Bear Grips Pro ShopsKids Judo Club Shirts And Hoodies For Junior Judoka
- Youth sizes XS to L cover most junior judoka from age 5 through middle school
- Parent matching adult shirts at promotion ceremonies drive the highest single day sales
- Hoodies outsell tees by a wide margin for junior students because parents want their kids warm after class
- A four item youth lineup of tee, hoodie, performance tee, and hat covers 90 percent of demand
Kids judo club shirts and hoodies are the highest converting product category in most dojos with a strong junior program. Parents buy for the child, then they buy a matching adult version for themselves, and grandparents order from across the country at the holidays. Here is the four item youth lineup that covers almost all the demand and the size range that fits the real age span at a dojo.
The Youth Buyer Is The Parent, Not The Child
The five year old white belt does not pull out a credit card. Mom and dad do. Every choice on the youth side of the dojo shop is built around what makes a parent click buy.
Three things parents care about most at the moment of purchase: the kid will actually wear it, the price is reasonable, and the shirt makes the parent feel like part of the dojo community. The first two are product decisions. The third is a positioning decision.
The dojo that markets youth apparel as "for the dojo family" sells more than the dojo that markets it as "for kids." Parents are buying belonging, not just a piece of clothing. The matching adult version of the youth shirt typically sells at 60 to 80 percent of the youth volume.
The Size Range That Fits Junior Judoka
Junior judo runs from roughly age 5 through age 14 in most dojos. The size range that covers this span:
- Youth XS (4 to 5). The white belt little kid class, ages 4 through 6
- Youth S (6 to 7). The main beginner youth class, ages 6 through 8
- Youth M (8 to 10). The middle of the junior program, the biggest size by volume
- Youth L (10 to 12). The pre teen judoka, transition into the teen program
- Youth XL (12 to 14). The teen who has not crossed into adult sizing yet
Once a junior crosses to adult sizing, usually around age 13 or 14, they buy from the adult lineup. The youth XL covers the transition kids who are between sizes. Plan the youth XL stock accordingly because it is often the second highest seller in the youth range.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.The Four Item Youth Lineup
Most junior judo programs do not need more than four products in the youth lineup. Each one fills a real use case and the catalog stays clean.
- Youth cotton tee. The everyday item, worn to and from class. Dojo crest on the chest, optional small back banner. Most ordered youth item.
- Youth pullover hoodie. The cold weather item that parents buy without thinking. Heavyweight fleece, chest crest plus back banner. Highest margin youth item.
- Youth performance tee. The summer training tee, moisture wicking, for kids who run hot during conditioning. Lower volume but a real need.
- Youth baseball or trucker hat. The kid who wants to look like sensei. Adjustable back, embroidered dojo logo. Sells well at promotion ceremonies.
See the youth catalog for fit specs across each cut.
Parent Matching Apparel Drives Promotion Night Sales
Promotion ceremonies are the single highest revenue night of the year for most dojos with a junior program. A child earns a new belt, mom and dad film it, grandparents are in town, and the moment converts into purchases at a rate that no other day of the year matches.
The dojo that has a matching adult version of every youth product captures the promotion ceremony parent purchase that would otherwise be one shirt instead of three. The typical promotion ceremony cart at a dojo with matching adult apparel:
- One youth tee or hoodie for the kid who promoted
- One matching adult tee or hoodie for the parent in the photos
- One adult tee for the other parent or sibling
- Occasionally a hat or a youth tee for a younger sibling who wants in
The single child promotion converts to two to four items per family. Without matching adult apparel, that same family typically buys just the youth tee.
Pricing The Youth Line
Youth apparel base prices run slightly lower than adult equivalents. Most dojos pass some of that savings through to the retail price because parent psychology is sensitive to youth pricing.
| Item | Base | Retail | Dojo profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth cotton tee | $19.88 | $28 | $8.12 |
| Youth performance tee | $23.88 | $32 | $8.12 |
| Youth pullover hoodie | $36.88 | $48 | $11.12 |
| Youth baseball hat | $25.86 | $36 | $10.14 |
Youth margins are slightly lower than adult per unit, but volume is higher. A junior program with 30 active kids typically out earns the adult side of the same dojo on apparel.
Stock The Youth Lineup Parents Will Buy
Add a youth tee, hoodie, performance tee, and hat to your dojo shop. Matching adult versions in the same design make promotion night the biggest sales day of the year.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best selling youth item at a judo dojo?
The youth cotton tee by volume, the youth pullover hoodie by revenue. Hoodies carry roughly $3 more profit per unit and parents buy them at promotion ceremonies and at the start of cold weather.
What size range covers junior judo from age 5 through 14?
Youth XS through youth XL, with youth M and L being the highest volume sizes. Kids over age 13 or 14 typically cross to adult small. Plan the youth XL stock generously because it covers the transition kids.
Should the dojo offer matching adult versions of youth apparel?
Yes. Matching adult apparel at promotion ceremonies converts a single child purchase into a two to four item family cart. The matching adult version typically sells at 60 to 80 percent of the youth volume.
Can a dojo offer infant or baby judo apparel?
Bear Grips Pro Shops does not stock infant sizes. The smallest size is youth XS which fits roughly age 4 through 5. For younger family members, the adult cut tees worn as oversized pajamas is the workaround most dojo parents use.
