Sports e-commerce is booming as the global market hit 36.26 billion U.S. dollars, and keeps growing. Brands like Gymshark, Allbirds, and MVMT prove Shopify works brilliantly for sports retail.
This article shows you 10 successful Shopify sports stores and walks you through setting up your own.
You’ll see what makes these brands successful, from community building to checkout optimization, and get practical steps to launch or migrate your sports business to Shopify today.
10 Best Shopify Fitness Stores: Detailed
These stores represent the best of what’s possible when you combine Shopify’s platform with a smart sports retail strategy. Here’s what makes these brands successful and the lessons you can apply to your own store.
| Rank | Store Name | Niche | What They Do Well | Lesson for You |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gymshark | Fitness Apparel | Community building, influencer partnerships | Build brand loyalty early |
| 2 | Allbirds | Athletic Footwear | Sustainability messaging | Differentiate with values |
| 3 | MVMT (Sports Line) | Fitness Accessories | Minimalist design, fast checkout | Simplify user experience |
| 4 | Manduka | Yoga Equipment | Educational content, instructor programs | Position yourself as the expert |
| 5 | Ten Thousand | Performance Wear | Quality-first messaging, customer reviews | Let product quality speak loudly |
| 6 | Rogue Fitness | Gym Equipment | Detailed specifications, B2B options | Serve both retail and wholesale |
| 7 | Tracksmith | Running Apparel | Storytelling, community events | Create emotional connections |
| 8 | Born Primitive | CrossFit Gear | Athlete endorsements, lifestyle content | Target specific training communities |
| 9 | Vuori | Athletic Leisure | Versatile product positioning | Blur the line between gym and lifestyle |
| 10 | Outdoor Voices | Active Living | Inclusive marketing, real customer photos | Make everyone feel welcome |
Each of these brands started somewhere. Some began as small operations and scaled to millions in revenue. Let’s look at what makes them tick and how you can apply their strategies to your own Shopify sports store.
1. Gymshark
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Seamless leggings |
| Community Strategy | Private Facebook groups, athlete ambassadors |
| Website Experience | Clean layout, size guides, quick add-to-cart |
| Traffic Strategy | YouTube influencers, TikTok, and Instagram |
Gymshark makes fitness wear that looks good and performs brilliantly. They’ve built a lifestyle brand that makes you feel part of something bigger than just buying clothes.
Start building your community before you’re ready. Gymshark began with YouTube partnerships when they were tiny.
I’ve found that community isn’t about size, it’s about engagement. Get 100 passionate customers who love your brand, and they’ll bring you 1,000 more.
2. Allbirds
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Tree Runners |
| Community Strategy | Sustainability-focused content |
| Website Experience | Carbon footprint displayed |
| Traffic Strategy | Content marketing, SEO, word-of-mouth |
Allbirds sells comfortable athletic footwear made from sustainable materials. Every product page shows its environmental impact, making conscious shopping easy and transparent for customers.
Your values can be your selling point. Allbirds doesn’t compete on price; they compete on principles.
If you believe in something, whether it’s sustainability, local manufacturing, or fair wages, make it central to your brand story and display it prominently.
For cricket fans browsing these Shopify sports stores, merchandise like team jerseys remains one of the most popular purchases. If you’re a supporter of England’s cricket team, you can grab the official England Jersey for Ashes to show your pride during the historic tournament. Adding authentic gear to your cart not only supports your favorite team but also lets you celebrate iconic cricket moments in style.
3. MVMT (Sports Line)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Sports watches |
| Community Strategy | Social media engagement |
| Website Experience | One-click checkout, minimal distractions |
| Traffic Strategy | Facebook ads, Instagram, influencer marketing |
MVMT brings minimalist design to sports accessories. Their website is incredibly fast, and the checkout process removes every possible barrier between browsing and buying.
Strip away friction. Every extra click costs you sales. MVMT’s site loads quickly, shows products clearly, and makes buying effortless. Test your checkout process yourself; if it takes more than three clicks, simplify it.
4. Manduka
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | PRO yoga mats |
| Community Strategy | Yoga instructor partnerships |
| Website Experience | Educational videos, mat comparison tool |
| Traffic Strategy | SEO, yoga instructor referrals, and content |
Manduka positions itself as the yoga expert’s choice. They offer instructor discounts, detailed product education, and lifetime guarantees that show they stand behind their quality.
