Best Merchandise Suppliers for Bands 2025

Merchandise is a crucial revenue stream for bands. This directory covers the best suppliers for t-shirts, apparel, and other merch, plus fulfillment and print-on-demand services.

Print-on-Demand Services

1. Printful

Minimum Order: None (print-on-demand) Best For: Online stores with no inventory

Products:

• T-shirts and apparel
• Hats and accessories
• Posters and prints
• Phone cases
• Stickers
• Home goods

Key Features:

• No minimum orders
• Automatic fulfillment
• Integration with stores
• Warehousing available
• Global shipping
• Branding options
• Quality products

Pricing: Product cost + shipping (varies by item) Example: T-shirt $11-15 + shipping

Pros:

• No upfront investment
• No inventory management
• Easy integration
• Wide product range
• Good quality
• Global reach

Cons:

• Higher per-unit cost
• Less profit margin
• Shipping can be slow
• Limited customization
• No bulk discounts

Best For: Starting out or testing designs

Website: printful.com

2. Printify

Minimum Order: None (print-on-demand) Best For: Budget-conscious print-on-demand

Products:

• Apparel
• Accessories
• Home decor
• Bags
• Stickers
• Jewelry

Key Features:

• Multiple print providers
• Competitive pricing
• Store integrations
• Product mockups
• Global network
• No inventory needed

Pricing: Generally 10-20% cheaper than Printful Example: T-shirt $9-13 + shipping

Pros:

• Lower prices than Printful
• Multiple suppliers
• Wide product range
• Easy to use
• Good integrations
• No minimums

Cons:

• Quality varies by supplier
• Less consistent
• Customer service varies
• Shipping times vary
• Complex supplier selection

Best For: Budget-conscious online sales

Website: printify.com

3. Teespring (Spring)

Minimum Order: None Best For: Social media selling

Products:

• Apparel
• Accessories
• Home goods
• Stickers
• Phone cases

Key Features:

• Built-in marketplace
• Social media integration
• No upfront costs
• Campaign-based selling
• Automatic fulfillment
• Creator tools

Pricing: Set your own price, they take a base cost Example: T-shirt base $10, you set retail price

Pros:

• No upfront costs
• Built-in audience
• Easy social selling
• Campaign tools
• No inventory
• Simple setup

Cons:

• Lower profit margins
• Less control
• Limited branding
• Platform dependency
• Quality concerns

Best For: Social media-based selling

Website: spring.com

Bulk Screen Printing

4. Jakprints

Minimum Order: 25 pieces Best For: Quality bulk printing

Products:

• T-shirts and apparel
• Posters
• Stickers
• Vinyl records
• CDs
• Promotional items

Key Features:

• High quality printing
• Music industry focus
• Vinyl pressing
• CD duplication
• Fast turnaround
• Design services

Pricing: Competitive bulk rates Example: 50 t-shirts ~$6-8 each

Pros:

• Music industry focused
• High quality
• Vinyl and CD services
• Good customer service
• Fast turnaround
• Design help available

Cons:

• Minimum orders required
• Upfront investment
• Inventory management
• Shipping costs

Best For: Established bands with consistent sales

Website: jakprints.com

5. Threadbird

Minimum Order: 12 pieces Best For: Small batch screen printing

Products:

• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Tank tops
• Long sleeves
• Custom apparel

Key Features:

• Low minimums
• High quality
• Fast turnaround
• No setup fees
• Online designer
• Samples available

Pricing: Competitive for small batches Example: 24 t-shirts ~$8-10 each

Pros:

• Low minimums
• No setup fees
• High quality
• Fast turnaround
• Easy online ordering
• Good for testing

Cons:

• Limited product range
• Higher cost for very small orders
• Apparel-focused only
• US-based only

Best For: Small batches and testing designs

Website: threadbird.com

6. CustomInk

Minimum Order: 6 pieces Best For: Easy online ordering

Products:

• T-shirts and apparel
• Accessories
• Bags
• Promotional items
• Custom products

Key Features:

• Very low minimums
• Easy design tool
• Fast turnaround
• Quality guarantee
• Design services
• Group ordering

