets with Teespring. Note the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for PopSockets is 100 units. Also, the minimum selling price for PopSockets is $9.99 and the recommended retail price is $15.99 – $29.99.
Option 1: Pay for inventory upfront: When you approve the prototype the next step is to pay for the full inventory order. Once full inventory payment is received your PopSocket order will be processed and we’ll confirm the estimated delivery time for your PopSockets to reach our facility. Please note we also recommend ordering an additional 5% of inventory for replacements and exchanges.
Once inventory reaches our facility we’ll take product photos and create the PopSocket listing for you. We’ll make sure to set the listing to ‘private’ so you can make it public and start selling when you’re ready. You can sell your PopSocket until stock runs out. You will be able to withdraw profits from sales once orders are shipped to customers.
Option 2: Run a pre-order listing: Teespring offers a pre-order option for creators who are unsure how much inventory to order or would like to avoid paying for inventory out of pocket. This enables you to avoid the risk of sourcing too much inventory or having to pay for the products upfront.
After approving the mock up you’ll need to confirm the minimum order quantity (MOQ) you’re comfortable with—i.e. the minimum number of PopSockets you plan to sell. Note the MOQ must be at least 100 units.
Next we’ll create a pre-order listing for buyers to reserve their PopSocket. The pre-order period usually lasts two to four weeks. The limited time aspect can create FOMO (fear of missing out) and result in more orders placed within a short period of time.
We’ll inform buyers of the estimated delivery timeline for their order on the listing page and within confirmation emails. We’ll also advise them of the minimum order quantity so if the MOQ isn’t reached they’ll understand why their order is canceled.
After the pre-order period ends (and MOQ is reached), we will deduct the cost of PopSocket inventory from the reservation profit in your Teespring account and place the order. Please note you can withdraw profits once orders are shipped to customers.
Depending on the quantity of PopSockets, inventory should arrive within one to two weeks. At that time we’ll send the orders to your buyers. Once orders are dispatched your profit will be available for withdrawal.
Please note, if you do not achieve the minimum order quantity required by the end of the selling period, all orders will be cancelled and buyers refunded. Also, with pre-order listings the quoted base cost is “locked” once approved and will not be adjusted if you sell into the next price bracket. For example, you chose the base cost for 100 units, and you sell 502 by the time the pre-order period ends. In this case your base cost will remain the same and not be adjusted.
5. Get Paid
After all PopSocket orders are shipped to buyers, profit from sales will be available for withdrawal within your account.
Visit the Launcher now to see if you’ve unlocked PopSockets!
Twitch’s 15 million+ daily active viewers and massively engaged audience makes it the perfect place for streamers to promote their products. Plus you’ll get even more out of the platform using our powerful integrations; the Twitch Merch Store Panel Extension provides customers with a fully-integrated shopping experience and our Streamlabs integration enables buyers to create personalized merch alerts post-purchase that are visible to you and all viewers on stream.
Don’t forget Teespring is one of the only platforms that enables you to create subscriber-exclusive merch for Twitch too. Whether shoppers access your products through the panel extension or your merch store, they’ll have to verify their subscriber status to purchase these exclusive products. This can be a good tactic for increasing subscriber count while driving sales through limited edition products.
Learn about the top 12 ways streamers are promoting and selling merch on Twitch in the video below. Pick and choose your favorite tactics or use them all to supercharge your sales. Don’t forget to check out Teespring’s complete promo guide for in-depth details and real-world examples of these tips in action. Complete Twitch promo guide.
Twitter has an average of over 300 million monthly active users and it’s the 7th most visited website in the world! Also, over a third of Twitter users buy from a brand they follow—making it a great platform to promote and share your Teespring products. Most brands and organizations have Facebook accounts already, but if you’re new to Twitter you can learn about getting started here.
Using Twitter to promote your products is very easy…but there are a few things you should keep in mind to get the most out of your tweets. The video and complete guide linked below, which are full of examples of how creators are using Twitter’s features successfully—get inspired and try them out for yourself!
Christian Hayes is passionate about food. After starting a successful catering company with his wife, Christine, the couple decided to open their restaurant, The Garrison. Located in Yarmouth, Maine and surrounded by the rushing Royal River, their restaurant serves ‘thoughtful food’ and prides itself on having a brilliant and kind team.
Generate pure profit
Business was booming until COVID-19 spread across the world. Like many small businesses, social distancing and lock downs have hit The Garrison hard and forced Christian and Christine to make some very difficult decisions.
