How to Successfully Build an Apparel Revenue Stream from Scratch

How to Build an Apparel Revenue Stream from Scratch

Maybe you just opened a new gym. Maybe you bought out a partner who has been holding you back with apparel. Maybe you just need to blow it up and start all over with apparel. Regardless of your situation, a fresh start is needed. In this article, we’ll provide our best success tips to build your apparel revenue stream the right way.

How Often Should You Offer Apparel?

We find that most gyms find success with 3-6 orders a year. One thing we suggest is taking advantage of themes and seasons. An example of a theme is 4th of July—a patriotic design would pair nicely with this. Another major theme in the affiliate world is the Intramural Open.

If you’re looking to take advantage of seasons, a good time for a hoodie is November. Similarly, for a Summer theme, offering a Summer style design in June works perfectly.

Here’s a sample calendar for 6 items throughout the year:

• January/February: Intramural Open

• April/May: Patriotic/RED

• June: Summer

• July: Drop in design

• September: Longsleeve, baseball tee, or longsleeve hoodie

• November: Pullover or zip-up

Each month, we send out a recommended apparel item via our newsletter. You don’t have to order every single item we recommend—just check out the e-mail to see different designs and variety. A big issue we see with affiliates today is recycling the same items repeatedly. Members get tired, you get tired, and eventually, you give yourself a pay cut.Sign up for our newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bRAVun

Avoid Overly Picky Items

Notice how we don’t include hats, pants, or shorts. These items bring out “pickiness” in members. People are really selective about hats, pants, and shorts. The quality available in retail stores far surpasses anything available to print on, which is an industry-wide challenge.

Expecting women’s leggings or shorts on par with Lulu Lemon isn’t realistic—the available options aren’t comparable. It’s not worth the hassle and stress of including these items in your apparel revenue stream.

Implement a Preorder Strategy

We recommend using a preorder model for most orders.

“But what about apparel companies that offer an online store? Doesn’t that solve all my problems?”

Not really. It can actually compound your problems.

  Preorder overview

“But, wait! What about those apparel companies that offer me an online store? Doesn’t that solve all of my problems?”. Nope. It only compounds your problems. You can read all about that here: Learn more in our detailed guide on Preorder vs. Online Stores

The issue with offering multiple designs, themes, and styles at one time is simply this: you're going to force your members to make a decision about what they want vs what they can afford. If you offer both items at one time, 8/10 people will buy one item. If you offer each item in its own month, 8/10 people will buy both items. It is a long term strategy. I discuss variety and the importance of a "limited edition" mindset. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPgiPov4AKY&feature=youtu.be

To recap:

    Spend some time thinking about themes you can take advantage of for the year. 

    Subscribe to our newsletter. Let us handle the ideas/designs for you. 

    Implement the preorder model. Ignore the noise out there. The preorder model is the only model out there that produces meaningful revenue and drives demand. 

    Think of each item as a limited edition opportunity. Members can only take advantage of it for a short period of time. Watch how the demand for your apparel shifts once you adopt this mindset

Do you want us to help create the plan for you? Get On An Apparel Plan! Let one of our account managers walk you through a plan and ensure your following all of our success strategies for you! The call is free and the plan will be custom tailored to you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How often should I offer apparel for my gym?
Most gyms see success with 3–6 orders a year, timed with seasonal themes and events.

Q2: Why should I avoid hats, pants, and shorts?
These items often create pickiness because retail quality surpasses print-on-demand options, causing stress and lower sales.

Q3: How does a preorder strategy help build revenue?
Preorders create scarcity, boost demand, and prevent overstocking, ensuring higher total sales for each item.