4 Must Have Spirit Wear Items to Stock in Your Program’s Digital Store

We've got spirit, yes we do. We've got spirit, how about you? How often have you heard or shouted these words but found yourself not wearing any actual spirit wear at a competition or event? Chants and cheers are great, but it's your visual display of program spirit that inspires members to feel the love and play louder and prouder, perform brighter, and move bigger on the field or stage. Seeing is believing, right?!

I know that creating the most basic spirit wear store can be really difficult for teachers and booster club leaders. How many types of apparel do we need to make available? How many color options can we offer? How many logo variations should we use? How can we navigate all of these choices and still please everyone?

Most people tend to put a LOT of focus on the apparel brand. Big mistake. The focus should be on the school’s or community’s program brand. The Fine Arts program’s brand. The band’s, the choir’s, orchestra’s, color guard’s, dance or drill team’s, drama or speech and debate club’s brand. Your program is the heart and soul of what you do.

Decoration, comfort, and price point. These are the three main factors that will truly drive your student’s, their families, and your volunteer’s decisions when selecting their spirit wear. That’s why my team at Team IP and our network of resources have conducted extensive research on these factors to uncover trends of not only spirit wear apparel, but also what spirit wear categories and SKUs consistently sell steadily through an ecommerce store. We all want “the best looking and feeling” apparel possible, but we also don’t want our members bearing the additional cost of “the top shelf” price tag.

What are the must have categories, what are considerations and trade offs to think about for each in terms of color choices, types of materials, etc. Why is each category popular and will it ultimately benefit my program in terms of utility and visibility? Great questions! Let me share four of my personal ‘must haves’ to stock in any digital spirit wear shop:

1. Hoodies

Let’s start with the staple of young people everywhere (and now adults!). Hoodies are super serviceable, the perfect ‘multi tasker’ of apparel that just looks cool. I prefer ones that have pockets to help keep lip balm (and breath mints!) handy. Decoration wise, the skies the limit! Go classic and simple with a low-key chest pocket emblem, or go monster with a full chest or back design. Fabric wise, there are a range of great quality comfort choices that are budget friendly.

2. Joggers

Next, I suggest a set or two of joggers, which have also grown in popularity thanks to the growth of the ‘athleisure' style trend. Side note, I’m amazed at the explosion of fabric choices that have emerged over the last decade. When I was growing up, the choice was just cotton and polyester. (More on this in a moment). Anyhoo, ‘joggers’ which are a way cooler version of ‘jogging pants’ are another ‘must have’ that I’ve seen perform well in terms of sales and usage. Yes, usage. Just because you can sell it, doesn’t always translate into them wearing it. Joggers are perfect for travel to and from games, due to their comfort and give. They also wash extremely well, so stains are less of a big deal.

3. Hats

Okay, we’ve touched on a person’s top and bottom apparel needs, let’s not forget the head. A very essential spot for your program’s spirit to be visually displayed (especially when you can offer more real estate as a bald guy!). Baseball caps are a solid choice. But trucker style headwear can also make a bold statement. Visors may be something to consider if some of your friends don’t want to deal with ‘hat head’ (something I don’t know too much about these days). If you’re thinking about head gear for concession volunteers, make sure to select a cap that can be adjusted for a secure, but comfortable fit. Keep in mind that hats can also function as weather protectors rain or shine. Bonus!

4. Crew Neck T-Shirts

Last but not least in my spirit wear ‘must haves’ is the quintessential crew neck t-shirt. Why? Well, it just looks good on 99% of people. Crew shirts look and feel classy. The neck collars stand up better to washing and are less susceptible to kinks and wrinkling. Your biggest decision is whether to offer a long sleeve or a short sleeve shirt. I suggest both. This way, your members can wear spirit items in any weather condition. Plus, you can enable them to layer a long and a short sleeve for a double spirit effect. Especially if you take the time to create different color and decoration combinations. Example: a short sleeve in your program’s darker color with pocket decoration and the long sleeve with your slogan or fight song on the arm sleeve. C'est magnifique!

Some final thoughts of advice as you plan the next season of your program’s digital shop:

Less Is Best

Don’t confuse your program members with too many choices. Instead, wow them with the choices you offer.

Cotton is Cool

You betcha!. Cotton apparel has come a long way. Ringspun, cotton blend, pre-washed. These are all cotton apparel options that alleviate the worries of being uncomfortable, being weighed down or shrinkage.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Silly! As in NOT offering your t-shirt in 50 different colors. The point is to promote your program’s brand and maintain consistency and a shared sense of program spirit! Not all decoration choices look good on every colored shirt. That said, the optimal decoration is the one that ultimately shines with YOUR brand color.

Start small and then as the sell through numbers dictate, analyze your digital store regularly and add/drop pieces accordingly. But hey, you have enough on your plate as it is. Working with merchandise experts can help you generate the brand excitement and fundraising revenue you deserve without the painful overhead frustration. We can solve those headaches for you with a turnkey digital spirit wear store. Get in touch and we’ll create your dream store in no time. See you in the stands!

Meet Our Guest Expert Author

Blaine Isbell is Vice President of Team IP’s Corporate Division with multi decades of helping K12 and collegiate programs build their brand identity and engage their fans through high quality apparel items. Blaine oversees a dynamic team that specializes in B2B sales involving all things decorated apparel and branded promotional merchandise. He’s helped a diverse clientele, ranging from corporate America to sports organizations, NCAA, and local businesses. Blaine is an avid golfer and fisherman, and takes great pride in being a father to his 22 year old daughter and watching her master her craft as a journalist.