Dance studios looking for a Custom Ink alternative that removes minimums, eliminates upfront cost, and turns apparel into a revenue stream instead of an expense will find Bear Grips Pro Shops operates on a fundamentally different model. Instead of placing batch orders and distributing shirts yourself, you set up a permanent shop that your students shop from directly. Here is how the two approaches compare.
Custom Ink is a batch ordering service. You design a shirt, specify a quantity, pay upfront, and receive a bulk shipment to distribute. It is a transactional model with a minimum order (typically 6-12 pieces) and full upfront payment.
Bear Grips Pro Shops is a permanent branded shop model. Your studio has a standing shop URL that students access anytime. They order when they want, pay at checkout, and shirts ship directly to their home. You earn a margin on every sale. Here is the comparison:
| Feature | Custom Ink | Bear Grips Pro Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 6-12 pieces typically | No minimum |
| Upfront cost | Full order paid upfront | Zero upfront cost |
| Shipping | Variable, one bulk shipment | Free, to each student directly |
| Distribution | You sort and hand out shirts | Shirts ship to student homes |
| Studio revenue model | Expense to the studio | Passive income for the studio |
| Shop lifetime | One-time order | Permanent, always-on shop |
Custom Ink is a reasonable choice for a dance studio when:
For standard practice wear, studio shirts, hoodies, tanks, hats, and competition warmup gear, Bear Grips Pro Shops handles all of those product types at competitive base prices with no minimum and free shipping to each student.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.For a mid-size dance studio with 50 students, here is what the two models look like financially over a typical year:
| Model | Annual Approach | Studio Financial Position |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Ink | 2 bulk orders (fall and spring), 50 shirts each | $800-1,200 spent on apparel |
| Bear Grips VIP | Permanent shop, 2 seasonal promotions | $700-1,200 earned from apparel |
The custom Ink model costs the studio money and requires distribution logistics twice per year. The Bear Grips model generates passive income twice per year with zero distribution effort. Over a three-year horizon, the financial difference is $4,500-7,000 in the studio's favor.
The transition takes about 30 minutes. What you need:
After setup, send a message to your student list explaining that the studio now has a permanent shop link where they can order branded gear any time. Frame the shift as added convenience (no more group order windows) rather than a platform change. For the full setup walkthrough with revenue math, see the studio merch shop guide.
Set up your free dance studio shop today. No minimums, no upfront cost, free shipping to every student, and passive revenue all year long.
Start FreeThe per-shirt base price at Custom Ink can be lower at high quantities. But Bear Grips turns apparel into studio revenue instead of a studio expense. Over a full year, most dance studios are $700-1,500 ahead financially using Bear Grips compared to the Custom Ink batch order model.
No. Bear Grips Pro Shops has no minimum order quantity. A single student can order a single shirt at any time and it ships free to their home in approximately one week.
Bear Grips Pro Shops specializes in branded athletic apparel: t-shirts, tanks, leggings, hoodies, polos, shorts, and hats. Competition-specific dance costumes and gowns are not part of the catalog. For warmup gear, practice wear, and branded studio identity apparel, the catalog is comprehensive.
Bear Grips Pro Shops