The Camp Store Checklist: What to Stock for Summer 2027
A useful camp store starts with what your families and staff actually need. Before choosing new products, review last summer’s orders, remaining stock and requests you could not fill. Those records give you a better starting point than a generic list of popular camp merchandise.
Use this checklist to decide what belongs in your 2027 assortment and what needs to be confirmed before you order.
1. Separate issued items from optional purchases
Staff uniforms, camper shirts included with registration and products sold to families serve different purposes. Build a separate list for each. An issued staff shirt needs to arrive before staff orientation. An optional family sweatshirt may follow a different ordering schedule.
For each item, record who receives it, who pays for it and the required handout date. That makes it easier to choose between a bulk order, stocked camp shop or online store.
2. Start with a small, purposeful assortment
Consider a core camp shirt, a layer for cooler weather and one or two accessories that fit your activities. Each product should have a clear reason to be included. A water bottle might suit a daily activity schedule; a tote might suit family purchases. Neither is automatically right for every camp.
Check age suitability and your camp’s product requirements before selecting accessories. For apparel, look at available youth and adult sizes, the garment’s size chart, fabric and decoration options. Review samples when fit or fabric is important to the decision.
3. Use your own size and sales records
Track the exact style, color and size of items sold or issued. Keep unsold inventory separate from items reserved for staff or a later session. Note requests for sizes you did not have, because recorded sales alone can hide demand you could not serve.
Avoid treating last year’s size mix as a rule for a different garment or camper population. Check current enrollment, staff counts and the selected garment’s chart before deciding quantities.
4. Choose how orders will be collected and delivered
A physical shop requires stock, storage and someone to manage purchases. A bulk order requires final counts and a distribution plan. An online store collects individual orders, but still needs an agreed selling window, production schedule and delivery arrangement.
Creative Alternatives offers online merchandise stores. Confirm the dates and any fundraising terms for your program before announcing it to families. Do not assume that the store closing date is the shipping date.
5. Approve the artwork and the complete quote
Give the supplier your usable logo file, preferred decoration location and any required colors. Confirm whether the design will be printed, embroidered or produced another way. Ask for the proposed decoration dimensions and review the proof before approving production.
Check the quote for quantities, size-related charges, decoration, setup and shipping. Ask what is included and what could change if the artwork, quantity or delivery requirements change.
6. Set a receiving and reorder plan
Work backward from the date you need to distribute the products. Ask the supplier to confirm availability and the approval deadline for that date. Identify who will receive the delivery and allow time to count and sort it.
Save the final proof, item details and order reference. A reorder still needs a fresh availability and timing check, even when the artwork stays the same.
Ready to plan your assortment?
Send Creative Alternatives your camp merchandise brief: camp type, items you are considering, approximate quantities and required arrival date. We can help you compare options for your program. You can also explore our summer camp merchandise services.