What's always included
Producer planning calls, floor-plan and power specs for your venue, physical blank samples, on-site crew, backup equipment, and a strike that leaves the room how we found it.
Pricing
What a monogram bar costs, in plain numbers
We quote every event individually because a 60-guest bridal brunch and a three-day retail residency are different animals. But you deserve anchors before you email anyone, so here they are.
~$5,000typical starting point for a fully staffed local station — equipment, crew, setup, and strike included
$250/hrprofessional staffing rate, counted from load-in through teardown, not just doors-open hours
$900flat travel fee for events outside Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego; $0 inside them
The variables
Five things that move your quote
- Hours on the floor. A two-hour cocktail window costs less than an all-day retail activation. We'll tell you honestly when a shorter window serves the same guest count.
- Method mix. A chenille patch bar is the most efficient spend per guest. Live embroidery adds an operator and a slower, more theatrical pace — many weddings run both and route guests by item.
- The blanks. A natural canvas tote and a plush waffle robe sit at very different unit costs. You choose the canvas; we quote the real landed cost, sample-approved before we order a single unit.
- Guest volume. Volume sets machine and staff count. Rough math: one patch station serves roughly 150 guests over three hours; embroidery covers 25–35 finished pieces in the same window.
- Distance and logistics. Local SoCal is simplest. Las Vegas and beyond add the travel fee plus any venue-specific handling — union load-ins and convention docks are quoted from experience, not guessed.
A worked example
140-guest wedding, Orange County
Chenille letter bar on canvas totes for cocktail hour and reception (four floor hours), two operators, 150 totes sourced and pre-approved, letter board in the couple's palette, claim-ticket queue, ribbon hand-off. Landed in the mid-$6,000s all-in — the tote upgrade and extended hours were the delta from the $5,000 anchor. The couple kept 10 spare totes for vendors.
What we'll never do
Quote a teaser number that grows after you commit. The proposal you approve is itemized — blanks, hours, travel — and it holds unless you change the scope.
Reserve a date
Tell us about the occasion
Share the date, city, guest count, and what you would love guests to walk away with. A Merch Troop producer replies within one business day with a plan and a firm quote.