Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Trail Running Club Shirts: How to Set Up Your Run Club Store
- A run club merchandise store generates passive income for the club and builds member identity.
- No minimum orders mean new members can join and order their club shirt immediately.
- Revenue math: a 200-member trail running club earns $1,000 to $2,000 per year on a $10 margin per shirt.
- Done-for-You VIP service builds and manages your club store monthly so organizers can focus on running.
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.
Why Trail Running Clubs Need Custom Branded Apparel
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.
Best Products for Trail Running Club Merchandise
The most popular trail running club merchandise items in order of demand:
- Moisture-wicking performance tee: the core item. Worn on every group run. Available in men's, women's, and unisex cuts.
- Running tank or racerback: popular for summer runs and warm-weather club events. Women's racerback tanks from Next Level and Bella+Canvas perform well for trail running clubs.
- Crewneck sweatshirt or hoodie: the post-run and casual wear item. Champion or Bear Grips crewnecks in the club color with the logo embroidered or printed.
- Hat: a Richardson rope hat or Yupoong mesh snapback with the club logo is worn year-round and off-trail. One of the most visible branded items in the lineup.
- Athletic shorts: performance shorts with the club logo, branded for group runs and club races.
Revenue Math: What a Run Club Merchandise Program Earns
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.
How to Design Custom Trail Running Club Shirts
Trail running club shirt designs that work well:
- Club name plus a trail or mountain silhouette: clean and durable across all product types. A simple mountain ridge or single-track trail icon reads legibly at small sizes on hats and at large sizes on the back of a hoodie.
- Route or event-specific designs: a shirt for your club's annual big run (the local 50K loop, the mountain traverse) becomes a collector item. Members who have the 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions feel like veterans of something.
- Club motto or local trail name: a text-based design with the club name and a signature local trail or peak name is simple to produce and resonates strongly with local members.
For logo design help, Bear Grips' free logo design tools at the logo maker can help you generate options before uploading to your store.
Setting Up Your Trail Running Club Store in 30 Minutes
The setup process for a Bear Grips Pro Shops run club store:
- Sign up for a free account at shops.beargrips.com
- Upload your club logo (high-resolution PNG or vector file)
- Select products from the 100+ item catalog (performance tees, tanks, crewnecks, hoodies, shorts, hats)
- Set retail prices or accept the recommended pricing based on market data
- Share the store link with your club via email, group chat, or social media
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.
Launch Your Trail Running Club Store Free
Custom branded performance tees, tanks, hoodies, and hats for your run club. No minimums, no inventory, free shipping to every member.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get custom shirts for my trail running club?
Sign 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.
How much does a custom trail running club shirt cost?
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.
Can I get matching trail running shirts for a race event?
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.
Can my trail running club earn commissions by referring other clubs?
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.
