Will LTT "merch" ever make it into Retail?

[GalaxyStudios]

Lately, there's been a noticeable trend among YouTubers to bring their branded products into retail stores. While food items seem to be the most common—like energy drinks and snack lines—some creators have successfully launched non-food products as well. For example, MrYeester managed to get his custom thermal paste onto store shelves, showing that there's room for niche or tech-related items too.

Given this momentum, it wouldn’t be surprising to see creators like Linus Tech Tips (LTT) follow suit. Many of their products—such as the screwdriver, backpack, and cable management tools genuenly seem to be competitive products in the tech space even with the "small company tax." In fact, I know several people who own LTT merchandise not because they watch the channel, but because the products themselves are genuinely well-made and useful. If LTT were to expand into retail, they could potentially reach a much broader audience beyond their YouTube fanbase.

[Dutch_Master]

Tonight is WAN show, put your question into a merch message to get a direct answer from Linus.

[GalaxyStudios]

Just now, Dutch_Master said:

Tonight is WAN show, put your question into a merch message to get a direct answer from Linus.

I would, except I'm broke. What's the cheapest thing they sell?

[dizmo]

Ehhh....maybe some stuff like their thermal pads, but going into retail spaces isn't as simple as "hey, can I put my stuff here?" and can come with some very serious risk. Plus, they'd have to be higher priced in a retail store, so why would anyone buy them there vs just buying them from LTT? They've sort of priced themselves out of that option.

[GalaxyStudios]

Just now, dizmo said:

Ehhh....maybe some stuff like their thermal pads, but going into retail spaces isn't as simple as "hey, can I put my stuff here?" and can come with some very serious risk. Plus, they'd have to be higher priced in a retail store, so why would anyone buy them there vs just buying them from LTT? They've sort of priced themselves out of that option.

There is definitely a cost to sell through retail, but there is also money saved by not having to worry about shipping and handling (including things like returns). However I am far from a expert so I don't know if the money you save in these areas would be enough to make up for the commission that retail wants.

[dizmo]

9 minutes ago, GalaxyStudios said:

There is definitely a cost to sell through retail, but there is also money saved by not having to worry about shipping and handling (including things like returns). However I am far from a expert so I don't know if the money you save in these areas would be enough to make up for the commission that retail wants.

You do, though. Chances are if something fails you're going to want to see why, so you can make sure it isn't a manufacturing defect that might require a recall and possible compensation from the OEM. You have to pay to ship your items to the stores. Shipping costs are also a tax deduction which can be a huge help depending on their revenue levels.

 

You'd probably be looking at a 15-25% price increase (on the low end) on the screw driver. I don't see people doing that over just buying it from LTT directly.

[DJ_Jay125]

1 hour ago, Eli4 said:

I think it would be a smart move for LTT. Their products already have a good reputation for being well-made and practical, and retail could open them up to a whole new audience. Plus, it’d be great for their brand to be recognized beyond just YouTube.

the thing is its a waste to spend that much

The only way I think itd be worth it for LTT to set themselves up in a physical retail space would be to avoid heavy Euro shipping fees

[FlamingOtter]

Apparently Micro Center just did it without even telling them?

 

 

[saintlouisbagels]

9 hours ago, FlamingOtter said:

Apparently Micro Center just did it without even telling them?

Yup. If I'm not mistaken, I've even seen them in my local Massachusetts Micro Center.