How Ukulele Artists Can Sell Merchandise Without Losing Their Voice
Selling merch as a ukulele artist doesn’t need to be complicated. You don’t need a giant table, a van full of boxes, or a spreadsheet so confusing it makes your eyes hurt. You just need a few items people actually want and a way to sell them without turning your whole life into admin. When you keep it personal, simple, and small enough to carry without breaking your back, it works surprisingly well.
Start With What Feels Genuine
Most small-gig merch tables look the same. A couple of shirts. Some stickers. Maybe a poster someone printed at 11pm the night before. It’s fine, but there’s no reason you should follow that script if it doesn’t fit you.
Match your style
Your music already has a mood. Your merch should feel like it belongs to the same world. If you play soft, mellow songs, avoid designs that shout. If you’re funny between songs, give people something that shows that side of you.
Some ideas:
Clean, simple artwork for relaxed players
Playful graphics for upbeat performers
Quotes pulled from your own stage banter
Sketches or doodles you already make during practice
Merch feels better when it comes from your personality instead of a random idea you grabbed at the last minute.
Look Beyond the Classic Items
T-shirts are the first thing most musicians think of, but they’re not always the best option. They’re bulky, expensive to order, and hard to predict sizing for. Smaller items often make more sense and feel easier for fans to buy on impulse.
Easy, low-cost items that sell well
People love small things they can slip into a pocket or a bag.
Good options include:
Stickers
Mini prints
Enamel pins
Picks
Small zines
Postcards with artwork
You can carry all of that in a small box, and you won’t dread taking it on the bus.
For fans who also play
If your audience is full of hobby players, give them something they can use with their own ukulele.
Useful ideas:
Custom straps
Microfibre cloths
Pouches for tuners or capos
Ukulele chords charts
Warm-up sheets
Printable tabs for your songs
These items feel helpful, and people like knowing they’re buying something practical.
Read the Room (and Your Audience)
Your fans will tell you what they want, often without saying a word.
Ask yourself
Where do people discover you?
If it’s mostly online, prints and digital downloads fit naturally.
Do your fans play instruments too?
If they do, accessories and music-related items sell well.
Are they into handmade things?
Some fans love items with imperfections. Others prefer polished designs.
When you’re not sure, start with small batches. You’ll know what works when something sells out before anything else.
Selling at Live Shows
The best time to sell merch is right after your set, when people are still in the moment. They’ve heard your music. They feel connected. They’re open to buying something that keeps that feeling going.
Keep your setup practical
Don’t turn your show into a mini shop. You only need a few things.
A solid setup looks like:
A small box with your stock
A simple price sheet
A contactless payment method
You don’t want to be counting coins in the dark while someone behind you shouts for the next act to hurry up.
Placement matters
Avoid blocking doorways, the bar, or the sound desk. People might forgive a bad chord, but they won’t forgive standing between them and a drink. And always check with the organiser. Most are fine with merch tables as long as they’re not in the way.
Make it easy for people to talk to you
Some fans want a quick chat. Others want to buy something and leave. Keep the moment light. You don’t need a sales pitch. A simple “thanks for listening” does the job.
Selling Online Without Overthinking It
An online shop helps you reach people who can’t come to your shows. It also lets fans buy things later, when they remember your song while staring into their fridge at midnight.
You don’t need fancy product photos
Good photos are simple. Natural light. A clean background. No props that distract from the item.
Show:
A close-up
A wider shot
Your hand for size
A direct description
The goal is clarity, not drama.
Keep the shop small
Too many items overwhelm people.
Aim for:
A short list of products
Clear pricing
Quick checkout
If you add something new, rotate out older items so your page stays clean.
Pricing Without Feeling Strange
Pricing merch feels awkward for a lot of musicians. But it gets easier when you remember you’re not selling emotional worth. You’re selling an object you made or ordered.
A simple pricing method
Start with your costs
Add a margin that pays you for your time
Don’t underprice because you feel shy
Tell people when something is handmade or limited
Honesty usually stops any awkwardness. When people know the story behind an item, they understand the price.
Higher prices are fine when the work is real
If you spent hours drawing something by hand, charge accordingly. Fans respect effort. They just don’t like feeling tricked. So tell them the truth, keep the tone natural, and move on.
Stock: Order Small, Always
It’s tempting to order big quantities because the price per item drops. That’s how you end up with 80 shirts under your bed, still sealed, judging you silently.
Start with tiny batches A good first run:
10 shirts
20–30 stickers
10–15 prints
A short batch of small items
It’s better to sell out than to sit on stock for months. And if you sell out at a show, offer a simple pre-order form. Fans don’t mind waiting when they know it’s genuine.
Make Merch an Extension of Your Music
Merch isn’t about becoming a shopkeeper. It’s about giving people something that keeps your music close. The best items feel like they belong to you — your tone, your humour, your style.
When you keep the process simple, and you let your natural personality lead the way, the whole thing becomes easier. You’re still an artist first. You’re just an artist who also happens to have a few cool things in a box next to your ukulele.
If you want, I can help refine the tone further, adjust the humour, or shape it for a specific audience like touring artists or online-only performers.