Masters swimming team apparel covers everything adult swimmers wear that is not a tech suit. The deck jacket worn over a wet suit before a 5am workout, the team hoodie pulled on after the warm down, the casual tee worn to the after meet brunch. Adult swim clubs buy at higher rates than youth teams and reward the clubs that run a real apparel program. Here is the six item lineup that covers most masters team apparel demand.
Masters swimming serves competitive adult swimmers from age 18 through 90 plus. Most US Masters Swimming registered clubs have between 20 and 80 active members, ranging from former college swimmers who never stopped to fitness adults who picked up the sport at 45.
The common thread is that masters swimmers identify with their club. They wear the club cap in the lane, they swim relays at masters meets, and they post their workout times in the club Slack. The team apparel is the visible signal that they are part of the club, both at the pool and outside it.
The masters audience also has disposable income. Adult swimmers who can afford $250 in club dues and $400 to register for nationals will pay $50 for a quality team hoodie without thinking twice. The price sensitivity is lower than at any youth program.
A focused lineup of six products covers most demand. Adding past six usually dilutes sales without adding new buyers.
See the hoodie catalog for fleece weight options and the performance catalog for the quarter zip cuts.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.The deck jacket is the traditional swim team warmup. It is a full zip jacket designed to be thrown on over a wet suit between events. The catch is that real deck jackets are bulky, expensive (typically $80 plus), and need to be specifically constructed for pool deck use.
The performance quarter zip pullover is what most masters swimmers actually buy. It is half the price of a real deck jacket, dries quickly when it gets splashed, and works just as well for the early morning practice arrival when the body needs to stay warm before getting in the cold water.
The quarter zip retails at $35 to $42 with $11 to $14 in dojo profit per unit. The volume on this item routinely outsells every other product in a masters team shop.
The adult swim audience is forgiving on a lot of variables but unforgiving on a few. Avoid these and the apparel program runs smoothly. Include them and inventory sits.
The cleanest masters team apparel program serves real needs and avoids the items that look great in the mockup but never get worn.
Masters team pricing runs slightly higher than youth team pricing because the buyers are adults with disposable income. The margins per unit are typically $2 to $4 higher than youth equivalents.
| Item | Base | Retail | Club profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter zip pullover | $29.88 | $42 | $12.12 |
| Pullover hoodie | $36.88 | $52 | $15.12 |
| Crewneck sweatshirt | $33.88 | $48 | $14.12 |
| Cotton tee chest crest | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Performance tee | $23.86 | $36 | $12.14 |
| Embroidered cap | $29.86 | $42 | $12.14 |
A masters club of 50 active members typically clears $1,200 to $2,400 a year from the open shop, with the quarter zip and the hoodie carrying the most volume. Nationals year (when the team travels to a major meet) usually doubles the annual revenue.
Add a quarter zip, hoodie, and embroidered cap to your masters swim team shop. No minimum, no inventory, free shipping to the swimmer.
Start FreeThe quarter zip performance pullover is the top seller at most masters teams. It works as a budget alternative to a real deck jacket, dries fast around wet suits, and adult swimmers wear it both at the pool and outside.
No. Tech suits and racing jammers are personal athlete gear. Most adult swimmers stick with their tested brand and will not switch to a team branded version. Stick with casual and warmup apparel only.
Slightly higher because adult swimmers have more disposable income. A masters team hoodie typically retails at $50 to $55 versus $42 to $48 for the youth equivalent. The margin per unit is $2 to $4 higher.
Six is the sweet spot. A quarter zip, hoodie, crewneck, cotton tee, performance tee, and cap covers most demand. Adding past six usually dilutes sales without bringing in new buyers.
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