8 Local Merchandise Sales Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Local Merchandise Sales Business

Here are some real life success stories of starting a local merchandise sales business:

1. Local Laundry ($600K/year)

customers and community is more important than any dollar amount. Building genuine relationships and connections is key to success. Treating customers like real people and going above and beyond to exceed their expectations will lead to long-term loyalty and organic growth. Additionally, it's important to stay true to your values and make a positive impact. Local Laundry is committed to social and environmental responsibility, supporting Canadian charities, and manufacturing their garments in Canada.

How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 4

article

We Started A $50K/Month Canadian Apparel Brand

Local Laundry co-founders share how they built a million-dollar socially conscious Canadian-made clothing brand from the ground up, now with over five employees working full-time and a mission to donate a million dollars to Canadian charities by 2030.

About
Connor started Local Laundry almost 8 years ago
Revenue
Connor grew the business to $50K/month
Read by 3,485 founders

2. Heavy Metal Merchant ($540K/year)

Dave Harrison, the founder of Heavy Metal Merchant, came up with the idea while working in the music industry and realizing the demand for licensed heavy metal merchandise. Starting with just a laptop and his own record collection, he bootstrapped the business and grew it to 6-figure weekly sales, shipping thousands of items per month worldwide. With a focus on authenticity and catering to a niche market, Heavy Metal Merchant has become a successful online retailer in the music merchandise industry.

How much they make: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 2

article

I Bootstrapped A $45K/Month Music Merch Brand From My Living Room

Heavy Metal Merchant is an online retailer that has grown sales to 6-figures/week and ships thousands of items every month to people around the world with a focus on licensed music merchandise specializing on the heavy metal genre and has been profitable for over 12 years straight.

Revenue
Dave grew the business to $45K/month
Costs
It cost Dave $500 to start the business
Read by 4,358 founders

So... can you actually make money with a local merchandise sales business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. Times Union

The Times Union website timesunion.com

Website traffic: 1.8M/month

So... can you actually make money with a local merchandise sales business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

7. Preloved

Buy and sell second hand items, and more, in your local area. List for free with Preloved classified ads, in over 500 categories!

Website traffic: 5.2M/month

8. Local classifieds in USA, second hand products for sale

Find the U.S. best used products all in one place, search now and compare prices of millions ads. Quick and simple.

Website traffic: 1.14M/month