Lululemon Tennis Apparel Alternative: Custom Club Kits at a Fraction of the Price
- Lululemon tennis apparel runs $68-$128 per piece with no club branding.
- Bear Grips Pro Shops puts your logo on performance gear starting at $23.
- No minimums, free US shipping, and your members keep the savings.
- Club-branded kits create identity that a generic luxury label never can.
Lululemon makes excellent fabric. But it costs $80-$120 per item, carries their brand instead of yours, and does nothing to build club identity. Tennis clubs looking for a lululemon tennis apparel alternative that actually promotes the club get a better deal with custom performance gear: lower per-item cost, your logo on every piece, and no bulk order requirement.
Why Clubs Outgrow Generic Luxury Brands
There is nothing wrong with lululemon. The fabrics are premium, the fits work for tennis, and members already trust the brand. The problem is that when 30 members show up in lululemon, you have 30 different outfits and zero club identity.
Custom apparel solves that. A coordinated kit with your club crest on the chest does something a luxury brand cannot: it signals membership. Opponents at tournaments know who you are. Visitors at open events see a real club, not a pickup group.
The other issue is margin. Lululemon prices are set for retail. A tennis club running custom gear through a print-on-demand shop can sell branded pieces to members at a similar price point while generating $8-$12 profit per item that funds the club.
Price Comparison: Lululemon vs Custom Branded
Here is what the math looks like at typical club-member retail prices.
| Item | Lululemon Retail | Custom Branded (VIP base + $10 margin) |
|---|---|---|
| Performance tee (women's) | $68 | $34 |
| Performance tee (men's) | $68 | $34 |
| Racerback tank | $48 | $30 |
| Quarter-zip pullover | $118 | $46 |
| Hoodie | $128 | $47 |
Members pay roughly half, get club branding, and the club pockets $10 per item sold. That is the difference between a cost center and a small revenue stream.
The brands in the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog include Sport-Tek moisture-wicking performance fabric, Bella+Canvas fitted cuts, and Next Level triblend that stretches and breathes during play. None of them carry the lululemon name, but the on-court performance is comparable.
Best Catalog Picks for Tennis Club Use
Not every item in a print-on-demand catalog translates to on-court use. These are the pieces that work specifically for tennis:
- Ladies Racerback Tank — full arm mobility, moisture-wicking, ideal for summer drills and match days.
- Women's Flowy Scoop Muscle Tank — relaxed fit over a sports bra, popular for clinic days and casual play.
- Men's Moisture-Wicking Tee — built-in UV and sweat management, replaces the lululemon Metal Vent Tee at half the price.
- Men's Performance Quarter-Zip Pullover — warm-up layer for cold mornings, looks sharp on the court.
- Comfort Soft Hoodie — post-match or lesson lounge wear that carries your logo off the court too.
Every piece prints unlimited colors at the base price. Club color palette, wordmark, crest — no extra charge per element.
Revenue Math: Running Club Apparel as a Profit Center
A tennis club with 120 active members buying even 2 branded items per year generates meaningful recurring revenue.
| Metric | Conservative | Active |
|---|---|---|
| Members | 120 | 120 |
| Items purchased / member / year | 2 | 4 |
| Profit per item | $10 | $10 |
| Annual club revenue | $2,400 | $4,800 |
That figure covers tournament entry subsidies, court resurfacing contributions, or a full-season member discount. The shop runs 24/7 with no inventory for the club director to manage.
Clubs on the Done-For-You VIP plan at $109/month get a dedicated advisor who sets up the shop, writes product descriptions, and updates the catalog seasonally. With $4,800 in annual item revenue, the plan pays for itself in under four months.
How to Position the Switch to Members
Some members love their lululemon pieces. The goal is not to replace what they already own but to introduce a club standard they also want to wear.
Frame it as identity, not cost savings. "This is our kit" lands better than "this is cheaper than lululemon." Release a limited first-season colorway and let scarcity do the work. When the first 20 members show up in matching kits at a tournament, the remaining 100 members start asking where to get one.
A club fundraiser tied to the shop launch can cover the first season's subscription cost while creating the initial purchase momentum. Donate a portion of opening-week item profit to a court improvement project and publicize it in the club newsletter.
The long-term play: lululemon is what members wear before they found your club. Your kit is what they wear because they belong to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the fabric quality comparable to lululemon?
The fabrics differ. Lululemon uses proprietary blends like Nulu and Everlux. Bear Grips Pro Shops uses Sport-Tek, Bella+Canvas, and Next Level performance blends. On-court performance is comparable — moisture wicking, stretch, breathability — at roughly half the retail price with your club logo.
Do members need an account to order?
No. Your club shop URL is public. Members visit the link, pick items and sizes, pay directly, and receive free shipping to their door. No club account or login required.
Can we set our own prices?
Yes. You set the retail price or the profit margin per item. If you want to price items at cost for a nonprofit club, that works too. Full flexibility with no minimum markup.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Zero. Each item is printed and shipped on demand. One member orders one shirt — it ships within a week. No bulk order, no leftover inventory.
Bear Grips Pro Shops puts your logo on performance gear with no minimums and free US shipping. Start free and see how the shop looks before you commit.
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