You recorded your best album yet, poured hours into designing the perfect vinyl, CD, and/or cassette, even played a killer release show… but no one is buying it. Don’t panic! Selling merch isn’t just about having cool swag, it’s about making them visible, accessible, and exciting to own. Let’s break down what might be going wrong, and exactly how to fix it.

1. Your audience doesn’t even know it exists

Look, you could have the most amazing vinyl or CDs in the world, but if your fans don’t know it’s there, they won’t buy it.

Here’s how to fix it:

Set it up online 

Having great merch doesn’t matter if there’s nowhere for fans to find it. With Spinney, every release includes a dedicated artist page and album page, giving your fans a professional, centralized place to shop.

When you sell through Spinney, you can:

• Sell on multiple platforms including Amazon, eBay, Spotify, Walmart, Bandcamp, and the Spinney Marketplace.
• Reach fans worldwide with international shipping.
• Keep 100% of your earnings from every sale.
• Save time by letting us handle fulfillment while you focus on making music.

Tell Fans Everywhere, and Keep Telling Them…

Your merch should be just as visible as your music. Keep purchase links updated on your website, social media profiles, Linktree, and email newsletters. Don’t announce a release once and hope people remember, you need to bring it up regularly and remind fans what’s available.

Make Your Merch Part of the Story

People love buying into the experience, not just the product.

You could try: 

• Sharing behind-the-scenes photos or videos of your vinyl arriving or being packaged.
• Including signed inserts, stickers, lyric sheets, or bonus content.
• Running giveaways or fan contests featuring your merch.
• Reposting photos from fans showing off their purchases.

The more personal the story, the more meaningful the purchase becomes.

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2. You’re Making It Too Hard to Buy

Every extra click is another chance to lose a sale. If fans have to search through multiple websites, send you a DM to order, or guess how to pay, many simply won’t.

Here’s how to fix it:

• Keep pricing and product descriptions consistent across your website, social media, and email campaigns.
• Create one central destination where fans can easily find everything you’re selling.
• Make checkout as simple as possible with minimal clicks.
• Offer multiple payment methods whenever possible, whether that’s credit cards, digital wallets, or mobile payments at shows.

The easier it is to buy, the more likely fans are to follow through.

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3. Your prices are too high

We get it, you spent a fortune making limited edition vinyl or custom shirts. But $200 for a vinyl? Most fans just can’t swing that.

Here’s how to fix it:

Price your merch to cover your costs while remaining accessible to your audience.

Think in tiers:

• Premium signed or limited-edition vinyl for collectors.
• Standard vinyl, CDs, or cassettes for everyday fans.
• Affordable items like stickers, buttons, patches, or download cards for newer listeners.

Bundles are another great way to increase value. Pair a vinyl with a t-shirt, or include stickers with every purchase to make fans feel like they’re getting something extra.

Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. If certain items aren’t moving, adjust your pricing or bundle strategy and see what resonates.

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4. You’re Not Meeting Fans Where They Already Shop

Your fans are already (likely) using streaming platforms to discover new music. The problem is that if they have to leave the app, search your website, or hunt through your social media to find your merch, many won’t make it all the way to checkout.

The easier you make it to buy, the more likely fans are to become customers.

Here’s how to fix it:

Sell Where Fans Already Listen

With Spinney, paid subscribers can sell their physical albums directly from their Spotify for Artists profile. When someone discovers your music on Spotify, they’ll see your featured vinyl, CDs, or cassettes right on your artist page, creating a seamless path from listening to owning.

Instead of asking fans to leave Spotify and search for your merch elsewhere, they can go from streaming your music to purchasing a physical copy in just a few clicks.

It’s one of the easiest ways to turn passive listeners into active supporters.

Follow these steps to get started

Expand Beyond Spotify

Spinney also helps you reach fans wherever they prefer to shop. Your physical media can be sold through:

• Amazon
• eBay
• Walmart
• Bandcamp
• Spinney Marketplace

That means whether someone discovers you through Spotify, searches for your album on Amazon, or prefers buying through Bandcamp, they’ll have an easy way to support your music.

Don’t Forget Live Shows

Live performances are still one of the best opportunities to sell physical media.

Mention your merch before your set, remind the audience afterward, and highlight one or two featured items instead of listing everything on your table. Giving fans a clear recommendation makes buying easier.

The goal is simple: meet your fans wherever they already are, and remove as many obstacles between discovering your music and owning it as possible.

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5. Your merch table is a mess!

You played an amazing show, the crowd was hyped, and… no one bought anything. Or worse, they stopped by, shrugged, and walked away. Yikes. Don’t let that happen!

Here’s how to fix it:

• Be visible and clear – Put your table somewhere fans can see it, not tucked away. Big signage with item names and prices is a must. Make it fun and approachable, maybe add a few items to decorate the space on theme for your act.
  
• Be organized – Sort shirts by size, line up hats, splay stickers and pins, and have cash/change ready. Utilize venmo, paypal, cashapp, or provide a QR code for them to pay if they do not have cash available. 

• Be present and friendly – Hang out at the table before and after your set. Greet fans, and most importantly, thank them. Positive interactions turn casual fans into loyal supporters.
  
• Offer variety – Sell multiple items (CDs, vinyl, cassette, t-shirts) but highlight one or two “must-buy” items so fans know where to start. Consider offering a QR code that links to your Spinney Storefront to sell items you either sold out of in person or are exclusively available online.
  
• Encourage email signups – Email is forever (well, mostly). Keep forms front-and-center and offer small incentives like stickers or bonus tracks.
  
• Keep track of sales – Know what sells and in what quantity so your next show is smarter, faster, and more profitable.
  

Merch sales aren’t magic, they’re about making your products visible, easy to buy, and fun to own. With these fixes, you’ll turn casual fans into lifelong supporters, and collectors of your music. 

Ready to Sell More Merch?

At Spinney, we make it easy to get your physical music into the hands of your fans. From creating your online storefront and selling on marketplaces like Spotify, Amazon, Bandcamp, and more, to worldwide fulfillment and order management, we help independent artists spend less time managing logistics and more time making music.

Get started with Spinney