Merch companies are being forced to adapt their operations following the immediate loss of revenues from the shutdown of the live sector.

The business has been impacted by the loss of sales of T-shirts and other memorabilia at gigs.

“Initially, demand dropped off a cliff,” said James Lyall, MD at Leeds-based Awesome Merch, which manages more than 80 online stores for artists and labels. “I think most people just froze for a few days when lockdown started and had to ...