Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Ink Alternative for Aerial Studios
- Custom Ink requires order minimums that small aerial studios outgrow quickly
- Print-on-demand removes minimums and inventory risk entirely
- A Bear Grips Pro Shop sells year-round through an online storefront, not just one-off orders
- Switching is a one-afternoon project for most studios
Custom Ink built its reputation on group ordering with low minimums and predictable per-piece pricing. For a one-time team shirt order it still works. For an aerial studio that wants a year-round apparel program with multiple products, seasonal drops, and instructor uniforms, the minimums and setup fees stop making sense. Here is the practical comparison and what switching looks like.
Where Custom Ink Still Works
Custom Ink is built for one-off group orders. A summer camp t-shirt for 60 campers. A 5K race shirt for 200 runners. A reunion shirt for a family of 40. These are the classic use cases, and Custom Ink handles them with a clean interface, decent design tools, and predictable per-piece pricing once you hit the minimum.
The minimum is usually 6 to 12 pieces depending on product. The price drops as the order grows. The whole order ships to one address and gets distributed by the organizer.
For one-time, single-design, single-shipment use cases, this works.
Where Custom Ink Stops Working for an Aerial Studio
The mismatch starts when an aerial studio tries to use Custom Ink for ongoing apparel sales:
- Per-order minimums every time. Each design needs its own batch order. A studio with five products has to coordinate five separate group buys.
- One shipping address. Custom Ink ships the bulk order to the studio, which then has to coordinate handing out shirts to students who paid online or in person.
- Setup fees stack. Each new design, color, or size variation often triggers additional setup costs.
- No ongoing storefront. Students cannot just go to a link and buy a hoodie in their size. The studio has to organize a buying window every time.
- Cash tied up upfront. The studio fronts the bulk cost, then collects from students after the fact (or eats the loss on unsold pieces).
This is what print-on-demand fixes.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.The Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Custom Ink (Group Order) | Bear Grips Pro Shops (POD) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 6 to 12 pieces typical | 1 piece |
| Setup fees | Often per design | None |
| Ongoing storefront | No | Yes (studio shop link) |
| Ships to | One address (studio) | Each customer directly |
| Multiple products live | One per group buy | 3 to 200+ at once |
| Inventory risk | Yes (studio pays upfront) | None (prints on demand) |
| Free shipping to customer | Not standard | Yes |
| Monthly cost | None | Free tier or $59 to $109 a month |
Custom Ink wins on a one-time bulk order if you have a confirmed unit count. Pro Shops wins on everything else.
What Switching Looks Like for a Studio
For a studio currently running Custom Ink group buys, switching to a Pro Shop is a one-afternoon project:
- Open a free Bear Grips Pro Shop. No payment required for the free tier.
- Upload the studio logo. Same logo used in your previous Custom Ink orders.
- List five core products. A tank, leggings, hoodie, tee, and long-sleeve covers most aerial studio demand.
- Set retail pricing. Most studios price slightly higher than what Custom Ink charged because POD includes free shipping to the student.
- Share the link. Group chat, booking emails, front-desk QR code.
The next time a student wants a studio hoodie, they click the link and buy it directly. No coordinating a group buy. No collecting payment in advance. No handing out shirts in the lobby.
For the full walkthrough, see our studio shop setup guide.
Switch From Custom Ink in 90 Minutes
Free to launch. No minimum order, no setup fees, no inventory. Your studio shop ships each order directly to the student.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is there a Custom Ink alternative with no minimum order?
Yes. Print-on-demand platforms like Bear Grips Pro Shops have a one-piece minimum, no setup fees, and an ongoing storefront that ships each order directly to the customer.
When does Custom Ink still make sense for an aerial studio?
For one-time, single-design bulk orders with a confirmed unit count (a 50-piece showcase team uniform, for example). For year-round retail, print-on-demand is more flexible.
How long does it take to switch from Custom Ink to a Pro Shop?
About 90 minutes from sign-up to a shareable shop link. The studio keeps its logo, picks five core products, sets prices, and starts selling.
