Business Idea #395, $100K/Year Selling a Variety of Branded & Themed Merchandise

Welcome to Business Idea #395
Grab your coffee, it’s a 2-min skim or an 8-minute read to your possible path to a 1m$ Business!

In today’s letter, we’ll cover:

• An Offer You Can’t Refuse 🔥

• Business Idea: Themed Merchandise E-Store 📰 

• Case Study: How PlanetMerch got to $100K/year 🚀 

• Maxcareers: 5 New Marketing Jobs & Internship positions 💼

Yes, we’re talking about Meco again.
At this point, it’s basically a co-host.

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Business Idea #395: A Themed Merchandise E-Store 📰 

📝 Summary

Ever wanted to cash in on your obsession with anime or gaming memes?

Planet Merch did just that, and it’s pulling in around $100K a year by selling themed mugs, tees, and posters to passionate fanbases.

[Full Case Study + Business Link Below] ⬇️

🛠️ Tools Required

• Hosting & Domain: Bluehost

• E-commerce Platform: WordPress + WooCommerce

• Payment Processor: Stripe

• SEO Tools: SE Ranking

• Email Marketing: Brevo

• Content Planning: Notion

💸 Startup Costs

I’d recommend budgeting around $750 to get started. Hosting and domain with Bluehost will cost around $24/year, and WordPress is free. WooCommerce is also free, but you’ll want SEO tools like SE Ranking ($65/month), plus an email marketing tool like Brevo which starts at $9/month. If you're planning to release new products regularly, Notion is great for planning ($10/month), and Stripe takes care of payments with no upfront cost.

🧠 Knowledge Required

To succeed, you'll need digital marketing knowledge. Our course covers:

• Module 1: Making Your Website → Build a slick online store using WordPress + WooCommerce

• Module 2: SEO → Get found in search engines with smart product titles and keyword usage

• Module 4: Email Marketing → Turn one-time buyers into fans with smart email flows

Other:

• Print On Demand Business → The truth about starting print on demand: Tips & tools for success

• SEO Guide → Beginner's Guide to SEO Success

Case Study Analysis - A Themed Merchandise E-Store: PlanetMerch

What does this online business do? 🚀 

Planet Merch is an online store selling a wide variety of branded and themed merchandise inspired by pop culture, anime, video games, and TV shows.

From witty meme T-shirts to stylish anime mugs, their catalog is filled with niche products that resonate deeply with fandom communities.

With an estimated revenue of around $100K per year, this business successfully monetizes viral trends and passionate fanbases.

Their success comes from understanding what excites online subcultures and quickly creating merchandise that fits those emotional triggers.

How does this online business make money? 💻

Planet Merch generates income through direct e-commerce sales.

Their online store offers physical products like T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and posters, each designed with themes and phrases tailored to specific online and entertainment communities.

It’s highly likely they use a print-on-demand model, allowing them to avoid upfront inventory costs and focus more on creating new designs.

The business doesn’t rely on ads or affiliate links; it’s a straightforward product-driven brand that thrives on the emotional value tied to each design.

What has this business done well?🔥 

This business has built its foundation on a few strong digital strategies that give it a competitive edge in niche merchandising:

1. Hyper-Specific Niche Targeting 🎯🧠

The store doesn’t try to please everyone.

Instead, it zeroes in on tightly defined subcultures, like anime lovers, gamers, and cult TV fans, with designs that reflect inside jokes and viral content from those communities.

This makes the products feel personal, relatable, and highly shareable.

It also increases conversion rates because visitors immediately recognize something relevant to their identity or interests.

2. Fast, Simple Shopping Experience ⚡🛒

The website is minimalist, quick to load, and easy to navigate, all of which are essential for a store targeting impulse buyers from social media or search traffic.

With clean white backgrounds and no unnecessary clutter, the product pages put full focus on the merchandise.

This frictionless experience reduces bounce rates and helps buyers complete purchases without distractions.

3. SEO-Focused Product Naming 🔍📦

Many of their products use specific, searchable keywords in the titles (e.g., “Tears of the Kingdom Mug” or “Chainsaw Man Poster”), which improves their chances of appearing in Google search results.

This passive search traffic becomes a consistent lead generator, especially when tied to trending fandoms or new media releases.

It’s a smart way to bring in buyers who are already looking for themed merchandise.

What this business could improve?🔥🔥🔥 

While the store is well-optimized for conversions, there are some big opportunities to grow revenue and build long-term customer relationships:

1. Add an Email Capture Strategy 📬🎁

Currently, the site lacks any email opt-in forms or incentives.

Introducing a simple popup offering 10% off a first order in exchange for an email address would allow Planet Merch to build a list of warm leads.

They could then use email marketing to retarget past visitors, announce new designs, and run limited-time sales.

A list of thousands of past customers or interested fans is a massive asset for recurring revenue and product launches.

2. Introduce Customer Reviews and Testimonials ⭐🗣️

Product pages don’t include any customer feedback, which is a major missed opportunity.

Adding review functionality, photos from happy buyers, or even basic star ratings would instantly boost trust and credibility.

Visitors browsing meme-based or fandom gear might hesitate unless they see proof that others have bought and liked the product.

Reviews also add fresh content to product pages, which is helpful for SEO.

3. Expand to Social Media Channels 📱🚀

There are no social media links visible on the website.

For a store built around viral culture and pop references, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit are perfect marketing channels.

Building even a basic presence could help drive large amounts of free traffic and create a loyal community around new product drops.

Influencer partnerships, viral video marketing, or meme reposts could dramatically boost brand visibility.

4. Add Cross-Selling or Product Bundling 🛍️➕

There’s no system in place for cross-selling or bundling, which limits the average order value.

By recommending similar products, showing “you might also like” suggestions, or creating bundles (e.g., a T-shirt + mug combo from the same fandom), they can increase cart size without needing new customers.

Small changes like these can lead to a significant bump in monthly revenue.

5. Launch a Blog for SEO and Content Marketing ✍️🌐

Adding a simple blog with content about trending anime, games, or merchandise ideas would bring in organic search traffic.

Articles like “Top 10 Gifts for Anime Fans in 2024” or “Funniest Gamer Merch You’ll Love” could attract thousands of new visitors and boost brand authority.

It would also allow them to rank for keywords outside of product names and capture fans earlier in the buying journey.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

• Targeting passionate niches like anime and gaming fans leads to better engagement and higher conversions.

• A fast, simple website keeps bounce rates low and conversions high.

• Adding email capture and reviews can build trust and create long-term marketing assets.

• Leveraging social media, bundling, and content marketing opens new traffic and revenue channels.

Anyone with design ideas and an eye for pop culture can build something like Planet Merch, it just takes a niche, the right tools, and smart execution.

Your idea could be the next one we break down in a future case study.

New jobs to check out on MaxCareers.com 💼

If you’re not quite ready to start your own business. Take a look at the jobs below. Why not learn and practice your digital marketing skills AND get paid for it?

• Social Media Intern (Summer 2025 / Remote)

• Content Marketing Intern (Remote)

• HubSpot Specialist Internship – CRM and Marketing (Remote) 

• Snow Sports Social Media + Marketing Intern (Remote) 

• Content Writer (Remote and International US)

Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

Remember, if you know someone who might like this newsletter, sharing is caring.

Also, here are some quick links you might find handy 👇️

If you are ready to get started with your own business, you’ll find everything you need here: access our Digital Marketing & Business Course, connect with like-minded entrepreneurs in our Private Online Business Community, take advantage of an Exclusive Hosting Deal, and explore new opportunities on our Careers Platform.

Bye for now,

Scott Max