How to Choose the Right Custom Merchandise
A practical way to choose between patches, badges, keyrings, magnets, medals, coins and hats.
Choosing the right custom merchandise can make a big difference to how your brand, club, event or organisation is represented. From custom patches and enamel badges to keyrings, medals and challenge coins, the best option depends on your design, budget and how the finished product will be used.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing custom merchandise for your next project.
Think About How Your Custom Merchandise Will Be Used
Start by considering who the merchandise is for and where it will be used.
Custom enamel badges are ideal for brands, clubs, charities and collectables, while custom embroidered patches and woven patches are popular for uniforms, workwear, clothing and bags. Custom keyrings make practical promotional merchandise, while medals and challenge coins are perfect for events, awards and commemorative projects.
Choosing a product that suits your audience will help make sure your merchandise is something people actually want to use or keep.
Choose the Right Material and Finish
Different designs work better with different manufacturing methods.
Embroidered patches provide a traditional, textured finish and are particularly effective for bold logos and designs. Woven patches can reproduce finer details and smaller lettering, while PVC patches are flexible, durable and well suited to outdoor clothing, bags and equipment.
For a premium metal finish, custom hard enamel badges and keyrings offer a smooth, professional appearance with a choice of plating and colour options.
Consider the Detail in Your Design
When creating custom branded merchandise, it's important to consider how your artwork will translate into a physical product.
Very small text, thin lines or intricate details may need to be adjusted depending on the product and finished size. A design that works perfectly as a woven patch, for example, may need simplifying before it can be embroidered.
You don't necessarily need production-ready artwork either. A logo, sketch, reference image or initial idea can be developed into suitable artwork before manufacturing begins.
Consider Quantity and Budget
The quantity you order can have a significant effect on the cost of custom merchandise.
Many bespoke products require initial tooling or setup, which means ordering larger quantities will generally reduce the cost per item. Product size, materials, colours, backing options and finishes can also affect the final price.
If you're working to a particular budget, it's worth looking at the overall combination of product, size, quantity and finish rather than simply choosing the cheapest option.
Finding the Right Custom Merchandise Supplier
A good custom merchandise supplier should do more than simply manufacture your order. They should be able to advise you on materials, finishes and production methods to help you get the best result from your design.
At Madly Merch, we produce a wide range of custom merchandise for customers across the UK and Ireland, including embroidered and woven patches, PVC patches, enamel badges, keyrings, medals, challenge coins and more.
Whether you already have finished artwork or just an idea, send us your design, logo or sketch and we'll help you choose the right custom merchandise to bring it to life.
Ready to explore?
Move from the guide into the product range or send us the brief directly.