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 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 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 ($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.
| 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 ($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.
Pick a tee, a hoodie, and a hat to cover the two fastest-moving categories in the catalog.
Start FreeA 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.
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.
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.
The Free plan supports 3 live products, a common starter combination is one tee, one hoodie, and one hat.
Bear Grips Pro Shops