How Does Merch By Amazon Work? Full Guide

What is Merch By Amazon? Merch By Amazon Explained

Merch by Amazon is a print-on-demand (POD) service that allows users to create and sell customized merch through the Amazon platform. The service allows users to design and upload their own artwork, which can be printed on a variety of products, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, popsockets, phone cases and many other products. These are then printed, fulfilled and shipped by Amazon, so users don't have to worry about inventory or fulfillment. Users earn royalties on each sale, and the royalties are based on the product and the price at which it is sold. Merch by Amazon is by invitation only, and candidates must apply to be accepted into the program.

Merch By Amazon Requirements

To be eligible for Merch by Amazon, users must:

1. Be 18 years of age or older
2. Have a supported bank account
3. Agree to the Merch by Amazon Service Agreement and Program Policies

To apply to Merch by Amazon, users must submit an application through the Merch by Amazon website. Amazon reviews each application and determines whether to approve or reject it. If an application is approved, the user will be able to start creating and uploading designs to the Merch by Amazon platform.

What are the Merch by Amazon Tier Levels

Merch By Amazon Tier Levels are determined by the number of sales that the user has made on the platform and the designs uploaded at any given time. Here is a guide to Amazon Merch tier levels:

1. Tier 10: This is the starting level for all new users on Merch by Amazon. At this level, users can only upload 3 designs a day and the maximum of their tier level which is 10 designs. This max upload logic applies to all tier levels.
2. Tier 25: To reach Tier 25, a user must make at least 10 sales and upload 10 designs. At this level, users can upload up to 25 designs.
3. Tier 100: To reach Tier 100, a user must make at least 25 sales and upload up to 25 designs. At this level, users can upload up to 100 designs.

As the content creator keeps selling and uploading, the higher they tier up to tier 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 20,000 etc

How to Be Accepted By Merch by Amazon?

The approval process involves submitting your personal or business information, such as full name, company name, address, and contact information. Additionally, you must provide a valid tax ID and agree to the Merch by Amazon terms and conditions. After submitting your information, it can take up to two weeks for Amazon to review and approve your application. Once approved, you will be able to start uploading designs, and listing products. The approval process is an important step in getting started with Merch by Amazon and is necessary for anyone who wants to start selling products on the platform.

Here are some tips to increase your chances of being accepted by Merch By Amazon. You need to come across serious and professional to convince whoever is looking at your application to accept you. You can do this through the additional information section by highlighting the value that you're going to bring to the platform. Also, it is recommended to use a professional website and a social media account in the additional information section to give off a good impression. Having said that, a lot of times it is down to luck, so give it a go and see what happens.

If you however don't get accepted, try again with a new email and phone number, and if you're tired of getting rejected, you can always buy account creation service from a reputable seller. We recommend Mr Addie's Merch By Amazon Creation Service

How To Buy A Merch By Amazon Account

You might say, why do I need a Merch By Amazon account? Well, it is because the platform is only available by invitation and a limited number of people are accepted at a time. You may have been rejected before or even had your account banned, in which case this is the best solution for the majority of people. Otherwise, it is very hard to get an account any other way.

Here are some tips to help you keep your account safe so you can keep working with no issues.

If you have been rejected or had your account terminated with Merch by Amazon, you can try creating a new Chrome user and clearing your cookies to start fresh. It is important to use a new email and phone number that have not been associated with Merch by Amazon, Amazon, or KDP in the past. While it is possible to buy a Merch by Amazon account from various sources, be cautious as there may be scammers. If you want a guaranteed service with VIP support and generous bonuses from a trusted seller, you can purchase an account with your name from Mr Addie's Merch By Amazon Creation Service

Merch By Amazon Dashboard

Familiarizing yourself with the Merch by Amazon Dashboard is crucial as it allows you to manage your designs, track sales and inventory, set prices, and sell your products globally. The dashboard, which can be accessed upon login, provides a range of analytics and Amazon seller tools to help you navigate and optimize your sales.

