--- title: "How To Up Your Merch Game in 2025" description: "Using merchandise as a strategized, data-backed brand channel that influences purchase behavior, loyalty, perception, revenue and even employee morale." type: article version: 1 version_id: "40b90cd9-b693-4f41-b8e0-e9d0d8b76381" generated_at: "2026-06-11T18:26:41.510Z" author: "AKC Marketing Team" date_published: "2025-07-07T19:32:44.000Z" date_modified: "2025-07-07T19:32:44.329Z" language: en-us reading_time: "6 min" word_count: 1135 url: "https://blog.akcmarketing.com/wearbles-but-make-them-cute-and-classy" --- # How To Up Your Merch Game in 2025 > Using merchandise as a strategized, data-backed brand channel that influences purchase behavior, loyalty, perception, revenue and even employee morale. ## Key Takeaways - Custom, on-brand designs are taking over as companies are moving past generic swag toward unique, customized pieces - At AKC, our in-house merch team is seeing clients invest in well-designed, high-quality merch [](javascript:;)[](javascript:;)[](javascript:;) ### Posts by Tag - [Content Marketing (26)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/content-marketing) - [Insider (20)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/insider) - [Digital Marketing (19)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/digital-marketing) - [Branding (17)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/branding) - [Social Media (16)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/social-media) - [Advertising (14)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/advertising) - [Targeted Marketing (13)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/targeted-marketing) - [Video Marketing (12)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/video-marketing) - [Data Driven (10)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/data-driven) - [Return on Investment (9)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/return-on-investment) - [Marketing (8)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/marketing) - [ROI (8)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/roi) - [Sales (8)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/sales) - [Awards (7)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/awards) - [Buyers Journey (7)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/buyers-journey) - [Event Management (7)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/event-management) - [Storytelling (7)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/storytelling) - [Audience (6)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/audience) - [Decision Stage (5)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/decision-stage) - [Marketing Qualified Leads (5)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/marketing-qualified-leads) - [Optimizations (5)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/optimizations) - [Social Listening (5)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/social-listening) - [Buyer Persona (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/buyer-persona) - [Content Creator (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/content-creator) - [Email Marketing (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/email-marketing) - [Engagement (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/engagement) - [Marketing Automation (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/marketing-automation) - [Public Relations (4)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/public-relations) - [Artificial Intelligence (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Consideration Stage (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/consideration-stage) - [Graphic Design (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/graphic-design) - [NAMA (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/nama) - [SEO (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/seo) - [SQL (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/sql) - [Sales Qualified Lead (3)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/sales-qualified-lead) - [AMA NOVA Awards (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/ama-nova-awards) - [Analytics (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/analytics) - [Awareness Stage (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/awareness-stage) - [Blogging (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/blogging) - [Contest Marketing (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/contest-marketing) - [Generative AI (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/generative-ai) - [MQL (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/mql) - [SEM (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/sem) - [Search Engine Optimization (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/search-engine-optimization) - [Website Optimization (2)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/website-optimization) - [Funnel (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/funnel) - [Influencer Marketing (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/influencer-marketing) - [Original Content (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/original-content) - [Print Advertisement (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/print-advertisement) - [Search Engine Marketing (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/search-engine-marketing) - [StudioMAX (1)](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/topic/studiomax) See all Categories 3 Minute Read \[July 07, 2025\] The era of cheap, throwaway promotional items is ending. Standard blank tees and low‑quality merch just doesn’t cut it in 2025. If nobody wants to wear it, why bother? A [2021 study from the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)](https://static.ppai.org/public/research/Consumer/2021ConsumerStudyReport.pdf?_gl=1*1mf0wpa*_gcl_au*MTgyOTEyNjM4NC4xNzUxMzExNzUx) found that 58% of consumers believe the quality of merch is directly tied to a company's reputation, and 75% of recipients say they are at least somewhat likely to switch brands if they receive a promotional product they really like from a company they have not done business with before. Custom, on-brand designs are taking over as companies are moving past generic swag toward unique, customized pieces. In 2025, organizations increasingly see merch as a measurable marketing channel, rather than simple brand awareness. They are tracking usage, redemption and ROI via dashboards. At AKC, our in-house merch team is seeing clients invest in well-designed, high-quality merch. We asked them for some golden rules for merch, and here is what they said:  1. **Quality over quantity** Shoppers hate throwaway swag — According to that same PPAI study, 80% of those surveyed kept promotional products for at least a year, with [50% keeping them for more than five years](https://static.ppai.org/public/research/Consumer/2021ConsumerStudyReport.pdf?_gl=1*1mf0wpa*_gcl_au*MTgyOTEyNjM4NC4xNzUxMzExNzUx). 2. **Vintage aesthetics are in** Soft, throwback-style wearables feel premium and are highly desirable — echoing the trend toward “lasting luxury” in merch. 3. **Bold, Y2K‑inspired styles appeal to Gen Z** Big colors, patterns and baggy fits are trending. In music merch, oversized hoodies and Y2K styles — especially from Gen Z artists — are all the rage. 4. **Match retail‑brand quality** Premium polos, hoodies, outerwear and shirts now rival top retail offerings.  5. **Custom designs for women are essential** Boxy, crew‑cut styles aren't flattering on many women. Plus, women — particularly those over 50 — are financially powerful and underserved. In fact, [women over 50 account for 27% of all consumer spending](https://advertise.aarp.org/50-insights/ignoring-50-plus-women#:~:text=Women%20over%2050%20account%20for,most%20active%20generation%20in%20history.) — 3% more than their male counterparts. 6. **Get creative and go beyond apparel** Long-lasting, practical items — like drinkware and tech accessories (e.g., laptop cases, power banks) — are a smart investment. In fact, these items have not yet "flooded" the market. [Only 36.3% of survey respondents have received a tech accessory promotional item and even fewer, 35.4%, have received drinkware](https://static.ppai.org/public/research/Consumer/2021ConsumerStudyReport.pdf?_gl=1*1mf0wpa*_gcl_au*MTgyOTEyNjM4NC4xNzUxMzExNzUx). 7. **Market your merch** Treat merch as its own campaign. Marketing merchandise increases brand exposure and customer loyalty. Additionally, selling branded products provides additional revenue streams and reinforces brand identity every time that merch is used.  All this to say, in 2025, merchandise is so much more than a giveaway. It can be a strategized, data-backed brand channel that influences purchase behavior, loyalty, perception, revenue and even employee morale. Brands that treat merch with intention—investing in quality, design, diversity, and analytics—will reap real returns in today’s digital-first consumer landscape. *AKC Merch is here to help! Reach out to us at* [*merch@akcmerchandise.com*](mailto:merch@akcmerchandise.com) *for a custom quote or guidance deciding what is best for your company!* --- ## About This Content **Source:** [How To Up Your Merch Game in 2025](https://blog.akcmarketing.com/wearbles-but-make-them-cute-and-classy) **Author:** AKC Marketing Team **Published:** July 7, 2025 *This content is provided for informational purposes. Please visit the original source for the most up-to-date information.*