Trump Merchandise Stores Close as MAGA Sales Slow
At least four Trump merchandise stores have closed this year, while the MAGA Mall reports sales of MAGA gear are 30% below a presidential election year.
At a glance
- At least four Trump merchandise stores have closed this year.
- The MAGA Mall says sales of MAGA gear are down 30% from a presidential election year.
- Ron Solomon estimates about 20 Trump merchandise stores are still operating.
At least four Trump merchandise stores have closed this year, including a location in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and a super store outside Knoxville, Tennessee, as retailers report weakening demand for Trump and MAGA products.
The Bensalem shop, in the Philadelphia suburbs, announced its closing earlier this year but continues selling online. Trump superfan Wes Alker visited for nostalgia and going-out-of-business deals, which included "Trump Won" caps for $9.99 and pool floats for $19.99. Alker said Trump "has peaked" and is no longer a viable business model for entrepreneurs.
Sales and sentiment
The MAGA Mall, an online retailer and wholesaler, says sales of MAGA gear are down 30% compared with a presidential election year when Trump was on the ballot. Its president, Ron Solomon, estimates that about 20 stores specializing in Trump merchandise remain in operation. The company sells more than 1,000 MAGA, patriotic and religious products, including 400 kinds of hats.
Bill Hays, who opened his Trump super store outside Knoxville in April 2024, said monthly sales once reached $200,000. By the time it closed in September, he said, sales had fallen to $20,000 a month. Hays said more buyers were asking for bags rather than immediately buying new Trump gear. Trump's average approval rating had fallen from 50% when he took office to 44% when the Bensalem store closed; nine months later, when Hays closed his store, it had dropped another five points.
Hays said unpopular policies, including DOGE's massive government staff cuts, had affected the business. He also said the post-inauguration period left less urgency to promote MAGA. The accounts differ: Alker focused on Trump's declining appeal, while Hays pointed to policies and post-inauguration sentiment.
Retailers adjust
Rick Kligman, who sells merchandise from two Myrtle Beach stores, is trying to clear older stock by putting $40 of goods into a grab bag priced at $9.99. He is concerned about the midterms and a possible Democratic House and Senate sweep, which he worries could reduce demand from casual Trump consumers. He does not want to be left with thousands of dollars of unsold merchandise.
Given Trump's term limits and age, retailers are diversifying into patriotic products such as "We the People" hats. Solomon called that a natural progression. He said the Trump merchandise business will fade away unless a family member takes up the political mantle. Hays still has a Gatlinburg store and is waiting to see Christmas sales, while the Bensalem business remains online.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- Why are Trump merchandise stores closing?
- Store owners cite softer fan demand and, in Bill Hays's case, the effects of unpopular policies. The MAGA Mall says MAGA sales are down 30% compared with a presidential election year when Trump was on the ballot.
- How many Trump merchandise stores are still operating?
- Ron Solomon, president of the MAGA Mall, estimates about 20 stores specializing in Trump merchandise are still operating. The Bensalem store closed its physical location but continues selling online.
- What happened to sales at Bill Hays's Tennessee store?
- Hays said the store reached $200,000 in monthly sales after opening in April 2024, then fell to $20,000 a month by its September closing. He still operates a Gatlinburg store and is waiting to see Christmas sales.
