How to Run a School Spirit Wear Campaign: A Guide for BC PACs

Spirit wear is one of the easiest ways for a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) to build school pride, and done well, it takes very little volunteer time. This guide walks BC PACs through planning a spirit wear campaign, from choosing products to handing out orders.

1. Decide on your goal

Start by agreeing what the campaign is for. Most BC PACs run spirit wear to:

• Build school identity and community pride
• Give students matching apparel for sports days, field trips and events
• Mark milestones such as grad, a school anniversary or a new mascot
• Support PAC fundraising goals

Knowing your goal helps you choose products and set prices. If fundraising is part of the plan, raise it with your apparel partner early so pricing can be planned around it.

2. Get approvals in place

Before you design anything, check with your principal about using the school name, crest and colours. Some BC school districts have guidelines for school logos, so it's worth confirming early. Share proofs with your principal and PAC executive before the store opens.

3. Choose a small, strong product lineup

A focused lineup sells better than a huge catalogue. For most schools, four to six items is plenty:

• A hoodie, the best seller at almost every school
• A t-shirt for sports days and events
• A crewneck or zip-up for older students and parents
• A hat or toque as a lower-priced option
• Staff apparel so teachers can join in

Offer both youth and adult sizes so parents, siblings and staff can order too.

4. Pick the right decoration method

Screen printing works best for bold logos on larger orders and gives a durable, vibrant result. Embroidery looks premium on hoodies, quarter-zips, hats and staff apparel. Minimums differ by method, so ask your supplier which suits your expected order size.

5. Skip paper forms and use an online store

The biggest time-saver for any PAC is moving from paper forms to an online school store. Instead of collecting envelopes of cash and tallying sizes, families order and pay online through a link you share in the school newsletter or app.

• No cash, cheques or e-transfers for volunteers to track
• No size spreadsheets or data entry
• No leftover stock, because families pre-order exactly what they need
• Accurate orders, because families choose their own sizes

6. Set an ordering window

Keep the store open for a set period, usually two to four weeks, and promote it clearly. Good times to launch are September (new school year), before the winter break, and in spring for grad and year-end events. Send a reminder a few days before the store closes.

7. Skip the handout day

Ask your supplier to pack each order individually, labelled with the student's name. With 55 Sportswear, each order then goes straight to the family's doorstep, so no volunteer has to sort boxes in the gym.

PAC spirit wear checklist

1. Agree on the goal and budget with your PAC executive
2. Get principal approval for logos and colours
3. Choose four to six products in youth and adult sizes
4. Approve digital proofs of every item
5. Launch an online store and share the link with families
6. Send a reminder before the store closes
7. Orders packed by student name and delivered to each family's doorstep

Let 55 Sportswear run it for you

55 Sportswear is based in Victoria and works with schools and PACs across British Columbia. We design your spirit wear, build your school a free online store, handle every payment, and deliver each order, packed by student name, to the family's doorstep. Learn more about our school and PAC spirit wear service or start your project today.