Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Ink Alternative For Track and Field Teams
- No minimum order vs Custom Ink's 6-shirt minimum.
- Individual athlete ordering vs one-time bulk pre-order.
- Direct-to-athlete shipping vs ship-to-one-address.
- Side-by-side time and cost comparison.
Custom Ink is the default print vendor most track and field programs have used for the last decade, but the model is built around bulk orders with size collection done by the coach. For programs that want individual athlete ordering with no minimum and no coach inventory risk, Bear Grips Pro Shops is the alternative. Below is the side-by-side on minimums, ordering, shipping, and the time cost on the coach.
Minimum Order: 6 vs 1
Custom Ink requires a minimum order, typically 6 shirts on most products. Bear Grips Pro Shops has no minimum on any product. One shirt or one hundred, same per-unit price. For mid-season transfers or replacement uniform pieces, the difference matters.
Size Collection: Spreadsheet vs Direct
Custom Ink's model requires the coach to:
- Collect sizes in a Google Form or spreadsheet from every athlete.
- Compile the order.
- Place one bulk order on Custom Ink.
- Receive shirts to one address (typically the coach's home).
- Distribute manually to each athlete at practice.
Pro Shops' model lets each athlete and parent visit the team shop, pick their size, pay direct, and have the shirt ship to their own address. The coach does not collect sizes, does not place a single order, does not haul boxes of shirts.
Shipping: One Address vs Athlete Address
Custom Ink ships bulk orders to one address. The coach then handles distribution. Pro Shops ships every shirt directly to the athlete or parent who ordered it. The coach is never the middleman.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Cost Comparison: 40-Athlete Track Team
| Line | Custom Ink (typical) | Pro Shops (VIP) |
|---|---|---|
| Per-tank base (performance) | $15 to $20 | $19.88 |
| Setup fee | $30 to $50 | $0 |
| Shipping | $25 to $50 bulk | Free, direct to athlete |
| Coach time (hrs over season) | 10 to 20 | 0.5 (launch the product) |
| Inventory risk | High (program pays up front) | None (athlete pays at checkout) |
On large single-event bulk runs, Custom Ink can win on raw per-shirt price. Factor in coach hours and inventory risk and Pro Shops typically nets ahead for any ongoing program with multiple product launches per season.
When Custom Ink Still Wins
One scenario where Custom Ink remains a fit: a one-time event shirt where the program has confirmed signups with sizes pre-collected, wants the absolute lowest per-shirt price on a 100+ unit single order, and the coach is willing to absorb the upfront cost and distribution work. Most often: a single state-meet commemorative tee for a known qualifier list.
When Pro Shops Wins
Every other scenario:
- Ongoing apparel program across the season.
- Athletes joining mid-season who want team gear.
- Parent and family pieces alongside athlete pieces.
- Coaches who don't want to handle inventory.
- Fundraiser shirts where the program doesn't want to float costs.
Switch From Custom Ink With No Risk
Free branded shop. No minimum, no upfront cost, no spreadsheet. Athletes order, program collects markup.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is Pro Shops the same as Printful or Printify?
The model is similar (print-on-demand, no minimum) but Pro Shops is built specifically for teams: branded program shops, athlete-facing ordering URLs, coach revenue tracking, affiliate program, and US printing with about one-week delivery.
Can we switch mid-season?
Yes. Most programs running their meet tanks on Custom Ink open a Pro Shops store for their next product launch, run both for a season, and consolidate.
Do we lose anything by switching?
You lose the bulk-pre-order model. For some coaches that's a feature (skip the spreadsheet). For coaches who prefer one big order per season, the new model takes adjustment but most prefer the individual ordering once they've done it.
Are the print quality and fabric the same?
Pro Shops uses premium blanks (Bear Grips, Bella+Canvas, Next Level, Champion, Gildan, Sport-Tek) and US-based printing. Quality is comparable to or better than typical Custom Ink runs.
