Top Gym Apparel Mistakes to Avoid for Better Workouts

When it comes to gym apparel, every owner wants the same thing: shirts and hoodies their members will actually buy, and a process that doesn’t eat up their time.

The problem? Not every gym gets results. After 13+ years in this space, we’ve noticed clear patterns between the gyms that crush their apparel sales and the ones that struggle.

In this post, I’m going to break down the five biggest mistakes that prevent gym owners from getting results with their apparel orders—and how to avoid them.

If you’ve ever felt like apparel is “too much of a hassle” or “never sells the way it should,” odds are one of these mistakes is holding you back.

Mistake #1: Taking Too Long to Respond to Mockups and Emails

This is by far the number one reason apparel projects drag on.

Here’s how it usually goes:

• A gym owner tells us they want a new order.

• We create a mockup and send it over.

• Then… silence. Days turn into a week, sometimes even 10 days.

When the owner finally replies, they’re frustrated: “This process takes forever.”

But the truth? The timestamp on your emails tells the real story. We deliver designs quickly—what slows everything down is the lag in feedback.

And when response times stretch out, it kills momentum. You feel like the project is dragging, members lose interest, and your apparel order goes from exciting to exhausting.

The Fix:

• Make apparel a 10-minute task. When you see a mockup in your inbox, reply immediately with a thumbs up or specific edits.

• Set a 24-hour rule: no design email goes unanswered for more than one day.

• Remember—fast responses equal fast orders.

This one small change will instantly make your apparel process feel smoother and faster.

Mistake #2: “Freestyling” Your Marketing Instead of Following a Plan

Many gyms fall into the trap of intuitive marketing. They post when they feel like it, mention the preorder casually in class, and assume members will figure it out.

Here’s the problem: intuition doesn’t sell shirts.

Every gym we’ve seen succeed with apparel follows a plan. They have a checklist. They run a structured 7-day launch. They know exactly what to post and when to post it.

Without a system, here’s what happens:

• Your preorder feels like a “soft suggestion” instead of a real event.

• Members forget, delay, or assume they’ll grab it later.

• You end up with disappointing numbers and piles of unsold gear.

The Fix:

• Use a 7-day preorder playbook with daily reminders, clear calls to action, and in-gym promotion.

• Treat apparel like a product launch, not an afterthought.

• Remember: consistency beats creativity when it comes to sales.

We’ve helped thousands of gyms run this process—and the results are predictable. Gyms that follow a system consistently hit 20–30% member participation. Gyms that wing it? Almost never.

Mistake #3: Skipping Samples Because “We Already Know What Fits”

This one surprises a lot of gym owners. They assume, “We’ve been using the same Next Level tee for years. Our people know what to expect.”

But here’s the reality: gyms churn 30–60% of their membership every single year.

That means the members who “knew” the fit of your shirt three years ago are long gone. Your current members are new—and they have no clue what that shirt feels like.

When you skip samples, you miss the chance to let members touch, feel, and try on the product. And without that, their confidence to buy drops dramatically.

The Fix:

• Always order samples (we send them free with every order—no excuses).

• Put them out at the front desk or coach’s area so people can try before they buy.

• Use samples to create urgency—remind members they won’t be available once the preorder closes.

Samples are one of the easiest ways to boost preorder numbers by 20–30%. Skipping them is leaving money on the table.

Mistake #4: Running Preorders for Too Long

Here’s a classic mistake: opening a preorder on May 1st and keeping it open until May 30th.

On the surface, it sounds smart. More time means more orders, right? Wrong.

Here’s what actually happens with long preorders:

• Early buyers are forced to wait 6–8 weeks for their shirt. That creates a bad customer experience.

• Late buyers assume they “still have time” and procrastinate until they forget completely.

• The urgency disappears, and so do your sales.

Think about it—does Amazon give you 30 days to decide? No. They make it easy, fast, and immediate. Your apparel sales should work the same way.

The Fix:

• Run short, punchy preorders (5–7 days max).

• Promote heavily during that short window.

• Deliver orders quickly so members stay excited.

A short preorder feels like an event. A long preorder feels like background noise.

Mistake #5: Offering Too Many Items

This is the most common “good intention gone wrong.”

Gym owners want to make everyone happy, so they launch 12 different options: five shirt colors, three hoodie styles, tanks, joggers, and more.

The result? Choice paralysis.

When members see too many options, they freeze. Instead of picking one, they pick none. And the order that could have been a big win becomes a mess.

We’ve seen it play out dozens of times. Owners ignore our advice, load up the preorder, and then call us later frustrated: “That didn’t work the way I thought it would.”

The Fix:

• Offer 2–3 items max.

• Keep colors simple (black, gray, one accent color).

• Focus on bestsellers, not “something for everyone.”

Your members don’t want a catalog. They want something clean, easy, and limited. Less really is more.

Why These Mistakes Matter

When you look at these five mistakes together, a pattern emerges:

• Delays kill momentum.

• Lack of a plan kills sales.

• Skipping samples kills trust.

• Long timelines kill urgency.

• Too many options kill decisions.

The gyms that avoid these mistakes? They run smooth, profitable apparel orders three to five times per year, their members stay excited, and their brand grows stronger with each drop.

The gyms that don’t? They walk away frustrated, convinced “apparel just doesn’t work here.”

But it’s not the apparel—it’s the process.

How to Get Apparel Orders Right Every Time

At Forever Fierce, we’ve built our entire process around eliminating these five mistakes. Here’s how:

1. Fast Design Turnarounds – You get mockups within days, not weeks.

2. Proven Marketing Playbooks – We give you the exact posts and reminders that drive sales.

3. Free Samples – Every order includes samples to display in your gym.

4. 7-Day Preorders – Structured timelines that maximize urgency and minimize delays.

5. Simplified Catalogs – We guide you toward the 2–3 bestsellers that members will actually buy.

The result? Consistent, profitable apparel drops without the headaches.

Final Word: Stop Making Apparel Harder Than It Has to Be

If you’ve struggled with apparel in the past, it’s not because “your members don’t buy merch.” It’s because one (or more) of these mistakes was in play.

The good news? They’re easy to fix.

• Respond fast.

• Follow a plan.

• Use samples.

• Keep preorders short.

• Limit choices.

Do that, and you’ll see your apparel orders transform from a source of frustration into a reliable revenue stream.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and finally run apparel the right way, let’s talk. We’ll build you a custom plan, handle the details, and make sure your next drop is your best yet.