Why BLCKSMTH Chooses Dashery: Making Merch That Moves at the Speed of the Internet
Meet Mike Schneider, aka BLCKSMTH, a full-time artist best known for his large-scale balloon quote installations and typographic work. He’s built a fanbase around bold visuals and bigger messages, and merch has become an extension of that mission.
Merch as a Connection Point
For BLCKSMTH, selling merch isn’t just about profit—it’s about people.
“I think selling merch is a really, really just kind of compelling way to like engage, engage your followers, but also kind of like, it's a badge of honor for them to wear your merch too. That's, That's exciting. People want to be part of the story.”
But You Do Have to Promote It
It didn’t start out that way. Like many artists, BLCKSMTH was hesitant to push his products.
“I just wanted it to be a link in my link tree that people could find it if they wanted it. But that's not how we are as consumers... I still post about my merch to this day, and I have followers who I know have followed me for years being surprised to see that I sell merch.”
This experience shaped how he approaches promotion—and why it's crucial to keep showing up.
“You can post something and somebody might scroll past it next time you post about your merch, then they'll finally see it.”
Staying Authentic with Fans
BLCKSMTH’s litmus test for every post: would he cringe at it?
“If I'm cringing at my own merch posts, then I just need to change something about my merch posts. Because again, my followers are just as sophisticated and able to like detect BS as I am.”
Why Dashery?
BLCKSMTH didn’t expect to love Dashery, but he does.
“I come from a place of being deeply cynical... And I was happy to report I couldn't have been more wrong. I love Dashery a lot.”
He praises the platform for helping him focus on art, not admin:
“I really love the drop ship model... merch, especially for an online-based artist, it moves at the speed of the internet.”
It’s Built for Busy Creators
Even after going full-time, BLCKSMTH leans on Dashery for the parts of the business that would otherwise eat up his time.
“Now I have seven days off a week and I am just busy 24/7. And so again, renewed that gratitude for the drop ship model where I don't have to micromanage a business.”
Tools That Actually Help
He uses Dashery’s free design services & free samples to act fast and speak with authority on quality.
“I definitely love to react to trending and pop culture events and using that in-house design services really, really helps me react quickly.”
“I really, really love the samples that I get because it allows me … to speak with more authority to like the quality of things…you know, getting a t-shirt and wearing it in and out for the better part of the year and seeing how the design holds up.”
And the Support? It Matters
“They've been really, really great about taking care of my customers. And that also adds to my brand. If I partner with a merch company that is traditionally hostile to customer service issues, if they are like agonizingly slow … then that reflects on me too. ”
As someone with 30 years in retail, he doesn’t take that lightly.
“I am very, very picky about the type of companies that I would partner with in order to like provide that great customer service.”
Final Word
“Just know that I came at it from a deeply skeptical position and the fact that I'm so won over and so loyal to TeePublic and the Dashery platforms is just because of consistency. And it's just, it's easy to use.”
