K-12 merch works best when choices are clear and fit is right. Sizing is the top friction Vogue Business reports 91% of shoppers need different sizes across brands which drives returns and second-guessing. Add an AI fit hint and a live ETA at checkout, and you reduce guesswork and missed expectations.
Real-world feedback shows where stores break. Carts are often abandoned ~70% of the time, delivery expectations need transparency, and public posts flag delays and sizing confusion. Parents value clear ship windows over hype McKinsey notes most shoppers are fine with 2–3-day delivery if timing is honest.
This guide highlights US providers (active in TX, CA, TN) with premium brands and strong service. Use it to pick reliable partners, cut sizing and delivery doubts, and get gear on time.
What to Expect From the Top K-12 Merch Providers
- Premium brand choices with clear labeling and size charts
- Smart fit tools and live delivery windows to cut guesswork
- Fast lead times with real updates from cart to doorstep
- No hidden fees with simple pricing and tax info upfront
- Fundraising ready margins with easy payout tracking
- Both on demand and bulk so small and large orders work
- Quick reorders for popular items and seasonal drops
- Student safe designs with approval workflows for PTAs
Rapid Rundown of K-12 Merch Stores with Premium Brands
| Varsity Vault: Fast setup stores with premium brand options, on-demand print, and clear ship updates. BSN SPORTS Sideline Store: Large school network, branded spiritwear catalogs, and always-open online stores. SquadLocker: Simple store builder, top athletic brands, and rapid fulfillment for teams and families. 1st Place Spiritwear: Nationwide school directories, no minimums, and ready-to-shop designs. Custom Ink: School gear made easy, with fundraising tools and hands-off fulfillment. SpiritShop: Self-serve designer, broad product mix, and school mascot libraries. MyLocker: Quick personalize-and-go stores with no minimums across common school items. Prep Sportswear: On-demand school shops with deep style choices and brand partners. Jostens Mascot Shop: Spirit gear tied to school culture alongside rings and graduation items. Spiritwear: Large design library, free art help, and K-12 club and team focus. |
Comparison Of The Best Custom K-12 Merch Stores
| Company | Premium brands available | Fulfillment & minimums | End-to-end delivery time | Fundraising payout | Pricing model |
| Varsity Vault | Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, The North Face, Carhartt, TravisMathew, OGIO | On-demand, no inventory | Ships in 5–7 business days | 10–20% commission, monthly reports & payments | Free store setup; per-item retail |
| BSN SPORTS Sideline Store | Access to major brands via BSN ecosystem (Nike, UA, adidas, Puma, etc.) | Print-on-demand | Not posted; “fast, reliable delivery” language | “No-risk source of funding” (percent not posted) | Free setup; per-item retail |
| SquadLocker | 70+ brands incl. Nike, UA, adidas | On-demand; no minimums | Many items 3–5 days to ship (varies by item) | Organizer selects 5% / 10% / 15% | Free setup; per-item retail + optional markup |
| 1st Place Spiritwear | Not listed by name on site | On-demand; no minimums (site) | Not posted | Fundraising program (percent not posted) | Free setup implied; per-item retail |
| Custom Ink Fundraising | Large multi-brand catalog | Campaign batch print; print minimums apply | Prints after campaign window, then ships | Proceeds paid after campaign closes | Free to launch; supporter pays per item |
| SpiritShop | Broad catalog; brand varies by SKU | On-demand | Production 2–5 days then 2–8 day transit | Fundraising available (percent not posted) | Per-item retail; bulk discounts on some SKUs |
| MyLocker | Name-brand blanks across categories | On-demand; no minimums | Most ship 1–3 days (up to 5 for larger orders) + carrier time | Not posted | Per-item retail; bulk pricing tiers shown |
| Prep Sportswear | Fanthread + Russell, New Era, Fruit of the Loom, Jerzees | On-demand team stores | ~3 business days to complete before shipping | Team-store payouts monthly | Per-item retail |
| Jostens Mascot Shop | Jostens platform assortments | On-demand and bulk | Bulk projects about 10–14 business days total | Varies by school program | Per-item or program-based |
| Spiritwear.com | 500+ styles; brands vary by SKU | eStore campaigns; individual ship options | Not posted | “You pick the price, keep the difference” (school-set margin) | School sets markup; per-item retail to families |
1. Varsity Vault
Varsity Vault builds and runs custom online school merch stores with free setup and on demand fulfillment. The team handles design, production, shipping, and support so schools earn commission without extra work.
