Trail running clubs that invest in custom branded apparel see stronger member retention and more consistent group attendance. When members wear the same shirt on group runs, it creates visible community identity that builds itself every time the group heads out on a shared trail. Here is how to set up a custom trail running club apparel store, what products work best, and what the revenue looks like for a club of any size.
Trail running is communal in a way that solo road running is not. Group runs, local races, and trail events bring the same people together repeatedly. Branded club apparel creates visual identity for that community: it signals to other trail users that this group runs together, creates recognition at local races, and builds the kind of pride that leads members to recruit their trail-running friends.
Clubs that introduce branded apparel within their first year report consistently higher retention rates than those that do not. The reason is straightforward: wearing the club shirt makes you feel like part of something, and that feeling is worth more than the shirt itself for a club organizer trying to keep members engaged past the third group run.
The most popular trail running club merchandise items in order of demand:
Trail running clubs that set a $10 margin on apparel items generate passive revenue on every member order. A simple model for common club sizes:
| Club Size | Members | Annual Purchase Rate | Orders | Margin / Item | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small trail club | 80 | 50% | 40 | $10 | $400 |
| Mid-size trail club | 200 | 50% | 100 | $10 | $1,000 |
| Large trail club | 500 | 40% | 200 | $10 | $2,000 |
| Race event (300 participants) | N/A | 70% | 210 | $12 | $2,520 |
Trail runners are high-engagement buyers: they often purchase multiple items (a tee plus a hat, or a tee plus a hoodie) in the same transaction, multiplying the per-order revenue. Annual seasonal releases (a new colorway each spring, a cold-weather crewneck each fall) drive repeat purchases from members who already own the core items.
Trail running club shirt designs that work well:
For logo design help, Bear Grips' free logo design tools at the logo maker can help you generate options before uploading to your store.
The setup process for a Bear Grips Pro Shops run club store:
Members order their preferred items and sizes directly from the store. Every shirt, hat, and hoodie is US-printed and ships free to each member's home in about a week. The club receives its margin on every sale with no inventory commitment and no fulfillment work.
The Done-for-You VIP plan ($109/month) handles everything: you send your logo once per month and the Bear Grips team builds the products, writes descriptions, sets optimal prices, and keeps the store updated with trending items. See the full trail apparel comparison guide and the affiliate program if you want to earn commissions by referring other run club organizers.
Custom branded performance tees, tanks, hoodies, and hats for your run club. No minimums, no inventory, free shipping to every member.
Start FreeSign up for a free Bear Grips Pro Shop, upload your club logo, select products (tees, tanks, hoodies, shorts, hats), set prices, and share the store link with your members. Members order directly and shirts ship free to their homes. No minimum order, no upfront cost, no inventory.
Base prices for custom performance tees start around $20 to $24 with a VIP plan. The club sets its own retail price on top of the base. Members pay the retail price; the club earns the difference. No minimums and no setup fees.
Yes. You can create an event-specific product (race shirt with event name and year) in your store with a limited ordering window. Participants order their size during the window; shirts print on demand and ship individually. No bulk pre-purchase required.
Yes. Every Bear Grips Pro Shops account includes an affiliate link. Referring another run club director earns 10 percent of their monthly subscription forever, plus $1 per item sold by the referred club. Details at shops.beargrips.com/affiliate.
Bear Grips Pro Shops