Merch By Amazon Products

Merch by Amazon products are a range of items that can be customized with designs created by Merch by Amazon creators. These products include clothing items such as t-shirts, hoodies, and long sleeve shirts, as well as phone cases and popsockets etc. Merch By Amazon sellers can upload their designs to the platform and list them for sale on Amazon's website. When a customer purchases one of these products, the design is printed on demand and shipped to the customer. Merch By Amazon content creators earn a royalty for each sale of their designs.

Amazon Merch Print on Demand process

The Amazon Merch Print on Demand (POD) process is a system that allows sellers to list custom designs on a range of products for sale on Amazon's website. The process works as follows:

1. Users create designs and upload them to the Merch by Amazon platform
2. The designs are then made available for purchase on Amazon's website.
3. When a customer places an order for a product with a Merch seller's design, the order is sent to Amazon's fulfillment center.
4. The design is printed on the product using a digital printing process.
5. The product is then packaged and shipped to the customer by Amazon.
6. The user earns a royalty for each sale of their design.

The POD process allows users to sell their designs without having to hold inventory or manage the logistics of shipping and handling. This makes it a good option for those who want to sell custom products without having to invest in upfront costs.

Merch By Amazon Design

To get started, you can use any graphic design software that you are comfortable with such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Photopea, Pixlr, GIMP, or Canva. It is recommended to download the Merch by Amazon t-shirt design templates and create a high-quality image in the space provided. To ensure that your design is of good quality, avoid stretching or pixelation and to check the Merch by Amazon best practices for further tips on design. Another option is to purchase ready-made designs from places like Fiverr or Creative Fabrica and upload them directly to your Merch account.

Download the Merch by Amazon T-Shirt Design Templates

How to Calculate Merch by Amazon Royalties?

You can view the estimated royalties when uploading a design and setting a price for any product or marketplace on Merch By Amazon. 

You can check out this page for a more detailed royalty breakdown : https://merch.amazon.com/resource/201858580

Understanding Copyright & Trademarks For Merch By Amazon

When creating products for Merch by Amazon, it's important to understand and follow the rules related to copyright and trademarks.

Copyright laws protect original works of authorship, such as artwork, music, and writing. In order to use copyrighted material on your products, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder or ensure that your use is covered by an exception to copyright law, such as fair use. So therefore, you should not make designs with celebrities or NFL teams without a license as this is against copyright law.

Trademark laws protect brands and logos. In order to use a trademarked image or logo on your products, you must obtain permission from the trademark holder or ensure that your use is not likely to cause confusion among consumers. We recommend you use Merch Dominator Trademark module to keep your account safe.

Using copyrighted or trademarked material without permission can result in legal action and may lead to your account being suspended or terminated.

It is recommended to use only your own designs or designs from licensed artists, or from public domain resources. Also, ensure that your designs don't infringe any existing trademark or copyrighted material.

Merch by Amazon has strict policies in place for the use of third-party intellectual property, so follow these guidelines to avoid any issues with your account. Check their content policies page for more info.

Understanding Amazon Best Sellers Rank (BSR)

The Amazon Best Sellers Rank (BSR) is a numerical rating system that Amazon uses to rank products based on their sales performance. The lower the number, the better the product is selling in comparison to other products in the same category.

The BSR is a great tool for sellers to use to track the performance of their products and understand how they compare to other products in their category. A lower BSR number can help increase visibility and sales for your products. The BSR is often used by Merch Sellers to assess demand in a particular niche. The lower the BSR Number in the search results of a particular niche the better. 

To improve your BSR for your Merch by Amazon designs, there are several things you can do:

1. Optimize your product listings: Make sure your brand, bullet 1 & 2, product titles, and descriptions are all optimized for the keywords that your customers are searching for.
2. Reviews: Positive customer reviews can help boost your BSR by increasing the visibility of your product.
3. Use Amazon's advertising options: Utilize Amazon's advertising options to promote your products and increase visibility.
4. Maintain consistent sales: The BSR is regularly updated throughout the day, so maintaining consistent sales can help improve your BSR over time.
5. Optimize your pricing: pricing your products competitively can help increase sales and improve your BSR.

