Building a Gym Merch Range: Hoodies, Tees and Towels
By The Velocity Wear Team
Gym hoodies alone get over four thousand UK searches a month, oversized tees many more. Independent gyms can tap into that by selling merch their members actually want. The trick is a small, well-designed range, not a shelf of everything.
Start with three items
- A heavyweight oversized tee.
- A hoodie or crewneck.
- A branded gym towel.
That covers training, the walk home and a practical accessory.
Design for outside the gym
Members wear merch to the shops, the pub and the school run. Small front logos, a strong back graphic, and fashion colours sell better than loud gym branding. See custom gym hoodies.
Bundles
Offer a new member bundle: tee, towel and discounted hoodie. Or include a tee and towel in annual memberships. Bundles lift average spend and get merch into circulation fast.
Pricing
Tees start from $13 and hoodies from $31 each at 20 pieces, and gym towels from £4.50 at 50. Check pounds on the calculator. Price below big fitness brands but not so low it looks cheap.
Stock levels
Take pre-orders for the first drop to learn sizes. Then keep modest stock of bestsellers. Our apparel minimum is 20 per design; towels 50.
Display
A small rail near reception with prices clearly shown. Staff wearing the merch is the best display. Photos of members in merch on social media sell more than product shots.
Limited drops
Anniversary designs, challenge finisher shirts or a winter colourway create urgency and give regulars a reason to buy again.
Mistakes to avoid
- 1Too many items at launch.
- 2Designs that only work inside the gym.
- 3No sizes data before ordering.
- 4Merch hidden in a cupboard instead of on display.
Quick checklist
- Tee, hoodie, towel?
- Designs wearable outside?
- Bundle offer?
- Pre-order first drop?
- Display near reception?
Merch for challenges and events
Gyms run challenges, like six-week transformations, charity lift-a-thons and team competitions. A finisher tee for everyone who completes a challenge is a strong motivator, and members wear it with pride. Keep finisher designs exclusive so they can't simply be bought.
Coach and staff kit
Coaches in consistent branded tees and hoodies look professional on the gym floor and in social media content. Give staff a different design or a COACH print so members can identify them easily.
Selling online to remote members
Gyms with online coaching programmes can sell merch to remote clients. Photograph coaches wearing it, and offer shipping. It builds community with people who may never visit the physical gym.
Pricing strategy
Price merch so members see value compared with big sportswear brands while leaving healthy margin. Offer member pricing versus non-member pricing to reward loyalty. Check costs at your expected quantities on the calculator.
Seasonal colourways
Release a new colourway in January for new-year joiners and in September for back-to-routine members. Keep the core black range permanent.
Tracking what sells
Keep a simple spreadsheet of merch sold by item, size and month. Within a few months you'll see which sizes run out and which designs stall. Reorder based on that, not guesswork.
Kids' classes
Gyms with junior classes can add kids' sizes of the tee. Parents buy them, and children love matching the adults.
Merch for gym anniversaries
A limited anniversary tee celebrating the gym's first year, or its fifth, gives long-standing members a keepsake and new members a reason to feel part of the story.
Get started
See custom t-shirts, custom hoodies and wholesale towels, and read personalised gym towels.
