I opened Porchlight as a coffee and record shop in 2009. On a shoestring budget, I managed to keep the lights on and grow the shop into a Seattle mainstay. I still remember hanging the first tiny merch shelf on our wall and ordering our first custom travel mugs. Operating with almost no budget in the old days, it was scary to buy 100 mugs at once, not knowing how many customers would actually buy one. I soon learned that great designs on great merch are not only appreciated by customers, but they help business as a whole. We've became known not only for our coffee, but for what can be found on our retail shelves. Folks often tell us they see our mugs, hats and enamel pins all over the country. But brand awareness isn't the only benefit of good merch, it makes up a huge portion of our in-store sales as well.

Merch doesn't just have to be an advertising cost. When done right, it's a great source of income for small businesses.

Over the years, Porchlight has formed partnerships with a number of manufacturers to not only create goods for our storefront, but for bands, brands and organizations all over the world.

​-Zack Bolotin