Bear Grips Pro ShopsHow to Price Company Logo Merch When You Are Selling It, Not Just Giving It Away
- Giveaway merch and merch you sell to customers or staff need two different pricing approaches.
- The default recommended profit is $10 per item, though hoodies and leggings commonly carry $15 to $20.
- A staff discount code lets employees buy at a lower price without opening the shop to the public at cost.
- The built-in affiliate program pays 10% of a referred vendor's subscription plus $1 per unit they sell, on top of your own retail margin.
Giveaway Merch and For-Sale Merch Need Different Pricing
Giveaway merch is priced at or near base cost, sometimes free to staff or top customers, since the goal is exposure and goodwill rather than margin. For-sale merch should carry a full retail markup, since a buyer who chooses to pay for a branded item is placing real value on it, not just accepting a free gift.
Setting a Retail Price Above Base Cost
| Piece | VIP base | Common retail | Approx. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airlume cotton tee | $19.88 | $27.99 | ~$8 |
| Cotton pique polo | $34.88 | $49.99 | ~$15 |
| Comfort soft hoodie | $36.88 | $54.99 | ~$18 |
| Signature seamless leggings | $54.88 | $79.99 | ~$25 |
The default recommended profit most vendors start with is $10 per item, though higher-base pieces like hoodies and leggings commonly carry $15 to $20 since the base price supports it.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Using a Discount Code for Staff Pricing
Rather than running two separate listings (a public retail price and an internal at-cost price), most vendors keep the shop at one public price and issue a discount code to employees. That keeps the shop simple to manage while still giving staff a lower effective price than the general public pays.
The Built-In Affiliate Program as a Second Revenue Line
Every signup, free or paid, gets an affiliate link along with the shop itself. Referring another vendor pays 10% of that vendor's subscription for as long as they stay subscribed, plus a $1 bonus per unit the referred vendor sells. Payouts run bi-weekly. A vendor active in their own niche community can refer other small businesses into their own Pro Shop and earn on top of direct merch sales, at shops.beargrips.com.
How Free vs VIP Base Pricing Changes the Margin
VIP base prices save $4 to $11 per item compared to the free plan, depending on the product. That savings either widens the margin at the same retail price, or lets the retail price come down while keeping the same dollar margin, once a shop moves past the testing phase into regular sales. Full base prices by product are broken down in the cost to put a logo on apparel guide.
Set Your Price and Start Selling
Set your own retail price, keep the margin, and earn on top through the built-in affiliate program.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is a typical starting margin per item?
The default recommended profit is $10 per item, with higher-base pieces like hoodies and leggings commonly carrying $15 to $20.
Should staff pay full price for their own logo merch?
Most vendors use a discount code rather than a separate at-cost listing, keeping the shop simple with one public retail price.
Does the affiliate program pay out even on the free plan?
Yes. All tiers can earn affiliate commissions and the $1 per unit bonus.
How often are affiliate payouts made?
Bi-weekly.
