How to Get Your Own Custom Merch Store as a High School Athlete
A step-by-step look at how a high school athlete gets a free custom merch store: who sets it up, how the designs work, and how orders ship.
Getting your own custom merch store takes about as much effort as filling out a short form. You do not design anything, you do not pay anything, and you do not order a box of shirts in advance. The Athlete Merch team builds the store and the designs for you. Here is the whole process, start to finish.
Step 1: A parent or guardian gets it started
If you are under 18, a parent or guardian sets up the account with you. You need to be at least 13 to use the app, and a parent can set up a store for a child under 13. That keeps things simple and appropriate for younger athletes.
Step 2: The team creates your designs
This is the part people expect to be hard, and it is not. You do not need any design skills. The Athlete Merch team makes your custom designs for you, with hundreds to choose from, and puts your name and number on real gear.
Step 3: Your store goes live
Your store opens with your designs on 40+ products: hoodies, t-shirts, hats, bags, drinkware, and more. It stays up year round, so you are not racing a deadline to set it up.
Step 4: You share it
Send your store link to family, friends, teammates, and local fans. Those are the people who buy. You can post it, text it, or drop it in a team group chat.
Step 5: Orders are made and shipped
Nothing is printed until someone buys. Each order is made to order and arrives in about 10 days, shipped within the US, with international coming soon. Checkout runs on Shopify, so people can pay securely.
Where you set it up
Athletes set up and run their store from the Athlete Merch app, which is launching this summer.
Common questions
Do I have to design my own merch? No. The team designs it for you.
Is any of this paid? No. Setup and designs are free, and items are only printed when ordered.
Can a parent do it for a younger kid? Yes. Under 18 needs a parent or guardian, and a parent can set up a store for a child under 13.
Keep reading
For the big picture, see Custom Merch for High School Athletes: The Complete 2026 Guide. You can also browse athlete stores or learn more about Athlete Merch.