Running a spirit wear program the old way — paper order forms, envelopes of cash, size confusion, and leftover inventory nobody wants — is a headache every school administrator knows too well. A team store fixes all of that. Here's how it works and what to expect when you set one up.
What is a spirit wear store?
A spirit wear store is an online storefront, custom-built for your school, where parents, students, and staff can browse items, pick their own sizes, and pay directly. You never touch money, you never collect order forms, and you don't end up with a box of shirts in the wrong sizes that nobody claimed.
Compare this to the alternative in our guide on team store vs bulk order — which approach makes sense depends on your program.
What goes in a spirit wear store?
A school store typically includes:
- T-shirts in school colors with the school name or mascot
- Hoodies and crewneck sweatshirts
- Long sleeve tees for fall sports or staff appreciation
- Hats and beanies
- Youth sizes alongside adult sizes
You pick what goes in the store. We build it, handle the orders, print, and ship directly to each buyer. You get a fundraising margin on every item sold if you want to set that up.
How does fundraising work with a team store?
You can set a markup on each item — for example, if a hoodie costs $35 to produce, you price it at $45 in the store. The $10 per hoodie goes to your school fund, booster club, or program. Read more in our guide on how to run a fundraiser with custom apparel and how much you can actually make.
How long does it take to set up?
At Turbo Tees, we can have a team store live within 24 hours of receiving your artwork and approving the store layout. The process is:
- Submit your application and provide your school logo
- We build the store and send you a preview link
- You approve it and share the link with your community
- Orders come in, we print and ship, you collect your margin
What do you need to get started?
- Your school logo (or we can help design something)
- School colors
- A list of items you want in the store
- A store open/close date if you're running a limited-time campaign
💡 A limited-time store (2-3 weeks open) typically outperforms a permanent store for schools. The deadline creates urgency and drives more orders than an always-open link that people bookmark and forget.
What about school-wide uniform programs?
If your school has a dress code that includes spirit wear, a team store is even more valuable. Parents can order at their convenience, sizes are always right, and you're not managing inventory. Talk to us about setting up a permanent store for ongoing uniform programs.
Ready to set up your school spirit store? Apply for a team store or call 855-TSHIRT-5.