The Merch Drop
The Merch Drop is your source for inspiration for your own marketing and promotional campaigns. This show highlights brands that use custom merch, branded apparel, and printed goods as integral aspects of their marketing strategies. We’re here to fuel your creativity — so business owners and marketers like you see the full potential of branded promotional products. We’ll show you how various industries use custom branded merch as strategic tools to promote their products and services, engage their customers, and elevate their brand recognition. We spotlight recent promotions from brands big and small, local and global, who have successfully used branded merchandise to capture the attention of their target audiences. From unique promotional apparel and customized drinkware to corporate gifts and creatively designed printed materials, we explore it all.
Episodes
This week, I’m talking about H-E-B’s wild heavy-metal T-shirt collab with designer Connor Dwyer. What started as a fun grocery-store-meets-metal-band mashup turned into one of the most viral merch drops of the year.
Here’s what’s happened:
- A fan design turned into an official partnership
- A charity angle raised $35,000 for Austin musicians
- A tech fail that left fans frustrated
- What small brands can learn about handling hype and deman...
@Chomps the meat snack brand, pulled off one of the smartest pop-up activations of the year.
They took over an old gas station in Austin for a back-to-school event: they cleaned out parents’ cars, handed out free snacks and branded merch, and turned everyday stress into a shareable experience.
Experiential marketing like this works. It builds lasting brand equity. Small brands can learn from it.
---
Equipment we're using:
Sony Z...
When is “ask forgiveness, not permission” a good idea? Baggu found out the hard way.
At their new San Francisco store opening, the sustainable bag brand gave away BART-branded water bottles, hats, and stickers — without permission from Bay Area Rapid Transit.
It wasn't really BART merch, Baggu thought it was OK to knock off the BART logo and make it their own. Not good!
The stunt went viral, drew backlash, and pushed Baggu into crisi...
King's Hawaiian just used branded merch to market a logo refresh at Chicago O’Hare Airport. Their team set up a booth with private changing rooms, and travelers swapped the clothes they were wearing for a free “soft-wear” sweatsuit.
King's also gave out snacks, plus a travel pillow and eye mask. All traded clothing went to a Chicago charity. Simple execution that people remembered.
https://kingshawaiian.com/products/merchandise/?lim...
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. I look at L.L.Bean's tote bag rivalry with Lands End.
Gorton's is updating its image with retro-style merchandise for younger consumers.
Takeaways:
Try limited edition merch to support causes a...
Cheez-Its has rolled out an impressive line of merch, from Hawaiian shirts to nail polish, perfect for fans of the cheesy snack. They even took over a diner to provide a cheezy distraction to travelers.
Ore-Ida celebrates the 20th anniversary of Napoleon Dynamite with tot-protecting pants - supposedly they're 'crush proof'
Dunkin Donuts partnered with Scrub Daddy for unique donut-shaped scrubbers - and Scrub Daddy's merch game is on...
The Cheesecake Factory has launched a new merch line for rewards members, featuring iconic brand designs on apparel, accessories, and home goods.
Pringles and Crocs teamed up for a fun collection including Pringles-inspired clogs, slides, and the standout Crush boot with a snack-holding heel.
Dunkin' faced delays with their popular DunKings Super Bowl tracksuits, but maintained customer trust by acknowledging the issue and offering g...
Jimmy John's Capri salami pesto sandwich-inspired silk scarf is expensive at $75, but versatile and some proceeds go to their foundation. Applebee's introduced Bacardi tropical rum buckets, though you can't take them home. Jollibee Foods launched a merch line with cool items like an all-over print tote bag and shirts with printed pockets in sizes up to 5X for the same base price.
Brands like Krispy Kreme, Snapple, Sun Chips, Blue Mo...
In this episode of the Big Promo Cast, we explore the innovative use of branded merchandise in marketing, featuring Miller High Life's classy anniversary collection, the unexpected craze of movie promotional popcorn buckets, and the viral Trader Joe's mini tote bag frenzy.
- Miller High Life x Tie Bar Collaboration: Tie Bar is celebrating Miller's 120th anniversary with a classy, limited-edition collection, featuring subtle brandin...
Companies are creatively engaging with their audience with branded merchandise.
