How to Start an Axe Throwing Apparel Shop

Starting an axe throwing apparel shop for your league or venue takes about 20 minutes for the Free or Self-Service VIP plan, or one form submission for the Done-For-You VIP plan. Bear Grips Pro Shops handles the printing, packing, and shipping. You set the design, the products, and the retail prices. Your league or venue earns the margin on every order with no inventory and no upfront cost. Here is the full walkthrough.

Step 1: Decide Who Owns the Shop

The shop owner is either the venue or the league commissioner. The choice changes how revenue flows:

• Venue owns the shop. The venue brand is the front-of-house identity. All league storefronts roll up under the venue. Revenue flows to the venue. Good for established venues that want a unified brand presence.
• League commissioner owns the shop. Each league has its own independent shop. Revenue flows to whoever runs the league. Good for leagues that operate semi-independently of the venue or for traveling tournament series.

Both work and the platform supports either model. The owner just signs up for an account in their own name.

Step 2: Pick a Plan

Plan	Monthly	Products	Best For
Free	$0	3 live	Tiny leagues testing the waters or a single-product memorabilia store.
Self-Service VIP	$59	200 live	Active leagues and venues that want full control of design and pricing. Lower base costs save $4 to $11 per item.
Done-For-You VIP	$109	250 live	Busy venue owners who want a full shop set up for them every month. Logo applied to 15 trending products, mockups, retail pricing, all handled.

Self-Service VIP pays for itself at about 8 to 12 items sold per month. Done-For-You VIP pays for itself at about 15 to 20 items sold per month, and the time savings on top is usually worth more than the price gap.

Step 3: Design the League or Venue Identity

Have a logo and a name locked before you start the shop setup. The logo should be a PNG with a transparent background and the name should be confirmed (changing the name later is fine but you will need to redo the design work).

Designs that sell:

• Strong primary mark (crossed hatchets, bullseye, single axe profile, shield crest).
• Wordmark version of the logo for layouts where the icon does not fit.
• Clear color palette (2 to 3 colors max).
• Optional secondary art for hoodies and hats (sleeve hits, back prints, season banners).

For naming and logo direction, see: axe throwing league names and logo ideas.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Step 4: Pick the Starter Product Lineup

The recommended starter lineup for a new league or venue store (6 products):

1. Cotton t-shirt (Bear Grips Airlume Cotton)
2. Premium fleece hoodie (Bear Grips Comfort Soft Hoodie)
3. Embroidered snapback (Richardson Classic Rope Hat)
4. Performance tee (Sport-Tek Moisture-Wicking)
5. Premium hoodie upgrade (Champion Performance Hoodie)
6. Womens cropped hoodie (Bella+Canvas Womens Cropped Hoodie)

Six products is enough range to cover every buyer at every price point without overwhelming the store. Add tournament shirts, seasonal drops, and second design lines (lumberjack, modern) once the store has run for one season and you have real sales data.

Step 5: Revenue Math

Scenario	Members	Annual Revenue Estimate
One 30-thrower league	30	$800
One 60-thrower league	60	$1,600
Venue, 3 leagues, 180 members	180	$4,800
Venue, 5 leagues + walk-ins	300 league + 200 walk-in/wk	$15,000+
Annual tournament (100 throwers)	100	$1,500

These are conservative estimates assuming standard conversion rates (70 to 90 percent shirt buyers, 30 to 45 percent hoodie buyers, 25 to 35 percent hat buyers) and a $10 to $20 margin per item.

Step 6: Promote the Shop

• League chat or group app. Post the store link with a screenshot of the design. The most reliable single channel.
• Venue scoreboard or table tents. QR code linking to the store. Captures walk-in buyers who would never know the store existed otherwise.
• Email blast on registration. Add the store link to every league registration confirmation email.
• Social media. Post the design, the staff in their uniforms, throwers wearing their league shirts. Tag the venue and league handles.
• Affiliate program. Each member of the league gets their own affiliate link. They refer other leagues and earn 10% commission plus $1 per unit on their referrals forever. See: Bear Grips Affiliate Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to launch an axe throwing apparel shop?

Free and Self-Service VIP setup takes about 20 minutes if your logo is ready. Done-For-You VIP requires only a logo upload and the shop comes back live within a few business days.

How much does it cost to start?

Free plan: $0 monthly. Self-Service VIP: $59 per month. Done-For-You VIP: $109 per month. There are no per-shirt setup fees, no upfront inventory cost, and no startup capital required.

When does VIP pay for itself?

Self-Service VIP breaks even at about 8 to 12 items sold per month thanks to lower per-item base costs. Done-For-You VIP breaks even at 15 to 20 items per month plus the time savings.

Do I have to handle any shipping or returns?

No. Bear Grips Pro Shops handles all printing, packing, shipping, and customer service. The shop owner just sets the design and prices.