Custom apparel fundraisers work. When done right, they raise real money for programs without asking anyone to sell candy bars door to door or run awkward car washes. The key is setting it up correctly from the start.
Here's how to do it.
How it works
The basic model is simple: you set up an online store with custom branded items, mark up the price above the base cost, and every sale puts the difference directly into your program. Players and parents buy gear they actually want to wear, and your organization keeps the margin.
At Turbo Tees, we build the store for free. You set your prices, we handle printing and fulfillment, and you collect your cut after the store closes.
Step 1 — Pick your products
Don't overthink this. The best fundraiser stores offer 3–6 products, not 20. Too many choices leads to decision paralysis and lower conversion. A solid lineup for most teams:
- A performance or softstyle t-shirt
- A hoodie or crewneck
- A hat
- One bundle option (shirt + hoodie at a slight discount)
That's it. Four items. People know what they want.
Step 2 — Set your prices
This is where the fundraising happens. You set the retail price; Turbo Tees charges you the base cost; you keep the difference. A typical setup might look like this:
- T-shirt: base cost $18, you charge $28, you keep $10
- Hoodie: base cost $38, you charge $52, you keep $14
- Hat: base cost $22, you charge $32, you keep $10
On a store with 50 orders averaging $45 each, that's $2,250 in sales and roughly $600–$700 going to your program. Not bad for sharing a link.
💡 Don't price yourself out of sales. Buyers are happy to pay a reasonable premium for custom branded gear, but if the prices look like retail markup on top of a fundraiser markup, you'll lose orders. Price to sell first, fundraise second.
Step 3 — Set a deadline
Stores without deadlines don't perform. A close date creates urgency and gives you a batch point for printing. Two to three weeks is the sweet spot — long enough for word to spread, short enough that people don't procrastinate indefinitely.
Communicate the deadline clearly and remind your community at least twice: once at the halfway point and once in the final 48 hours. The last two days of a fundraiser store typically drive 30–40% of total orders.
Step 4 — Promote it
Your promotion plan doesn't need to be complicated. The basics work:
- Send the link to your team/parent group chat the day the store opens
- Post it on your team or school's social media accounts
- Announce it at the next practice or game
- Send a reminder email or text at the halfway point
- Send a "last chance" message 48 hours before close
That's five touchpoints. For a youth sports team with active parent involvement, that's usually enough to drive strong participation.
Step 5 — Close, batch, and deliver
When the store closes, Turbo Tees batches all the orders and prints them together. This is why deadlines matter — batching is what keeps costs low and timelines predictable. Standard turnaround from close date is 10–15 business days. Orders can ship to individual addresses or to one central location for distribution at practice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too many products. Keep it simple. More options = fewer sales.
- No deadline. Open-ended stores die quietly. Set a close date.
- Prices too high. If your hoodie costs $75, parents will skip it.
- Not promoting it. One announcement isn't enough. Remind people.
- Poor artwork. Blurry or low-res logos hurt sales. Get a clean file before you launch.
Ready to get started? Apply for a team store at turbotees.com/lp/stores or call 855-TSHIRT-5. We'll have your store live within 24 hours of approval.