Bear Grips Pro ShopsHow To Start A Track and Field Merch Shop
- Step-by-step launch for first-time track and field shop owners.
- Pick the first 5 products, upload your logo, set pricing.
- Custom URL live in 30 minutes.
- Year-one revenue math for typical roster sizes.
Starting a track and field merch shop takes about 30 minutes from a coach, parent organizer, or program advisor. The result is a free branded online store at a custom URL, the first five products live for athletes and parents to order, and a markup the program keeps on every order. Below is the full launch walkthrough with specific product picks, pricing math for the first season, and the announcement playbook that drives the first orders within days.
Decide Who Owns The Shop
The shop needs one owner. Options:
- Head coach — most common. Multi-year continuity. Direct line to athletes and parents.
- Athletic director — good for programs across multiple seasons.
- Parent volunteer — works for youth and club programs where coach is part-time.
Pick The Plan
Two plans to start:
- Free plan — $0/month, 3 live products, slightly higher catalog base. Good for first-year exploratory shops, programs under 25 athletes, or youth clubs.
- Self-Service VIP plan — $59/month, 200 live products, lowest catalog base, highest per-piece program revenue. Pays off at 100+ pieces sold per year.
Most established HS and college club programs start on Free for the first month, then move to VIP after the launch validates demand.
Pick The First Five Products
The proven launch lineup:
- Performance Workout Tank (meet uniform) — $19.88 VIP base.
- Sport-Tek Moisture-Wicking Tee (practice) — $23.86 VIP base.
- Comfort Soft Hoodie (team identity warmup) — $36.88 VIP base.
- Sport-Tek Performance Polo with embroidery (coach) — $34.88 VIP base.
- "TRACK MOM" or "TRACK DAD" tee (parent) — $19.88 VIP base.
Set The Retail Pricing
Standard launch pricing:
| Product | VIP Base | Retail | Program Per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meet tank | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Practice tee | $23.86 | $32 | $8.14 |
| Team hoodie | $36.88 | $58 | $21.12 |
| Coach polo | $34.88 | $48 | $13.12 |
| Parent piece | $19.88 | $30 | $10.12 |
Year-One Revenue Math
Realistic year-one for a 35-athlete HS program with parent piece offering:
| Run | Units | Markup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meet tanks (2 per athlete) | 70 | $12.12 | $849 |
| Practice tees (2 per athlete) | 70 | $8.14 | $570 |
| Team hoodies (0.7 per athlete) | 25 | $21.12 | $528 |
| Coach polos (3 coaches) | 3 | $13.12 | $39 |
| Parent pieces (1.5 per athlete) | 52 | $10.12 | $526 |
| State meet and banquet windows | 50 | $12 | $600 |
| Year One Total | 270 | $3,112 |
Net after VIP plan cost ($708): $2,404 to the program in year one.
Launch Announcement
The single highest-converting launch announcement:
- Email parents and athletes Saturday morning at 9am.
- Subject line: "[School] Track shop is live."
- Body: link, the five products with images, ordering window, deadline for first meet uniform delivery.
Send Sunday evening Instagram story with an athlete wearing the team tee, swipe-up to the URL. By Tuesday, expect 15 to 30 orders.
Launch Your Track Merch Shop Today
Free branded shop, 30 minutes from logo to live URL. Athletes and parents order direct.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How long does the shop take to launch?
About 30 minutes from start to first product live.
Does the program pay for anything up front?
On the Free plan, $0 up front and $0/month. On the VIP plan, $59 per month. The catalog base is paid only when an athlete places an order — the program pays nothing for inventory.
When does the program get paid?
Markup revenue is paid out bi-weekly to the shop owner via the platform payout system.
What about taxes on shop revenue?
Shop revenue is reportable income for the entity that receives it (school, club, or coach personally). Consult an accountant on how the program should handle this — varies by school district and club legal structure.
