Bear Grips Pro ShopsHow to Set Up a Custom Country Club Merchandise Shop
- Free to set up: no upfront cost, no inventory, no fulfillment work for the club.
- Members order branded polo shirts, hats, and seasonal apparel directly from a shareable store link.
- Clubs earn a margin on every item sold; tournaments use the same store for event-specific shirts.
- Done-for-You VIP service builds the store and adds new products monthly for clubs that want white-glove management.
A custom country club merchandise shop generates passive income for the club, builds member loyalty, and gives members a way to wear the brand beyond club property. The old model required buying 100 polo shirts up front and hoping they sold. The new model is a permanent print-on-demand storefront where members order directly with no inventory commitment from the club. Here is how to build one.
Why Every Country Club Should Have a Merchandise Store
Club merchandise creates touchpoints with members outside of club visits. A member who wears a polo with the club crest to a restaurant, a golf trip, or a business meeting is a mobile advertisement. Other private club members and golfers notice club crests: it signals membership at a recognizable institution and generates conversation.
Beyond branding, a merchandise store creates a revenue stream that requires no labor once established. Members browse the store, choose their item, pay, and receive it at home. The club receives a margin on every transaction. Tournament and event merchandise extends this further: a member-guest tournament with 200 players represents $2,400 or more in apparel revenue at a $12 margin per item.
What to Include in a Country Club Merchandise Store
Start with the four items members actually want from their club:
- Performance polo shirt: the core item. Two to three color options in the club palette. Moisture-wicking fabric handles the course and the clubhouse.
- Rope hat or snapback: Richardson rope hats and Yupoong snapbacks work well for golf, and members wear them year-round.
- Quarter-zip pullover: a Sport-Tek or Champion quarter-zip with the club crest is the fall and winter staple.
- Crewneck sweatshirt: a Bear Grips or Champion crewneck in the club color for casual off-property wear.
Adding a seasonal collection (lighter fabrics and colors in spring and summer, heavier fleece and darker palettes in fall and winter) keeps the store fresh and gives members a reason to return. The Done-for-You VIP service curates and updates product selections monthly, so the store stays current without any work from the club manager.
How the Bear Grips Pro Shops Platform Works
Setting up a country club merchandise store on Bear Grips Pro Shops takes about 30 minutes for the initial configuration:
- Sign up for a free Pro Shop account at shops.beargrips.com
- Upload your club crest or logo (high-resolution PNG or vector file preferred)
- Select products from the 100+ item catalog and choose which to offer
- Set your retail prices (or accept the default recommended pricing based on real sales data)
- Share the store link with members via email, the club newsletter, or the member portal
Members browse, order, and pay. Every item is US-printed and ships free to the member's home in about a week. The club never handles inventory, processes returns, or manages logistics. A small staff at the club only needs to manage the store link distribution and any seasonal product updates.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Revenue Math for a Country Club Merchandise Program
Setting a $10 margin on polo shirts and $8 on hats adds up consistently as members and tournament participants shop. A realistic model:
| Scenario | Orders per Year | Avg. Margin | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-member club, 30% purchase | 45 | $10 | $450 |
| 400-member club, 35% purchase | 140 | $10 | $1,400 |
| 800-member club, 40% purchase | 320 | $10 | $3,200 |
| 200-player tournament | 200 | $12 | $2,400 |
| Combined annual (400 members + 1 tournament) | 340 | $11 avg | $3,740 |
These numbers use a single item per order at a conservative margin. Members who buy a polo and a hat in the same order double the contribution. Clubs that run two or three seasonal promotions per year see higher annual totals.
Plan Options: Free vs. VIP for Country Clubs
Bear Grips Pro Shops offers three tiers that work for different club profiles:
- Free plan ($0/month): up to 3 live products, higher base item price. Best for clubs testing the concept before committing to a full merchandise program.
- Self-Service VIP ($59/month): up to 200 products, lowest base prices (saving $4 to $11 per item over the free tier). Best for established clubs that want to manage their own store with full product flexibility.
- Done-for-You VIP ($109/month): white-glove service. The club sends its logo once per month and a Bear Grips team applies it to 15 trending products, builds the full shop layout, writes product descriptions, sets optimal pricing, and curates seasonal collections. No club staff time required beyond logo delivery.
Most established private clubs with 200 or more members find the VIP plans pay for themselves within the first few months of member purchases.
Affiliate Commissions: Another Revenue Layer
Every Bear Grips Pro Shops account includes a built-in affiliate link. When a club manager refers another club director or fitness business to the platform, they earn 10 percent of that business's monthly subscription, ongoing, plus $1 for every item sold by the referred vendor.
For a well-networked country club manager, referring five other club directors to the platform generates $25 to $55 per month in affiliate commissions passively. This compounds: each referred club that joins creates ongoing revenue. See the affiliate program page for the full structure and payout schedule.
Launch Your Country Club Merchandise Store Free
No inventory, no minimums, no upfront cost. Set up your club store in 30 minutes and share the link with members.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a country club merchandise store?
The free plan costs nothing to start and has no monthly fee. It supports up to 3 live products. VIP plans start at $59 per month and include lower base item prices, more products, and full feature access. The Done-for-You VIP at $109 per month includes monthly design and store management by the Bear Grips team.
How does the club get paid?
You set a retail price above the base item cost. The difference is your margin. Payouts are processed bi-weekly. No club staff handles money from member purchases: members pay at checkout and the club receives its margin share automatically.
What happens if members need different sizes or want a return?
Members order their own size directly from the store. Bear Grips Pro Shops handles customer service and any issues with individual orders. The club manager does not need to manage sizing, returns, or exchanges.
Can we sell tournament-specific shirts through the same store?
Yes. You can add event-specific products (tournament polo with year and event name) to your store for a limited window and then remove them after the event. Members who registered can order during the event window; no pre-purchase required from the club.
