Amplify Merch

Category Member News

What’s Changing on January 1

The Truth About Merch Support, What Wasn’t Working, and What’s Changing on January 1

For the past three years, Amplify Merch has dedicated countless hours to building a platform that supports independent bands, creators, and small businesses. We did it because we believe in this community — and because we wanted to remove as many barriers as possible.

That’s why we offered nearly everything at no cost.

And when we say everything, that’s not an exaggeration.

What Amplify Provided at No Cost

We built an entire system from the ground up to support artists — and all of it was unpaid labor on our end. 

What We Provide

Free merch setup
 Product pages, mockups, listings, descriptions, variants — all done by us.

Free customer service
 We handled every message, question, complaint, replacement, and support issue.

Free design work
 Custom artwork, edits, formatting, and corrections.

Free logo cleanup
 We vectorized, upscaled, and converted logos and images into print-ready files — a process that typically costs $25–$75 per file.

Free quotes
 Bulk orders, custom products, event merch, and special requests.

Free recommendations & merch consultations
 Advising clients on best-selling products, pricing strategies, materials, print methods, color choices, mockup accuracy, seasonal items, festival prep, and what actually converts to sales.

Free storefront and Showcase Page setup
 After Showcase Pages weren’t widely used, we upgraded everyone to fully functional Storefronts to improve control and visibility.

Free promotion
 Social posts, tags, event shares, new product announcements, and ongoing exposure.

Free event sharing
 Promoting shows, fundraisers, vendor events, and local community projects.

Free show & festival presence (which we love doing)
 In-person support, tickets purchased, travel, and on-site promotion.

Sponsorships
 Covering costs, time, and resources to support clients and events

Free platform access
 No monthly fees, no storefront charges, full use of our system.

Free exposure
 Through our socials, events, partnerships, and platform features, and ads.

Free time
 Nights, weekends, family time, and work hours spent supporting client needs. Sharing, creating, and managing all these things takes time.

Free labor
 SEO (search engine optimization) adjustments, website improvements, product photography, administrative work, ongoing behind-the-scenes updates, payment processing, and website security.

Free product sourcing & supplier access
We’ve already vetted, tested, and partnered with multiple reliable suppliers, so clients don’t have to waste money on bad prints, cheap blanks, shady manufacturers, or weeks of research. Our wide range of trusted products — apparel, accessories, drinkware, stickers, specialty items, and more — saves clients time and money, and ensures consistently high print quality. We are continuously evaluating new suppliers and watching trends in merch.

Plus, the right to complain (or just simply ghost us) about pricing, despite every service above being included at no cost.

We did all of this because we believed in building something positive — something that helped the creative community thrive.

But a system built entirely on unpaid labor cannot survive forever.

What Wasn’t Working

While Amplify stayed committed, engagement from many clients declined.

For two years, we carried the entire weight of other people’s merch operations — design, setup, fulfillment, promotion, customer service, sourcing, events, and more — but several critical issues made it impossible to create sustainable success:

No sharing, no posting, no engagement

We cannot sell merchandise that the artist or business refuses to promote. And the current model, we only get paid when those products sell, has not been working.

Most clients wouldn’t even share their own merch posts. Many wouldn’t hit a single like button, respond to comments, or repost announcements.

No online merch platform — not Bandcamp, not Shopify, not Etsy, not anyone — can generate income if the creator/client refuses to participate in basic self-promotion and promotion of their online listings.

Not tagging Amplify Merch

Tagging us isn’t optional — it’s how customers recognize legitimacy.
When creators don’t tag us:

  • posts lose reach
  • Customers get confused
  • sales drop
  • our work becomes invisible
  • distrust grows

And we have experienced real fallout:

We posted a photo of a client wearing their merch, and someone tagged the client to make sure they saw it — in case we were fake.
This happens when creators never publicly acknowledge the partnership. Or don’t do so regularly.

No visibility = no sales

If creators won’t share, tag, post, or support the platform selling their merch, fans assume:

  • The merch isn’t official
  • The platform isn’t authorized
  • The items are bootleg
  • Or there’s no real partnership

That kills sales instantly.

That happens when creators don’t publicly support the platform that handles their merch.

Expecting results with zero participation

A painful truth: if the client isn’t willing to support, promote, or acknowledge their own merch, there is nothing any platform can do to create income for them.

And because it wasn’t costing them anything, many simply didn’t care if their merch didn’t sell. Unfortunately, no sales equals no Amplify Merch.

