Merch for a webcomic community : go big or go small ?

Hello guys, I have a semi-popular webcomic online (40.000 followers on Facebook and a bit on twitter/instagram also). I get around 1K likes/comic, and the community is pretty strong and supportive. I had 2 paper albums edited and around 1200 sells each.

A company came to me with a deal for merchandisings, things like mugs and totebags, maybe tee-shirts. My editor counter-offered, and... I have trouble choosing ! So basically :

• First company :

  • good quality
  • small professionnal business (so cool, but I some paperwork to do to create my company in order to bill them)
  • can make mugs, totebags, teeshirts / sweatshirts, but no prints (stickers)
  • better for big commands (best margin and scalable).
  • but has high flat rates( like 7€/shipping +2€/ command for me), so it makes small commands more expensive (eg a 1-mug purchase costs 17€ for customer, shipping included, and I get 2€ margin)

• My editor :

  • normal quality
  • small family business (so not much paperwork to do, but from experience I know it can lack a bit of pressionalism)
  • can make mugs, totebags, maybe some prints, but no teeshirt / sweatshirts
  • better for small commands (better price for customer, can be sold directly on comics festival) eg. for 1 mug it costs the customer around 12€ (shipping included) and I get 1.2€ margin.
  • but it's not the core of their business, not scalable and depends on stocks

What do you think ? I "go big" with the first company ? Or "go small" with my editor ?

I think it mainlycomes to : what would my readers typically buy : 1 mug, or 2 mugs + 1 totebag ? I don't really know. I feel they would more likely buy small commands, but... it's just a hinch. And I don't know how to find that kind of information (appart from reddit hopefully :p ) Of course, the first company tells me people mainly make big purchases (no wonder, making a small purchase on their website is too expensive).

Also, I don't really see people buying teeshirts and sweatshirts of my comic, as it's badly drawn on purpose. Funny to read, but to wear, I doubt it. Again, just a hinch.

Anyone has experience in this ? what would you do ? :)

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