The stations
Every station we can build into your activation.
A brand activation is only as good as the moment guests remember. These are the live customization stations we set up, staff, and run so the making of the merch is the memory.
Pick one hero station or combine several across a floor plan. Every option below is operated by trained Merch Troop crew, sourced with real garment brands, and prepped with your campaign artwork before doors open.
Live DTF heat press
Our core method. Full-color, photo-quality transfers pressed onto Bella+Canvas 3001 tees, hoodies, and totes in seconds. Unlimited colors, gradients, and photographic detail with a soft, machine-washable finish. This is the station that carries most activations.
Patch & hat bar
Guests build a cap: choose a Richardson 112 trucker or Flexfit blank, pick an embroidered or leather patch, and watch it heat-applied at the table. Patches also land on jackets, totes, and denim.
UV DTF hard goods
Peel-and-press UV DTF graphics wrap tumblers, bottles, and rigid swag. Premium, durable, and the giveaway that outlives the event on a desk or in a gym bag.
Live embroidery
On-site monogramming and stitched logos. A slower, tactile, elevated station that suits gifting suites, VIP lounges, and heritage brands.
Laser engraving
Clean, permanent marks on wood, leather goods, and metal drinkware for a refined finish where ink is not the vibe.
Screen printing
The classic craft for bold, single-run graphics when the finish and volume call for it. Available on request alongside the live stations.
What you never handle
The whole operation, run by us.
Artwork prep
We take your logos and campaign art and build press-ready files, patches, and transfers.
Product sourcing
We spec and stock the blanks — garment brands, colors, and sizes matched to your crowd.
Staffing & travel
Trained operators at $250 per hour, plus travel handled for events beyond Southern California.
Setup & teardown
Load-in, station build, live operation, and a clean pack-out — you approve the plan and we run it.
Questions
Common questions
Which station should we lead with?
For most activations the live DTF heat press is the hero — it is the fastest, most colorful, and most flexible across tees, hoodies, and totes. Patch and hat bars pair beautifully as a second station for guests who want a cap. We will recommend a mix once we know your crowd size and product story.
Can you run more than one station at once?
Yes. A festival lounge or large launch often runs a DTF station beside a hat bar and a UV DTF hard-goods table, each with its own operator, so several lines move at the same time and the floor never bottlenecks.
Do guests operate the presses themselves?
No. Every station is run by a trained Merch Troop operator for safety and a clean, consistent result. Guests choose their product and design, then watch it get made — they stay on the safe side of the table.
Start a build
Tell us the campaign once.
Share the brand, the moment you are activating around, guest count, city, and the date. Merch Troop will come back with the right made-in-the-moment station, crew, and product plan for your run of show.