How to Make the Most of a Small Merch Budget
You don’t need a huge budget to make great merch — you just need to be smart about where it goes. At Nerds, we help brands of all sizes create meaningful, stylish, and high-quality merch, even when the budget is tight. Here’s how to stretch your merch investment without compromising on impact.
1. Prioritize Usefulness Over Volume
Don’t try to do five things halfway. Do one thing really well. A single useful item that people actually keep and use is worth more than a bag of filler products.
Top low-budget but high-impact picks:
- 🖊️ A smooth custom pen with a great feel
- 👜 A simple but well-printed cotton tote
- 📓 A clean, branded notebook for events or team use
Think: Would I use this every day? If not, don’t order it.
2. Keep the Design Simple
Big, complex prints can increase production cost — especially for screen printing or embroidery. But small can still be stylish. A minimal left-chest logo or tone-on-tone embroidery feels more premium *and* keeps costs down.
Need help simplifying your design for print? We’ve got your back.
3. Use Print Techniques That Scale
Some print methods are more budget-friendly — especially at lower quantities. At Nerds, we guide you to the right one for your order size and design:
- 🎨 DTF printing: Perfect for small runs with full color
- 🧵 Embroidery: Keep it under 6cm wide for lower cost
- 🖋️ Pad printing: Ideal for pens and small surfaces
We’ll always suggest the technique that works best for your budget + aesthetic combo.
4. Choose Smart Base Products
You don’t need the thickest hoodie or the fanciest bag to make an impression. Some of our best-looking products are affordable, simple, and effective:
- 👕 Creator 2.0 T-shirt: Clean fit, great feel, solid price point
- 👜 Light cotton tote: A Nerds favorite for giveaways and event packs
- 🖊️ Wheat straw pen: Sustainable, cool texture, small price
We can even color-match or coordinate items to make the whole kit feel more premium, without spending more.
5. Bundle Small Items into a Big Moment
Even with a small budget, presentation makes a difference. A simple cotton bag with a pen, sticker, and note feels more special when it’s curated and thought through — especially if it’s given with context or story.
Some ideas:
- 📦 "Welcome pack" with small essentials
- 🧠 A creativity kit with pen + notebook
- 🍬 A fun surprise pack for events or new hires
Let’s work together on how to make your small items feel like more.
6. Order Smaller Quantities — Smarter
At Nerds, we don’t force you into huge minimum orders. You can start small and still get something great. Want 50 T-shirts? 100 mugs? No problem.
💡 Bonus tip: Combine your order with another item (like totes + pens) to get better shipping or setup cost efficiency.
You Don’t Need a Big Budget to Make Big Impact
Merch isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about how intentional you are. At Nerds, we’ll help you build something smart, stylish, and memorable, even with a tight budget. And we’ll never push you into things you don’t need.
Ready to make every euro count?
