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In our industry, merch has long ceased to be just a “souvenir”. It’s not a cap with a logo that you leave in a drawer after an event, or a T-shirt that you’re ashamed to wear. Today, merchandise is an extension of the brand, its language and the way it speaks to its community.
But how do you create things that you want to wear every day, not just at a conference? How to find a balance between brand recognition and style? And what’s more important: to make one “wow-thing” for a few people or to give basic but thoughtful things to hundreds?
We talked to the FRBS and 1win teams about what merch means to them, why they do not pursue pathos, what items have become favorites, and how even an ordinary shopper can turn into a must-have of any conference.
This is not an interview about T-shirts with a logo. This is a conversation about how merchandise becomes a part of the team’s style and DNA.
We have deliberately abandoned loud hyperbole and “meanings in a million”. Our approach is simpler and more honest: merchandise should work in real life, not gather dust in a drawer. We didn’t want to make things from the category of “it’s a pity to throw away, but it’s also a shame to wear”.
So the main idea is practicality. Putting on a hoodie or taking any item from the merchandise should be normal and comfortable. No cringe, no feeling that you are wearing an “advertising stretch mark”. We wanted to create things that can be easily integrated into your everyday wardrobe or gadget set and look stylish, not corporate.
The name of our team is FRBS (Fast ROI, Big Scale). The logo has a subtle reference to the media buying team. As a result, it looks like a brand from the fashion world, not an “internal corporate uniform”. A person puts on a hoodie and feels confident. It’s not just a symbol of the team, but a thing that looks organic in any environment: whether in the office, at a conference, or just in everyday life.
In short, the message is simple: our merchandise is not a souvenir, but a full-fledged part of the style that works for confidence and recognition without unnecessary pathos.
Definitely – the scarf! For us, this is not just an accessory, but a way to express ourselves through style. We specifically set out to make something bright and recognizable, and it worked: not a single event goes by without compliments. People come up and ask where they can get one just like it, and this is the best indicator that we have made the right emphasis.
And we can’t help but mention the shopper. Especially after Sempro Fest, where many people noted it. We received a lot of feedback, and it was very revealing: at any conference, there is always a lack of a convenient bag where you can put all the little things: from souvenirs to documents. A shopper is the base. And when it is also stylish, it turns into a must-have element of the event.
From the very beginning, we rejected the idea of “doing like everyone else”. Yes, there is always a risk of slipping into standard things that everyone has seen and that no one wears. That is why we are always looking for original solutions. I won’t say that these are always some kind of super-experiments, but they appear here and there and work very well.
At the same time, we consciously rely on things that are familiar to everyone and are as usable as possible. But with our own design and accents. This allows us to balance between practicality and uniqueness. The main thing is not just to surprise, but to make this thing really useful. If a person receives another shawl, choker, or hoodie, they should want to wear it, not put it in the closet.
That’s why our formula is simple: recognizable and necessary things + original visual solution = merch that stands out, but remains useful.
We have some ideas, but we won’t spoil anything 🤫 For now, let us remind you that our merchandise can be obtained for a mark and a certain number of likes, find the details in our insta.
First of all, see our answer about the approach to ideas 😁 But seriously, there are several points that are often underestimated.
So the advice is simple: look at merchandise not only as a creative product, but also as a tool for long-term recognition. And then your first experience will not be a one-time “experiment”, but will become a real investment in the brand.
This is merchandise that you want to wear every day without a “special occasion.”
It doesn’t just sit in your closet waiting for some event or party, but actually becomes a part of your daily life. You go for your morning coffee and it’s appropriate. You get behind the wheel or into a vehicle and it’s also “in”. You go to the sports field or just for a walk, and it works again. This is not a story about “put it on once and forget it”, but about versatility and comfort.
This kind of thing fits easily into any moment of your day. They don’t shout, but they clearly signal that you are part of the community. You put them on and you feel like you belong to your own club. A club that values style, quality and confidence. This is the case when merch is not just “branded clothing”, but something more: a small marker of unity and belonging.
I can’t choose one. It’s like asking a director which shot is his favorite. But the logo is my special pride: it is instantly readable, but not screaming. It’s not a brand that is imposed – it’s a brand that everyone knows.
We do not make merch “just to be”. For us, it’s not about “just another thing with a logo” that will end up in a closet and never see the light of day. Every detail in the merchandise is a thoughtful gesture that matters.
Any idea can become art if you put a story, meaning and uncompromising quality into it. We see merchandise not as a souvenir, but as a carrier of brand values. A person who picks up a thing or puts it on should feel: “it is made with taste and soul”.
That is why we always work to make even the most basic things special. Whether it’s a scarf, a shawl or a hoodie: in each case, it’s not just an object, but a thoughtful element of communication. And then merchandise ceases to be an “addition to the event” and begins to live its own life: evoke emotions, collect compliments and work for brand awareness.