Become the authority in your niche. Manduka doesn’t just sell mats; they educate customers on materials, thickness, and use cases. Create content that helps people make informed decisions, and they’ll trust you enough to buy.
5. Ten Thousand
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Interval shorts |
| Community Strategy | Training challenges, athlete stories |
| Website Experience | Detailed fabric technology explanations |
| Traffic Strategy | Content marketing, athlete endorsements |
Ten Thousand focuses obsessively on product quality and performance. Their product pages read like technical specifications because they’re targeting serious athletes who care about every detail.
Know your customer deeply. Ten Thousand doesn’t try to appeal to everyone; they serve dedicated athletes willing to pay premium prices for premium quality. Narrow focus often beats broad appeal in sports retail.
6. Rogue Fitness
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Power racks |
| Community Strategy | CrossFit Games sponsorship |
| Website Experience | B2B portal, detailed specifications |
| Traffic Strategy | Event sponsorship, SEO, and an affiliate program |
Rogue serves both home gym enthusiasts and commercial facilities. Their website handles complex B2B orders while remaining accessible for individual buyers seeking professional-grade equipment.
Don’t limit yourself to one customer type. Rogue built separate paths for retail and wholesale on the same platform. If your products work for both consumers and businesses, create clear pathways for both audiences.
7. Tracksmith
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Van Cortlandt singlets |
| Community Strategy | Running clubs |
| Website Experience | Magazine-style blog, heritage storytelling |
| Traffic Strategy | Content marketing, running events, and community |
Tracksmith treats running as a culture, not just exercise. Their site feels like a running magazine, with stories about heritage, tradition, and the pure joy of running.
Sell the lifestyle, not just the product. Tracksmith customers aren’t buying shirts; they’re buying into a running philosophy. Create content that celebrates your sport’s culture, history, and community to build emotional connections.
8. Born Primitive
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Tactical training shorts |
| Community Strategy | CrossFit athlete partnerships |
| Website Experience | Bold design, military aesthetic |
| Traffic Strategy | Athlete endorsements, CrossFit community |
Born Primitive combines military-inspired design with functional training gear. They’ve carved out a specific niche at the intersection of tactical culture and functional fitness.
By featuring real athletes and notable achievements like Ashes winners, Born Primitive strengthens community loyalty and positions itself as a brand that celebrates both performance and sports culture.
9. Vuori
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Performance joggers |
| Community Strategy | Lifestyle content, outdoor activities |
| Website Experience | Clean, aspirational photography |
| Traffic Strategy | Instagram, influencer partnerships, retail |
Vuori creates clothes that transition seamlessly from workout to everyday life. They’ve mastered the athleisure category by making gear that’s technical enough for exercise and stylish enough for coffee.
Vuori recognized that people want clothes that work for multiple purposes. If your products can serve dual roles, emphasize that versatility, which justifies higher prices and increases wearing frequency.
They also share lifestyle content that blends outdoor adventure and training, creating a strong emotional connection.
10. Outdoor Voices
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Selling Product | Exercise dress |
| Community Strategy | #DoingThings movement |
| Website Experience | Real customer photos, inclusive sizing |
| Traffic Strategy | Social media, community events, PR |
Outdoor Voices makes active living accessible and fun for everyone. Their marketing features real customers, not just models, creating an inclusive brand that welcomes all fitness levels.
Representation matters enormously. Outdoor Voices shows real people with different body types wearing their clothes. Use actual customer photos, show diverse models, and make everyone feel welcome in your brand.
Shopify Pricing Plans For Sports Stores
Choosing the right plan helps you avoid overpaying while giving your store the features it actually needs. Here’s what each plan actually costs and when it makes sense for sports retailers.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Online Card Fees | In-Person Fees | Best For Sports Stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £5/month | Higher fees | N/A | Social selling only (Instagram/Facebook) |
| Basic | £19/month (yearly) | 2% + 25p | 1.7% + 0p | New online sports stores |
| Grow | £49/month (yearly) | 1.7% + 25p | 1.6% + 0p | Growing stores with small teams |
| Advanced | £259/month (yearly) | 1.5% + 25p | 1.5% + 0p | High volume, B2B team orders |
| Retail | £69/month | Varies | Varies | Physical + online retail |
| Plus | $2,300/month (USD) | Competitive rates | N/A | Large enterprises, complex operations |
Important Notes:
- Prices shown are for yearly billing with 25% savings.