“It’s been awful. Restaurants, hospitality, and catering are all centered around the pretty basic concept of humans congregating. When a pandemic’s direct response is for people not to gather for an unforeseen amount of time – that decimates our industry. We already function on the slimmest of margins. One week off, and you start to feel the pressure. Having to lay off our invested staff who have built these companies beside us was heartbreaking.”
Despite the hardships Christian and his family continue pushing forward. He’s committed to finding new ways to generate income until this passes and life returns to normal—including creating branded merchandise.
“Business is about playing offense and defense, and adapting. You got to pivot. Teespring allowed us to add a revenue stream of pure profit, with no expenses. That’s invaluable in times like these.”
Create appealing designs
Christian was able to create a new merch collection, a custom store, and started getting sales within a week of signing up to Teespring. His designs are inspired by his love of rock & roll and motorcycle culture, and similar to his restaurant the aesthetic uniquely combines a high-end look with a bit of attitude. The main thing for Christian was creating products he would want to wear.
The Garrion’s merch features several different design collections. Their most popular product so far is the premium tee in the Snake Bite design. Apart from tees, Christian also offers sweatshirts, hoodies, tote bags, tank tops, women’s tees, and die cut stickers featuring each design.
Community is key
Christian’s merch collection has enabled his community and loyal patrons to show their support for the business. He’s utilizing social media to let people know about the products and has been overwhelmed by the response. Following promotional best practices like sharing visual posts is effective for creating engagement and driving sales.
“Obviously social media is paramount, and staying ahead of the curve on those platforms is key. We have an incredibly loyal customer base who desperately want to help, so fueling the fire by creating things they can get excited about is priority. The way the community has gathered around us to offer support and words of encouragement has been so overwhelming and humbling. It reminds us that human beings are incredible.”
Never give up
While no one knows what the future holds, Christian plans to further diversify income through merch and creating new services at the restaurant like prepped meals, staple boxes with fresh ingredients, and more.
“Stay up. It’s times like these that make us who we are, so keep swinging, and look out for each other. It’s the only thing we can do.”
With the global outbreak of COVID-19 many businesses find themselves in a challenging situation. Establishments that traditionally rely on foot traffic and appointments are taking a hard hit to their income with social distancing being practiced in countries worldwide. So how can businesses garner support from their loyal customers until things return to normal?
Creating new opportunities through merchandise
A growing number of local businesses have started selling merch on-demand in an effort to supplement income during this time. This concept isn’t new, in fact we’ve seen many businesses use branded merch over the years as a marketing tool and source of diversified income. Selling merch on demand is free because there’s no upfront inventory required, plus Teespring handles order fulfillment and customer support so valuable time can be focused on running your business instead of dealing with logistics and hassle.
Jamie and Evan Shipp, owners of GoodShipp Alpaca Co. in Louisville, Kentucky, used merchandise to supplement their income as they expanded their Alpaca shearing products and services. The revenue earned from merch sales has gone toward general farm expenses, but has also helped expand their herd with a new alpaca named Hank!
D&B Performance and Automotive Repair, located in Burrillville, Rhode Island is owned by Dawn and Bob Tufano. This local auto shop has been family owned and operated since 2000. After customers began to inquire about their employees’ unique uniforms, daughter Rachel Tufano created print-on-demand apparel and added them to a store on Teespring. Current profits are put towards funding daily expenses, such as payroll, new uniforms, and garage supplies, and customers wearing their merch around town helps to attract new customers.
“The customers were actually a pretty big part of why I chose Teespring as well, because I’d be able to just give people the links to the designs and they could purchase them on their own versus us having to order hundreds in bulk and either give them away for free (which is SO costly) or make little to no profit on them because they were so expensive to buy to begin with (again, SO costly).”
Emily and Marc Vance of Dill Farms created branded merch is another example of a small business using merchandise to market their services and engage with their local community in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Do you know a business that needs support?
If you know a business going through a tough time due recent events send them our way. We’ll help them set up their own online merch store and provide additional promotional tools and assistance if necessary. This service is totally free to use, and businesses will keep all profits from product sales. Plus we’ll handle order delivery and customer support too so they can focus on running their business.
Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2020 by millions of people around the world. This year is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and this year’s theme is “climate action”—the pressure is on to take action (and fast) and combat climate change! Earth Day aims to increase awareness of the planet, pollution, climate change, endangered species, and many other environmental issues to drive transformative change.