Yes, we are constantly working on new collections and collabs with famous influencers. No spoilers for now, but it will definitely change the game.
Merch from 2B Digital is not about bright branding that screams logos.We deliberately avoid the “stick logos everywhere” approach, because it works only for corporate souvenirs. Our idea is different: merchandise should be stylish, comfortable, and give a sense of belonging to the community. A person puts on a thing and feels not “I am an advertisement for a brand” but “I am part of a club.”
We add a minimum of branding on purpose, but each element has a meaning and reflects the DNA of our team. These are not just things, they are symbols that tell about us without any extra words.
We wanted a person to feel more than just comfort when wearing a T-shirt or taking any item from this collection. It’s about vibe and style that speaks for you. It’s about feelings: “I belong to a community that lives by its own rules, has its own symbolism and special energy.”
As a result, our merchandise is not a souvenir or a random set of things. It’s a well-thought-out system of signs that create a club atmosphere that is recognizable at a glance.
Our favorite item is a T-shirt for the team with a logo that we drew by hand.
It’s special because it has a piece of our inner creativity and energy in it. This is not just a printed sign made according to a template, but a logo that was born from a living handwriting. You can feel sincerity and authenticity in it: yes, it may be a little imperfect, but that’s exactly what makes it strong, it’s real, alive, ours.
Every time we put on this T-shirt, it reminds us of a simple truth: the best ideas are often born from a small gesture made from the heart. Not from long brainstorming sessions or dozens of options in Figma, but from one inspired hand movement.
This detail symbolizes the main thing for us: 2B Digital always creates its own.We do not copy other people’s trends, but build our own symbols that become part of our identity. It’s not “design for design’s sake”, but a sign that encodes our energy, spirit and approach to work.
There are a few things we definitely didn’t want to do in our merchandise.
First of all, we are categorically against the idea that the merchandise should look like an advertising billboard. The logo that is visible “for 109 lands” is not about style and certainly not about our approach. It is important for us that the item remains wearable and does not look like a corporate uniform. Moreover, in the iGaming sphere, excessive branding in some GEOs can attract unwanted attention, and here we also weigh the risks.
Secondly, we don’t believe in “merchandise for the sake of merchandise.” You’ve seen the mountains of thrown away merchandise in trash bins after big conferences, right? This is the result of the wrong approach. When a partner packs a suitcase after an event, he always makes a choice: take something useful that will live in his life or leave extra luggage. We wanted our merchandise to always be in the first category of things that really integrate into life and become necessary.
Thirdly, we focus on quality, not quantity. What does a T-shirt that comes apart after the first wash, or a cosmetic bag with a pungent rubber smell, or a print that cracks after a week do for a brand? It’s not just unpleasant – it devalues the idea of merchandise and spoils the impression of the brand itself. So we made a different choice: a smaller print run is better, but with such a level of quality that the partner would get real pleasure and wear the item with pride, not under duress.
As a result, for us, merch is not a “souvenir” but a full-fledged element of communication that works for trust, style and brand recognition.
Yes, we are planning new drops. For us, merch is not a one-time story, but a way of communicating with our community.
In the next release we will add a glass lanyard for those who like to savor wine. Let’s be honest: there are a lot of people in our field who don’t mind having a glass to set the mood (we are like that ourselves 😉). We are also working on a new T-shirt design.
The general concept of the collection for next year and the rest of the themes will remain a secret for now, but we can say that it will be even deeper and bolder.
The target audience is the basis. If you understand who your partners are and what their lifestyle is, you can create a thing that will actually be used and not gather dust on the shelf. For some, it may be a hoodie or a cap that is comfortable to wear every day, and for others, it may be an accessory that creates a vibe.
Merch is not a souvenir, but a part of your communication. It should be functional, thoughtful, and meaningful. Partners always feel when a thing is made “just for show” and when it really reflects the company’s DNA. Ask yourself: what is the exclusivity of this time? How will it be valuable for the people who receive it?
Our community is always moving with the times (and often even ahead of it). If you want your merchandise to be in demand, look at what is being worn, what people actually use in everyday life. Trends change quickly: what was a hit last year may look outdated today.
Merch is not a separate direction, but a continuation of your brand strategy.If a company positions itself as classic and restrained, and you do street style, it will be a dissonance. It’s very important that the items “sound” in unison with the way you present yourself to the outside world.
At every conference, you can see mountains of merchandise. Some of it disappears instantly, others lie unattended until the end of the event. This is free analytics: track what people actually wear in life and what remains on the tables.
And finally. Invest in quality and add surprises. It is better to have a smaller print run, but with a wow effect, than a bunch of cheap things that no one will wear.