SUPPORT
FAQs
General
What is Certified Crucial?
We are a 3rd party logistics company that provides custom merchandise and resources to digital creators and brands.
We offer both traditional and unique merch options. Check out our Products and Pricing page for more info.
Do you want a certain product for your store, but don’t see it listed? Contact us! Certified Crucial works with a number of different vendors, makers, and artists. Share your vision, and we will do our best to make it happen!
DISCLAIMER: This is not a complete list, and the pricing is not an official quote. Prices and offerings will change as we source new products and vendors.
What are the order minimums producing merchandise through Certified Crucial?
Every type of merch item we offer has a different order minimum. Refer to our “Products and Pricing” page for more information (must be logged in to view the page).
What sales and inventory strategies are offered?
Digital media attribution can be tricky. Due to limited and non-aggrigatable metrics, creators and their audiences are often undervalued. We don’t just want to provide you with the right kind of merch for your audience; we want to help you use actionable data from merchandise sales to bump up your ad rates!
Do you offer support for live events?
Night after night of tour dates can be exhausting, so let us handle your merchandising and administrative needs so you can focus on delivering a killer performance for the crowd!
Where are my products shipped from?
Certified Crucial ships products from their various fulfillment centers, ensuring timely delivery for both domestic and international customers.
Can I track my merchandise sales and inventory?
Clients with a paid tier service plan will receive regular sales reports and insights to track performance and inventory levels. Clients with their own Certified Crucial subdomain shop will have their own login with access to sales figures and metrics at all times.
Who can benefit from Certified Crucial’s services?
Certified Crucial works with digital creators, podcasters, musicians, influencers, and brands looking to create custom merchandise without managing production, fulfillment, and logistics themselves.
Can Certified Crucial drop ship orders placed in my website's shop?
Yes! We can be the full-time fulfillment team for your store, no matter where it’s hosted. We will assist in connecting your store to our system, allowing you to sell merchandise without handling storage, packaging, or shipping.
Can I customize the packaging of my products?
We offer branded and custom packaging solutions to enhance your merchandise’s presentation.
Merchandise & Customization
What types of merchandise are available through Crucial Collabs?
Clients can work with Certified Crucial to source and develop a variety of custom products! Some popular choices include:
- Apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats)
- Accessories (stickers, pins, tote bags)
- Home and Lifestyle (posters, coffee mugs, wall hangs)
- Specialty items made in collaboration with our Crucial Creators
- Collectables (podcast vinyl, magnetic poetry, figures, puzzles)
Does Certified Crucial offer wholesale pricing for bulk orders?
Yes, we provide bulk and wholesale pricing options for larger orders.
Can I create exclusive or limited-edition products?
Yes! Crucial Collabs specializes in small-batch, limited-edition merchandise to help brands and creators offer exclusive products to their audience.
Do I have control over the design of my merchandise?
Absolutely. Certified Crucial works closely with our clients to ensure their vision is reflected in the final product. Clients can provide their own designs, or work with one of our Crucial Creators.
Can I request custom merchandise for my brand?
Yes! With Crucial Collabs, we assist you with finding artists and makers assist you with producing high-quality and unique merchandise.
Do you help with product development?
It’s not enough to provide merchandise to your fans. It needs to be the right merchandise! We can identify the best options for your brand, create mockups, and brainstorm with our Crucial Creators to develop an unforgettable product!
Can I bundle my merchandise with other products or content?
Yes, Certified Crucial allows creators to bundle products together (e.g., merch + digital content, special edition packages, or signed items).
Can I run special promotions or discounts on my merchandise?
Yes! Certified Crucial can set up discount codes for your merchandise. For clients with a Certified Crucial-supported shop, we can manage all discounts, limited-time promotions, and exclusive drops based on your marketing strategy.
Community Monetization
What are Merch Pre-Orders?
Clients can launch pre-order campaigns directly from the Certified Crucial website! Allow fans to purchase merchandise in advance, and minimize upfront costs while ensuring efficient production.
What are the steps to set up a pre-order?
Step 1: Pre-Order begins!
Announce the pre–order on your socials and add a plug in your digital content. We provide you with the item URL and pre-sale strategy documents to assist you with your campaign.
We will charge customer payment methods at the conclusion of the pre-order period. Customers with declined pre-orders will be contacted three times in an attempt to collect payment before canceling their pre-order.
You will receive an order sheet to add any additional quantities you would like to beyond the already sold pre-order units.
Can anyone sell merch through a Certified Crucial Pre-order?
Yes, however we do have some guidelines.
In order to assure the pre-order is successful, we may require a guaranteed minimum purchase amount.
This ensures your fans who purchased a pre-order item will receive their merchandise, and Certified Crucial’s costs are covered even in the event of an unsuccessful campaign.
What is the guaranteed order minimum for merch?
Guaranteed order minimums are placed on certain pre-order campaigns
Can you help me provide incentives to my Patreon community?
Absolutely! We can develop a monthly, quarterly, or yearly incentive program for your subscriber community to offer exclusive merchandise! Creating collectable merch sets is a great way to reward your most loyal supporters, and incentivize them to continue remain subscribed.
Business support and partnerships
Can Certified Crucial help with inventory management?
We offer inventory strategy solutions to help creators and brands manage stock levels efficiently.
What is Co-Branding support?
Brands and advertisers can capitalize on existing campaigns with digital creators by creating co-branded merchandise!
Certified Crucial can create promotional items for affiliate programs or as giveaways. We automate promotional merch fulfillment processes for all affiliate programs and marketing initiatives.
