How To Set Up a Student Council Apparel Shop

Setting up a student council apparel shop takes about 30 minutes from start to a live URL the council can share. There is no upfront cost, no inventory to manage, and no sizing forms to collect. Members order through the store at their own size. The council collects a margin on every order. Below is the exact setup, step by step.

Step 1: Sign Up Free and Upload the Council Logo

Go to Bear Grips Pro Shops and sign up free. The advisor or council president can be the account owner. Upload three image files:

• School logo or mascot (the school's official mark).
• Council mark (the words "Student Council" with the year, or a council-specific symbol).
• Officer title text (PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, HISTORIAN) as a separate file or text element.

The shop is now branded. The free plan supports three live products. The Self-Service VIP plan ($59/month) supports 200 live products and drops every base price by about $4 to $11 per item.

Step 2: Pick the Core Council Products

The standard council apparel mix is five products:

• Council tee (Bear Grips Airlume cotton tee).
• Officer polo (Gildan cotton pique polo).
• Council sweatshirt (Perfect Soft Crewneck).
• Council hoodie (Comfort Soft Hoodie).
• Officer quarter-zip (Sport-Tek quarter-zip pullover).

Add each to your store, place the council logo on the chest, and add the officer title as a sleeve element. The shop walks you through the placement step by step. See product details at student council spirit wear.

Step 3: Set Retail Prices With Margin Built In

Each product has a base price (what we charge to print and ship). You set retail above base. The difference is your council's margin per item. Typical council pricing:

• Council tee: retail $26 to $30 (margin $6 to $10).
• Officer polo: retail $52 to $58 (margin $10 to $16).
• Council sweatshirt: retail $48 to $54 (margin $13 to $19).
• Council hoodie: retail $52 to $58 (margin $7 to $13).
• Officer quarter-zip: retail $42 to $48 (margin $12 to $18).

For full revenue math see student council fundraiser revenue math.

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

Step 4: Share the Store Link With the Council

Your store URL looks like shops.beargrips.com/your-school-council. Share it three ways:

• Council kickoff meeting. Put the URL on the agenda and the bulletin board.
• Parent email. The advisor sends one email home with the store link and a description of the council's margin program.
• School newsletter. A short blurb in the weekly newsletter reaches families who missed the kickoff.

Officers and members order directly at their own size. The advisor never touches an individual order.

Step 5: Track the Council Margin Each Month

The shop dashboard shows orders and earned margin in real time. Each order ships directly from us to the buyer. Your margin accumulates in your account and is paid out on the schedule we set together. The council treasurer reports the running balance at each meeting.

Done-For-You Option for Busy Advisors

Advisors who are too busy to set up the shop themselves use the Done-For-You VIP plan ($109/month). The advisor sends the school logo and one design per month. We do the rest: full shop layout, mockups on every color variant, product page copy, optimal retail pricing, and seasonal collection rotations. The advisor just shares the link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really set this up in 30 minutes?

Yes. The advisor uploads a logo, picks five products, sets retail prices, and shares the link. The shop is live the same session.

Does the council pay anything upfront?

No. The free plan covers three products and costs $0. The VIP plan is monthly with a 30-day cancel window. Members pay at checkout when they order.

Who handles returns or sizing issues?

We handle them. Each shirt is printed and shipped from a US partner. If there is a quality issue, we replace the item. The council and advisor are not in the customer service path.

What happens at the end of the school year?

The store stays live year-round. Many councils take a summer pause, then the new council year opens with the same store, updated officer titles, and a new year stamp on the products.