Bear Grips Pro ShopsAffordable Custom Gym Apparel for Studios: Member Merch That Still Turns a Profit
- A gym studio can open an affordable branded merch shop with zero upfront inventory cost.
- Member-facing gym apparel should be priced to feel affordable while still covering $8-$10 margin per piece.
- The free plan supports 3 live products, enough to test tee, tank, and hat before expanding.
- Bear Grips was built by a fitness brand, so the catalog is sized for gym-specific pieces, not generic blanks.
Gym owners hear "affordable gym apparel" and often think of two bad options: a bulk order of shirts that sit in a bin at the front desk for a year, or a big-box activewear brand that keeps the entire margin for itself. There is a third option built specifically for this: a branded shop where the gym prints one piece at a time, keeps the full retail margin, and never carries inventory. Here is how a studio actually sets that up affordably.
The Problem With the Old Two Options
| Old model | Upfront cost | Who keeps the margin | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk print order | $300-$800 for 24-48 shirts | Studio, but only after selling through the batch | Wrong sizes, unsold stock in a bin |
| Reselling a big-box activewear brand | Wholesale minimums, often $500+ | Split between studio and brand | No control over design, generic look |
| Branded print-on-demand shop | $0-$59/mo | Studio keeps the full margin they set | None, print only what sells |
What an Affordable Gym Shop Should Stock First
- One tee. The Airlume cotton athletic tee at $19.88 VIP base is the cheapest, most universal starting piece.
- One tank. The performance workout tank or racerback tank, also $19.88, covers the warm-weather half of the year.
- One hat. A $25.86-$29.86 embroidered snapback for daily brand visibility outside the gym.
The free plan supports exactly 3 live products, which lines up with this starter set. Test these three before deciding whether to expand into hoodies, leggings, or shorts.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Pricing Gym Merch So It Feels Affordable to Members
Members compare gym merch prices against big-box activewear, so a studio needs to land somewhere below premium retail while still making real money per piece.
| Piece | VIP base | Member-friendly retail | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | $19.88 | $27.88 | $8.00 |
| Tank | $19.88 | $26.88 | $7.00 |
| Hat | $25.86-$29.86 | $34.88 | $5.00-$9.00 |
These retail points sit below what most members would pay for the same piece at a big-box gym apparel brand, while still leaving margin worth collecting.
Growing Beyond the Starter Set
Once the tee, tank, and hat sell consistently, Self-Service VIP at $59/mo opens up to 200 live products and the lowest base prices across the board, a $4-$11 savings per item over the free tier. Studios that want the shop fully built and maintained for them, with monthly curated collections and professional product copy, can move to Done-For-You VIP at $105/mo instead.
Why a Fitness-Built Platform Matters Here
A generic print-on-demand catalog is built for anything from mugs to phone cases. Bear Grips was built specifically around fitness apparel by a fitness brand, so the catalog leans toward the pieces gyms and studios actually sell: performance tees, tanks, leggings, sports bras, and shorts, alongside standard cotton basics. That focus is part of what keeps the per-piece price down, since the catalog is not paying for categories a gym never uses. See the full tank top pricing breakdown or the bottoms lineup for the rest of the studio wardrobe, and start the shop free at Bear Grips Pro Shops.
Open an Affordable Gym Merch Shop
No inventory, no minimum order, tees and tanks from $19.88 VIP base. Free plan to start.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost a gym to start a merch shop?
Nothing upfront. The free plan is $0/mo with 3 live products. There is no inventory to buy and no minimum print run.
Is cheap gym apparel the same quality as premium activewear brands?
The blanks used (Bella+Canvas, Next Level, Bear Grips, Sport-Tek) are the same category of fabric used across premium athleisure. The lower price comes from cutting out retail brand markup and bulk minimums, not fabric quality.
What should a gym charge members for a branded tee?
A retail price around $27-$28 on a $19.88 base leaves roughly $8 margin while staying affordable next to big-box gym apparel pricing.
Does the gym have to hold any inventory?
No. Every order is printed after it is placed. Nothing is stocked ahead of time.