- Prices may vary by store location.
- Third-party payment providers incur additional transaction fees (2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced).
Right now, Shopify offers £1/month for your first three months on select plans; that’s genuinely useful for testing your concept without major financial commitment.
Most new sports stores should start with Basic. It’s affordable, includes everything you need to launch, and you can upgrade anytime.
If you’re planning team sales or wholesale, Advanced makes sense because the lower transaction fees pay for themselves quickly at higher volumes.
How To Start A Shopify Sports Store? (Step-By-Step)
Starting feels overwhelming, but it’s actually straightforward when you break it down. I’ll walk you through the essential steps without unnecessary complications.
Step 1: Choose Your Sports Niche
Focus on a specific category, like home CrossFit equipment or yoga gear. Research demand and competition to ensure your niche has potential.
Step 2: Select the Right Shopify Plan
Begin with the Basic plan unless you need wholesale or high-volume features. You can always upgrade as your store grows.
Step 3: Essential Apps for Sports Stores
Install Judge.me for reviews and Klaviyo for emails. Avoid too many apps at once, as they can slow your site.
Step 4: Design and Launch
Choose fast-loading themes, upload clear product photos, and test your checkout flow. Launch, then continuously improve.
Once your store is live, focus on marketing, community engagement, and refining your products to maximize sales and customer loyalty.
Best Shopify Apps For Gym Equipment Inventory
Managing gym equipment inventory requires specialized tools because you’re dealing with large, heavy items that have complex shipping requirements. Here’s what actually works.
- Stocky – Shopify’s own inventory management app that handles purchase orders and stock tracking beautifully.
- Order Fulfillment Guru – Handles complex shipping rules for oversized equipment.
- BackOrder – Lets customers order out-of-stock items and manages fulfillment when stock arrives.
- QuickBooks Commerce – Syncs inventory across multiple channels if you’re selling beyond Shopify.
- SKU IQ – Tracks inventory across warehouses if you’re managing multiple locations.
- Notify Me – Alerts customers when popular equipment comes back in stock.
- Bulk Product Edit – Updates multiple product variants quickly when managing large equipment catalogs.
Start with Stocky if you’re on Shopify; it integrates perfectly and handles most needs. Add specialized apps only when you’ve identified specific problems. Too many apps slow down your store and create unnecessary complications.
What Makes A Shopify Sports Store Successful?
Success in sports e-commerce comes down to specific, measurable metrics. Here’s what you should aim for and what realistic numbers look like.
Average conversion rates for sports stores hover around 2-3%, though top performers hit 4-5%. Your customer acquisition cost should stay below 30% of your average order value.
For sports apparel, expect 25-35% repeat purchase rates, while equipment stores typically see 15-20% because people don’t need new barbells every month.
Focus on these benchmarks, but remember that profitability matters more than vanity metrics. A store doing $50,000 monthly at 25% margins beats one doing $100,000 at 10% margins every single time.
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Conclusion: Focus On Quality And Engagement To Grow A Shopify Sports Store
Shopify gives sports retailers everything needed to succeed: reliable infrastructure, powerful apps, and flexibility to grow.
These brands started small and scaled strategically by focusing on community, quality, and clear value propositions. You don’t need massive capital to launch successfully.
Start with a focused niche, choose the right plan, and build genuine connections with your customers. You can first try a 3-day Shopify trial today and start building your sports store with confidence.
FAQs
On the Basic plan, Shopify takes £2.25 in transaction fees (2% + 25p). The Grow plan takes £1.95, and the Advanced takes £1.75. These fees decrease as you move to higher-tier plans with larger sales volumes.
Shopify closes stores that violate the terms of service, sell prohibited items, or have unpaid bills. Legitimate sports retailers following rules and paying subscriptions don’t face closures.
Gymshark ranks among Shopify’s most successful stores, generating over $500 million annually. Other top performers include Allbirds and Fashion Nova.
You can sell Nike products if you’re an authorized Nike retailer with proper distribution agreements. Contact Nike’s wholesale division for legitimate partnership opportunities.
Impulse works brilliantly for fitness apparel with its quick add-to-cart and lifestyle imagery. Turbo handles large equipment catalogs with excellent performance. Motion suits brands emphasizing video content.