With the recent launch of our Conscious Collection, now is the perfect time to create eco-friendly products in line with Earth Day 2020. PLASMA Magazine is an international publication that combines art + science to inspire curiosity and appreciation for the planet and the space that surrounds it. PLASMA have just launched their own Conscious Collection, so we caught up with them to learn more about their publication and how it inspires their designs.
Diana Wehmeier, CEO and Creative Director of PLASMA Magazine
Creating product collections
The team at PLASMA was initially drawn to Teespring’s sustainable business model, where products are only produced on demand. After seeing trusted companies use the platform for merch needs they decided to give it a try for themselves.
After the success of several product collections, PLASMA has incorporated new items from the Conscious Collection into their store, which aligns perfectly with Earth Day. These products give buyers the chance to purchase apparel and accessories with reduced environmental impact while supporting environmental non-profits.
“Researching space exploration and planetary studies only bring us closer to our own planet and helps you appreciate everything a little more. There is no other place like earth (as far as we know). This planet is precious and the only home we have, it is imperative to save and protect it for future generations.”
The magazine’s content is designed to engage younger people and communicate science and technology in a more fun and appealing way. Each issue is jam-packed with stories, behind the scenes sneak peeks, photo series, posters, nerd guides, all things art + science, plus interviews featuring scientists from diverse fields talking about their personal motivations and passions.
The magazine’s content is also what inspires the unique design featured on their products.
“The latest science news and events is what influences and inspires our merchandise designs. For the focus of our eco-conscious collection we selected a few fan favorite pages that create an awareness not only for planet Earth, but also other celestial bodies like the moon and Mars!”
A page from PLASMA issue 5 that inspired one of their top selling product designs.
Promoting products
PLASMA successfully launches new products using a combination of promotion best practices. During the pre-launch phase they generate hype and interest by sharing ‘sneak peek’ sample photos with their online following.
“First we test with a teaser or sneak peek, by ordering samples and taking photos we can see the products firsthand and gauge the response on social media.”
PLASMA also asks fans to share photos and videos with the products once they arrive. This enables them to collect social proof which can be used in the future to drive more sales.
“We often get mentioned in stories or tagged in posts or people send us lovely messages about their merch, that’s always very sweet and motivating.”
It’s been a challenging few months but we’re happy to report our production facilities are running at full capacity once more. Record-breaking sales and site traffic continue as we enter Q3 2020, and we’re optimistic for what the future holds in the world of social commerce and merchandise.
Members of Teespring’s support + operations teams at our US facility (February 2020)
Full production capacity restored
New orders are being produced and shipped on time and we’re so grateful to our wonderful print partners around the world who helped us keep production going uninterrupted over these last few weeks. We’re also pleased to confirm orders are no longer being re-routed and will be fulfilled within their corresponding regions moving forward.
Support team updates
While all new orders are being produced and shipped on time, some orders experienced delivery delays during COVID-19 lockdowns. We have contacted customers who were impacted by delays and are working to find a suitable solution for them. If you have any buyers who need assistance or have questions regarding their order, please send them to our support team (learn more).
Please note due to the unprecedented volume of sales alongside COVID-19 lockdowns, our support teams are currently experiencing longer-than-normal response times. We’ve hired new support team members and are working around the clock to assist everyone as quickly as possible. It will take us some time to get back to our normal 24 – 48 hour response time so please bear with us and thank you for your patience.
Looking forward to the future
We’ve added new hires across departments to reinforce our teams to better support you and your customers during this time of growth. In the coming months we plan to roll out many new product options as well as feature enhancements to help you take your merch business to the next level. As we return to a ‘new normal’, our team is excited to provide you and your customers with the quality service and support you deserve. Thank you for your continued trust and understanding. Stay safe and take care!
It is impossible to deny the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. Conscious consumption and rising awareness of sustainability issues demand action, and fast. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Conscious Collection—a product line that empowers you to create and sell eco-conscious merch you can be proud of. To start, the collection will feature organic tote bags, eco unisex tees, organic long sleeve tees, and eco unisex hoodies.
The Conscious Collection products are fully integrated in the Teespring Launcher and can be designed and launched instantly. They’re also global products, which means we’ll offer the best shipping prices and delivery timelines no matter where your customers are located.
The collection features four global products: tote bags, unisex shirts, long sleeve tees, and hoodies. All products are either made of 100% organic cotton or feature a combination of organic cotton and recycled materials. Each product is eco-friendly in its own unique way, but overall the collection shares characteristics such as:
All products are made of fibres that require little or no pesticides to grow and avoid contributions to air, water and land pollution.
