Most cycling clubs used to need a $1,500 first order to do branded merch. That gets you 50 shirts in three sizes and a closet full of unsold larges 18 months later. The current standard is print on demand: a member orders one shirt, the printer ships one shirt, the club keeps the markup. No minimum, no inventory, no risk. Here is exactly how a club sets it up.
The old playbook: order 50 shirts at $8 each, mark up to $25, hope to sell 40 of them. The reality: 25 sold in the first two months, 15 left over in odd sizes, the leftovers stored in the club president's garage for two years.
Print on demand removes the bulk order. A member places an order through the club's shop link, the print partner produces one shirt in the USA, ships it free to the member's door, and the club takes whatever markup was set. The club does not touch inventory, never guesses sizes, and never sits on dead stock.
A starter shop has 4 to 6 products. Adding more at launch dilutes attention. The cycling club lineup that works:
Add seasonal drops: a fall fondo tee, a winter trainer hoodie, an anniversary edition every year.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Plug realistic numbers into the formula:
| Inputs | Value |
|---|---|
| Active club members | 80 |
| Annual purchase rate | 50% (40 buyers) |
| Items per buyer | 1.6 |
| Annual units sold | 64 |
| Profit per item | $14 |
| Annual club profit | $896 |
Cycling clubs have higher purchase rates than most niches because members already buy merch for ride events and want club identity at cafes and race day. A 150-member club with a fondo and a fall banquet typically clears $2,000 to $3,500 a year.
Three tiers exist at Bear Grips Pro Shops:
Free works to test the channel. The Self-Service VIP base prices alone usually pay for the subscription within 5 to 8 sales.
First orders usually arrive within a week of going live if the link is in the club newsletter.
No inventory, no minimums, no setup fees. Upload your logo and pick your first three products today.
Start FreeZero. A member can order one shirt or one hat in one color and size. The print partner makes it and ships free per order. No bulk requirement.
The club sets the markup. Most price for $12 to $18 profit per item. The platform takes no cut of the markup. Clubs keep 100% of the difference between base and retail.
No. The print partner handles production and shipping. The club's only job is to set up the shop and share the link with members.
About a week from order to delivery in the continental US, all printed in the USA, free shipping per order with tracking.
Bear Grips Pro Shops