Pricing: Varies by quantity Example: 24 t-shirts ~$10-12 each

Pros:

• Very low minimums
• Easy to use
• Fast turnaround
• Quality guarantee
• Design help
• Reliable

Cons:

• Higher per-unit cost
• Not music-specific
• Limited bulk discounts
• Basic customization

Best For: Small orders and easy process

Website: customink.com

7. Bella+Canvas (Wholesale)

Minimum Order: Varies by distributor Best For: Blank apparel for local printing

Products:

• Premium blank apparel
• T-shirts
• Hoodies
• Tank tops
• Fashion-forward styles

Key Features:

• High-quality blanks
• Sustainable options
• Fashion-forward fits
• Soft fabrics
• Industry standard
• Wide size range

Pricing: Wholesale pricing through distributors Example: Blank t-shirts $3-6 each wholesale

Pros:

• High quality
• Great fit and feel
• Sustainable options
• Industry standard
• Wide selection
• Good for local printing

Cons:

• Need local printer
• Wholesale account required
• Minimum orders
• Two-step process
• Inventory management

Best For: Working with local screen printers

Website: bellacanvas.com

Specialty Merch

8. Sticker Mule

Minimum Order: 10 pieces Best For: Stickers and small items

Products:

• Die-cut stickers
• Buttons
• Magnets
• Keychains
• Packaging tape
• Labels

Key Features:

• High quality
• Fast turnaround
• Low minimums
• Free proofs
• Easy reordering
• Great customer service

Pricing: Very competitive Example: 50 stickers ~$1 each

Pros:

• Excellent quality
• Fast turnaround
• Low minimums
• Easy ordering
• Great service
• Free shipping over $50

Cons:

• Limited product range
• Stickers/small items only
• Can get expensive for large orders
• US-based

Best For: Stickers and small promotional items

Website: stickermule.com

9. Vinyl On Demand (VOD)

Minimum Order: 1 unit Best For: Vinyl record pressing

Products:

• Vinyl records (7", 10", 12")
• Lathe cut records
• Picture discs
• Colored vinyl
• Packaging

Key Features:

• No minimum orders
• On-demand pressing
• Quick turnaround
• Various formats
• Custom options
• Quality pressing

Pricing: Higher per-unit but no minimums Example: Single 12" vinyl ~$25-35

Pros:

• No minimums
• On-demand
• Quick turnaround
• Various options
• Good for testing
• Quality product

Cons:

• Expensive per unit
• Not for bulk
• Limited to vinyl
• European-based

Best For: Small vinyl runs or on-demand

Website: vinyl-on-demand.com

10. Disc Makers

Minimum Order: 100 CDs/DVDs Best For: CD/DVD duplication and vinyl pressing

Products:

• CDs and DVDs
• Vinyl records
• USB drives
• Packaging
• Posters
• Merch bundles

Key Features:

• Music industry focus
• Full-service packages
• Mastering services
• Design services
• Distribution options
• Quality guarantee

Pricing: Competitive for bulk Example: 300 CDs with packaging ~$1-2 each

Pros:

• Music industry focused
• Full-service options
• Quality products
• Design services
• Distribution help
• Established company

Cons:

• Minimum orders
• Upfront investment
• Longer turnaround
• CDs declining market

Best For: Professional CD/vinyl releases

Website: discmakers.com

Fulfillment Services

11. Merchbar

Minimum Order: None Best For: Artist merch stores and fulfillment

Services:

• Online store creation
• Inventory management
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service
• Analytics
• Marketing tools

Key Features:

• No upfront costs
• They handle everything
• Professional storefront
• Global shipping
• Customer service included
• Marketing support

Pricing: Commission-based (typically 20-30%)

Pros:

• No upfront investment
• Full-service
• Professional
• They handle logistics
• Marketing included
• Established platform

Cons:

• Higher commission
• Less control
• Platform dependency
• Profit margin lower
• Inventory requirements

Best For: Hands-off merch management

Website: merchbar.com

12. Shopify + Fulfillment

Minimum Order: None Best For: Full control of merch business

Services:

