How to Set Up a Climbing Gym Merch Store

Setting up a climbing gym merch store does not require inventory, a designer on retainer, or a checkout system. Bear Grips Pro Shops builds the branded storefront, prints on demand when a member orders, and ships directly to the buyer. You upload your gym logo, pick eight starter products, set retail prices, and share the link. The full process takes under an hour and the first sale can ship within seven days.

Before you start: what to gather

You need three things before opening the store. Spending five minutes prepping these makes the rest of the setup fast.

• Gym logo: PNG with transparent background, at least 1500 pixels wide. SVG works too.
• Brand colors: hex codes for header and accent. Most climbing gyms run dark theme.
• Wall photo or hero image: optional but good for the storefront banner.

If your logo only exists in a JPEG with a white background, our free background removal tool fixes that in seconds before you upload.

Step 1: Choose your plan

Three plans, all with full catalog access:

• Free: 3 live products, higher base prices. Good for testing the waters.
• Self-Service VIP ($59/mo): 200 live products, lowest base prices, save $4 to $11 per item versus free tier.
• Done-For-You VIP ($109/mo): 250 products, a real human builds your shop monthly, picks colors, writes copy, and sets pricing.

Most climbing gyms start on Self-Service VIP. The savings on the first 20 hoodie sales pay the annual subscription.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Step 2: Add the eight starter products

Do not try to upload your whole catalog day one. Start with eight, watch what sells, expand from there.

1. Airlume Cotton Tee in black and heather gray
2. Triblend Crew Tee in black and tri-coffee
3. Comfort Soft Hoodie in black and forest
4. Crewneck Sweatshirt in black
5. Sport-Tek Performance Polo in black (staff uniform)
6. Ladies Racerback Tank
7. Rope Hat (snapback)
8. Premium Fleece Joggers in heather charcoal

That mix covers member daily wear, staff, hot-day climbing sessions, and travel comp days.

Step 3: Set retail pricing

You set the retail price on every product. Default profit setting is $10 per item. Most climbing gyms charge above that for hoodies and crewnecks:

Product	VIP base	Typical climbing gym retail	Your profit
Cotton tee	$19.88	$30	$10.12
Triblend crew tee	$23.88	$35	$11.12
Pullover hoodie	$36.88	$55	$18.12
Crewneck sweatshirt	$34.88	$50	$15.12
Snapback hat	$25.86	$35	$9.14

Step 4: Share the link with members

The store is now live. Share the URL in:

• The gym Instagram bio
• The member email newsletter
• A QR code printed at the front desk
• The bottom of every comp team email
• The signup confirmation for new memberships

The first week is the test. If three to five members buy, the trickle continues for months. See full revenue math here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the actual setup take?

Under an hour for a gym with the logo ready. Most owners finish during lunch break.

Do I need a Shopify or any other platform?

No. The storefront is hosted at your branded URL. No Shopify, no third party site needed.

What about taxes and payment processing?

Handled by the platform. You receive payouts on a regular cycle to your bank or PayPal.

Can I close the store at any point?

Yes. Pause or cancel anytime. No long term contract.