Fandom is powerful. It drives community, creativity, and merch sales.
If you’re a BookTok influencer, a fan artist, or a creator in a passionate niche, merch can help you build deeper connections and fund your work. But it’s important to tread carefully, especially when it comes to intellectual property and community expectations.
🎨 What to Sell
Choose products that match the energy of your fandom:
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Quote T-shirts & Journals – Use indirect references or reimagine vibes (“Dark Academia Book Club” instead of a copyrighted title).
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Character-Inspired Designs – Focus on aesthetics, colours, or traits rather than names and faces.
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Bookish Lifestyle Gear – Mugs with reading goals, tote bags for library hauls, or “currently reading” tees.
🧠 Tip: Make it feel made for fans, by fans, subtle nods go a long way.
⚖️ What’s Legal vs. What’s Risky
If you’re not the original IP holder (author, publisher, studio), here’s what to remember:
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Avoid direct quotes or logos unless you have permission.
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Stick to parody, commentary, or original fan art.
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Create “inspired by” designs, not replicas.
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When in doubt, get permission or look into licensing, especially for large-scale sales.
💛 Stay Authentic
The fandom knows when you’re in it for the love, not just the profit. Keep it real:
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Be transparent about your designs
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Celebrate fan milestones or content creators
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Use profits to support creative work or donate to causes
Fandom merch is about connection. Use Merchr to bring your ideas to life without any upfront cost and ship directly to fans across the UK.