Showcase Pages and Storefronts were underused

We built beautiful, functional landing pages.

Many clients never even looked at them — let alone shared them.

“How much for a shirt?” → ghosting

Daily quote requests turned into:

  • silence
  • no follow-up
  • Not even a “that’s too much”- my budget is “blagh blagh.”
  • Not even “I found it cheaper” (and then worse quality), so we can price match.
  • hours of work for nothing

Misaligned expectations

We were expected to operate like a full-scale merch department… while being treated like an optional favor.

Clients wanted results without involvement, success without participation, and high-quality merch without any willingness to tag, promote, or acknowledge.

We were putting more time into promoting bands than some bands were putting into promoting themselves.

That imbalance created burnout, financial strain, and roadblocks to improving the platform.

The conclusion was unavoidable:

We cannot keep giving everything away for free. 

Why We’re Moving to Memberships

Beginning January 1, Amplify Merch is transitioning to a sustainable, membership-based model.

This shift isn’t about punishment.
It’s about fairness, sustainability, and protecting the future of the platform.

Memberships allow us to:

  • invest in better tools
  • increase platform quality
  • prioritize engaged creators
  • eliminate burnout-driven delays
  • protect our time
  • provide stronger customer service
  • offer premium features to serious users

Those who value what we provide will receive unprecedented support.
Those who don’t engage simply won’t opt in — and that’s okay.

We are focusing our energy on those who are truly building something.

Amplify Merch Membership Plans (Launching January 1)

Launch – Free

Start small, sell smart.

  • Up to 6 products
  • Amplify single order commission: 25%
  • Bulk order commission: 10%
  • Category page + payment handling
  • Basic storefront included (if wanted)
    You keep the rest after commission fees & taxes.

Build – $5/month

Take control of your merch. Includes everything from the free plan plus:

  • Up to 15 products
  • Single Orders Commission: 20% (online)
  • Bulk order commission: 10%
  • List/manage your own products (including digital downloads)
  • Custom coupons
    You keep the rest after commission fees & taxes.

Boost – $15/month

Expand your brand and reach. Includes everything from the Build Plan plus:

  • Up to 25 products
  • Commission: 10% on all orders
  • Ticket sales: 10%
  • Affiliate listings-(cross-promote with other creators)

You keep the rest after commission fees & taxes.

Amplify — $25/month

Full-service merch management. No stress.
 Everything from Boost, plus:

  • Up to 250 products, fully managed by us. Or you, if you choose
  • Affiliates, digital downloads, and ticketing included
  • Sell your own products alongside the products we create for you, and you can manage fulfillment.
  • 7% platform transaction fee only
  • No additional commissions
  • SEO & analytics
  • Media support
  • Complete merch management from design to fulfillment

You keep all sales revenue after processing fees and taxes.

This plan also restores access to Showcase Landing Pages, now exclusive to our top-tier members.

What All Plans Include

Every membership level — from Launch to Amplify — comes with the same core essentials that keep your merch running smoothly, securely, and professionally:

Commission & processing fees are only after cost.

All commissions are applied after production costs, taxes, and payment processing.
You’re never charged upfront, and you only pay on real profit — not imaginary numbers.

Secure, reliable payment processing

All customer transactions are protected through a fully integrated, high-security payment system.
You get smooth checkouts, fraud prevention, and automated payouts without lifting a finger.

Site security & platform maintenance

We handle hosting, updates, backups, security, infrastructure, and the technical work that keeps your storefront online, fast, and safe.

SEO & platform-wide marketing

Your products benefit from our ongoing SEO efforts, platform improvements, search visibility, and organic marketing.
Every listing and storefront receives baseline discoverability built directly into the platform.

Amplify Merch

  • Custom designs
  • Logo cleanup and vectorization
  • Real human customer service
  • Event sharing and sponsorships
  • SEO support
  • Ticketing, digital downloads, and affiliates built in
  • Merch, media, and business tools all in one place
  • Affordable entry-level options
  • Hands-on design and merch support that no major platform offers

Amplify does all the labor that other platforms expect YOU to handle alone.

Plan Availability & Ongoing Updates

Our membership levels and included options are still being finalized. As we continue refining our structure and building out new features, all plan details—including pricing, commissions, product limits, and available tools—are subject to change.
We’ll keep this information updated as we complete setup and gather feedback, ensuring each plan accurately reflects the support and value we want to provide.

Our Goal Moving Forward

We are done running a full merch department for free.
We are done investing more into clients than they invest into themselves.
We are done carrying the workload alone.

