Festival and artist merch: preparing your T-shirts and tote bags well

For a festival, a concert or a tour, merch is at once a keepsake for the audience, a shop window and a real source of income. You still need to choose the right items and order the right quantities. Here is our method.

Which items to offer?

• The T-shirt remains the best seller. A heavyweight or oversized T-shirt (220 to 300 g) gives an impression of quality that justifies a higher retail price.
• The tote bag: low cost price, very popular at festivals, and visible long afterwards (see our tote bags).
• The hoodie: the premium item for fans, ideal for autumn and winter dates (see our hoodies).
• Bucket hats and caps: perfect for summer festivals (see our caps and bucket hats).

What quantities to order?

Organisers often plan T-shirts for 15 to 25% of the expected audience, and secondary items (tote bags, accessories) for 10 to 15%. For an artist, start rather from your past sales. If in doubt, order a reasonable first batch and restock: with printing in Paris shipped within 1 to 3 working days (the same day with express), you don't need to hold hundreds of items in stock.

As for sizes, a common split for an adult audience is about 10% S, 30% M, 35% L, 20% XL and 5% XXL, to be adapted to your audience.

The design that sells

• A strong visual, legible from afar, with the name of the event or the artist.
• The year or the tour dates on the back: the “souvenir” aspect sells.
• A limited edition (special colour, unique design) creates the urge to buy right away.

Cost price and retail price

As a guide, with one print: a natural tote bag costs about €4.10 per item for 50, a cotton T-shirt about €13.15 in white and €18.15 in colour. Festival merch is generally sold at two to three times its cost price. For more than 100 items, several designs or screen printing, request a quote: that is often where the unit price drops the most.

Customer case: the Genezio concert merch

For the concert of the rapper Genezio, Printtex printed the official merch: a limited edition of concert T-shirts, with premium quality and a careful print, produced in our workshop in Paris 20e.

Preparing merch for an artist or a concert? Request a quote: reply within 24 hours.

Lead times

Your order ships within 1 to 3 working days (subject to stock), then is delivered in 1 to 4 working days (Colissimo or pickup point, free delivery from €100); with express, ordered before 4 pm (working day), it ships the same day. You can also collect it free of charge from our workshop, 5 rue Planchat, Paris 20e.

Launching your own clothing brand? Also read our article Launching your streetwear clothing brand: our advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can we order small and restock later?

Yes, it is even recommended: everything can be personalised from 1 item, and for a restock you just send us the same design again.

Which technique for a large volume?

For several hundred items with few colours, screen printing is often the most economical. For very colourful designs or small runs, digital printing or DTF is better suited.

Can you deliver directly to the event venue?

We ship anywhere in France. State the address and the deadline in your quote request, and we will arrange the shipment.

See also all our ideas by occasion.

Request a quote for my merch · Reply within 24 hours · From 1 item · Workshop in Paris 20e

Launching your brand? Request a small-run quote, or test your design by personalising a first item online.

Merch in small runs: create your clothing brand; larger quantities: screen printing on textiles in Paris.

Preparing your designs: which file to send for printing. Placement: what logo size on a T-shirt.

Festivals and concerts: personalised textiles for events.

For something people keep, see our accessories with your logo.