The branded merch that earns its keep is the stuff people reach for every day: a cap or beanie, a bag they carry to work, a drink bottle on the desk, a stubby holder at the barbecue. Start with what people wear, add what they carry, and choose each item with the decoration in mind. Here's how we'd put a merch range together from what we list.
Start with headwear
Headwear sits closest to the uniform, and a logo on a cap front is hard to miss. Three things to weigh up:
- The shape. The AS Colour Mesh Trucker Cap 1190 is a high profile trucker with a shallow curved peak and a tonal mesh back, in 12 colours, one size with a snapback. Its listing says "Suited for embroidery and heat pressing", and the mesh back lets air through, which helps at outdoor events, though a cap shades less than a brim. The Legend Life Premium Soft Sandwich Peak Cap 8001 is a structured six panel cotton cap, and its listing says the contrast colour in the peak "is a perfect companion to your company logo". It comes in 21 colour combinations, so you can often pick up a second brand colour in the peak. The pairs are fixed, so check your two colours are one of the combinations listed.
- The decoration line. Our AS Colour cap listings say which methods suit each cap, and they don't all say the same thing. The Finn Nylon Cap 1104 is listed as "Suited for heat pressing", while the Finn Two-Tone 1105 is "Suited for embroidery and heat press". The 1104's "quick-dry recycled nylon" is light for warm days and fun runs, but it comes in black, ecru or smoke only. If you've set your heart on an embroidered logo, check that line before you choose and ask us if it's unclear.
- Beanies for winter. The Legend Life Heather Beanie 4443 has a roll up cuff in a heathered knit, and the Heather Skull Beanie 4405 is the same kind of knit without the cuff. Both are an "Acrylic blend heathered knit", one size fits most, in Black Heather, Navy Heather or Grey Heather. A heathered knit is speckled, so fine detail in a small logo may not stand out as well as on a solid colour. A cuff gives a logo a neat folded band to sit on. On a skull beanie, it sits on the knit itself.
Our Legend Life cap and beanie listings set out the order of things: you check out and send your logo and its position, we work out which decoration method suits that item, and then it's decorated and dispatched. For more styles, browse our caps and beanies. If sun protection is the point, our bucket hat guide covers brims and fabrics.
Bags people actually carry
A bag takes your logo out of the workplace and onto the train, the school run and the sideline on Saturday. Match the bag to how it'll be used.
- Backpacks for staff and teams. The Aussie Pacific Tasman Backpack 4000 holds 28 litres and measures 31cm wide by 44.5cm high by 20.5cm deep. It has padded shoulder straps, a zippered front pocket with an internal organiser and mesh pockets on both sides. Our listing offers 15 colourways, most of them two-tone, which helps if your brand has two colours. It suits staff who commute and teams travelling to games. The Matchday Backpack 4002 is 1680d polyester in Black or Navy, but our listing gives no capacity or dimensions, so ask before choosing it for a laptop.
- Totes for events and shops. AS Colour's canvas totes come in a few shapes. The Pocket Tote 1041 has three external pockets. The Shoulder Tote 1002 is wider, at 46cm by 37cm with a 12.5cm gusset. The Parcel Tote 1000 is smaller, at 35.5cm by 39cm, with a squared-off hem. All three are 320 GSM cotton canvas with reinforced straps, and each listing names screen printing and embroidery among the methods that suit it. Canvas isn't waterproof, so they suit shops, events and conferences better than a wet worksite. Colours are limited to black or cream, plus grey marle on the Parcel Tote.
- Cooler bags for crews and events. We list a custom UltiMate Cooler Bag, 13.5L with a PEVA lined main compartment, and a Jump Cooler Bag, 24L with a PVC lined main compartment. On both, the listing says the decoration "will be placed on front pocket", so ask us how much space that leaves for your artwork.
There's more in our tote and shopping bags and backpacks and sports bags collections.
Drink bottles: keep it simple
Our drink bottle collection is Fifty Fifty stainless steel, from a 354ml bottle with flip top lid and an 887ml mug with straw lid up to 2.1L and 3.8L tank growlers. One detail is worth passing on: the care instructions differ. Our 887ml mug listings say "Dishwasher Safe", while the 354ml and 630ml bottle listings say "Hand wash only". Branding options depend on the product, so ask what's possible for the one you like.
Stubby holders: full colour, proofed first
We list two custom stubby holders, the Premium and the Standard. Both listings describe a "High quality photographic print" on "Premium 5mm neoprene", with taped and stitched side seams and a non slip rubber base. The Premium adds overlocked edges. A photographic print means a logo with several colours, or a whole design, doesn't need simplifying the way it might for embroidery.
The ordering steps on both listings are the same. Once your order comes in, we send you instructions for supplying your artwork. You then receive a proof of the stubby holder design to approve before we get the order underway. Both are in our stubby holder collection.
Putting a range together
- Pick one item everyone gets. A cap or a bottle works for nearly everyone, so it's a sensible base. Add bags, beanies or coolers for the groups who'll use them.
- Use the same logo across the range, with a simpler version ready for small spaces such as a cap side or a beanie cuff.
- Match the method to the item. Embroidery is the usual choice for caps and beanies, as long as the listing's decoration line allows it, and print often suits canvas and full-colour artwork. Our embroidery or printing guide explains the trade-offs.
If you're planning a merch range, fill in our merchandise brief form and tell us what you're after. Our team will come back with ideas that suit your brand and the people who'll use it.
