[Roll Up Your Sleeves] How Did Branded Merch Become So Hot? (And How Can B2B Harness Its Power?)

UPS partners with fashion designer Ugo Mozie to design a branded merch collection. White Castle partners with famed designer Telfar Clemens to design their staff uniforms and merch.

There’s a weird revolution happening right under your nose involving big brands and merch: Hulu, Netflix, KFC, Chipotle, Ritz Carlton, Fortnite. Big brand collabs like Bieber + Dunkin. (That’s just the shortlist).

And it’s not just brands. Authors like Salley Rooney and Huraki Murakami and even gazillionaires like Elon Musk are revolutionizing the way the world uses merch. Forbes even published an article, “If You Notice Branded Merch Everywhere, You Are Not Alone—Here Is Why.”

In this session, Bobby Lehew will share how the explosive interest in branded merch is shaping a very democratic and revolutionary experience. Plus, how B2B brands can avoid brandfill and create conscientious, sustainable campaigns that work, turning an ordinary product that anyone can get into an extraordinary experience that no one else can emulate.

You’ll learn:

• How to avoid contributing to landfill (brandfill) and how to buy conscientiously
• How to use branded merch as a press release, instigator, and provocateur
• How to use merch to create cult-like fervor in brand followers
• How to view merch as an emotional connection point

Roll Up Your Sleeves sessions give you a hyper-focused, deep dive into a specific task. You’ll walk away with a step-by-step action plan—making you instantly more capable when you get back to your office. Come prepared to participate and to get it done! (Note: Actually rolling up your sleeves is optional.)