The Backpack: Issue #24

All our best, monthly news in one branded pack.

Friday, November 3

• Top Merch News: commonsku in the News

• Vibe Check: Not Your Average Cannabis House

• Trends: The first major player to drop an AI Creator for merch has arrived

• Happenings: skuconX is SOLD OUT!

• Can't miss content: Ace Hotel is easily one of our fave merchifiers

A Sweet New Product Mock-Up Tool from commonsku

Creating mock-ups for merch for clients: it’s cumbersome, time-consuming and painful. Or at least it was. We just dropped a Product Mock-Up tool so that you can make crafting beautiful mock-ups for your clients easy. Anyone can do it quickly, there’s no design expertise required, and no more delays while waiting for art. Create awe-inspiring, tailored images for your clients that plug right into Presentations and Shops in just a few clicks. It’s one more part of our seamless operating system that takes you from ideation to presentation to final production without using half a dozen different tools. It’s just another way commonsku elevates your client experience! More info here!

commonsku in the News

Allow us a moment to unpack some press! First, we received a shiny new award, a Gold Pyramid Award from PPAI for web content/functionality, and we loved the praise, “clear, concise, low-stress,” increasing demo requests and web views. And hey, we’re all about that low-stress, it’s our MO! 🙌  Also, our very own Catherine and Mark Graham hit ASI’s The Counselor 50 Power List (again!), making it the 6th time our dynamic duo makes the list! 💪

Stephen Musgrave’s 5-3-1 Rule

Canada’s elite team of pros at Genumark have made a major expansion into the US, recruiting one of the industry’s most revered sales leaders: Johanna Gottlieb, who is now Genumark’s Vice President of Business Development. On the skucast, we get the scoop from Exec Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Genumark, Stephen Musgrave, plus, Stephen breaks down a powerful sales tip for newbies or seasoned pros: the 5-3-1 rule, a concept he coined and shared at skucamp in Austin, resulting in one of the most practical and inspiring sessions of the event. Check out our chat here!

Inside the Mind of Polyconcept CEO, Neil Ringel

Over a 23-year career at Staples, Neil Ringel was at the forefront of salesforce leadership, digitization and membership programs that became the catalyst for the company's growth. He led the division through a public-to-private ownership change and held P&L responsibilities for a $10+ billion division with over 8,000 associates, including 3,000+ salespeople. And now, Neil Ringel is creating yet another transformation, inside the walls at PCNA. Join us as we chat with Neil about the deep impact of sustainability, how tech is the lens to make distriubtors’ lives easier, and his macro-economic perspective on the shifting supply chain. Convo here!

A Chat with Liz Wimbush, PPAI’s Dir of Sustainability & Responsibility

“There’s no effort too small when it’s earnest,” wise words from Elizabeth Wimbush, PPAI’s first-ever Director of Sustainability & Responsibility.

Liz got her start as the production manager at RightSleeve, then became the director of supply chain for Rightsleeve and eventually, the VP of Supply Chain and sustainability for Genumark, one of the largest distributors in North America and managing a team of 16 people focused on optimizing supply chain diversification and sustainability to drive growth.

Liz also spearheaded the B-Corp certification process for Genumark, which is an incredible initiative to get across the finish line and now as Director of Sustainability & Responsibility, she brings all that experience to PPAI association members.

The first major player to drop an AI Creator for merch has arrived

Here’s a competitor most of us didn’t see coming: fast fashion. Known for slinging affordable fits through brands like their flagship brand H&M, and also COS, and ARKET, the fashion behemoth drops an AI tool —Creator Studio— that allows you to “Create, order and sell custom merch and print.” Creating “on-demand apparel using industry-leading responsible fashion blanks,” including “custom labels and custom packaging,” all through “state-of-the-art global print hubs.” What say you, backpacker? Is Creator Studio friend or foe?

Happy Día de los Muertos [Day of the Dead]!

Nov 1st and 2nd was Día de los Muertos, and no one can do a merch drop for Muertos day quite like famed LA streetwear brand Paisaboys. Check out their merch collab with Espolòn Tequila, “The Calavera Collection: The Afterparty Edition.” From Complex, “Each piece features design nods to the traditional four elements included in a Día de los Muertos ofrenda—Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water—and includes sly color hits connecting it to one of Espolòn Tequila's expressions.” Cool collab, backpacker approved!

We’re lovin’ it: RAD McD’s merch from Japan

It seems not a week goes by without someone dropping a sick merch collection, and this time, it’s Graniph, the Japanese design company responsible for ushering in mad-demand for the graphic tee in Japan. With its retro-grade design work and nostalgia-driven art, it’s a modern throwback with plenty of merch inspo for the seasoned merch pro. Note the cool use of video and multiple lifestyle images on the site, especially on this hellaciously cool tote. And this, this is exactly what I want my McDonald’s fries served in next time. Backpacker approved, we’re lovin’ it!

Your 2nd Favorite Beer Merch

For our Aussie friends, a brilliantly clever campaign from Matilda Bay. Rather than compete head-to-head 🤓 with the thousands of craft beer companies out there, Matilda Bay promises to be your 2nd favorite beer, dropping a campaign with cool merch from other beer companies that are prob your fave. Win a Yeti cooler from Great Northern beer or a mini-fridge from Carlton Draught, but you won’t win any Matilda Bay merch cause they only want to be second!

I Don’t Need Your Permission [to Merch]

Brittany Spears does something pretty cool with merch and, no, it has nothing to do with sharp objects, the legendary phoenix drops a merch collection featuring the most memorable quotes from her songs, called (fittingly) the Legendary Quote Collection. I might need this You Better Work tee.

Not Your Average Cannabis House

Verano is not your average small-shop cannabais house, they’re a multi-state enterprise with over 4,000 employees and 120+ dispensaries, which is why their merch drop, Savvy Threads, is an interesting play. Savvy Threads is not baked 😉 into their core website but created as a stand-alone brand. Whether you partake in cannabais culture or not, the cannabais folk toke an interesting merch game as evidenced by their IG, what say you backpacker? Wildly on-brand or wickedly-off?

skuconX: SOLD OUT!

skucon, the conference that inspired a new generation of innovators, explorers, and dreamers in the branded merch industry, is sold out! skuconX marks the 10th time the industry’s most innovative thinkers will gather together to connect, learn, and re-ignite alongside like-minded pros! (Read skucon's origin story here!) While tickets may be sold out, you can still join the waitlist.

🐢 Industry news reported Aug-Sep was the two slowest months of 2023 (PPAI), but national news reports that US economic growth accelerated in the third quarter (NYT).

⭐ “How Live Nation Will Get By Without Merch Cuts.” Hint: “Instead of mopping the floors after shows, we won’t.”

💊 Our friends at Slowtide drop a cool capsule collection with one of the most in-demand artists today, Jess Mudgett. Check out our convo with Slowtide co-founder Kyle Spencer, here.

💀 Another killer collection, Italian brand Colmar drops a capsule celebrating their 100-year anniversary (100!) co-created with yet another famous designer, SoCal designer Joshua Vides.

🛍️ Are you team Kelce? Team Taylor? How about team Donna? Mama Kelce drops some merch.

👀 What gift do you give the pope when you meet him? Merch. It seems Pope Francis asked for it specifically. No kidding. Check out that journal.

😋 Aldi’s leans into Gorpcore with its latest drop.

🍵 Ace Hotel is easily one of our fave merchifiers: These vintage milk glass mugs. 👜 This Sleeping in Seattle tote. And this long-sleeve tee, was designed by six-year-old, Lucien.

💃 San Antonio Spurs merch: “Not afraid to get weird.”