Orders ship in 5 to 7 business days with clear status and monthly reports for payouts. Bulk ordering is also available for larger events or teams.
Varsity Vault Feature
- Free store setup and full design help
- On demand fulfillment with no inventory to manage
- Monthly reports and payments to the school with up to 20 percent earnings
Varsity Vault Premium Brands Offered
- Nike
- Under Armour
- Adidas
- The North Face
- Carhartt
- TravisMathew
- OGIO
Varsity Vault Minimum Ordering
- No minimums for the on demand school store
- Optional bulk orders available with discounted pricing when needed
Varsity Vault Pricing
- Store setup fee 0 dollars
- School commission 10 to 20 percent with monthly reports and payments
- Per item pricing varies by product and decoration method on the public catalog
2. BSN SPORTS Sideline Store
BSN SPORTS Sideline Store offers always-on school spirit shops with personalized gear from major brands. The store runs 24/7 and is managed by BSN so schools don’t handle setup or support.
It’s part of BSN’s broader team solutions and ties into fundraising options through BSN’s Snap! Raise partnership.
BSN SPORTS Sideline Store Feature
- Always-open online store for families and fans
- Managed setup and operations handled by BSN SPORTS
- Access to top athletic and lifestyle brands for spirit wear
- Fundraising pathway via Snap! Raise partnership
BSN SPORTS Sideline Store Premium Brands Offered
- Nike
- Under Armour
- adidas
- PUMA
- lululemon
- TravisMathew
- Carhartt
- The North Face
BSN SPORTS Sideline Store Minimum Ordering
- Print-on-demand fanwear model
- No specific minimum order quantity posted on public Sideline Store pages
BSN SPORTS Sideline Store Pricing
- Store setup fee listed as free for Sideline Store activation
- Item pricing is retail per product; exact fundraising percent is not posted on public pages
3. SquadLocker
SquadLocker runs online team and school stores with free setup and no order windows. Stores stay open year round and items ship fast to each home.
The platform supports spirit wear, uniforms, and fundraising in one place. Many items are ready to ship in about five business days.
SquadLocker Feature
- Free store setup with simple builder
- No order minimums and stores never close
- Direct to home or bulk shipping options
- Fundraising switch with preset percentages
SquadLocker Premium Brands Offered
- 70 plus brands available including Nike Under Armour Champion Wilson and more
SquadLocker Minimum Ordering
- No minimum order requirement for standard on demand items
SquadLocker Pricing
- Store setup fee 0 dollars
- Fundraising markup options 5 percent 10 percent or 15 percent sent to the organization
- Production speed as fast as 5 business days for many items before shipping
- Item prices vary by product and decoration and are shown on product pages
4. 1st Place Spiritwear
1st Place Spiritwear runs online school stores with on demand printing and a wide design catalog. The company promotes quick setup, simple ordering, and ready to use school directories.
Families shop year round and orders are custom made. Recent product pages show current production times of 10 to 12 business days before shipping.
1st Place Spiritwear Feature
- No minimum order size stated on site and help pages
- Year round stores with school search and ready designs
- On demand production handled by the company’s facility
- Clear production timing on product pages at 10 to 12 business days
1st Place Spiritwear Premium Brands Offered
- Brand names vary by item and are not posted as a fixed premium partner list
- Example product pages show blanks like Next Level on tees
1st Place Spiritwear Minimum Ordering
- No minimums for standard orders on the public site and help pages
1st Place Spiritwear Pricing
- Store setup fee not posted on public pages
- Example item price 15.73 dollars for a Next Level short sleeve tee on a school store page
- Free shipping over 90 dollars noted on that store page header
- Production time 10 to 12 business days before shipping on current product pages
5. Custom Ink Fundraising
Custom Ink Fundraising lets schools sell custom apparel online with no upfront cost. Campaigns run for a set window, then items are printed and shipped to buyers.
