Snapchat Continues Merch Expansion With Bitmoji Shirts, Mugs, More

Snapchat has struggled a bit of late. But, tomorrow, the social app will look to make making money a snap by launching a Bitmoji merchandise store, with the concept furthering the public’s obsession with customization and personalization.

We here at Promo Marketing certainly value the wonders of self-promotion, as, well, we take constant pride in the content that bears our name. In that respect, we admire what Snapchat is doing, since not only will the store reflect its admiration for its own branding but also make apparent how businesses can turn a profit off end-users’ fixation on their faces. We are all familiar with T-shirts that feature images of consumers, their family members, teams and pets, and while those will likely continue to be popular options, Snapchat wants for the public to become a little more playful with its style choices when it comes to self-promotion.

Desperate for cash, Snapchat turns to Bitmoji for another revenue stream https://t.co/w3ZXKItnmv

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) November 14, 2018

Nine months after having opened a titular merch store through its eponymous app, Snapchat is venturing into the Bitmoji world through tomorrow’s commencement, allowing end-users to declare a virtual victory over the aforementioned commonplace T-shirts. Through the Bitmoji brainchild, they will be able to receive physical goods that have their avatars emblazoned on them. If they have ever yearned to see their face in icon form on a mug, sweatshirt, sticker, phone case, towel, pillow or notebook, or all at the same time, frankly, we think iOS end-users will benefit by making snap decisions and heading to the store.

Techcrunch notes that said connoisseurs could also personalize items by including playful images of friends, too. We can see ourselves succumbing to the urge to immortalize one of our colleagues, perhaps the ever-lovable Rob Margulies, on an item. (It’s a shame that Snapchat has not included socks in the available apparel items, as he is the undisputed sock king).

With respect to durability, this Bitmoji app store implementation represents a nice alternative to the commercial identity with which Snapchat established itself, namely, that of an entity whose end-users’ messages and pictures disappear quickly after their creation. The store goods figure to have a long-lasting presence in the public’s lives and will likely offer another solid example of the wonders of co-branding, as Snapchat will be teaming with Bitstrips—Bitmoji’s parent company—for this avatar-centric entry into the realm of self-promotion.

Given that we have relayed the products that Snapchat will hawk, we wonder which others you feel should receive the avatar treatment. We have already given socks our vote, so let us know what you feel will also help end-users to continue to keep themselves top of mind.