Womens masters swimming apparel needs cuts that fit female adult swimmers, not just unisex versions of the team tee. Female masters swimmers buy one ill fitting unisex tee and rarely come back for a second. Clubs that add three to five womens specific cuts typically see female purchase rates double in the first year. Here is what actually fits, what sells, and what to note on the product page.
The standard unisex tee is cut to the male silhouette. It sits wide at the shoulders, drops straight to the hip, and the sleeves land at the bicep. On most female masters swimmers the unisex tee gapes at the collar, billows at the waist, and hits two inches below where the average woman wants a tee to land.
Womens cut tees sit closer to the body without being tight. The shoulder seam lands at the actual shoulder. The waist is shaped, not straight. The hem hits at the hip, not three inches below. The result is a tee that gets worn instead of left in the drawer.
The club that stocks three womens specific cuts alongside the unisex lineup typically sees female purchase rates jump from around 5 percent to closer to 12 percent. The unisex shirt was not the problem. The fit was.
A focused womens lineup of five items covers most of the demand at a masters swim club. Adding more usually dilutes sales without adding new buyers.
See the womens catalog for fit specs across each cut.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Womens cuts run smaller than unisex equivalents. A woman who wears a unisex large usually wears a womens extra large or sometimes 2XL in the same brand. Set the expectation on the product page or expect returns.
What to put on every womens product page:
The note prevents the most common return: a swimmer who ordered her usual unisex large in a womens cut and now has a tee that does not fit.
Masters swimming has a wider age and body range than most youth swim programs. Female swimmers in 1XL to 3XL exist in nearly every masters club and they buy at a higher rate than average when the club actually stocks their size.
The womens specific cuts in the catalog generally cover up to 2XL and a few up to 3XL. For broader coverage, the club can offer the unisex tee in 4XL and 5XL as a secondary option. The womens cut is the first choice, the extended unisex is the fallback.
Clubs that promote plus size availability see higher retention from female masters members who often feel ignored by team apparel that stops at L.
The womens line prices in line with the unisex equivalents. Margins per unit are similar because the base prices are similar.
| Item | Base | Retail | Club profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Womens favorite tee | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Womens racerback tank | $19.88 | $32 | $12.12 |
| Womens triblend tee | $25.88 | $38 | $12.12 |
| Womens cropped crewneck | $44.88 | $58 | $13.12 |
| Womens quarter zip | $29.88 | $42 | $12.12 |
The womens line typically adds 30 to 50 percent in revenue on top of the unisex lineup at clubs that stock both. Female masters swimmers who previously skipped the team apparel because nothing fit start buying once the womens cuts are available.
Add a womens favorite tee, racerback tank, and cropped crewneck to your masters shop. No minimum, no inventory, free shipping.
Start FreeUnisex tees fit the male silhouette and gape at the collar, billow at the waist, and end below the hip on most female swimmers. Womens specific cuts sit closer to the body, hit at the right hem length, and get worn instead of left in the drawer.
Usually a womens extra large or 2XL. Womens cuts run smaller than unisex. The product page should include a size note prompting swimmers to size up when in doubt.
The womens racerback tank, followed closely by the womens triblend chest crest tee. Both outsell unisex equivalents for female masters swimmers across age ranges.
Not redesign, but adjust placement. The chest crest position and back banner size should shift slightly for cropped and womens specific cuts to avoid placement that looks off on the smaller silhouette.
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