Custom Ink Alternative for Dog Trainers and Training Schools

Custom Ink works for one-off training apparel orders. The business owner sets up a group order, collects sizes, collects payment, hits the deadline, the shirts ship. For a dog training business running 3 to 5 separate apparel needs per year (trainer polos, graduation tees, client community hoodies, event apparel), the coordinator workflow burns out the business owner. Bear Grips Pro Shops replaces the manual coordinator with a year-round storefront.

How Custom Ink Workflow Plays Out for Dog Trainers

The Custom Ink group order model:

1. Business owner sets up a group order with a deadline.
2. Shares the link in the client email list or staff Slack.
3. Each buyer (client or staff) clicks through, picks size, enters info, pays.
4. Coordinator chases down buyers who did not order before the deadline.
5. Order locks. Goes to production.
6. Shirts ship 2-3 weeks later in a bulk box to the business.
7. Coordinator sorts, bags, distributes shirts at the next class or staff meeting.

For one design per year, this is fine. For 4 designs per year across trainer apparel, client community, graduation gifts, and event apparel, it burns out the business owner.

How Bear Grips Replaces the Coordinator

1. Business owner sets up the storefront once.
2. Storefront stays open 24/7, 365 days a year.
3. Each client or staff member orders direct through the storefront when they need a piece.
4. Shirt prints on demand and ships free to the buyer's home address.
5. Business gets margin in the bi-weekly payout.

No coordinator. No deadlines. No batch sort and distribute. New clients in October order the same week. Graduation gifts ship the week of the last class.

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

Custom Ink vs Bear Grips: Head-to-Head

Feature	Custom Ink	Bear Grips Pro Shops
Minimum order	6 pieces typical	1 piece
Order window	Locked deadline per group order	Open 365 days/year
Setup fees per design	Yes, varies	None
Reorders	New group order required	Same storefront, instant
Coordinator role	Owner per cycle	None, buyers order direct
Shipping	Bulk to business address	Free direct to each buyer
Production	2-3 weeks after deadline	About 1 week from order
Embroidered staff names	Per-design setup fee	Customer input at checkout
Client merch program	Each batch a new group order	Storefront stays open year-round

When Dog Trainers Switch to Bear Grips

• Coordinator burnout. Owner running 4-5 group orders per year hits the wall.
• Client late-add problems. New client in October. Last group order was August. The new client has no community merch until next year.
• Inventory in the closet. Three years of leftover bulk apparel in the back office.
• Mid-cycle staff hires. New assistant trainer joins. No branded polo available until the next bulk order.

How a Dog Trainer Switches From Custom Ink

1. Sign up at shops.beargrips.com/for/dog-trainer.
2. Upload the business logo.
3. Add 6-10 starter products covering trainer apparel and client community merch.
4. Build sections (trainer, client community, graduation, seasonal).
5. Share the new storefront link in the client email list and the staff Slack.
6. Run the existing Custom Ink group orders until they complete, then stop scheduling new ones.

The transition takes 6-12 months as staff and clients adjust to ordering direct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the trainer still do a one-time bulk order through Bear Grips?

Yes. Place a single order with multiple line items. Same per-unit pricing across all line items. Shipped together or to separate addresses.

Does Bear Grips offer fundraiser-style payouts like Custom Ink fundraisers?

Yes. The trainer sets the retail price and earns the margin on every piece sold. Bi-weekly payouts go to the business bank account.

What if the trainer wants a one-off limited-time design?

The storefront can launch a limited-time event-specific or seasonal piece that opens and closes on the trainer's schedule. Functions like a Custom Ink group order, but no minimum and no coordinator.

Does Bear Grips do design help?

Yes. Done-For-You VIP includes mockups, design help, and full storefront setup by a Pro Shops advisor.