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.
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.
Start with the four items members actually want from their club:
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.
Setting up a country club merchandise store on Bear Grips Pro Shops takes about 30 minutes for the initial configuration:
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.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.
Bear Grips Pro Shops offers three tiers that work for different club profiles:
Most established private clubs with 200 or more members find the VIP plans pay for themselves within the first few months of member purchases.
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.
No inventory, no minimums, no upfront cost. Set up your club store in 30 minutes and share the link with members.
Start FreeThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
Bear Grips Pro Shops