Exceeding its initial fundraising target of £250,000 in December 2022, Merchr commenced trading in its own right in January.

The merchandising platform uses its own software to plug into clients’ websites, including those on WordPress or WeCommerce CMS platforms and soon Shopify, allowing clients’ own customers to then place orders directly with Merchr.

Merchr then shops the print out to Product Source Group (PSG) to be digitally printed, before the orders are dispatched the same day.

The company has “very, very ambitious” plans for growth, according to co-founder and head of partnerships Nora Yassin.

She told Printweek that the company had already turned over £900,000 between January and March 2023 thanks to a number of large clients it had won before independence, such as fashion retailer Next.

Part of the company’s appeal to end users, she added, was its simplicity.

She said: “We offer a whole solution.

“We have design tools, you can create your own website and list lots of different products online, totally free of charge.”

Rather than charge its clients upfront, Merchr makes its money by taking a cut from each print job it runs through PSG’s stable of digital presses, printing each product as needed. 

PSG’s equipment roster includes a Brother GTX600 direct-to-garment engine and Ardenghi bottle and mug presses.

This setup, Yassin said, has been aimed at giving online influencers and businesses a low-risk way to meet their audiences’ demand for merchandise. Merchr itself also offers end-to-end services, even building clients' websites for them if necessary.

“We wanted the opportunity for anyone to set up their own online store: anything listed online, you can personalise and print on demand, and it’s shipped directly to your fans,” she said.

At the time of going independent, Merchr had 12 staff. The fundraising round’s success has allowed it to announce three vacancies, with more in the works.