The platform handles payments, delivery, and support. Funds are sent to the organizer or designated group after the campaign ends.
Custom Ink Fundraising Feature
- Free to launch a campaign with no setup fee
- Campaign model with a required print minimum to go to print
- Donations can be accepted on top of product sales
- Custom Ink manages payment processing, shipping, and customer service
Custom Ink Fundraising Premium Brands Offered
- Offers a large multi brand catalog in the design lab; specific premium partner list is not published on the fundraising pages.
Custom Ink Fundraising Minimum Ordering
- A print minimum is required for each campaign. If the minimum is not met, supporters are refunded and qualifying donations are still passed through.
Custom Ink Fundraising Pricing
- Setup fee 0 dollars to start a fundraiser
- Donation processing fee 2.9 percent on added donations only
- Funds disbursed within up to 14 days after campaign close, depending on payout method
- Item prices are set by the organizer and must cover base cost; shipping and taxes are paid by supporters and vary by order
6. SpiritShop
SpiritShop runs online school stores with on demand printing. Families shop year round and items are made after each order.
Production is usually a few days with shipping time added. The help pages post clear timing and carrier info.
SpiritShop Feature
- Online designer with large catalog and team shops.
- Typical production 2 to 5 business days.
- Transit in the U.S. usually 2 to 8 business days after ship.
- Bulk discounts shown on product pages.
SpiritShop Premium Brands Offered
- Under Armour, Champion, Carhartt, Comfort Colors, Bella plus Canvas, Gildan, Lane Seven, Port Authority, Rabbit Skins, Sport Tek, Augusta, Pacific Headwear, TravisMathew.
SpiritShop Minimum Ordering
- Single item orders allowed. Product pages show timing for 11 or fewer units, which confirms no minimums for standard on demand.
SpiritShop Pricing
- Example hoodie price. Under Armour men Rival Fleece Hoodie listed at 67.95 dollars, sale 54.36 dollars. Gildan adult hoodie listed at 33.95 dollars, sale 27.16 dollars.
7. MyLocker
MyLocker runs online stores for custom gear with quick production and direct shipping. Orders are made in Detroit and ship after a short make time.
Most items finish in a few business days, and bulk takes a bit longer. Stores work for single items or large runs.
MyLocker Feature
- No minimums and no setup fees listed in the FAQ
- Typical production 2 to 5 business days on many items
- Bulk orders of 12 or more items get a separate, posted timeline
- Detroit print on demand facility with high volume capacity
MyLocker Premium Brands Offered
- Nike
- Adidas
- Gildan
- Anvil
- Core 365
MyLocker Minimum Ordering
- No minimum order quantity for standard orders
- Bulk pricing and timing apply at 12 or more items on many products
MyLocker Pricing
- Example bag tag pricing per unit 1 to 9 items 8.21 dollars, 10 to 23 items 7.12 dollars, 24 to 47 items 6.57 dollars, 48 to 71 items 5.47 dollars, 72 to 143 items 4.92 dollars, 144 plus 4.38 dollars.
8. Prep Sportswear
Prep Sportswear runs free team stores that print each order on demand and ship direct to families. Stores stay open year round and include built-in fundraising.
Most orders complete in about 3 business days before shipping. Packages ship from Louisville, Kentucky, with typical USPS delivery in 2–3 business days.
Prep Sportswear Feature
- Free team store you can launch online
- On-demand production with direct-to-home shipping
- Fundraising built in with monthly distributions
- Order tracking via confirmation email link
Prep Sportswear Premium Brands Offered
- Russell Athletic
- Fanthread
- New Era
- Fruit of the Loom
- JERZEES
Prep Sportswear Minimum Ordering
- On-demand model for individual orders
- No minimum order quantity posted for team stores on public pages
Prep Sportswear Pricing
- Store setup fee 0 dollars (free team store)
- Fundraising rebate 15 percent paid monthly
- Typical production time 3 business days before shipping; USPS delivery averages 2–3 business days from Louisville, KY
9. Jostens Mascot Shop
Jostens Mascot Shop is a turnkey platform for school spirit wear with both online and bulk options. Schools control designs and branding while families shop year round.