Keep in mind that BSR is one of many factors that Amazon takes into account when determining product visibility, so focus on a variety of strategies to improve your overall sales performance.

Merch By Amazon Niche Research

Niche research is an important step in finding profitable products to sell on Merch by Amazon. It involves identifying a specific market or audience to target with your designs.

Here are some steps you can take to conduct niche research for Merch by Amazon:

1. Identify potential niches: Use keyword research tools to identify potential niche markets that have a high demand for products. Look for keywords that have a high search volume and low competition.
2. Analyze competitors: Look at the top-selling products in your niche and analyze what designs are popular and what type of audience they are targeting.
3. Identify trends: Look for trends in your niche, such as upcoming holidays or events, to create designs that will be in high demand.
4. Understand the audience: Once you have identified a niche, research the demographics and interests of the audience to understand what designs and messages will resonate with them.
5. Test your ideas: Create a few designs and list them on Merch by Amazon to gauge their performance. Use the data and feedback from these designs to refine your niche research and improve your overall strategy.

It's also important to note that niche research is not a one-time process, but rather an ongoing effort to stay up to date with the changing trends and customer preferences. You can use Merch Dominator to find the best and most profitable niches and keywords.

Merch By Amazon Trends

Merch by Amazon is a constantly evolving platform, and trends can change quickly. Keeping up with current trends can help you create designs that are more likely to sell. Here are a few trends that you can consider for Merch by Amazon:

1. Pop culture references: Pop culture references such as funny sarcastic quotes and memes can be a popular way to create designs that appeal to a wide audience.
2. Political and social issue design designs: Designs with political and current affairs impactful messages are gaining popularity as more and more customers look for products that align with their values.
3. Trending hobbies and interests: Keep an eye on the trending hobbies and interests, such as gaming and anime. Create designs that cater to these interests.
4. Seasonal designs: Create designs that are relevant to the current season, such as Halloween, Christmas, or 4th of July.

These trends may change over time, so make sure you stay updated and adapt your designs accordingly. It's recommended not to rely solely on trends, but also focus on your target audience and their preferences. Use Merch Dominator to identify the current trends as they are taking off to get in first and maximize your gains, and use the events calendar module to plan ahead for trends and capitalize on them before anyone else.

Merch by Amazon Design Process

The design process for Merch by Amazon can vary depending on the specific design and the tools you use, but generally, it involves the following steps:

1. Conceptualize: Come up with an idea for your design. This can be inspired by trends, pop culture, personal interests, or customer feedback.
2. Research: Research your audience, competitors, and trends in your niche to get a better understanding of what designs are popular and what messages resonate with your target market. Merch Dominator can help you do this easily.
3. Sketch: Sketch out your design ideas to get a rough idea of what the final product will look like.
4. Create: Use design software to create the final design. Popular design tools include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva.
5. Review: Review your design and make any necessary adjustments.
6. Export: Export your design in the appropriate file format (such as PNG or JPEG) and at the appropriate resolution for Merch by Amazon. Refer to the design best practices section of Merch By Amazon resources for more info.
7. Upload: Upload your design to Merch by Amazon, and fill in the product details such as title, description, and pricing, then publish your design.

It's crucial to have a clear understanding of the guidelines and technical requirements for Merch by Amazon designs, such as file size and resolution, in order to ensure that your designs are accepted and can be sold on the platform.

Use a workflow that allows you to make changes and updates to your designs quickly and easily, so you can respond to changes in trends.

