We want to help you maximize the funds raised through your shirt sale. If most of your audience is local and you have the ability to distribute the products to them in-person, then perhaps an online store isn't necessary. However, if you know a lot of people who live across the U.S. that might support your cause, a store could help you reach them and not have to worry about shipping the products yourself.
Selling your merch online is a fantastic way to boost sales and simplify order fulfillment. But remember, success hinges on one key factor: personal communication with your audience! Be ready to post, text, email, call, and chat in person about your fundraiser. Opening an online store is not a substitute for putting in the hard work to spread the word about your fundraiser!
We suggest a minimum of $25-30 for your shirts and $45 for sweatshirts! Stickers? $5 is a great starting point.
The order minimum depends on the merch products you're selling! For instance, the minimum number of shirts required is 13. Check with your Project Coordinator to find out what the minimum is for your merch items.
We do suggest making it a goal to sell at least 25 of each design you offer in your store so you can maximize your profit. Keep in mind that the more you sell, the more you make for your cause!
Absolutely! You can have multiple products in your store. With our tiered pricing, you can add up to 5 products for $30. If you want to add more, there’s a set rate for that.
Keep in mind, there may be minimum quantities for some merch products. For instance, the minimum number of shirts required is 13. Check with your Project Coordinator to find out what the minimum is for your merch items.
Yes! You can sell multiple shirt colors and styles as long as the design stays the same. We recommend sticking to 3 variations per product.
No! We can setup a store for any purpose. Churches, schools, sports teams, you name it.
We can ship to all 50 states, military addresses and Canada.
Your supporters will pay for shipping and receive their orders delivered directly to them. This allows you to keep the profit raised from your sales.
No! Shipping and handling charges are paid by your supporters at check-out. This cost does not affect your final pay-out amount.
We strive to keep costs low for FTN Stores because we want you to retain as much profit as possible, but there are some fees associated with running your store. Here’s a breakdown:
Store Setup Fee (charged to you prior to setup):
Shipping/Handling Fees (charged to the purchaser):
Pick-Up Handling Fee (optional, charged to you):
PayPal Processing Fee (charged to you):
It takes up to 3 business days (Monday - Friday) for our team to set up a custom online store.
Absolutely! We can help you create designs for a variety of items. Our most popular choices are T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats, stickers, and tote bags. Just ask your Project coordinator about these options!
We recommend keeping your store open for no more than two weeks, but it’s totally up to you! We’ll close the store on your preferred date, and you can reopen it anytime if needed. Keep in mind that most people will order in the first 48 hours and in the last 48 hours, regardless of how long your store is open.
Orders are promptly processed and shipped within 2.5 - 3 weeks after your store closes.
Once your store closes, all billing deductions will be taken from your overall profit (cost of goods + shipping + payment fees). Our Financial Director will email you a profit breakdown at the end of your fundraiser. You can receive your funds via check or PayPal—just let us know your preference when you submit your store setup form.
The main difference is the cost of the store setup fee and the credit card processing fee. The setup fee varies based on the number of items in your store. Every store platform charges a credit card processing fee; for our most common platform, it's 2.90% + 30¢ per transaction, deducted from your profit. Setting up a store involves these fees, whereas selling shirts on your own does not.
For presale stores, we don’t offer on-demand printing and shipping. Presales help us keep costs low so you can maximize your profits and get the most out of your fundraiser.
Interested in an ongoing merch store where FTN manages your inventory? We’d love to chat! Reach out to Andrew Perry, our Partnership Director, at andrew@fundthenations.com for more details.
Your customer can select local pickup, and you can distribute the shirts yourself! This way, they save on shipping costs, and you get to personally thank your supporters.
Just tell us a little about you and your project. A Project Coordinator will follow up with you very soon!