Bulk timelines are posted and typical orders complete in 10–14 business days end to end. Standard site shipping guidance is also available.
Jostens Mascot Shop Feature
- Turnkey online store with school-controlled branding and approvals.
- Supports both individual online orders and bulk orders.
- Posted bulk timeline about 10–14 business days including shipping.
- Site help shows standard shipping timeframes for U.S. orders.
Jostens Mascot Shop Premium Brands Offered
- Nike
- Adidas
- Champion
- The North Face
- Under Armour
- Bella + Canvas
- Stanley/Stella
- Carhartt
Jostens Mascot Shop Minimum Ordering
- The online store supports single-item orders.
- Bulk ordering available; minimum quantity not posted on public help page.
Jostens Mascot Shop Pricing
- Store activation and setup details not publicly priced on the page. Pricing varies by school store.
- Active promo example MASCOT20, save 20% plus free shipping at $125+ (see offer details).
10. Spiritwear
Spiritwear.com runs fundraising eStores for schools with free custom artwork and shipping. Stores sell ready designs, and orders can ship to the coordinator or each family.
Typical turnaround is posted after art approval, with clear shipping options and rates for direct-to-home delivery.
Spiritwear Feature
- Free ground shipping and all-inclusive quotes with setup and screen fees included.
- Fundraising eStore where you pick the price and keep the difference.
- Two delivery modes coordinator bulk or direct-to-customer with posted S&H.
- Guidance on campaign length and product count to improve profit.
Spiritwear Premium Brands Offered
- Gildan
- Harriton
- Augusta Sportswear
- OGIO
Spiritwear Minimum Ordering
- eStore campaign model with group ordering and individual shipping available.
- No specific per-item minimum posted for eStores; site advises keeping 1–2 designs per run to raise total order volume and lower unit cost.
Spiritwear Pricing
- Store setup fee 0 dollars and free ground shipping posted.
- Turnaround 10 business days after artwork approval.
- Direct-to-customer S&H starting rates 1 item $10.00, 2–3 items $15.50, 4–10 items $17.50, 11+ items $19.00.
- Fundraising model: you set the selling price and keep the difference.
How We Ranked The Best K-12 Merch Stores
We focused on what schools and families compare most. Each factor was scored with equal weight, then we used tie breakers for clarity.
- Premium brands and depth of catalog. Named labels and size range.
- Fulfillment and minimums. On demand versus campaigns. Any order minimums.
- End to end delivery time. From checkout to doorstep. Peak season notes.
- Fundraising clarity. Percent range, who sets it, payout cadence, reporting.
- Pricing transparency. Setup fees, per item costs, bulk tiers, add on fees.
- Sizing and returns. Fit help, exchange options, return window.
- Store management. Proofing, approval flow, support hours, account tools.
- Trust signals. Consistent service history, clear policies, security notes.
FAQs
Do these stores charge a setup fee?
Varsity Vault and BSN SPORTS Sideline Store list free setup, with BSN noting it also handles decoration, packing, and shipping.
What fundraising percentage can schools expect?
Varsity Vault publishes 10-20% with monthly reporting. SquadLocker lets organizers choose 5, 10, or 15%. Many others do not post a fixed number.
What happens if a campaign misses the print minimum?
Custom Ink refunds supporters if the minimum is not met and still disburses eligible donations after the campaign ends.
Where do Prep Sportswear orders ship from?
Orders ship via USPS from the Louisville Kentucky facility, with average delivery of 2 to 3 business days once completed.
How do AI sizing tools reduce returns for K-12 merch?
They combine shopper input with garment data to predict a likely size and flag between sizes. Paired with a live ETA, this builds confidence and cuts exchanges.
What delivery info should be visible before checkout?
Show production time, estimated ship window, carrier class, and a clear order cutoff with timezone. List pickup options and holiday surcharges to prevent surprises.
How can we set a fundraising margin without pricing out families?
Start from base cost, add decoration, then test a 10–20% margin. Validate with a family basket (tee hoodie cap) and use short promos to add value.
Does Varsity Vault support premium brands and quick turnaround?
Yes, it offers premium brand assortments with on demand production and typical ship in about 5 to 7 business days. Clear status updates and straightforward school commissions keep things easy.
