Creating A Merchandise Collection For Your Brand with Amanda Hofman

Going Beyond with Randi Zinn

The Going Beyond Movement is about stepping into your power, so it only felt right to create a merchandise collection filled with mantras to remind us that we are Beyond our limits. This year, I finally did it! In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend and founder of Go To Market, Amanda Hofman, who made my vision for the Going Beyond Shop a reality (0:17).

Go To Market thinks deeply about how merchandise can support a company's brand and marketing, and then designs their products. They seamlessly set up eco-friendly, print on-demand, digital shopping experiences for brands without the need to ship packages from home, deal with postage stamps, and anything else that would normally make me break a sweat at the thought of creating merch! Amanda is here to share what led her to create Go To Market and share her advice for brands interested in creating their own shop.

Amanda was the original founder and CEO of Urban Girl Squad - a premiere social networking group for women in their 20s and 30s in NYC - and made the decision to sell the company right before welcoming her second child. But once the kids grew older, her CEO itch returned, and she had to scratch it. It took a slew of different career paths (including making lamps!) and accidentally signing up to run the creation of merchandise for her children’s school that she learned about print on-demand and gained the confidence to launch Go To Market (12:30).

We then discuss the process of creating the Going Beyond Shop and everything that went into it. Amanda helped me decide which items would resonate with my audience, whether that be inward-facing items like a mug or a laptop case, or outward-facing items like a t-shirt or a beanie. We both agree that the Beyond bracelet is our favorite! Then, we walk through the creation of the phrases “Above and Beyond”, “I Am Beyond”, and “Beyond Limits” etched on every item in addition to the look and feel of each item - all which encapsulate the Going Beyond lifestyle (17:28).

Amanda leaves us with some advice for brands looking to create their own shop: you know you’re ready if you have an established brand identity. Amanda suggests starting by setting up a store and sending merchandise to key partners and influencers to test and share the items (28:44).

If you’re considering launching your own shop, I hope this episode inspires you to do so! Go to https://www.gotomarket.studio/ to get started. To grab your cute, cozy items for working out, running errands, or finding moments for yourself, check out the Going Beyond Shop at https://goingbeyondmovement.com/shop/.
*Looking for another podcast to love on? Check out The Third Place podcast. It is an invitation to the grey space - a space that is safe where deeper connections are fostered through challenging, empowering, and engaging dialogue. Take a listen at The Third Place.