Hey everyone 👋,

Welcome to the next episode of the SaaS Hill newsletter where SaaSy people get better at SaaS trends, tools and markets.

Let’s discuss Merch Stores 👕

⭐️ Intro

One Ukrainian tech company Lemon.io has paid out more than $8 mln to Ukrainian developers to date and decided to brew over 3000 bottles of craft beer (Lemon Ale) to celebrate that occasion, and just gave it all out to the IT community for free.

Then Loom introduced a candle “that smells like free time”.

So today we will discuss an interesting micro-trend in the SaaS space: Merch Stores.

What’s inside of this issue:

👉 5 predictions about Merch Stores in SaaS👉 9 examples of the trend👉 2 experts to follow👉 4 useful links

🤔 Predictions

1. SaaS companies will focus on their brand even more: word of mouth; podcats, communities, virtual events; underpaid marketing channels; merch stores

2. Merch Stores will help SaaS companies make their brand more recognizable

3. Merch Stores will help SaaS companies build a community of raving fans

4. Merch Stores will help establish warm connection with SaaS customers. It will help increase LTV

5. Merch Stores and Swag will help close deals faster. Sales teams can send personal gifts and push the opportunity through the finish line

🏢 Products

Merch Stores

1. Figma > The Figma Store

2. Gong > Gong Merch Store

3. Loom > Loom Shop

4. Drift > the Drift Store

5. ProductHunt > ProductHunt Shop

6. Webflow > The Webflow Merch Store

7. Salesforce > Salesforce Brandstore

8. Adobe > Adobe Store

9. Google > Google Merchandise Store

Services

1. Mavens of Merch > The easiest way for busy creators to create and use their own merch

2. Printfection > Create and send branded swag anywhere

📖 Experts to Follow

1. Aleksandr Volodarsky > CEO at Lemon.io

2. Nick Lafferty > Head of Growth Marketing @ Loom

🖼 Pitch Deck

Here's the 12-slide pitch deck Alyce used to raise an $11.5 million Series A. Alyce is redefining direct mail as the only personal gifting platform that provides a personal experience at scale.

🔗 Useful Links

1. Loom Candle — the first candle designed to help you get back your time

2. Swag Store: What It Is, Why It Is Important & 16 Great Examples

3. Swagup > We've mastered Swag packs, so you don't have to

4. Alyce Swag Select > Create a corporate Swag Select marketplace online and deliver personal experiences

Thanks for reading. See you next time 👋

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