Craft beer merchandising trends report

Apparel

Biggest seller
The Canvas 3001 Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. This brand is affordable, offers more than 50 colors and sizes ranging from XS-4XL.

Trending up
Spring is here! This means lots of hats, baseball tees and super lightweight hoodies. Look for tri-blend and combed cotton/ringspun styles from brands like American Apparel, Bella/Canvas & Next Level. These brands are great because the shirts are SOFT, resulting in smoother, high-def printability.

Guys: If it’s a flattering figure you’re after, Canvas has rolled out what one may consider a beer-belly friendly tee, the #3091 Unisex Heavyweight Crewneck Short Sleeve. Constructed of 5.5 ounce ringspun cotton, this shirt won’t drape and hug your man-curves like some of the lighter weight, super-soft styles do.

Trending down
Two words: Bro tanks. In addition, standard wholesale basics, Carded Open End Cotton (COE) with boxy fit, scratchy tags and fabric are a no-no. COE consists of short and scraggly inconsistent fibers that compromise both print quality and comfort.

Best bang for your buck
Next Level is a great go-to brand with tons of colors and available style options. The quality is on par with the higher end brands without the high-end price point, like the Next Level 3600 Premium Fitted Short Sleeve Crewneck Tee.

Grandstand’s advice
Don’t forget about the ladies. More broadly, buy for your customer, and not yourself. Sometimes we get stuck on what we, the buyer, love. Customers like diversity in options.

Premiums shirts are the highly sought after seasonal brews of the t-shirt world; basic styles are your trusty classics. Basics (Gildan 2000, 5000, or 8000/Hanes 5180, 5250/Fruit of the Loom 3930) are great for giveaways and promotions, but remember to explore those “premium” styles — the shirts you’d hang up in your closet for years to follow, rather than fold and stuff in a drawer.

(Click “Page 5” to continue reading: Promotional items)