Dunkin' and Miller Lite had the socials buzzing after the Super Bowl. But what is Louis Vuitton thinking? And now Stanley doing their own branded merch? What's up with these Juicy Couture x Red Robin track suits?
These creative campaigns that are making waves. We get a peek into celebrity-endorsed promotions and the power of social media in amplifying bra...
Happy New Year! In the first show of 2024, here's what's on tap:
Planet Fitness collaborates with Megan Thee Stallion, releasing fitness-focused merchandise like shirts and water bottles. However, they could have expanded their range to include more diverse fitness gear.
Pringles' unexpected partnership with a caviar company demonstrates the effectiveness of unconventional brand collaborations.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl used a mascot effec...
Ep 176 12-16-2023
In this episode, we unpack three compelling case studies:
Outback Steakhouse's Social Media Mastery: Discover how Outback boosts customer engagement through a charming koala plush giveaway. This clever social media contest not only captivates audiences but also amplifies brand visibility. Integrating tangible products with digital campaigns can significantly enhance online interaction and brand recall.
White Castle's...
We kick things off with Gold Peak Iced Tea's nifty iPhone accessory: we explore how it transforms everyday moments into the coveted 'golden hour' with a simple clip-on filter. Then, we jet over to Australia where Matilda Bay is shaking things up by giving away merch from more popular brands, cheekily promoting their Hazy Lager as your 'second favorite beer'.
Tito's Vodka brings the holiday spirit with their 'kinda ugly' holiday col...
Featured Campaigns:
Hormel Foods: Launched a pepperoni popup shop in Austin, Minnesota to celebrate National Pepperoni Day. Various pepperoni-themed merchandise were on offer for a limited time.
Bush's Beans Introduced merchandise around specific holidays, emphasizing engagement over revenue. They're using social posts on TikTok and Instagram to measure engagement.
Stouffer's released an Advent calendar with seven different meals as a...
Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey spices up the conversation with their cheeky sympathy cards for football fans.
Snyder's of Hanover brings the festive spirit with their October Fest pretzel-holding contests.
Fanatics is under scrutiny for some quality control missteps.
Don't miss the delectable partnership between Hershey's and Crocs that promises to make your feet as comfy as they are stylish.
Catch this show every week: https://bigpromo...
We're dissecting the ingenuity behind the promotional strategies by Oscar Mayer, Hampton Inn, Cheetos Mac n Cheese, and Taylor Swift. Each case study reveals unique branding maneuvers designed to engage customers and promote brand loyalty.
Oscar Mayer's silicone hot dog straw, an inventive product that originated from fan interaction at a baseball game. It's a prime example of consumer-driven innovation executed brilliantly.
Hampton ...
Merch mash-ups: where creativity knows no bounds! On this episode of the Big Promocast, we're dancing with some delightful and unconventional brand collaborations that will tickle your taste buds and surprise your soles (get it, like shoes?).
First, we slip into Crocs' culinary journey, where Pop-Tarts meet edible gummies to decorate your... Crocs! These gummies aren't the magical kind, but they sure do make for a fashionable snack....
Natural Light has an oddly intriguing upcycling collab with Sperry, giving your old boat shoes a new lease on life as...can holders? Yeti releases a scorching $400 skillet that's causing a stir (pun intended). Ever thought you needed a crossbody bag to keep your ice cream cold? Neither did I, but Halo Top seems to think it's an essential accessory for National Ice Cream Day. Plus, we'll touch on how other ice cream brands are using...
With National Fried Chicken Day, KFC has dropped a summer merch line that's finger-licking awesome. From beach towels to bucket hats and even fancy Shady Rays sunglasses.
Rao's Italian restaurant sauces and their interactive experience? Browse through their virtual shop, filling up your 'passport' with stickers... Sounds fun, right? Just wait into the suprise ending. AND the $1000 handbag! Baffling.
The Bear is back on Hulu! The tra...
In this episode, we dive into exciting collaborations and promotional ideas from top brands like Crocs, Taco Bell, Coors Light, Cholula, and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.
Crocs and Taco Bell announced a limited-edition Mellow Slide - a perfect blend of the two brands' identities. Crocs leverages partnerships with influential brands, such as Disney, Marvel, NBA, Star Wars, and Nickelodeon, to engage audiences.
Cholula did a collab ...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!