5 ms·

Show HN: Merchbar – An app to discover and buy merch from your favorite bands

41 points by oo7jeep 12y ago

thoughtpalette 12y ago
Pretty cool! A couple of the bands I searched for only had albums, what sources are you pulling from? Merchnow has a bunch of apparel for the bands I was searching for. (Parkway Drive and Bring me the horizon)
- oo7jeep 12y ago
  We've done deals directly with a bunch of merch companies as well as the largest vinyl distributor in the world. Merchnow has a great collection of indie artists- will work to find a way to partner with them.
  - thoughtpalette 12y ago
    Ahh cool! Wasn't sure if they either had/have an api to integrate with (MerchNow). Good luck with the app!
oo7jeep 12y ago
Creator here - AMA! :)
- ivankirigin 12y ago
  Lots of music startups have to deal with headaches around old world music industry types. How did you deal with that?
  - oo7jeep 12y ago
    1. Show them technology they can't (or haven't made themselves) 2. Build a team that has a history of making the industry money - my co-founder was the first person to sell rock shirts in mass retail (read: $$$) 3. Make something artists want.
- mjwhansen 12y ago
  I've heard that bands get a higher profit margin from merch than their actual music. Any truth to that? (I ask because, if true, you're doing a big favor to bands!)
  - Jgrubb 12y ago
    This is actually how many bands stay in business. So yes, buying a t shirt at the show is the best way to help them out.
ivankirigin 12y ago
How do you do the personalization?
arepb 12y ago
The first app I've downloaded that doesn't ask to push notifications to me. <prayer hands emoji>
- ivankirigin 12y ago
  there is a solid reason to ask: amazing engagement http://andrewchen.co/2014/09/16/new-data-on-push-notification-ctrs-shows-the-best-apps-perform-4x-better-than-the-worst-heres-why-guest-post/ http://andrewchen.co/2014/09/16/new-data-on-push-notificatio... But you can do it wrong. Too many pushes for one. Or asking too abruptly.
  - arepb 12y ago
    I agree and know it works. I am just so used to being asked that I've developed modal window scars.
ssully 12y ago
I don't understand why this is only an app, or even an iOS exclusive app. Maybe I am no longer the norm, but I do most of my shopping on the web. So even if I had an iOS device, I wouldn't be into the idea of needing an app to buy a T-shirt from a band I like. Edit: I came off more negative then I intended. I really love the idea, I am just a bit confused and number about it being locked up as an app.
- oo7jeep 12y ago
  Don't worry, we don't take it personally. :) I'll just add two quick things - First, we have the ability to create a more unique and interesting experience on a native application than via the web. For example, we can access a fan's iTunes library and Facebook with just one click. Thats pretty much impossible on the web. Second, this is just our first product. We plan to bring Merchbar everywhere, hopefully one day somewhere you'll love it.

41 points by oo7jeep 12y ago

Pretty cool! A couple of the bands I searched for only had albums, what sources are you pulling from? Merchnow has a bunch of apparel for the bands I was searching for. (Parkway Drive and Bring me the horizon)

oo7jeep 12y ago
We've done deals directly with a bunch of merch companies as well as the largest vinyl distributor in the world. Merchnow has a great collection of indie artists- will work to find a way to partner with them.
- thoughtpalette 12y ago
  Ahh cool! Wasn't sure if they either had/have an api to integrate with (MerchNow). Good luck with the app!

oo7jeep 12y ago

Creator here - AMA! :)

ivankirigin 12y ago
Lots of music startups have to deal with headaches around old world music industry types. How did you deal with that?
- oo7jeep 12y ago
  1. Show them technology they can't (or haven't made themselves) 2. Build a team that has a history of making the industry money - my co-founder was the first person to sell rock shirts in mass retail (read: $$$) 3. Make something artists want.
mjwhansen 12y ago
I've heard that bands get a higher profit margin from merch than their actual music. Any truth to that? (I ask because, if true, you're doing a big favor to bands!)
- Jgrubb 12y ago
  This is actually how many bands stay in business. So yes, buying a t shirt at the show is the best way to help them out.

ivankirigin 12y ago

How do you do the personalization?

arepb 12y ago

The first app I've downloaded that doesn't ask to push notifications to me. <prayer hands emoji>

ivankirigin 12y ago
there is a solid reason to ask: amazing engagement http://andrewchen.co/2014/09/16/new-data-on-push-notification-ctrs-shows-the-best-apps-perform-4x-better-than-the-worst-heres-why-guest-post/ http://andrewchen.co/2014/09/16/new-data-on-push-notificatio... But you can do it wrong. Too many pushes for one. Or asking too abruptly.
- arepb 12y ago
  I agree and know it works. I am just so used to being asked that I've developed modal window scars.

ssully 12y ago

I don't understand why this is only an app, or even an iOS exclusive app. Maybe I am no longer the norm, but I do most of my shopping on the web. So even if I had an iOS device, I wouldn't be into the idea of needing an app to buy a T-shirt from a band I like. Edit: I came off more negative then I intended. I really love the idea, I am just a bit confused and number about it being locked up as an app.

oo7jeep 12y ago
Don't worry, we don't take it personally. :) I'll just add two quick things - First, we have the ability to create a more unique and interesting experience on a native application than via the web. For example, we can access a fan's iTunes library and Facebook with just one click. Thats pretty much impossible on the web. Second, this is just our first product. We plan to bring Merchbar everywhere, hopefully one day somewhere you'll love it.