Bear Grips Pro ShopsWhich Custom Apparel Products Work Best for Bulk Orders
- Tees and hats are the two categories that move the fastest for group and team orders.
- Hoodies and polos work best when a business wants a professional, customer-facing piece.
- Leggings and joggers fit fitness-brand and studio-style shops best, not general group orders.
- A well-rounded shop usually stocks one tee, one hoodie, one polo, and one hat as the starter lineup.
Not every product in a custom apparel catalog is a good fit for group or bulk-style buying. Some pieces sell in volume because everyone wants one (tees, hats), some sell better as an upsell to a smaller, more engaged group (leggings, joggers), and some work best as a professional customer-facing piece rather than a mass giveaway (polos, embroidered hoodies). Here is a category-by-category look at where each product fits.
Tees and Tanks: The Volume Category
Tees and tanks are the highest-volume category in almost every custom apparel shop, and for good reason. They start at $19.88 VIP base (the Bear Grips Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee, the Bella+Canvas Women's Favorite Tee, the Next Level Ladies Racerback Tank), they are the lowest per-piece commitment for a buyer, and they work as a group order, a giveaway, or a retail item equally well. If a shop only stocks one product, it should be a tee.
Hoodies and Sweatshirts: The Higher-Margin Upsell
Hoodies run $34.88-$45.88 VIP base and typically carry a $12-$20 profit markup rather than the default $10, since buyers expect to pay more for a heavier, more durable piece. They sell in lower volume than tees but drive more total profit per unit sold. A shop selling both a tee and a hoodie usually sees the hoodie account for a smaller share of orders but a larger share of total revenue.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Polos: The Customer-Facing Piece, Not the Mass Giveaway
Polos ($34.88 VIP base) rarely work as a bulk giveaway item. They work best as the piece worn by staff, leads, or anyone customer-facing, since embroidered polos read as more established and professional than a printed tee. A business ordering for a whole team should think of the polo as a smaller-quantity, higher-trust piece rather than the volume item.
Shorts, Joggers, and Leggings: The Fitness-Brand Category
| Piece | VIP base | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic 7" mesh shorts (Sport-Tek) | $26.88 | Team and league group orders |
| Midweight performance joggers (Independent Trading Co.) | $40.88 | Fitness brand retail, not group orders |
| Signature seamless leggings (Bear Grips) | $54.88 | Gym and studio retail shops |
| Padded sports bra (Bear Grips) | $45.88 | Women's fitness brand shops |
These pieces sell better in an ongoing retail shop than as a one-time bulk group order, since fit and style preference vary more person to person than a tee or a hat does.
Hats: The Cheapest Repeat-Buy Item
Hats ($25.86-$29.86 VIP base) are the second-highest-volume category after tees. They are a low commitment purchase, they work as a giveaway, a staff item, or a retail add-on, and unlike apparel, sizing is rarely an issue since most styles are adjustable. A starter shop pairing one tee with one embroidered hat covers the two fastest-moving categories in the catalog.
Build Your Starter Lineup
Pick a tee, a hoodie, and a hat to cover the two fastest-moving categories in the catalog.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the single best product to start a bulk-style shop with?
A cotton tee. It is the lowest per-piece cost in the catalog ($19.88 VIP base), the lowest commitment for a buyer, and works across nearly every use case.
Do leggings and joggers work for team or group orders?
Less often than tees or hoodies, mainly because fit preference varies more from person to person. They perform better as an ongoing retail item in a fitness-brand shop.
Should a starter shop include a polo?
Only if there is a customer-facing or staff use case. Polos work best as a smaller, higher-trust piece rather than a mass group-order item.
How many products should a new shop launch with?
The Free plan supports 3 live products, a common starter combination is one tee, one hoodie, and one hat.