These products are cruelty-free, made from non-animal fibres, and are harvested in animal-friendly ways (with reduced impact on their habitats).
The materials used in these products also contribute to green practices that reduce the use of resources like water and energy.
Our US supplier for hoodies, long sleeve tees, and totes donates a portion of every product sale to an environmental non-profit organization—by selling one of these products you can make a direct, positive impact on the environment.
Products in the collection are labeled as “Organic” or “Eco” based on the percent of organic cotton they contain. Due to the fact that eco-friendly products require slightly more investment to produce, this also means they can generate higher profit margins ranging from $10+ to $15+ per product. Keep in mind 49% of Nielsen survey respondents said they are willing to pay higher-than-average prices for products with high-quality/safety standards, which consumers often associate with strong sustainability practices (organic + eco-friendly).
Teespring’s eco-conscious commitment
We’ve been working on our eco-friendly agenda since the company’s inception in 2011. With the fashion industry dumping over 92 million tons of solid waste into landfills each year, Teespring’s on-demand business model provides a significant solution for reducing waste. Our entire operation revolves around products that are created on demand (i.e. after an order is placed)—enabling us to avoid overproduction, textile waste, and only source supplies as needed. In the rare occurrence we have unusable inventory due to damaged goods or misprints (note Teespring has some of the lowest misprint rates in the industry), our team aims to recycle or donate these items as much as possible.
Apart from our eco-friendly business model, we’ve made other enhancements to reduce our environmental impact over time. We’ve established an entirely paperless operation at our production facility in the U.S. and we’re working to reduce and terminate paper usage with our global partners too. We have eliminated double-packaging across our global fulfillment network, which has reduced plastic output by millions of plastic bags per year! Moving forward, we are committed to on-going research into eco-friendly products and packaging opportunities to further support conscious commerce on our platform.
Margaux Pepper is a Chitown-based, Southern spitfire with a penchant for good food and bad puns. By day, she’s a brand strategist at a PR firm, and by night she’s a feminist lettering artist and clothing designer. For her, International Women’s Day is not only a moment to celebrate the progress made toward equality, but also a reminder of the work that’s yet to be realized.
Continue reading to learn more about Margaux and her personal brand, where she finds design inspiration, promotional tips and more.
Building a brand
Margaux is one example of the hundreds of thousands of fabulous females building their own personal brands and businesses on Teespring. Following her role as a contributing artist for a feminist clothing collection, Margaux decided to go independent create her own personal brand, Pepper vs. Patriarchy. Teespring’s on-demand business model meant Margaux could create 50+ products instantly without any upfront costs or risk—she was able to combine her love of feminism and art, and turn her ideas into a full range of products to sell online.
“I love the wide range of styles, colors, products, and extended sizing. It was important to me to offer my designs with the most options possible so that customers felt included and like they could find something they love!”
Finding inspiration
Margaux says design inspiration comes from friends and family sharing their ideas or making requests on what they’d like to see or wear. For example, her Women 2020 design was an idea her mom came up with, to support female candidates at all levels! This same technique can be used by other Teespring users who are designing for an existing audience—some of the most successful designs sold on are inspired by a creator’s fanbase.
Promoting products
Keep in mind using real samples in promotional content can increase sales by 50%, so it’s no surprise featuring product samples are Margaux’s preferred promotional method. She incorporates images of herself, friends and customers wearing products into her Instagram feed, stories, and highlights. These images not only create tons of engagement, they’re also examples of social proof which can influence other followers to purchase too.
“It’s great to be able to order samples and take photos of myself in the products, but it means so much to me to see other people wearing and enjoying my designs in their everyday lives…One of my friends from college wore my Good Bi design as part of her coming out journey, which basically made my heart explode. It means so much to me that something I created could be part of a moment like that.”
Margaux’s fans repping her products
The future is female
When Margaux isn’t growing her brand on Instagram, she works as a brand strategist at the second largest Public Relations firm in the world. One of the main reasons she chose to explore a career in PR was because of the opportunities she saw for women at all levels of leadership within the agency, both in Chicago and globally.
“When women are given a fair shot and a chance to succeed, the work they make, the teams they lead, and the culture they create ultimately benefits everyone.”
This is the core message of Margaux’s personal beliefs and brand…and it’s the perfect mantra to celebrate International Women’s Day 2020. With that in mind, we’d like to take a moment to recognize all of the inspiring female and female identifying users on the platform—we’ve selected a range below for you to discover and get inspired by! Of course, we couldn’t include everyone, but don’t forget to check out our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook where we are always featuring our amazing users.