Crucial Creators Program
What is the Crucial Creators program?
Crucial Creators is a directory of independent and artist-owned businesses, vendors, and makers we work with to create unique merchandise for our clients.
The goal of our program is to support both the digital creator and maker communities by facilitating equitable and mutually beneficial collaborations.
Who can become a Crucial Creator?
The program is designed for artists of all disiplines. We have opportunities for illustrators and designers, crafters, makers, sculptors, 3D printers, and so much more!
We are especially interested in makers/vendors that specialize in products that can be personalized or branded for our clients.
How do I apply for the Crucial Creators program?
You can apply by filling out an application form. A team member will then review your submission and reach out if you’re a good fit.
Is there a cost to join the Crucial Creators program?
No, joining the program is free. Certified Crucial handles logistics and fulfillment, and creators are always paid up front.
How do commissions work for Crucial Creators?
We have a few different ways we can set up payouts, and can usually accomidate the preferences of our Crucial Creators.
Our most common way of handling commisions is up front payouts. We don’t expect any of our Crucial Creators to invest their own time and money on a project with the promise of being paid.
We strive to assure at the very least costs are covered before production if not the entire commission rate! Agreements based on hourly rates may require a different kind of payment agreement.
Do I have to hold inventory or ship products to customers myself?
No. Certified Crucial manages inventory, fulfillment, and shipping so our Crucial Creators can focus on what’s important.
How does the pre-order system work in the Crucial Creators program?
Clients can launch pre-order campaigns directly from the Certified Crucial website! Allow fans to purchase merchandise in advance, and minimize upfront costs while ensuring efficient production.
Crucial Collabs
What are Crucial Collabs?
Crucial Collabs is a partnership initiative by Certified Crucial that connects digital creators, influencers, and brands with independent artists and makers to produce custom merchandise.
Do I have to pay the Crucial Creator seperately for a commission?
No. Certified Crucial works as a middle-man to ensure a smooth and transparent agreement between all parties. We assist our creators with determining a commission rate, and reasonable turnaround time, and include their rates in our quotes to clients.
Do I have to hold inventory or ship products myself?
No, Certified Crucial manages inventory, fulfillment, and shipping, so creators can focus on their content and audience.
How does the pre-order system work in the Crucial Creators program?
Clients can launch pre-order campaigns directly from the Certified Crucial website! Allow fans to purchase merchandise in advance, and minimize upfront costs while ensuring efficient production.
Step 1: Pre-Order begins!
Announce the pre–order on your socials and add a plug in your digital content. We provide you with the item URL and pre-sale strategy documents to assist you with your campaign.
We will charge customer payment methods at the conclusion of the pre-order period. Customers with declined pre-orders will be contacted three times in an attempt to collect payment before canceling their pre-order.
You will receive an order sheet to add any additional quantities you would like to beyond the already sold pre-order units.
Can I meet with a Crucial Creator to discuss the project?
Some specialty items may require a meeting with clients to go over the specifics of the project. Our Crucial Creators are always welcome to join these calls, but it is not a requirement. In some instances we will be acting as representatives for our creators if that is their preference.
Our first priority is a comfortable and equitable space for creators to provide their services.
VINYL
What file types and audio formats do you accept, and what's best?
We accept a variety of file types and audio formats for your podcast. However, for the best possible sound quality on your vinyl record, we highly recommend high-resolution WAV or AIFF files. These formats allow for a high quality vinyl experience.
Can I record a special episode exclusively for the vinyl release?
Absolutely! This is a great way to add value for your fans. You can do a behind-the-scenes look, an extended interview, listener Q&A, or anything else that complements your existing content.
Can I include intro/outro music or sound effects?
Yes, you can include your usual intro/outro music and sound effects in your submitted audio file. We can also discuss adding custom vinyl-specific elements if desired.
Can explicit content be included in the vinyl audio?
We can press vinyl with explicit content, but there may be age restrictions on retail sales. It’s important to clearly label your content accordingly.
Do I need to design the vinyl artwork myself?
No, Certified Crucial can offer design services to create a unique and eye-catching vinyl jacket based on your existing branding or concepts you provide.
Can I use copyrighted material on my album artwork?
It’s your responsibility to ensure you have the rights to use any images, logos, or other copyrighted material on your vinyl artwork.
Will I have a chance to approve the artwork before pressing?
Absolutely! We will send you a digital proof of the artwork for your approval before going to print.
What is the minimum number of vinyl records I can order?
Certified Crucial has a 100 qty minimum on single orders, and 50 qty minimum on returning accounts and pre-order campaigns with 3 or more unique vinyl products. Should you need runs smaller than our minimums, request a quote. We can offer customized quotes for boutique runs of vinyl records in some cases.
Can I customize the vinyl color?
Yes, Certified Crucial offers a variety of customization options, including vinyl color!
What happens if there are damages during shipping?
Certified Crucial uses high-quality packaging to minimize the risk of damage. However, if a record arrives damaged, we will work with you to ensure a replacement is delivered or your money back. Contact our support team and explain the situation. We will get back to you quickly with next steps.
Fulfillment and Shipping
How long does fulfillment take?
Fulfillment times vary depending on the product and order volume, but most orders are processed and shipped within a few business days once available.
Does Certified Crucial ship internationally?
We offer international shipping! Rates are calculated at checkout.
What happens if a customer receives a damaged product?
We have a refunds and returns policy for defective or damaged items. Customers can also contact support for more information and assistance.
Have a question or special request? Reach out to us!
For all other queries, send us a message!