💡 Merch Ideas from Land's End, McDonalds, Gorton's, & More!


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Brands continue to use custom merch to get people excited, relying on nostalgia, scarcity, and "friendly" competition.

McDonald's collectible cups were designed with a throwback to previous Happy Meal themes. Gordon's Seafood is offering merch with fun designs based on their long 175 year history.

Aldi came out with cooler bags to go head to head with Trader Joe’s. Land's End did something bold - offering a ‘trade-in’ program for their canvas totes.

Spam (yes, the canned meat) is raising money to help the people of Maui affected by last year’s fires with some killer merch.

Takeaways:

  • Try designing merch that reminds people of the past to make them feel good about your brand.
  • Team up with a charities to help your community
  • Make limited-time offers to create excitement

The key is to make your merch fun, collectible, and interesting for your recipients. We're here to help. Give me a shout if you want to come up with something fresh for your promotion.

Branded Totes: Aldi vs Trader Joe's, L.L. Bean vs Land's End

Aldi introduced a “crane cooler bag” to compete with Trader Joe’s cooler bags. Their version offered more features like a front pocket with zipper, netting on top for extra storage, double zippers, and an adjustable shoulder strap

Lands’ End launched a campaign to compete with L.L.Bean’s popular “Boat and Tote” bags. Their promotion included offering two Lands’ End canvas tote bags in exchange for any tote bag from any brand, plus $1. Lands’ End bags feature pockets, unlike L.L.Bean’s

Spam's Musubi Merch Raises Funds for Maui Disaster Relief

Spam launched a unique fundraiser for National Spam Musubi Day. The campaign supports Maui's recovery from last year's fires.

Products range from $0.50 temporary tattoos to an $11,000 Spam-shaped ottoman. Popular items include crew neck shirts, lounge pants, and themed accessories.

Gorton's Seafood Reels in Gen Z with Retro Branded Merch

Gorton's, the 175-year-old fish stick company, hooks younger customers with fresh merch designs. Their new line features bucket hats, tees, and sweatshirts with clever slogans and artsy graphics.

Standout items include a reversible fisherman-style hat and pop art mackerel cans reminiscent of Andy Warhol. Gorton's smartly taps into their brand heritage, using vintage designs from their archives to create cool, relatable products. They kept prices consistent across all sizes, including extended sizes - a customer-friendly move worth noting.

Branded Cups From McDonald's and the US Open

McDonald's recent collector cup campaign showcased the enduring appeal of nostalgia-driven marketing. They offered a series of cups featuring iconic Happy Meal Toys from past decades, available for a limited time with meal purchases.

The US Open's Honey Deuce cocktail demonstrates how a branded cup can transcend its primary function to become a cultural phenomenon. Served in a commemorative cup featuring past champions, this Grey Goose vodka-based cocktail has become synonymous with the tournament experience.

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McD's & US Open Cups, Aldi vs Trader Joes Bags, Spam Musubi Fund Raiser, Gorton's Fish Merch

  • Spam's Musubi Maui fundraiser offers items like Musubi-shaped ottomans, mixing fun with philanthropy.
  • McDonald's and the US Open use collectible cups to increase customer engagement and sales.
  • Aldi and Trader Joe's go head to head on cooler bags. Not to be outdone, Land's End goes after rival L.L. Bean's tote bag.
  • Gorton's is updating its image with retro-style merchandise for younger consumers.

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The Merch Drop

I'm Rich Graham. I'm your friend in the merch business. I help business owners & marketers connect with their audiences using branded merch. I host 'The Merch Drop' podcast, I'm the author of this newsletter, and the founder of Big Promotions.

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