A Custom Ink alternative for martial arts dojos exists in print-on-demand school stores, and it solves several problems that bulk screen-print ordering creates for school operators. Bear Grips Pro Shops is not a volume screen printer. It is a school store platform where students order individually, shirts print individually, and you earn a margin without handling inventory, upfront costs, or distribution. Here is how the two models compare for a martial arts school.
Both services produce custom-printed shirts. The process and model differ in almost every other respect:
| Factor | Custom Ink / Local Screen Print | Bear Grips Pro Shops (POD) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | Typically 6 to 24 pieces | None |
| Setup / design fee | Often included in minimum, sometimes extra | No setup fee |
| Upfront payment | 100% before production | $0 (students pay at order) |
| Inventory management | You hold and distribute shirts | None. Ships to each buyer directly |
| Store availability | One-time order event | Always open. Ongoing passive income |
| New student access | Wait for next bulk run | Immediate. Order any time |
| Unsold shirt risk | High. Wrong sizes become waste | None. Printed only when ordered |
Bulk screen printing wins in one specific scenario: very large quantity orders (100+ pieces of the same design) where cost per unit is the primary concern and you can accurately predict sizes. If a martial arts school is ordering 150 identical tournament shirts in pre-confirmed sizes and has the cash to front the order, a bulk screen printer will deliver a lower per-unit cost than any POD service.
For everything else, the economics favor print-on-demand:
Total cost of ownership for a martial arts school apparel program goes beyond per-unit shirt cost:
For a school with 60 to 100 active students, the total cost comparison over a 12-month period typically favors POD for operator cost, even if per-unit price is higher.
See the revenue math for school stores: dojo merch shop setup and income guide.
Free setup, no minimum, no upfront cost. Students order their own shirts, you earn a margin on every sale.
Start FreeFor ongoing school stores and recurring apparel programs, yes. Bear Grips Pro Shops removes the minimum order, upfront cost, and distribution requirements that Custom Ink and local screen printers require. For very large single-event orders above 100 pieces, bulk printing may still win on per-unit price.
No setup fees and no per-design charges. You upload your logo or design when setting up your school store. It applies to every product you activate. There is no charge to add, change, or update designs.
Yes. Many schools use Bear Grips Pro Shops for ongoing shirt sales and periodic reorders while still placing a one-time bulk order through a local printer for a specific large event (state championships, anniversary celebration). The two approaches are not mutually exclusive.
Bear Grips Pro Shops