Bear Grips Pro ShopsPickleball Tournament Merch and the Sales Booth Program
- Tournament merch breaks into the player give-away pieces and the spectator sales table.
- Sales-table profit comes from hoodies, hats, and second-tee buys, not the included player tee.
- No minimum order means walk-up replenishment within a week between tournament days.
- Pre-orders run through the event shop, walk-up sales fill the rest at the booth.
The pickleball tournament merch booth is where the event apparel program turns into revenue. The player tee that comes with the registration is included in the entry fee, but the hoodie a spectator buys for the cold morning matches, the hat a player picks up between brackets, and the second tee a family buys for the sibling at home are all retail-margin pieces. Below is how to stock and run the merch booth for a typical pickleball tournament.
What to stock at the booth
| Item | VIP base | Retail | Profit per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event hoodie | $36.88 | $55 | $18.12 |
| Event crewneck sweatshirt | $34.88 | $50 | $15.12 |
| Event tee (second tee, family member) | $19.88 | $30 | $10.12 |
| Event long sleeve | $29.88 | $42 | $12.12 |
| Event hat (snapback) | $29.86 | $40 | $10.14 |
| Event hat (rope) | $29.86 | $40 | $10.14 |
| Performance polo | $34.88 | $50 | $15.12 |
How much inventory to bring
| Tournament size | Inventory units | Expected sales |
|---|---|---|
| 50-player local | 40 pieces | 20-30 pieces |
| 100-player regional | 80 pieces | 40-60 pieces |
| 200-player open | 140 pieces | 80-120 pieces |
| 400-player major | 250 pieces | 180-240 pieces |
Bring inventory in the size split that matches the event demographic. Mens-heavy open tournaments skew toward L and XL. Mixed senior tournaments skew toward M, L, XL with more womens cut and adult tees.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Walk-up replenishment with no-minimum POD
For multi-day tournaments, the booth runs a daily reorder cycle. The booth manager checks inventory at the end of day one, places the reorder by 6 PM, the pieces ship overnight or next-day-air and arrive at the venue on day three. This is the new tournament merch model that screen-printer-based booths could not run because of the 24-piece minimums and four-to-six week lead times.
- End-of-day-one inventory count by size and SKU
- Order placed by 6 PM through the shop dashboard
- Overnight ship for day-three replenishment, standard ship for day-four
- Any pieces that do not sell stay in the shop online for post-event family purchases
Tournament merch revenue math
| Tournament size | Avg merch profit per attending family | Total merch profit |
|---|---|---|
| 50 players + 80 family/spectator | $8 per family | $640 |
| 100 players + 180 family/spectator | $11 per family | $1,980 |
| 200 players + 380 family/spectator | $13 per family | $4,940 |
| 400 players + 800 family/spectator | $15 per family | $12,000 |
Per-family profit climbs at larger tournaments because hoodies and second-tee purchases scale faster than tee-only purchases at smaller events.
Booth setup checklist
- Folding table or pop-up tent at the registration area
- Display rack with one of each item visible
- Size chart printed and posted
- Square or Stripe terminal for card payments
- QR code linking to the event shop for online buyers
- Tournament volunteer staffing rotation
- End-of-day inventory count sheet
Stock the Tournament Merch Booth
Hoodies, hats, second tees, crewnecks. Walk-up sales table at the registration area. Reorder mid-tournament with about a week of ship time.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Does the tournament have to pay for the booth inventory upfront?
Yes, the bulk booth inventory order is placed at the VIP base price. Inventory not sold at the booth can stay in the shop online for post-event purchases.
Can the booth sell pre-printed sponsor merch alongside the event tournament merch?
Yes. Each item is its own SKU. Sponsor pieces and event pieces can sit on the same display.
What payment options does the booth need?
Card terminal (Square or Stripe), cash float for small purchases, and a QR-code or short URL for online shop redirect.
Can unsold inventory be returned after the tournament?
No, print-on-demand pieces are custom-printed for the order. Unsold inventory should be sold post-event through the shop or held for the next tournament.
