Bear Grips Pro ShopsHow a Boat Club Sets Up a Branded Merch Store
- Free branded merch store, hosted at a clean URL.
- No inventory, no minimum, no upfront cost.
- Members buy their own pieces and pay at checkout.
- Club earns $10 to $16 of margin per item, no fulfillment work.
A boat club merch store does not have to be a logistical project. Bear Grips Pro Shops gives the club a free branded store, hosts the catalog, prints and ships each order, and pays the club margin on every sale. The setup is roughly one hour. The store stays open year-round. New members joining mid-season order from the same store as season-one members.
The Three-Step Setup
The full setup takes about an hour for a club that already has a logo and burgee file:
- Sign up free. Create the Pro Shops account, name the store, upload the club burgee or logo.
- Add products. Pick the apparel pieces the club wants in the store (most clubs start with 2 polos, 1 hoodie, 1 tee, and a hat). Add the burgee or logo to each piece. Set the retail price with margin built in.
- Share the store. Drop the store URL into the member newsletter, the season opener email, the website footer, and the member portal.
Members start ordering as soon as the store is live. Each order is printed and shipped by a US print partner. The club director sees margin land in the dashboard.
What Products to Stock at Launch
A clean opening lineup for a boat club merch store:
- Performance polo (Sport-Tek) in white and navy.
- Cotton pique polo (Gildan) in white and navy, for the formal clubhouse polo crowd.
- Cotton tee (Bear Grips Airlume) in white, navy, and one accent color.
- Pullover hoodie (Bear Grips Comfort Soft) in navy.
- Embroidered rope hat (Yupoong or Richardson) in navy or stone.
Six to nine SKUs covers every member without overwhelming the store with choices. Add more variety after the first season once the club sees what sells.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Setting Retail Prices and Margin
Pricing is set by the club. Pro Shops shows the base print cost for each piece, and the club picks the retail price. Common boat club retail pricing:
| Item | VIP Base | Common Retail | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton tee | $19.88 | $30 | $10 |
| Performance polo | $34.88 | $50 | $15 |
| Cotton pique polo | $34.88 | $52 | $17 |
| Pullover hoodie | $36.88 | $60 | $23 |
| Embroidered hat | $29.86 | $40 | $10 |
Most clubs settle around $10 to $20 per-item margin. Hoodies and pique polos earn the most per piece.
How Members Find and Order from the Store
The store needs to live somewhere members can find it. Common placement:
- Club website footer, with a clear "Member Apparel" link.
- Season opener email, with a direct link to the store.
- Member portal sidebar or quick-link list.
- Clubhouse bulletin board with a QR code.
- Regatta email blast for event-specific pieces.
The traffic that converts best is the season opener email. Members are already thinking about the upcoming season, the store link is in front of them, and the apparel feels like a natural club purchase.
When to Use Self-Service vs Done-For-You
The free plan and the $59/mo Self-Service VIP plan both let the club director run the store themselves. They pick products, set prices, and manage the catalog. Most boat clubs run self-service: it is straightforward once the burgee is uploaded.
The $109/mo Done-For-You VIP plan is for clubs that do not have a member-volunteer who wants to manage the store. The club sends the burgee, picks the broad direction (formal yacht club vs active sailing club vs cruising club), and the Pro Shops team builds the storefront, picks the products, writes the descriptions, sets retail pricing, and updates the seasonal collection. The club just shares the link.
Active sailing clubs and large yacht clubs with engaged membership tend to run self-service. Smaller cruising clubs and clubs without a dedicated apparel volunteer tend to go DFY.
Launch Your Boat Club Merch Store
Free branded store, no inventory, members order their own pieces. Set up in about an hour.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to set up a boat club merch store?
About one hour for a club with a logo file ready. Sign up, upload the burgee, pick six to nine products, set prices, share the link. The store is live the same day.
Does the club pay any upfront fee?
No. The free plan starts at $0 per month. The Self-Service VIP plan at $59 per month unlocks lower base prices on all 200+ products in the catalog. The Done-For-You VIP plan at $109 per month adds full white-glove setup and monthly seasonal updates.
What is freedom boat club merchandise online and can a local Freedom franchise sell it?
Freedom Boat Club is a national membership boating franchise with hundreds of US locations. Local franchise operators set up their own member-facing apparel store the same way any boat club does: free branded store, embroidered franchise-name polos, hoodies, and hats, no inventory required.
Can the club change the products in the store after launch?
Yes. The catalog is editable at any time. Add a new hoodie for the fall, swap in a regatta tee for an event, drop an underperforming piece. Members see the updated catalog in real time.
