A Boy Scout troop apparel shop through Bear Grips Pro Shops earns fundraising revenue passively once it is live. The troop sets up the shop once, parents and community members order when they want, and the troop earns the margin on every sale without managing inventory, collecting payments, or distributing shirts. This guide walks through setup, product selection, promotion, and the revenue math.
Most Scout troops sell apparel reactively: a committee member organizes a group order before camp, collects sizes and money, waits until enough orders come in, and then coordinates pickup. This process works once or twice a year. It does not scale into a consistent fundraising channel.
A dedicated Bear Grips Pro Shop is always-on. Parents who missed the camp shirt window can still order. New families joining mid-year can get troop gear without waiting for the next organized order. Alumni who want to support the troop can buy from anywhere in the country.
The shop also reduces volunteer burden significantly. The committee chair who used to spend 4-6 hours per shirt campaign collecting orders and distributing shirts now shares a link and does nothing else. That time returns to actual Scout program leadership.
Start with three items that cover the highest demand at every price point:
A troop t-shirt ($25-35 retail): The entry-level item every family will consider. Choose a moisture-wicking performance tee or a premium cotton tee. Put the troop number prominently on the back. This is the item new Scout parents buy first and the item that drives the most volume.
A troop hoodie ($45-60 retail): The highest revenue item per sale. Scouts wear hoodies to school, to events, and everywhere in between. Older Scouts and adult leaders prefer hoodies to tees. A Champion performance hoodie or a Bear Grips comfort soft hoodie both print well and hold up over years of use.
A troop hat ($35-45 retail): Lower barrier to purchase than a full garment. Many parents buy a hat even if they do not buy a shirt because the price point is accessible and the utility is obvious. Embroidered rope hats and snapbacks both move well in Scout communities.
On the free plan you get three live products, which maps perfectly to this starter set. Upgrade to VIP if you want to add seasonal items (camp shirts, Jamboree shirts) without replacing core items.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.A troop shop that is promoted well can generate consistent passive income across the scouting year:
| Product | Retail Price | Base Cost | Margin | 30 Units/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance tee | $34 | $23.86 | $10.14 | $304 |
| Comfort hoodie | $54 | $36.88 | $17.12 | $514 |
| Rope hat | $40 | $29.86 | $10.14 | $304 |
A troop with 30 active families that promotes the shop at the start of the scout year, at summer camp sign-up, and at the annual Eagle Scout ceremony can realistically move 30+ units of each product. Total annual troop fund contribution from the shop: $1,000-1,500 with minimal ongoing effort.
That is enough to cover a campership for a Scout from a lower-income family, offset the cost of a high-adventure trip deposit, or fund merit badge materials for the whole troop.
A troop shop that no one knows about earns nothing. Promotion is the only ongoing task after setup. Here are the highest-return promotional moments in the scouting calendar:
Back-to-school meeting: The first troop meeting of the scouting year is when the most families are paying attention. Introduce the shop at this meeting and put the link in the welcome packet for new families.
Summer camp registration: When parents are registering Scouts for camp, they are already in a buying mindset for camp-related expenses. Include the camp shirt link in the registration communication.
Eagle Scout announcements: When a Scout achieves Eagle rank, a dedicated celebration shop linked in the court of honor invitation generates family and community orders.
Charter organization meetings: The troop's charter organization often includes parents and community leaders who want to show support. A brief mention at a charter org meeting or in their newsletter can drive community purchases.
See the full revenue strategy in the Scout troop fundraiser shirts guide for a complete promotional calendar.
What you need before you start:
The setup steps:
The free plan covers three products with no monthly cost. You earn on every sale. Upgrade to VIP ($59/month) when you want to add more products or access lower base prices that increase your margin per item.
Free plan, no inventory, no minimums. Your troop apparel shop earns passively from setup day forward.
Start FreeThe free plan costs nothing. Three live products, full feature access, and no monthly fee. The troop earns the margin between the base print price and the retail price set in the shop.
Typically one committee member or the troop coordinator. After initial setup, management is minimal: share the link at troop events, add seasonal products for camps and Jamborees, and review earnings periodically.
Yes. The shop is always-on. New families joining mid-year, alumni buying spirit gear, and grandparents ordering Eagle Scout shirts can all do so any time.
The margin (retail price minus base print cost) accrues to the shop account and is paid out on the Bear Grips payout schedule to the account holder.
Bear Grips Pro Shops