In case you haven’t already seen, I just launched Kayla’s Chaos merch! This was one of my biggest goals of 2020 and I’m so excited to see it come to life. Launching a product line is obviously something pretty common for famous YouTubers and influencers with millions of followers, but why would I want to start selling merch as a blogger with a following of less than 10k? Well, let me tell you!
My two biggest interests are fashion and shopping. I studied fashion in school and I write about shopping for my day job. So making a product line was something I always dreamed about doing, but never thought I could because I wouldn’t really consider myself a “designer.” However, when I decided to start taking my blog more seriously, I began exploring all the various ways I could expand my brand and hopefully start making some money in the long run.
That’s when it dawned on me that tonsss of people out there have T-shirt brands or quirky merch lines. From crafters on Etsy to vintage resellers to newbie streetwear designers, people all over the world are figuring out how to make their product ideas come to life. So why can’t I? Even after that realization, it still took a little convincing from my best friend, Kailena, to finally go for it. But luckily, she believed in me and helped me start getting my ideas on paper. (Btw, she has her own digital marketing company so check it out!)
I always felt like I had to wait until I was “bigger” and had more of a following to start selling products. But why should I wait to make a dream come true when I’m completely capable of doing it? So I decided to just go for it and see what happens.
Selling merch as a blogger isn’t something that’s going to make me rich, it takes A LOT of work, and it’s definitely not a cheap investment. But, it’s something I always wanted to do and I’ve had so much fun seeing my ideas evolve. Now I get to have clothes and stickers on my laptop that Kailena and I literally thought of in our heads — it’s pretty freaking cool!
About The Shop
Right now, Shop Kayla’s Chaos sells stickers and unisex T-shirts in sizes S–3XL. We order in small batches, which leads to slightly higher prices, but we want to be responsible and avoid taking on more than we can sell. As a plus size woman, size inclusivity is very important to me and I want to make sure that I practice what I preach. I realize that going up to a 3X isn’t completely inclusive, so we do plan on going up to a 4X or 5X for all future drops! I also hope to expand to other types of products in the near future.
This first batch of shirts is all about realizing your own worth and influence, no matter how many followers you have. We have SO much more value than just a number on a screen. I want people to feel confident and empowered to use their voice, share their art, and ignore anyone who tells you can’t do something. Embrace the chaos and live your best damn life!
Check out the shop’s new Instagram page!
