Custom Gildan Polo Shirts: A Buyer's Guide for Business and Team Apparel

Gildan is one of the most recognized names in blank apparel, and its cotton pique polo is a common request for anyone building staff uniforms, team gear, or a merch shop that needs a step up from a t-shirt. The question most business owners actually have is not whether Gildan makes a good polo. It is how to get their own logo on one without ordering two dozen shirts up front. This guide covers what the Gildan polo is, what it costs through Bear Grips Pro Shops, and how to set one up with your own branding in a single afternoon.

What the Gildan Polo Shirt Actually Is

The Gildan Premium Cotton Pique Polo is a ringspun cotton pique knit, the classic textured weave used on most business and golf-style polos. Pique fabric holds its shape better than a flat knit tee, resists wrinkling on a hanger, and reads more formal without needing a collared button-up. Through Bear Grips Pro Shops it is available in both a men's and a women's cut.

• Men's Premium Cotton Pique Polo (Gildan). Free base $41.95, VIP base $34.88.
• Women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo (Gildan). Free base $41.95, VIP base $34.88.

Both cuts save $7.07 per unit on the VIP plan versus the free plan. That gap matters once you are printing polos every month for a staff or a team.

Why Businesses Reach for a Polo Instead of a Tee

• Customer-facing trust. A logo polo reads as an established business at a front desk, a job estimate, or a trade show booth in a way a t-shirt does not.
• Office and dress-code friendly. Most workplaces that ban plain tees still allow a collared polo.
• Longer shelf life. Pique cotton holds its shape through more wash cycles than a jersey tee.
• Works for staff and gifting. The same polo design covers front-of-house staff, sponsors, board members, and client thank-you gifts.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

How Ordering a Custom Gildan Polo Actually Works

1. Create a Pro Shop (free to start, no card required for the free tier).
2. Upload your logo as a transparent PNG.
3. Add the men's and/or women's Gildan polo to your shop and place the logo (left chest is standard).
4. Set your retail price. Most shops price the Gildan polo at $44 to $52 and keep the difference over the VIP base as profit.
5. Order one for yourself to check fit and print quality, or send the shop link straight to your team.

There is no setup fee, no plate charge, and no minimum quantity. A single polo for a new hire costs the same per unit as an order of fifty.

Free vs VIP: Which Plan Makes Sense for a Polo Shop

Plan	Price	Live products	Gildan polo base
Free	$0/mo	3	$41.95
Self-Service VIP	$59/mo	200	$34.88
Done-For-You VIP	$105/mo	250	$34.88 (shop built and managed for you)

Any business that expects to sell more than about eight polos a month clears the $59 VIP fee purely from the $7.07 per-unit savings, before counting the other 199 product slots that open up alongside it.

Design Tips That Keep a Gildan Polo Looking Professional

• Left chest placement, 3 to 4 inches. The standard placement for business and staff polos.
• Keep it to one or two colors. Simpler logos print and embroider cleaner at small sizes.
• Add a back print only if the polo is customer-facing outerwear. Office staff polos usually stay front-only.
• Preview every color before you commit. A logo that reads clean on white can wash out on light heather colors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gildan make polo shirts in both men's and women's cuts?

Yes. Bear Grips Pro Shops carries the Gildan Premium Cotton Pique Polo in both a men's and a women's cut, both priced at $41.95 free base or $34.88 VIP base.

What is the minimum order for a custom Gildan polo?

There is no minimum. Single-piece printing costs the same per unit as a large order, so a shop can sell one polo or a hundred.

How long does a custom Gildan polo take to arrive?

About a week from order to delivery. Printing is done in the USA and shipping to the buyer is free.

Can I sell the Gildan polo alongside other products in the same shop?

Yes. Free plans list up to 3 products, Self-Service VIP up to 200, and Done-For-You VIP up to 250, all in the same shop.