• E-commerce platform
• Inventory management
• Order processing
• Integration with fulfillment
• Marketing tools
• Analytics

Key Features:

• Complete control
• Professional store
• Scalable
• Many integrations
• Marketing tools
• Mobile app

Pricing: $29-299/month + fulfillment costs

Pros:

• Full control
• Professional
• Scalable
• Many integrations
• Own your data
• Flexible

Cons:

• Monthly costs
• More management
• Learning curve
• Need fulfillment partner
• More responsibility

Best For: Serious merch business

Website: shopify.com

Local and Specialty Options

13. Local Screen Printers

How to Find:

• Google "screen printing your city"
• Ask other local bands
• Visit in person
• Check reviews

Advantages:

• Personal relationship
• See samples
• Quick turnaround
• Support local
• Flexible on details
• Easy communication

Considerations:

• Minimum orders vary
• Pricing varies
• Quality varies
• Limited to local pickup
• Research needed

Best For: Local sales and personal touch

14. Etsy Sellers

Platform: Etsy.com

Options:

• Custom printing
• Handmade items
• Unique products
• Small batch production
• Specialty items

Advantages:

• Unique products
• Support small businesses
• Custom options
• Various price points
• Wide variety

Considerations:

• Quality varies
• Turnaround varies
• Communication important
• Research sellers
• Read reviews

Best For: Unique or handmade items

Comparison Chart

Choosing the Right Supplier

By Business Model

Just Starting:

• Printful or Printify (no risk)
• Teespring (social selling)
• Sticker Mule (low-cost items)

Regular Gig Sales:

• Threadbird (small batches)
• CustomInk (easy reordering)
• Local printer (quick turnaround)

Established Band:

• Jakprints (quality bulk)
• Shopify + fulfillment (full control)
• Merchbar (hands-off)

Online Focus:

• Printful (quality POD)
• Shopify (full control)
• Teespring (social)

By Product Type

T-Shirts:

• Bulk: Jakprints, Threadbird
• POD: Printful, Printify
• Easy: CustomInk

Stickers:

• Sticker Mule (best quality)
• Printful (with other items)
• Local printer

Vinyl/CDs:

• Disc Makers (professional)
• Jakprints (vinyl)
• VOD (small runs)

Specialty Items:

• Printful (wide range)
• Etsy sellers (unique)
• Local makers (custom)

Merch Best Practices

Design Tips

Do:

• Keep designs simple
• Use high-resolution art
• Consider print methods
• Test on different colors
• Get samples first

Don't:

• Overcomplicate designs
• Use low-res images
• Forget about sizing
• Skip samples
• Ignore print costs

Pricing Strategy

Calculate Costs:

• Product cost
• Printing cost
• Shipping cost
• Platform fees
• Payment processing
• Your time

Set Prices:

• 2-3x cost minimum
• Consider market rates
• Bundle discounts
• Volume pricing
• Special deals

Inventory Management

Start Small:

• Test designs first
• Order conservatively
• Track sales data
• Reorder based on demand
• Avoid overstock

Track Everything:

• Sales by design
• Sales by size
• Sales by venue
• Inventory levels
• Reorder points

Conclusion

The right merch supplier depends on your sales volume, business model, and product needs. Start with print-on-demand to test designs, then move to bulk ordering as sales grow.

Quick Recommendations:

• Best for Starting: Printful or Printify
• Best for Bulk: Jakprints or Threadbird
• Best for Stickers: Sticker Mule
• Best for CDs/Vinyl: Disc Makers or Jakprints
• Best for Easy: CustomInk or Teespring
• Best Full-Service: Merchbar

Getting Started:

1. Design your merch
2. Order samples
3. Test at shows
4. Track what sells
5. Reorder winners
6. Expand product line

Remember: Merch is both a revenue stream and marketing tool. Quality matters—it represents your brand.

Resources:

• Printful: printful.com
• Jakprints: jakprints.com
• Sticker Mule: stickermule.com
• Disc Makers: discmakers.com
• Merchbar: merchbar.com