Summer is here: What will be the hottest Amazon Merch on Demand niches in Q3 of 2023?
Summer has arrived, presenting a golden opportunity to explore the hottest niches for your Amazon Merch on Demand business in Q3 of 2023.
In this article, we will guide you through the most popular segments for this quarter, enabling you to ride the wave of success and make a lasting impact with your products.
Trends to keep in mind from Summer 2022
One of the best ways to make accurate predictions for hot trends this summer season is to take a quick trip back in time.
We used Merch Informer’s powerful tools and capabilities to identify the most popular themes from June to September last year. This data-backed approach not only allows us to make forecasts, but also serves as a source of inspiration for sellers aiming to boost sales this summer.
Based on our findings, the following types of events or activities generated the most significant buzz:
- Holidays
- New and controversial laws
- TV shows
- Equality
Now, let’s delve into the specifics.
By utilizing the Merch Archive feature in Merch Informer, we were able to pinpoint the best-selling listings throughout the previous summer season.
Here’s what we discovered.
4th of July
Undoubtedly, the 4th of July stands as one of the most eagerly awaited and celebrated holidays in the US. American shoppers are enthusiastic about displaying their patriotism and love for their country through eye-catching merchandise. T-shirt sales featuring the US flag and related designs soar from June until mid-July.
For example, on June 30th last year, the top-selling listing was the “USA Flag 4th July American Red White Blue Star Stripes 4 Day T-Shirt.” This clean and simple design featuring the US flag generated 1,170 sales and held a BSR (Best Sellers Rank) of 1,851 at the time.
Abortion
The second most popular theme for merch designs revolved around legislative changes, particularly abortion.
In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade, resulting in a ban on abortion in 14 states. This triggered widespread disapproval and numerous protests. As a result, t-shirt designs became a powerful medium for individuals to express their opinions on the topic.
Looking back at the summer of 2022, we observed that this theme appeared frequently among the top-performing listings. For instance, on June 30th, the “Mind your own uterus shirt floral my uterus my choice T-Shirt” ranked as the second-best listing. It had a BSR of 1,935 at the time and sold approximately 1,170 times, generating substantial earnings with royalties of around $3 per sale.
TV series
TV series and movies are among the categories that create the biggest shifts in user demand, no matter the season.
But in the summer of 2022 specifically, one TV series dominated all others – Stranger Things. The 4th season of the show was officially released in two phases – in May and July. As one of the most watched series at the time, this inevitably created sales peaks for related merch designs.
Merch Informer data reveals that on July 13th, the “4 Hellfire Club Skull & Weapons T-Shirt” became the best-selling item on Amazon Merch on Demand. This design featured the logo of the TV series’ society of Hawkins High, sold for $22.99, and accumulated approximately 1,350 sales with a BSR of 1,225. These numbers translated into around $6 royalties per sale, resulting in a staggering $8,000 in earnings from this listing alone.
Merch Informer Note: We show this only as a way to show the power of Amazon Merch on Demand. Do NOT infringe on brand IP you do not own.
Pride
Pride and equality emerged as another popular theme during the summer months of 2022. While pride is a trending topic throughout the year, June holds particular significance as the official pride month, leading to increased merch sales.
Our theory was confirmed when we looked at the chart-toppers from June 7th last year. One of the most sold items at the time was “In A World Where You Can Be Anything Be Kind Gay Pride LGBT T-Shirt”.
Although it recorded fewer sales compared to the previous examples (293 sales), it still ranked among the most successful listings for that specific period. Moreover, with a price of around $18, this product generated higher royalties and presented attractive money-making opportunities.
Father’s Day
The final trend we explored from last year’s summer is Father’s Day, which falls on June 18th.
Around this time, sellers capitalizing on this holiday experienced a significant surge in sales. For example, on June 7th, the biggest-selling listing was “Yoda Lightsaber Best Dad Father’s Day Men’s T-Shirt”. This listing cleverly combined two separate niches, Yoda and Father’s Day, resulting in a BSR of 338 and 2,160 sales at the time.
The wave-creating themes of Q3 2023
Now that we have explored the sales-triggering designs from last summer, you may wonder if history will repeat itself this year.
To answer your question, we employed both Merch Informer’s Movers and Shakers module and Google Trends. This combined approach enabled us to identify hot and rising niches in the merch space.
Recurring trends
Our findings indicate that some lucrative genres from last summer are gaining traction as we enter the current summer period. Predictably, themes associated with Father’s Day and the 4th of July are on the rise.
Let’s look at some examples.
One of the top performing t-shirt designs at the moment is the “If Daddy Can’t Fix It We’re All Screwed T-Shirt”. Its BSR dropped from 6,183,646 on May 12th to 233,712 on June 7. Why? Because Father’s Day is on June 18th. The beginning of June is the ideal time to shop for gifts for dads and show love and appreciation for father figures.
Similarly, patriotic t-shirt designs are starting to pick up as we get closer to July. For instance, the “Proud Patriotic Freedom Designs” product had a BSR of 4,022,377 on May 13th. On June 7th, the BSR dropped to 313.921. Interestingly, the price remained constant during this period, indicating that factors other than pricing influenced the change in sales volume.
Beyond the recurring niches from last year, we also identified new trending themes. Many t-shirt designs that are currently selling like hotcakes at the beginning of the summer season revolve around the end of the school year. Listings such as “Peace Out Fifth 5th Grade Class of 2023 Goodbye 5th Grade T-Shirt” are experiencing exceptional performance as July approaches and students complete their grade level and move on to the next.
This specific listing witnessed a significant BSR drop from 2,827,220 on June 1st to 169,925 on June 7th. This drastic shift indicates a change in user demand and a rise in sales.
New ideas to explore
While it is useful to replicate proven methods for success, it is also advisable to infuse your Amazon Merch on Demand strategy with creativity and innovation. This approach allows you to gain a competitive edge, stand out from the competition, and attract shoppers to your designs.
One effective way to accomplish this is by staying updated on new trends and events that create opportunities for fresh merch ideas. For example, at the beginning of the summer in 2022, the following topics emerged as hot trends on Google Trends:
- Beyonce
- Denver Nuggets
- Diablo 4
So, why are these topics trending?
For starters, the Beyoncé Renaissance Tour is scheduled to take place around the world this summer, leading to increased search demand for related merchandise. On the other hand, the Denver Nuggets are one of the most popular American professional basketball teams and will be participating in the NBA finals in June.
Finally, Diablo is an extremely popular video game, and the fourth iteration was officially released on June 5th, generating significant interest from consumers.
So, how can these ideas be useful to you as a seller? Normally, we’d say that you can leverage them to your advantage and boost your earnings from your Amazon Merch on Demand business.
But before we advise you to create designs around these themes, we must remind you that these keywords are most likely copyrighted. Infringing on intellectual property registered by another entity is strictly prohibited by Amazon and can carry some serious consequences. To ensure that you do not break any laws, make sure to consult with Merch Informer’s Trademarks toolset.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, to make the upcoming summer season your most profitable period to date, you need accurate and reliable insights. We have provided valuable information based on extensive research into Amazon Merch on Demand and popular events worldwide.
While you can use proven themes to boost sales, it is also essential to embrace innovative and creative approaches in your merch strategy. Regardless of the theme you choose, Merch Informer can equip you with the tools and data you need to make informed decisions and achieve success in the Amazon Merch on Demand marketplace.
