Most branded merchandise platforms are built for one job: either an internal employee store or a public-facing fan shop. Very few handle both at once, and almost none do it without inventory headaches. Merchloop, built by Stoked On Printing and launched in 2018, solves this exact problem with a zero-inventory, on-demand model that lets you run parallel stores from a single platform.
Can You Really Run Two Different Stores on the Same Swag Platform?
Yes. Merchloop supports multiple simultaneous storefronts with separate catalogs, pricing structures, and access controls — all managed from one account. An internal HR-facing employee store and a revenue-generating public merch shop can coexist without any inventory overlap or fulfillment confusion.
This matters because the two store types serve completely different audiences. An employee store is typically restricted to staff, subsidized by the company, and focused on onboarding kits and culture gear. A public merch shop is open to customers, fans, or event attendees — and usually priced at full retail. Running them in the same platform with one production pipeline eliminates double work.
What Makes a Dual-Store Setup Different From Running Two Separate Platforms?
Running two separate platforms means double the vendor contracts, double the setup fees, and two separate production queues that can drift apart in quality. A unified platform like Merchloop keeps production under one roof, so branded items in both stores are printed or embroidered with the same equipment and quality standards.
Practically, this means your Nike quarter-zip in the employee store and your YETI tumbler in the public fan shop are both fulfilled out of the same US-based vertically integrated facility — printing and embroidery in the same building. Consistency is automatic, not something you have to manage across vendors.
The free company store setup (Merchloop Lite) covers both store types with no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no design fees. You are not paying a platform tax just to keep a second storefront live.
How Do Internal Employee Stores and Public Merch Shops Differ in Practice?
The core difference is access and payment logic. Internal stores are typically password-protected or SSO-gated, and orders are paid by the company via a credit system, allowance budget, or direct billing. Public stores are open URLs where customers pay at checkout with a credit card.
Catalog differences matter too. Employee stores often carry apparel-heavy catalogs with premium brands like The North Face, TravisMathew, and Marine Layer — gear employees actually want to wear. Public merch shops may skew toward accessories, drinkware, and lifestyle items like YETI tumblers or branded totes that work as fan merchandise or event giveaways.
Learn more about how to structure the employee-facing side in our ultimate guide to employee self-service swag stores — it covers access controls, budget management, and catalog curation in depth.
What Does the Side-by-Side Setup Look Like?
| Feature | Internal Employee Store | Public-Facing Merch Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Access Control | Password-protected or invite-only | Open URL, publicly indexed |
| Payment Model | Company credit, allowance, or direct bill | Customer pays at checkout |
| Catalog Focus | Premium apparel, onboarding kits, culture gear | Fan merchandise, accessories, drinkware |
| Minimums Required | None | None |
| Inventory Held | Zero — printed on demand | Zero — printed on demand |
| Production Time | 7 to 10 business days standard | 7 to 10 business days standard |
| Rush Option | 3 to 5 business days (+30% surcharge) | 3 to 5 business days (+30% surcharge) |
| Setup Cost | Free (Merchloop Lite) | Free (Merchloop Lite) |
How Does On-Demand Production Work for Both Stores at Once?
Every order placed in either store — whether it's one employee ordering a single embroidered fleece or a fan buying a branded hat — triggers production only after purchase. Nothing is pre-printed and stored in a warehouse. This is the zero-inventory model, and it applies identically to both storefronts.
Because Stoked On Printing (founded 2011) operates printing and embroidery in-house, there is no hand-off to a third-party decorator. Both stores draw from the same production capacity. When volumes spike — say, during a company all-hands season and a product launch at the same time — the in-house facility handles both queues without the scheduling conflicts that arise when you're coordinating two external vendors.
Standard turnaround is 7 to 10 business days for both store types. Rush production at 3 to 5 business days is available for a 30% surcharge and applies equally whether the order comes from an employee or a public customer.
What Brands Can You Stock in Each Store?
Both store types have access to Merchloop's full catalog of premium retail brands. This is a meaningful differentiator. Many swag platforms carry generic house-brand apparel. Merchloop stocks Nike, The North Face, TravisMathew, Marine Layer, YETI, and many others — the same labels people choose when they're shopping for themselves.
For an employee store, this means onboarding kits and recognition gifts that feel like real retail presents, not promotional filler. For a public merch shop, it means customers are buying brand-name gear with your logo on it — something they'll actually use and wear in public, which extends your brand reach organically.
See how this plays out in practice in our article on why a company merch store can transform employee pride overnight — the same premium-brand logic applies whether your audience is internal or external.
What Are the Real Limitations to Know Before You Start?
Honest answer: dual-store management does require some upfront catalog planning. You will want to decide which products are exclusive to each store versus shared, and whether pricing differs between employee-subsidized rates and public retail prices. This is not automated — it is a configuration decision you make during store setup.
Branding cohesion also requires attention. If your internal store and public shop have different logo treatments or color variations, you need to be deliberate about which artwork file goes where. Merchloop's free design support helps, but the brand direction decisions are yours to make.
There are no minimums in either store, which means a single employee ordering one polo and a single fan buying one hat are both viable transactions. The transparent per-item pricing model means every order, regardless of size, has the same visible unit cost — no surprise fees at checkout on either storefront.
How Fast Can You Launch Both Stores?
A new Merchloop store can go live in under 24 hours. Running two stores in parallel does not require a separate launch timeline — both storefronts are configured within the same account, so the second store is typically ready within the same 24-hour window once your catalog and access settings are defined.
There are no setup fees, no monthly platform fees, and no design fees under Merchloop Lite. The pay-per-order economics mean you are only spending money when someone actually buys something. There is no upfront inventory investment for either store.
For a deeper look at how the free store model works financially, our article on how Merchloop Lite works with no hidden fees breaks down exactly where costs appear and where they don't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same product appear in both the employee store and the public merch shop?
Yes. You can configure the same item — for example, a branded The North Face jacket — to appear in both storefronts with different pricing or the same pricing depending on your business model. Each store's catalog is managed independently within the same Merchloop account.
Do employees and public customers see each other's stores?
No. Internal employee stores are access-controlled with a password or invite link, keeping them invisible to the general public. Public-facing shops are open URLs. The two storefronts are completely separate from a customer-facing perspective, even though they share the same production backend.
Are there any additional platform fees for running a second store?
Under Merchloop Lite, there are no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no design fees for your stores. The pay-per-order model means costs are tied to actual orders, not to how many storefronts you operate. Specific pricing for additional store configurations can be confirmed directly with Merchloop.
What is the minimum order quantity for each store?
There are no minimum order quantities on Merchloop. A single employee can order one item from the internal store, and a single customer can buy one item from the public shop. Both orders go through the same on-demand production pipeline with the same 7 to 10 business day standard turnaround.
Can I offer different brands in the employee store versus the public shop?
Yes. You have full control over which products appear in each storefront. You might stock TravisMathew polos and Marine Layer fleeces exclusively in the employee store while featuring YETI drinkware and Nike tees in the public fan shop. Catalog curation is handled during store setup and can be updated at any time.
