Merch by Amazon offers increased creativity and flexibility by allowing users to design and manufacture their own clothing ranges. Merch by Amazon is a print on demand (POD) platform similar to Amazon’s KDP and App Developer programs. After opening an account Merch by Amazon, customers can upload their own designs for T-Shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies to the site. Once approved by Amazon, the product will be available on Amazon and searchable by buyers. When a buyer chooses to purchase a product, it will be produced to order – i.e, on demand. Then, Amazon pays the designer a royalty on every product sold.

PROS

1. Creativity

Merch by Amazon allows new and budding designers to get their work out there in order to build up a profile. Users can create unique pieces of clothing rather than just buying and selling existing items.

2. Cost

Merch by Amazon is free to use and means that designers can create unique items of clothing without the cost of materials, storage or shipping.

3. Useability

Merch by Amazon is super-simple to use as you follow the straight-forward guidelines. Users can quickly and easily create items which will be ready for sale on Amazon in a matter of hours.

4. Quantity

Merch by Amazon rewards users by increasing the number of designs that can be uploaded, via its tier system. This means that serious and prolific designers can upload up to a staggering 8000 designs in order to increase sales.

CONS

1. Pricing

Sellers have very little flexibility when it comes to the pricing of items as this is set by Amazon – for example, a standard T-Shirt will generally be priced between $15.99 and $25.99 and sellers are not able to price lower than Amazon’s minimum.

2. Royalties

New designers signing up for Merch by Amazon shouldn’t expect to become a millionaire through the site. Royalties paid to sellers are low – for example, for the sale of a T-Shirt priced at $15.99, the seller will receive just $2.36. For more details of how Amazon calculate the royalties for seller, you can check the Royalty Calculation page.

3. Range

Merch by Amazons range is not too wide and, currently, only includes T-Shirts, Long Sleeved T-Shirts, Sweatshirts and Hoodies.

4. Quality

Due to the limited range available, sellers don’t get to choose the quality of the actual garments in terms of fabric or craftsmanship. Plus, items are created, packed and shipped by Amazon which means that the seller has no quality control.