Why should I offer non-wall-art merchandise like greeting cards, tote bags, or coasters?

Non-wall-art merchandise serves multiple critical functions. First, it enables impulse purchases—wall art is never an impulse buy because you need to measure the wall, talk to your spouse, consider the space. But a $30 tote bag or $15 set of coasters can be purchased on a whim. Second, it dramatically increases new customer acquisition by offering entry-level price points under $100. Third, it plays a key role in increasing Average Order Value through pre-purchase and post-purchase offers—‘add greeting cards for $49 before checkout’ or ‘add a tote bag after your purchase.’ You won’t make huge margins on merch, but it’s not about profit per item—it’s about getting more customers into your ecosystem who can then become collectors over time.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-24