Merch By Amazon Upload Process

The upload process for Merch by Amazon involves several steps to ensure that your designs are properly uploaded and ready to be sold. Here's an overview of the process:

1. Sign in to your Merch by Amazon account: Log in to your account using your Amazon credentials.
2. Go to the "Create" tab: Click on the "Create" tab to begin the upload process.
3. Upload your design: Upload your design file in the appropriate format (such as PNG or JPEG) and at the appropriate resolution.
4. Select a product type: Select the product type you want to create, such as a t-shirt, hoodie, or popsocket.
5. Enter product details: Choose the fit type, colors, pricing, and marketplace. Fill in the product details such as brand, title, bullets 1 & 2 and the description. Make sure to use keywords that are relevant to your design and that will help customers find your product.
6. Check the for Trademarks: check your listing Metadata for trademarks to avoid getting your account suspended or terminated. Use the automatic trademark check in the Merch Dominator Listing Creator module to keep your account safe.
7. Review and publish: Review all the details for your design and submit it for review by Merch by Amazon.
8. Wait for the review process: Once you publish your listing, the Merch by Amazon bot will scan your submission to ensure it meets their guidelines. If it's all good, your design will go to processing and go live shortly after. If not, then its status will change to "Under Review" to be reviewed my a human who will then either approve it or reject it. This process usually takes between 48h and 72h.
9. Once approved, your design will be live on the platform, and you can track your sales and performance on the dashboard.

Make sure you respect Merch by Amazon terms, such as their trademark and copyright policy, to avoid any issues with your account and to ensure your designs are accepted and can be sold on the platform. 

Merch By Amazon Keyword Optimized Listings

Optimizing your product listings for keywords is an important step in increasing visibility and sales for your Merch by Amazon designs. Here are a few tips to help you create keyword-optimized listings:

1. Use relevant keywords: Research the keywords that customers are using to search for products in your niche and include them in your brand, product title, bullet 1 & 2, and your description. Use Merch Dominator Keyword Module to get the best profitable keywords and rank your listings.
2. Use long-tail keywords: Long-tail keywords are phrases that are more specific and targeted than general keywords. They are less competitive and can help your product rank higher in search results.
3. Be specific: Use specific keywords that describe your design in your brand, product title, bullet 1 & 2, and your description to help customers find your product more easily.
4. Include a call to action: Use a call to action in your bullets or description to encourage customers to purchase your product.
5. Use a niche and keyword research tool: There are different niche and keyword research tools available, but we recommend Merch Dominator to help you to find the best niches and keywords for your products.

Keep in mind that optimizing your listings for keywords is an ongoing process, and the more your listing keeps getting sales through certain keywords the more you will rank for those keywords. Avoid stuffing your listings with too many keywords, as it can negatively affect your product ranking.

Earn Extra Passive Income With The Amazon Associates Program

The Amazon Associates program is a way for individuals and businesses to earn extra passive income by promoting Amazon products. As a Merch by Amazon seller, you can leverage this program to earn additional revenue by promoting your own designs, as well as other products through a variety of channels.

Here's an overview of how the program works:

1. Sign up: Sign up for the Amazon Associates program and create a tracking ID.
2. Promote products: Use your tracking ID to promote your own designs and other products on Amazon by creating affiliate links. You can share these links on your website, social media, or in emails.
3. Earn commissions: When someone clicks on one of your affiliate links and makes a purchase, you earn a commission on the sale. The commission rate varies depending on the product category and can be found on the Amazon Associates website.
4. Track your earnings: Use the Amazon Associates dashboard to track your earnings and see which products are performing well.

The Amazon Associates program has guidelines and policies that you need to follow, such as disclosing your affiliate relationship and not promoting products in a misleading or deceptive manner. The Amazon Associates program can be a great way to earn extra income on Merch by Amazon, but it's important to use it in a way that complies with the platform's guidelines and policies.

Promote Your Merch By Amazon Designs

Promoting your Merch by Amazon designs is an essential step in driving sales and increasing visibility for your products. Here are a few ways to promote your designs:

1. Utilize social media: Share your designs on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use relevant hashtags and engage with your followers to increase visibility.
2. Create a website or blog: Create a website or blog to showcase your designs and provide information about your brand. Share your website or blog on social media to drive traffic.
3. Use email marketing: Build an email list and send newsletters to your subscribers to keep them updated on your latest designs and promotions.
4. Collaborate with influencers and bloggers: Reach out to influencers and bloggers in your niche to collaborate on promotions and reviews of your designs.
5. Utilize Amazon Advertising: Utilize Amazon Advertising to promote your designs and increase visibility. However, this is not available to sellers in the lower tiers and sellers will be invited on a rolling basis when they reach tier 500.
6. Leverage SEO: Optimize your product listings for SEO by using relevant keywords in your brand, title, bullets 1 & 2, and your description.

