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Patreon to build up its merch tools with Kit takeover

The Kit integration should also mean more ways to buy from your favorite online creators.

Joan E. Solsman Former Senior Reporter
Joan E. Solsman was CNET's senior media reporter, covering the intersection of entertainment and technology. She's reported from locations spanning from Disneyland to Serbian refugee camps, and she previously wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. She bikes to get almost everywhere and has been doored only once.
Expertise Streaming video, film, television and music; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; deep fakes and synthetic media; content moderation and misinformation online Credentials
  • Three Folio Eddie award wins: 2018 science & technology writing (Cartoon bunnies are hacking your brain), 2021 analysis (Deepfakes' election threat isn't what you'd think) and 2022 culture article (Apple's CODA Takes You Into an Inner World of Sign)
Joan E. Solsman
2 min read
A merchandise stand in front of palm trees

Patreon is aiming to expand its merch-selling capabilities for creators. 

Getty Images

Patreon, which gives fans a way to pay their favorite creators on a recurring basis, is aiming to build out tools that will allow creators to sell merchandise more easily, through a takeover of startup Kit

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. 

Patreon said its goal in integrating Kit is to invent a way to automate "merch for membership" so creators on its network won't have to deal with as much stuffing and mailing of their own packages. 

"Sending merch is laughably complicated today, but remains a key element to the success of membership programs," Patreon said in a blog post. 

Currently, Kit helps online personalities create collections of favorite products their followers can browse and buy.   

"We launched Kit a little over two years ago with a simple idea: Help people discover the products worth getting -- and create a new kind of experience where your creativity and expertise actually earn you money," Camille Hearst, co-founder and CEO of Kit, said in a statement. "We're elated to join Patreon and work on merch, and look forward to developing features that will give creators a simple way to deliver their products to their members."

Patreon said all the content links from Kit.com will continue to operate after the takeover and that revenue flows won't be disrupted. 

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