Amplify Merch is transitioning into a platform that supports creators who want to succeed — not just creators who want free labor.

If you participate, show up, promote, tag, communicate, and engage…
we will work harder for you than any merch platform you’ve ever used.

If not?

This new system ensures we no longer burn out doing unpaid work to keep someone else’s dream afloat.

Those who don’t, we wish them nothing but success.

But Amplify is moving forward — and we’re doing it with intention.

Amplify Merch Makeover: Evolving to Build Trust, Transparency, and Growth

At Amplify Merch, we’ve always believed in keeping things simple, honest, and focused on helping artists, bands, and small brands succeed. The old showcase pages weren’t getting the attention they deserved—so we’re moving toward something that gives you more control, visibility, and opportunity.

We’re shifting our focus to building trust and transparency, creating a system where you can see your earnings, manage your storefront, and grow your merch line—all while we continue to handle the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

Why We’re Moving On from Showcase Pages

Let’s be honest—our showcase pages weren’t being used the way we intended.

  • Clients rarely shared their links.
  • Fans weren’t engaging with the pages.
  • Traffic stayed low, and conversion rates were even lower.

Despite being beautifully designed and full of great products, the pages often sat untouched. Without promotion or consistent sharing, they became dead ends instead of active sales tools. And that’s not what you need.

The New Direction: Focused, Flexible, and Functional

Instead of investing time and resources into something that wasn’t driving results, we’re shifting gears to focus on what you’ve asked for and what actually helps you grow.

Your New Storefront Experience

We’ve been watching what works—and what doesn’t. While our showcase pages looked great, they weren’t getting the attention or engagement our bands, brands, and creators deserve. Many clients weren’t sharing their showcases, and the traffic simply didn’t reflect the effort we were putting in.

So, we’re changing direction to focus on what truly helps you grow: real product listings, visible results, and better tools to manage your merch and sales.

A More Transparent Storefront Experience

Amplify Merch is rolling out a new and improved vendor storefront system—built around trust, access, and transparency.

Vendors and bands can now see their sales, earnings, and transaction records directly from their dashboards. You can even download invoices for your own records.

We’ll still handle store setup and order management, but now you’ll have more visibility into what’s happening behind the scenes. You’ll also continue to enjoy your wholesale pricing vs. retail pricing separation, so you can easily track profits.

And yes — we can sell event tickets now, too! Add ticket listings directly through your storefront or work with us to set up your next show.

Here’s what’s new:

  • View your sales and earnings records anytime
  • See your wholesale vs. retail pricing for a clear picture of your profits
  • Download invoices and track your full order history
  • Sell tickets for shows, fundraisers, or special events—right from your store
  • Upload and sell your own music directly to your fans
  • Limited storefront customization options (with more coming soon)

Store Customization Options

While storefront customization is still limited, you can now add your own 1200x300px banner (if you don’t already have one) and even upload your own music to sell directly through your page.

We’re actively designing custom banners for vendors, so if yours isn’t live yet, hang tight — we’ll get to it as we roll through updates.

Add Your Own or Affiliate Products

You can now add your own or affiliate products to your Amplify Merch storefront! Whether it’s something you produce and ship yourself, or a partnership item from another brand, you can list it alongside your Amplify Merch products.

Amplify Merch will continue to handle payment processing and transaction security, so standard fees will still apply—but you’ll have full control over fulfillment and shipping for those items.

The ability to list your own products will be granted individually based on account type and approval.

Register as a Brand Vendor or Wholesale Client

Want access to exclusive product pricing and a full view of available merch options?

By registering as a Brand Purchaser, Vendor, or Wholesale Client, you’ll unlock:

  • Built-in wholesale pricing, automatically applied to your account
  • Access to all member-only customizable products
  • Clear cost breakdowns showing your price vs. retail—so you can see profit margins upfront
  • Easy reorders and bulk options, no back-and-forth required

Even better—sample orders of your merch will now appear in your vendor sales listings, making it easier for you to track and view your products.

You can be a wholesale client without being a vendor, and having a storefront is completely optional. If you do choose to have one, we’ll help you set it up and manage it.

Even better? You can still request quotes for any of our products—including custom merch or specialty items not listed online. Whether you’re planning a one-time event or building inventory, we’ll help you price it right.

  • General quotes won’t require a dedicated quote page.
  • To view products as quote pages, you’ll need to register as a client and agree to our Terms of Service.

