By Amanda Hofman, Chief Swag Officer and Branded Merchandise Expert

Let’s Clear Something Up About Branded Merch

There’s a common misconception I hear all the time:

I’ll sell merch for passive income.

Hard truth?
Merch is not passive income for most businesses. 🙅🏻‍♀️

And honestly? Most things in life aren’t really passive income.
(That Etsy shop, that digital download, that affiliate link? Still needs effort.)

But here’s the good news:
Even if it’s not passive, branded merchandise is one of the most powerful sales and marketing tools you’ve got.

Great Merch Does What Ads, Content, and Funnels Try to Do

Let’s break it down. Strategic swag can:

🔥 Grab attention in a sea of sameness
🔥 Build trust with your community and fans
🔥 Spark conversations that content alone can’t
🔥 Keep your brand top of mind, without ongoing spend

A clever tee, stylish tote, or comfy crewneck becomes a walking billboard you didn’t have to boost, promote, or run ad spend against.

It shows up in Zoom calls, on social, at the grocery store, and in your favorite local coffee shop.

Swag That Supports Sales

No, your merch store might not outsell your core offer.

But when branded merch is designed with intention — and paired with your message, voice, and vibe — it becomes a multiplier:

🛍️ Builds emotional buy-in
📸 Shows up in user-generated content
💬 Gets people talking about your brand
📈 Nudges new buyers down the path to purchase

That’s not passive.
That’s powerful.

Make Merch That Works for You

At Go To Market Studio, we help brands create high-converting, high-impact swag that looks amazing and pulls its weight.

Want your branded merchandise to do more than sit on a shelf?
We’ll help you turn it into a real, working part of your growth strategy — not a side hustle pipe dream.