Bear Grips Pro ShopsSports Performance Facility Apparel: Pro Shops vs Custom Ink vs Printful
- Custom Ink is built for one-time bulk orders, not ongoing facility merch.
- Printful gives you tools but no built-in storefront for your athlete base.
- Bear Grips Pro Shops gives you a branded shop, no minimums, no setup fees.
- For an ongoing facility apparel program, the storefront model wins on time.
What Each Platform Is Actually Built For
Custom Ink is a bulk-order printer. You design a shirt, place an order for 12, 24, or 100 pieces, and they print and ship. Best for a single team event, a fundraiser, or a one-off facility apparel drop.
Printful is a print-on-demand tooling platform. They give you the printing infrastructure but you build the storefront yourself (typically on Shopify, which is an additional $30+ per month plus design work). Good for facilities that already have a developer or want full storefront control.
Bear Grips Pro Shops is a ready-to-go branded storefront with print-on-demand built in. You sign up, upload your logo, pick pieces from the catalog, and your shop is live at your subdomain. No Shopify needed, no per-piece minimums, no setup fees.
Real Cost for a Year of Facility Merch
Assume a facility selling 120 pieces of branded apparel across a year (a typical 200-athlete facility):
| Path | Annual platform cost | Setup fees | Per-piece cost | Storefront |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Ink (bulk orders) | $0 | $200-$400 per order | $22-$32 | None (one-off orders) |
| Printful + Shopify | $360-$500 | Design and dev time | $18-$28 base | Self-built |
| Bear Grips Pro Shops VIP | $708 ($59/mo) | $0 | $19-$45 base | Branded subdomain included |
For a facility doing 120 pieces a year with multiple orders, Custom Ink ends up most expensive (bulk minimums force overbuying). Printful is the cheapest if you already have a Shopify and a designer. Pro Shops is the simplest path with zero infrastructure work.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Where Each Platform Actually Wins
Custom Ink wins when: you need 50+ shirts for a single one-time event (combine, championship, alumni day) and you do not need an ongoing shop. Bulk per-piece pricing is competitive on big single drops.
Printful wins when: you already run a Shopify store, you have a designer in-house, and you want full storefront control with no monthly platform fee beyond Shopify.
Pro Shops wins when: you want an ongoing branded apparel program for your athletes and staff with no inventory, no minimums, no Shopify, no setup. The shop is live in 30 minutes and runs on autopilot.
Switching from Custom Ink to Pro Shops
Most facilities moving over from Custom Ink make the switch for one reason: they are tired of placing a new bulk order every time a new coach is hired or a new program launches. The switch is straightforward:
- Sign up for Pro Shops (free or VIP)
- Upload the same facility logo you used at Custom Ink
- Pick the equivalent pieces from the Pro Shops catalog
- Set retail prices
- Share the new shop link with your roster
You can keep Custom Ink in reserve for one-time bulk events (championship shirts, alumni reunion drops) and let Pro Shops handle the ongoing facility program.
When You Should Not Switch
If your facility only orders apparel once a year as a bulk drop for the team and you do not want an ongoing athlete-facing shop, Custom Ink may still be the right call. The monthly platform fee on Pro Shops only pays for itself if you are running an active shop with at least 6-8 pieces sold per month. For a true once-a-year facility, no platform fee is the better answer.
See Pro Shops Side by Side for Your Facility
Open a free account, list your first 3 pieces, see what your facility can run without a bulk minimum or Shopify build.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Can I run Pro Shops alongside Custom Ink for bulk one-offs?
Yes. Many facilities use Pro Shops for the ongoing athlete shop and use Custom Ink for occasional bulk team events. The two do not conflict.
Is Printful cheaper per piece than Pro Shops?
Marginally on some pieces, when comparing raw base prices. Pro Shops includes the storefront, branded subdomain, and dashboard, which on Shopify+Printful would add $30+ per month in subscription fees.
Can I export my Custom Ink design files to Pro Shops?
Yes. Your facility logo as a transparent PNG uploads directly. You do not need a print-ready file, the system handles sizing per garment.
What if I only sell 30 pieces a year, is VIP worth it?
At 30 pieces a year, the free plan is likely the right starting point. VIP pays for itself somewhere around 7-10 pieces per month sold.