Register now or contact us to get set up: [sales@amplifymerch.com]

Whether you’re planning a one-time event, outfitting your team, or managing an ongoing merch line, we’ll help you price it right and make it happen.

Improved Communication & Shipping Updates

We’ve made major upgrades to improve email deliverability and shipping notifications for both vendors and clients.

Now you’ll receive better order updates, shipping confirmations, and new review follow-ups—helping you stay informed every step of the way and giving customers a smoother experience after checkout.

Built on Trust. Designed for You.

These updates are about giving you more clarity, more control, and more confidence in how your merch works. You’ll always know what’s happening behind the scenes—without losing the simplicity and support Amplify Merch is known for.

We’ll keep managing your orders, payments, and fulfillment—while giving you the tools to monitor your progress, add new products, and grow at your own pace.

Branded Category Pages (Still Available!)

Don’t worry—you’ll still have a clean, organized category page that includes a short description of your brand. These pages now serve as a streamlined home base for your merch without the bloat of unused features.

Social Media Engagement

Instead of relying on stagnant showcase pages, we’re encouraging bands and brands to share individual products across their platforms—and making it easier for fans to engage, tag, and reshare. We’ll even feature client posts on our socials and homepage!

When you share your products, your sales will increase!

Product Reviews:

We’re putting customer feedback front and center. Real reviews build trust, drive sales, and help new buyers feel confident about your merch. If you have merch from us and haven’t reviewed it, go to your product page and click the tab that says “Review” to review your products!

Why This Works

This new approach focuses on the tools that actually bring you results. No more outdated, unused features. No more wondering where your traffic went. Just clear paths to great merch, better support, and sales that match your effort.

Let’s Get Started

Whether you’re in a band, a creative business, or just want high-quality merch that represents you, we’re ready to build it together.

Amplify Merch: Real Support. Real Transparency. Real Results.

If you haven’t logged in recently, you can email us for your login information at support@amplifymerch.com for assistance.

Reach out to sales@amplifymerch.com
Visit amplifymerch.com to explore what’s new

Use the Coupon harleysayshi for a discount at checkout!

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Amplify Merch Was Built for You—Let’s Keep It Moving Forward

We created Amplify Merch to support artists, bands, and small businesses—to take the weight of merch off your shoulders so you can focus on creating, performing, running the day-to-day of your business, and growing your brand.

But lately, we’ve hit a few bumps in the road.

🚫 Stores are live—but fans & customers don’t know they exist.
🚫 Designs are finished—but they’re not being shared.
🚫 Orders are slow to non-existent, and momentum is fading.

Let’s be real—we believe in this. 100%.
We believe in artists. We believe in community.
We believe in building something bigger than any one of us.

But this only works when we’re all in.

We’re still doing our part—creating designs, running ads, fulfilling orders, managing stores, and making sure the backend runs smoothly. But we can’t do it alone.

We need you to show up:
📢 Share your merch
📢 Tag us in your posts
📢 Promote your store like you believe in it
📢 Tell your fans where to find it

If you’re ready to grow, we’re here and fired up to grow with you.
If you’re not—that’s okay too. But have to be more intentional about where we invest our energy moving forward.

And if you’ve outgrown Amplify Merch, or if it’s just not the right fit anymore—no hard feelings. Just let us know, and we’ll remove your items to make room for those actively building with us.

We’re here for the doers, the dreamers, and the teams that want to rise together.

Let’s make it count.

—Team Amplify Merch

Heads-Up on Shipping Costs: What You Need to Know

Hey Amplify Family,

We wanted to give you a quick heads-up about something you might notice when ordering merch over the next few weeks: some shipping costs may increase slightly, and we want to be as transparent with you as possible about why that’s happening.

Due to recent tariff changes on goods imported from overseas, many of the suppliers and print partners we work with are seeing increased costs—especially on blank products that are made outside the U.S. As they adjust their pricing to keep up, those changes are starting to trickle down to companies like ours.

The good news? Not all our products are impacted. Many of our merch items are printed right here in the U.S., and for those, you may not see much of a difference at all. We’re also working closely with our partners to keep everything as affordable as possible without sacrificing quality or service.

At Amplify Merch, we’ve always got your back—we’ll continue to be upfront about pricing, and we’re doing everything we can to keep your merch experience smooth and affordable.

If you have any questions or you’re curious about which products might be affected, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to help.

Thanks for sticking with us and for continuing to support local artists and creators. Every shirt, sticker, and hoodie helps keep the scene alive—and we couldn’t do it without you.

Stay loud, Stay Amplified
The Amplify Merch Team