Varsity is the dominant brand in the all-star cheer industry. Most major cheer events (NCA, UCA, Cheersport, Summit) are Varsity-operated. Varsity also sells cheer apparel and uniforms through its own catalog. Bear Grips Pro Shops is a separate platform that gives cheer gyms their own apparel shop and revenue stream. The two serve different purposes. This guide compares how each works for gym apparel and merch programs.
Varsity. Operates major cheer events and sells cheer apparel and competition uniforms through its own brand catalog. Athletes and gyms buy from Varsity's design library and product offerings. Varsity earns margin on each sale.
Bear Grips Pro Shops. A gym shop platform. The gym sets up its own apparel program with gym logo, team designs, and gym-set retail pricing. The gym earns the margin on every sale.
Practical positioning. Most cheer gyms use Varsity for competition uniforms (which Bear Grips does not make) and Bear Grips for everything else (practice wear, gym merch, team spirit shirts, parent apparel, banquet keepsakes).
This is the key scope distinction:
Most cheer gyms pair a competition uniform vendor with Bear Grips Pro Shops for everything else. Varsity for the uniform, Bear Grips for the gym merch, parent apparel, banquet keepsakes, and team spirit shirts. See uniforms vs spirit wear scope guide.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Varsity. Sells from its own design library and brand catalog. Custom design work is available but goes through Varsity's design process and pricing.
Bear Grips. The gym uploads its own artwork. Gym logo, team designs, event-specific designs, and personalized apparel all live in the gym shop. The gym owns the design library.
Gyms with strong existing brand identity (gym logo, gym colors, gym mascot) usually prefer Bear Grips' upload model because the gym design stays exactly as the gym intends.
Varsity. Athletes and parents pay Varsity's retail price. The gym does not earn margin from member purchases of Varsity apparel.
Bear Grips. The gym sets retail pricing. The gym earns the margin between the VIP base price and gym-set retail. A 120-athlete gym typically earns $14,000-$20,000 in annual apparel revenue. See cheer gym revenue math.
Most cheer gyms use both platforms simultaneously:
Bear Grips is the better structural fit for the gym apparel program because the gym owns the design library, earns the margin, and runs the shop year-round. Varsity is the established provider for competition uniforms specifically.
Your gym, your designs, your margin. Pair with Varsity for uniforms.
Start FreeNo. Bear Grips makes cheer practice wear, gym merch, team spirit shirts, parent apparel, and competition weekend travel apparel. Sequined or rhinestoned cut-and-sew competition uniforms are specialty construction. Most gyms pair a competition uniform vendor like Varsity with Bear Grips for everything else.
Yes. Most cheer gyms use Varsity for competition uniforms and Bear Grips Pro Shops for the gym apparel program (practice wear, merch, parent shirts, banquet keepsakes). The two platforms cover different scopes and work in parallel.
Yes. The gym sets retail pricing and keeps the margin between the VIP base and retail. A 120-athlete gym typically earns $14,000-$20,000 in annual apparel revenue.
No. Those events are Varsity-operated. Bear Grips is a separate apparel platform with no event affiliation. Gyms can use Bear Grips apparel at any cheer event.
Bear Grips Pro Shops