YouTubers selling merch

[Curious World]

Nowadays I often see YouTubers with just a few thousand subs selling (or trying to sell) merchandise. Is this justified? I don't think one person would buy a Curious World t-shirt or sticker, and I wouldn't have the audacity to try with my current numbers. Is it just an unjustified feeling of self-importance for them?

 

[GBeeTV]

Is this justified?

Their channel their rules man...

I wouldn't personally do it either but hey if that one shirt they sell every month helps them in any way then I guess it's alright... It's the viewer's choice to buy one so it doesn't really matter if they just enjoy having merch.

 

[Conso1727]

I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it was to "play pretend" to be a bigger channel, much like the 100 subs people that open a Patreon or similar.

 

[TheSwedishTraveler]

I wouldn´t sell merchandise or start a Patreon, since I have a full time job, that I love! The only money I make from the side is from adsense, which is just a plus. I don´t focus on earning a lot of money of doing youtube!

But if people want to do it, let them!

 

[World Of Brad]

I think it's their choice tbh. If they want to make merch and their fans want to buy it then I don't see what's wrong. Personally, only having 300 subs, I wouldn't start selling merch until I hit around 10,000 subs at least, and even then I'd only do it if people actually wanted and asked for it. But I don't have anything against small youtubers selling stuff; I guess it just depends

 

[ScouseMouse]

Up to them really. If people wanna buy them then fair enough.

I reckon its great free publicity tho even if you make very little profit out of it. Getting subscribers to post pics of themselves in the shirt (or whatever) on twitter, then you can retweet them, subs feel more included amd a part of the channel etc

Obviously its really important to have vvv good branding for the chanmel if you go down that route

 

[Pixel & Bracket]

The market is the market. You'll only know if they will by trying.

 

[EVO]

I can only see that selling merch would be hassle. I have subs but couldnt ever see them buying a shirt or sticker from me.

 

[xingcat]

There's nothing wrong with trying, and with print-on-demand merchandise allows for a no-overhead option to sell stuff, why not?

 

[FRANKIEandEMILY]

Nowadays I often see YouTubers with just a few thousand subs selling (or trying to sell) merchandise. Is this justified? I don't think one person would buy a Curious World t-shirt or sticker, and I wouldn't have the audacity to try with my current numbers. Is it just an unjustified feeling of self-importance for them?

Honestly, it's just a smart business move. As ego-centric as it may seem, it's just another level of your channel. Having a channel is essentially "about you" or what you're creating anyways. It may not be viable to push it until you have more subs, but I've been considering making some march (simple t shirts) for our loyal peeps. Again, it's personal preference, but to me it's smart business to open that revenue stream early and also reward your early subs with exclusive stuff others later on won't get. Plus it's easy promotion when they wear your merch.