How AI is Changing Merchandise Workflows
AI tools are making it easier for non-designers to jump into the creative process by quickly generating visual ideas. Instant mockups cut down on delays, letting teams move faster from concept to decision without waiting on specialized design resources. This broader participation shifts internal discussions from “Can we do this?” to “Should we do this?”, encouraging smarter merch choices.
Far from being just a back-end efficiency booster, AI is transforming how creative ideas are generated, shared, and executed—especially in visually focused fields like merchandising. A 2023 McKinsey report estimates generative AI could add up to $275 billion to the apparel, fashion, and luxury sectors’ operating profits over the next few years.
Why Merch Ideation Often Stalls
Many merch teams still work in silos. Non-designers have ideas but lack the tools to visualize them. Meanwhile, creative bottlenecks and approval loops slow momentum. To address this, Monday Merch developed AI Vision Studio, a tool that makes merch ideation collaborative, inclusive, and immediate.
Meet Jeroen Westerbeek
Jeroen Westerbeek is the founder and head of growth at Monday Merch, a global merchandise partner based in Rotterdam. With a background in machine learning and ecommerce leadership, he focuses on creating tools that unlock creativity and teamwork across organizations.
Visual Collaboration From Day One
Traditional merch workflows limit who can advance ideas, often slowing creativity. AI Vision Studio flips that by making visuals the starting point. Anyone on the team can instantly create mockups, turning vague ideas into concrete visuals without needing design skills. This opens the door for marketers, HR, event leads, and leadership to contribute visually from the beginning.
Speeding Up Merch Workflows
Design bottlenecks are a major delay in merch planning. Routing every idea through a designer creates long feedback loops and stalls decisions. AI-generated mockups appear in seconds, removing reliance on specialized skills. Teams can explore ideas quickly, align faster, and move from discussion to decision in a fraction of the time.
Bringing Non-Designers Into the Creative Process
Great merch ideas often come from outside design—marketing campaigns, brand vision, HR culture initiatives. Historically, these teams lacked tools to bring ideas to life. AI design tools let them create visuals themselves, making ideation more democratic and allowing designers to focus on refining solid concepts instead of translating vague briefs.
Shifting Strategic Conversations
When visuals are cheap and easy to produce, internal conversations change. Instead of debating feasibility, teams ask whether something aligns with brand and business goals. Leaders can compare more ideas side-by-side and make intentional decisions, improving alignment and focus.
Using Merch to Build Culture and Brand
Merchandise isn’t just a budget line—it’s a powerful brand tool. It connects with customers and partners externally and builds pride, belonging, and identity internally. When merch is planned alongside campaigns and milestones, it strengthens emotional connections and energizes teams around shared goals.
Treating AI as a Creative Partner
AI isn’t just a shortcut for quick content. The best results come when teams use AI as a brainstorming partner, bringing in brand context and iterating thoughtfully. This approach preserves brand personality, avoids generic outputs, and keeps humans in control of creative direction.
Rethinking Who Shapes Your Brand
Merch is an opportunity to tell your brand story and connect with your audience. AI Vision Studio lets teams quickly turn ideas into visuals, streamlining workflows and supporting creativity across departments. It transforms creativity into a shared skill, not a bottleneck.
AI Vision Studio FAQs
- What is AI Vision Studio and how does it streamline merch planning?
It’s a free AI-powered tool that instantly generates photorealistic merch visuals, helping teams ideate faster without needing designers. - How does it change internal collaboration around merch?
By enabling everyone to visualize ideas, it turns merch planning into a collaborative, cross-functional process. - Do users need design skills to create high-quality visuals?
No. Anyone can input a prompt or sketch and get premium-quality mockups—perfect for pitching, testing, or refining ideas. - How does the tool avoid generic AI outputs?
Users guide it with brand context, detailed prompts, and feedback to keep visuals intentional, distinct, and on-brand. - Why should merch be seen as a brand tool, not just an expense?
When done well, merch builds emotional connection, strengthens internal culture, and extends your brand into the real world beyond logos on T-shirts.
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