Bear Grips Pro ShopsHow to Start a Pilates Studio Merch Line
- A pilates studio merch line can launch in under a week with print on demand.
- Start with 5-6 SKUs: cropped tee, cropped sweatshirt, leggings, tank, hoodie.
- Upload the studio logo, set prices, share the link in the post-class email.
- Add seasonal drops quarterly to keep the shop engaging year-round.
Starting a pilates studio merch line used to mean wholesaler relationships, screen-printer minimums of 24+ pieces per SKU, inventory commitments running into thousands of dollars, and lead times measured in months. Print on demand changed all of that. Below is the full owner playbook for launching a studio merch line in under a week, from logo upload to first sale.
Step 1 — Pick the plan
| Plan | Monthly | Live products | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 | Test the model with one cropped tee, one sweatshirt, one tank |
| Self-Service VIP | $59 | 200 | Most studios. Full lineup across cropped tees, sweatshirts, leggings, hoodies, tanks, seasonal drops. |
| Done-For-You VIP | $109 | 250 | Studios where the owner does not want to touch product setup. Send a logo, the shop gets built and curated monthly. |
VIP plans have lower per-piece base prices, saving four to eleven dollars per piece versus the free tier. For any studio that expects to sell more than five pieces per month, the VIP base savings pay for the monthly within the first month.
Step 2 — Upload the studio logo
Most pilates studios already have a logo file. PNG with a transparent background is ideal. If the existing logo is on a black or white box, the platform handles background removal automatically. The same logo applies across every product, so the cropped tee, the sweatshirt, and the leggings all carry the identical mark.
If the studio logo is multi-color, all colors print at no extra setup cost. If the studio wants a clean single-color version for one-color pieces (white-on-charcoal, charcoal-on-cream), upload that variant as a second logo file.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Step 3 — Build the starter product lineup
Start with 5-6 SKUs as the anchor lineup. Add more SKUs as the shop proves out over the first 90 days.
- Oversized Boxy Crop Tee (the signature piece, photographs cleanest)
- Womens Premium Cropped Sweatshirt (the top-seller layer)
- Signature Seamless Leggings (the loyalty-piece tier)
- Womens Mid Length Racer Tank (reformer-class friendly)
- Womens Premium Cropped Hoodie (warmth layer + brand identity)
- Optional: Long Sleeve Cotton Shirt (cool-weather layering piece)
Step 4 — Set retail pricing
Default profit recommendation is $13-15 per tee, $20-25 per sweatshirt, $25-30 per leggings. The studio keeps the markup between VIP base and retail on every piece. Payments process through the platform, payouts arrive on a regular cadence. The studio does not hold inventory, does not pack boxes, and does not deal with returns for size swaps.
| Item | VIP base | Suggested retail |
|---|---|---|
| Cropped tee | $24.88 | $38 |
| Cropped sweatshirt | $44.88 | $68 |
| Studio leggings | $54.88 | $82 |
| Racerback tank | $29.88 | $42 |
| Cropped hoodie | $47.88 | $72 |
Step 5 — Drive traffic to the shop
- Studio website navigation: add a "Shop" link to the main navigation
- Instagram bio: link the shop in the IG bio with a clear "Shop the Studio" CTA
- Post-class email: include the shop link in every post-class email with a feature piece
- QR code at front desk: print a small card with QR code linking to the shop for in-studio asks
- Instructor adoption: instructors wear studio pieces during class, drives organic interest
- Front-desk try-on rack: one of each size on a small rack as fit reference (optional but increases conversion)
- Email-list announcement: send a launch email to the full client list with the shop link
Launch Your Pilates Studio Merch Line
Upload the studio logo, pick 5-6 anchor pieces, set retail. The shop goes live the same day. Zero inventory, US printing, free shipping.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How long does setup actually take?
A 5-6 SKU launch lineup with logo and pricing set is usually live in 2-3 hours. Add another day for testing the website link and Instagram setup.
Does the studio pay for products that do not sell?
No. Print on demand means the studio pays nothing until a client places an order. Unsold products carry zero cost.
Can the studio hand the shop over to an instructor or office manager?
Yes. The shop admin can have multiple logins. Many studios delegate day-to-day shop management to a head instructor or studio manager.
What happens with orders after a client checks out?
The order ships directly to the client home address with free US shipping. The studio does not pack, ship, or handle returns. The platform handles fulfillment end to end.