Note that promoting your designs should be done in a way that adheres to Amazon's policies, such as not using misleading or deceptive language. Try different strategies and see which ones work best for your designs and audience.

Is Merch By Amazon Profitable?

Merch by Amazon can be a very profitable business. However, like any business, it takes time, hard work, consistency and a solid strategy to achieve success.

One example of a successful Merch by Amazon seller is Mr Addie. He is an entrepreneur and influencer who has sold 8 figures worth of products on the platform. He has built a large following and has been sharing his knowledge and experience through his blog and Youtube channel since 2019, helping others to achieve similar success on Merch by Amazon.

Keep in mind that success on Merch by Amazon can vary depending on many factors such as your niche, competition, designs, and marketing strategies. It's necessary to do your research, understand your target market, and continually improve your designs and Amazon marketing efforts to increase your chances of success. You need to have a good understanding of the platform, its policies, and best practices, and be able to adapt to changes and trends.

Is Merch By Amazon Worldwide?

Merch by Amazon is not currently available worldwide. The platform is currently only available in certain countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan. This means that you can only list products for sale and have them fulfilled by Amazon in those countries and some nearby countries that are supported by the program..

However, even if you are located in one of the countries where Merch by Amazon is available, the service may not be available for all products.

It's also worth noting that Merch by Amazon is continuously expanding and adding new features and markets. So, it's a good idea to keep checking the official website for updates and announcements about new products or marketplaces.

Having said that, Merch By Amazon is available for sellers from most countries in the world except some countries like Russia and China. If Merch by Amazon is not available in your country, there are other Merch By Amazon alternatives to sell your designs, such as using other print-on-demand platforms like Redbubble or creating your own online store.

Merch By Amazon Payment Methods

Amazon Merch payments are made through direct deposit. To receive payments, you will need to provide your bank account information in the bank account section of your Merch by Amazon account.

The payments are made on a monthly basis, usually at the end of the following month after the month in which the sale was made. Ensure that your bank account information is up to date and correct, so that you can receive your payments without any issues.

Amazon also allows you to check your payment history and earnings on your account dashboard. Keep an eye on your account regularly to ensure that you are receiving payments for all of your sales.

Amazon may hold payments if your account gets terminated due to issues such as violation of its policies or if your designs are infringing any copyright or trademark laws.

In case of any issues with payments or any other concerns, you can reach out to the Amazon Merch customer support team for assistance here [email protected]

Merch By Amazon Bank Not Supported

Merch by Amazon currently supports direct deposit to bank accounts in the United States and some other countries. If your bank account is not located in one of these countries, you will not be able to receive payments through direct deposit. In this case, you can use a virtual bank account like Payoneer or Wise to receive payments from Amazon, which can help you receive payments from Amazon in your local currency and then transfer the funds to your bank account. They will provide you with a US bank account number and routing number that you can use in the bank account section in your Merch By Amazon account.

Using a third-party service may involve additional fees, such as exchange rate fees, so make sure to research and compare the costs and benefits of using these services before choosing one.

Merch By Amazon Best Practices

These can be found here https://merch.amazon.com/resource/201849250

Wrapping Up

In summary, the Merch by Amazon program is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs and creators to start and grow their own Print on Demand Amazon business with minimal investment and risk. By utilizing the Print on Demand Amazon business model, users can create and sell custom apparel without having to hold inventory or handle shipping and fulfillment. Respect Amazon's term of service in order to be successful in the program. Overall, if you're looking for a low-risk and easy way to start your own business, Merch by Amazon is definitely worth considering.