Merch for record stores
Record stores are destinations. People plan trips around them and want something to show they went.
Free to open · no inventory · 20% of each sale, nothing else
Why record store merch works
Music fans wear their scene on their sleeve, literally. A shirt from a well-loved record store says something about taste, and collectors buy them on the road.
Record stores also have a calendar made for merch: Record Store Day, in-store shows and anniversaries each give a reason for a limited design.
What you’d earn
The products that suit a record store best, at our suggested prices. You set the price; the dashboard shows what you earn on every size before you list.
| Product | Customer pays | Printing and blank | Our fee (20%) | You earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unisex Basic Softstyle T-Shirt | Gildan 64000T-shirts | $25.00 | −$9.63 | −$5.00 | $10.37 |
| Eco Tote Bag | Econscious EC8000Tote bags | $45.00 | −$17.75 | −$9.00 | $18.25 |
| Kiss-Cut StickersStickers | $8.00 | −$2.95 | −$1.60 | $3.45 |
| Unisex Heavy Blend Hoodie | Gildan 18500Hoodies | $57.00 | −$22.63 | −$11.40 | $22.97 |
 Set of Pin ButtonsPins | $20.00 | −$7.73 | −$4.00 | $8.27 |
 Classic Dad Hat | Yupoong 6245CMHats | $38.00 | −$14.94 | −$7.60 | $15.46 |
Today’s catalog at our suggested prices. Larger sizes cost a bit more to make; your dashboard shows every size before you list, and you can price higher or lower.
Ideas to start with
The logo tee
Black or heathered, with your logo or a nod to vinyl.
A Record Store Day shirt
Available around the day only. Regulars will look for it each year.
In-store show shirts
For a show you host, with the date (and the artist’s permission if you use their name).
Stickers, lots of them
Record collectors put stickers on everything.
How to sell it
- 1Put a QR code by the register and in the new-arrivals bin.
- 2Staff wear the tee.
- 3Drop a sticker in every bag.
- 4Announce your Record Store Day shirt with the day’s releases.
What we handle
- Printed to order, usually within 2–5 business days
- Shipped across the US, with tracking emails in your shop’s name
- Checkout, payment and sales tax handled
- Misprints and damage reprinted or refunded at our cost
- Your own shop at yourname.themerchcounter.com
- A QR counter card and stickers, ready to print
Questions record stores ask
- Can I use band names or album art?
- Not without permission from whoever owns them. Use your own store’s name, logo and original designs.
- What sells best?
- Tees and stickers, with a hoodie for colder months.
Guides for record stores
Marketing your merch
Merch Drops: How Limited Runs Create Demand
How local businesses can use limited merch drops — seasonal, anniversary and collab designs — to give customers a reason to buy now, with no leftover stock.
2 min read
Marketing your merch
How to Sell Merch on Instagram
How a local business can sell merch on Instagram: link in bio, launch posts, Stories, reposts and caption ideas that get followers to buy.
3 min read
Guide
Merch Ideas for Every Kind of Local Business
Merch ideas for coffee shops, breweries, gyms, restaurants, bakeries, studios and bookstores: what to make, what sells, and how to launch with no inventory.
6 min read
Open your record store merch shop
Fifteen minutes, nothing up front, and a link you can share tonight.
Open your free shop