How To Set Up A Student Organization Apparel Shop

Setting up a student organization apparel shop takes about 30 minutes from the chapter advisor or exec officer. The result is a free branded online store at a custom org URL, three to five products live for members to order, and a markup the chapter keeps on every order. Below is the step-by-step setup with the specific product picks for first-time shops, the pricing math to use, and the launch announcement that drives the first orders.

Step 1: Decide Who Owns The Shop

The shop needs one owner — typically the chapter advisor, the org president, or the merchandise chair. The owner controls product additions, pricing changes, and revenue payouts. Pick someone with continuity (advisors and merchandise chairs both work; outgoing presidents do not).

Step 2: Sign Up And Pick A Custom URL

Sign up at shops.beargrips.com/signup. Pick a custom URL slug (your org acronym or full name). This is what you share with members.

Step 3: Upload Logo and Brand

Upload the org logo (SVG preferred, transparent PNG fallback). Set the org colors. The shop header and product mockups update automatically. See org logo design ideas if you need to refine your logo first.

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Step 4: Pick The Starter Three To Five Products

For a first-time shop, the proven starter mix:

• Member identity tee — Bear Grips Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee.
• Member hoodie — Comfort Soft Hoodie.
• Officer polo — Men's or Women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo with embroidery.
• Optional: Crewneck sweatshirt and embroidered hat.

Add product variants (sizes, colors) for each. Members pick from the variants at checkout.

Step 5: Set Member Pricing

The catalog base price is what the print and shipping costs. Set member-facing pricing to include the chapter markup. Standard ranges:

• Tee base $23.93, member price $30 to $34.
• Hoodie base $44.94, member price $55 to $65.
• Polo base $41.95, member price $52 to $58.

Run the full pricing model at student org revenue math first.

Step 6: Launch and Announce

The launch announcement that drives the first orders:

• Email or GroupMe: Subject line: "[Org] shop is live. Order your tee." Body: link, the four products, ordering window, image.
• Instagram story: Image of a member in the tee, swipe-up to the shop URL.
• Tabling shift: First week of the semester, members at a table with QR codes and sample shirts.

Most orgs see 40 to 60 percent of the active member base order in the first two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does setup take?

About 30 minutes from start to first product live. Logo upload, three product picks, pricing input, and the shop URL is ready.

Does the chapter pay any setup fee?

No. The Free plan covers shop setup, three live products, and direct-to-member shipping. The chapter pays nothing up front.

What if we want help with everything?

The Done-For-You VIP plan ($109 per month) covers product setup, mockups, color curation, pricing recommendations, and ongoing collection curation. The chapter advisor sends the logo, we run the rest.

Can we transfer the shop to a new officer?

Yes. The owner role can be reassigned to an incoming officer at term turnover. Brand, products, and history all carry over.