A Custom Ink Alternative Built for Nonprofit Walks and Philanthropy Events

Custom Ink works fine when a nonprofit knows the exact headcount, the exact sizes, and is okay with the per-piece price on a small run. For walks, philanthropy weeks, and benefit events where the headcount is fluid and the run is small, the order-form model breaks down. An ongoing shop link with no minimums, no setup fees, and direct-to-buyer shipping is a better fit. Here is the side-by-side comparison.

Order Form vs Ongoing Shop Link

The fundamental difference: Custom Ink runs as a one-time order form. The nonprofit collects sizes, locks the order, fronts the cash, takes delivery as one big box, then sorts and distributes by hand.

Bear Grips Pro Shops runs as an ongoing shop link. Buyers self-serve, pay before the shirt prints, and the shirt ships direct or in bulk to the event-day table. Nonprofit never fronts cash and never sorts a box of 200 mixed sizes.

Pricing on Small Runs

For a 25-walker first-year mental health walk:

• Custom Ink: Per-piece cost spikes on runs under 24 units. Setup fees apply to both front and back art.
• Bear Grips Pro Shops: 25-piece order pays the same per-piece rate as a 2,500-piece order. No setup fees on either side.

See the full Bear Grips vs Custom Ink comparison for the side-by-side.

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

Margin to the Cause

Custom Ink ships the order at a per-piece price. The nonprofit upsells the tee to walkers, the difference is the cause margin, and the nonprofit handles the cash collection.

Pro Shops vendors set the margin in the shop. The buyer pays the retail price at checkout. The margin is automatic. No cash collection at the registration table.

Turnaround Time

Custom Ink turnaround on a custom order varies from 7 to 14 business days depending on volume. Rush adds cost.

Bear Grips Pro Shops orders ship in about a week. Each order ships individually as buyers check out, so the long tail of late buyers also gets their tee by walk day if they order at least a week ahead.

When to Pick Custom Ink vs Pro Shops

• Pick Custom Ink: One-time order, exact headcount known, big bulk run (250+ units), all sizes collected ahead of time, no ongoing shop needed.
• Pick Bear Grips Pro Shops: Walks and fundraisers with fluid headcount, small first-year events, multi-event philanthropy weeks, ongoing chapter or congregation merch program, want vendor-set margin without manual cash collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum order on Bear Grips Pro Shops?

No minimum. A 12-piece order pays the same per-shirt rate as a 1,200-piece order.

How does the apparel margin reach the cause?

Vendor sets the margin in the shop. Buyers pay retail at checkout. Vendor receives the margin from the platform and donates to the cause.

How fast does the order ship?

About a week from order to delivery, with free US shipping included to each buyer.

Can the same shop run multiple events in one year?

Yes. The shop link stays open, vendor adds new products for each event (walk tee, week tee, banquet crewneck, year-end giving tee).