NoHo Hospitality lowered procurement costs, simplified vendor management, & strengthened brand consistency

The Opportunity

The NoHo Hospitality Group sought a more streamlined approach to managing its expanding branded merchandise needs.

With multiple vendor relationships, rising costs, and challenges in maintaining consistency across products, the company needed a more unified solution.

The restaurant giant initially approached Stitchi with a straightforward request: sports-themed jerseys for its casual restaurant, The Brakeman.

In Detroit, sports culture is part of the city’s DNA.  

These jerseys, worn by employees during football and hockey seasons, became an instant success. They created an immersive game-day experience, giving The Brakeman a competitive edge.

Customers loved the jerseys so much that they even asked if the restaurant would sell them. 

 We’ve done branded merch before, but nothing like this. The jerseys weren’t just uniforms—they became conversation starters. Getting them delivered a week before the big Thanksgiving game allowed us to create an immersive holiday experience during one of the busiest times of the year.

This success marked the beginning of a deeper partnership, with Stitchi becoming a trusted extension of NoHo Hospitality Group’s team.

The Challenge 

As a powerhouse in the hospitality scene, NoHo Hospitality was no stranger to branded merchandise. However, keeping a complex web of vendors organized and cost-effective proved difficult.

• Rising Costs: Year-over-year increase in merchandise expenses strained budgets.

• Vendor Overload: Seven different vendors for packaging, coasters, uniforms, and more complicated invoicing and logistics.

• Brand Consistency Issues: Previous vendors failed to match the exact colors consistent with NoHo’s established visual identity. This led to noticeable inconsistencies in branding, where attention to detail is essential for maintaining a premium guest experience.

The Solution

Stitchi provided NoHo Hospitality Group with a complimentary vendor audit. Karen Nunez, Food and Beverage Manager, was curious about their options for reducing costs on disposable merchandise, particularly for items purchased in bulk, such as wristbands, coasters, and food packaging.

• Lowered Procurement Costs: NoHo was previously paying significantly more per unit for several key merchandise items. Stitchi successfully secured new supplier agreements, resulting in a 90% reduction in wristband costs and delivering significant savings on high-volume orders.

• Simplified Vendor Management: Stitchi leveraged its global supplier network to help NoHo Hospitality Group consolidate purchasing and reduce the need for managing multiple vendors. Now, a wide range of item types can be accessed, customized, and reordered through a single, self-service platform.

• Strengthened Brand Consistency: Working with seven different vendors made it challenging to ensure brand consistency. Stitchi connected NoHo Hospitality Group with a vetted network of suppliers whose capabilities range from simple items, such as pens and matchbooks, to those with more complex specifications, including coasters and food packaging. 

By working exclusively with Stitchi, a cohesive brand experience was achieved across all products.  

It’s been a true partnership from day one. Stitchi brought us new ways to scale what we were already doing—without losing the creativity or precision that our brand demands.

The Impact

Through the collaboration with Stitchi, NoHo Hospitality Group:

• Simplified vendor management across multiple properties and item categories, reducing procurement costs by up to 90%.

• Enhanced brand consistency through better supplier alignment, solidifying Noho's brand identity.

• Unlocked new guest experiences with elevated, on-brand merchandise, creating new customer touch points and conversation starters.

• Saved time and internal resources by reducing operational complexity.

What started with a single creative idea grew into a cross-property merchandising strategy that continues to engage guests and support NoHo’s distinct brand identity.