Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Ink Alternative for Sales Teams: Lower MOQ, Faster Lead Time
- Custom Ink alternative built for sales teams: no MOQ, per-rep on-demand ordering.
- Embroidered polos, SKO hoodies, presidents club premium pieces.
- Same-day quote, no per-order setup fee, free US shipping.
- Compare on price, lead time, and minimum order.
Custom Ink built the modern custom apparel category but their model is built for one-time bulk orders, not ongoing sales team swag operations. A team that needs to onboard a new SDR next week with a single polo cannot order one polo from Custom Ink. A presidents club drop of 8 premium hoodies sits below the volume that makes their pricing competitive. Bear Grips Pro Shops fills the on-demand sales team gap: open store, no MOQ, per-rep ordering, year-round.
Side-by-side comparison for sales team use
| Feature | Custom Ink | Bear Grips Pro Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 6 pieces typical, often 12+ | 1 piece, no MOQ |
| On-demand per-rep ordering | No (bulk model) | Yes (open store year-round) |
| Setup fee | Per order screen setup | No setup fee |
| Lead time | 2 to 3 weeks typical | About 1 week |
| Embroidery | Available | Available, included in base |
| Free shipping to end rep | Conditional | Yes, always |
| Year-round company store | Available (separate product) | Default offering |
Where Custom Ink still wins
Custom Ink has scale that we do not match: massive bulk orders over 500 pieces, brand recognition with finance and legal teams, and a UI optimized for one-time event orders. For a 1,500-rep annual SKO single drop, Custom Ink can compete on per-piece price.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Where Pro Shops wins
- Small sales teams under 50 reps: per-rep on-demand model beats the bulk MOQ.
- On-demand swag closet: open store for new hires, departing reps, and presidents club tier.
- Distributed remote teams: ship-to-home per rep, not bulk to one office.
- Fast turnaround: about a week vs 2 to 3 weeks.
- Mixed cut and size: mens and womens, every size, no premium for off-standard sizes.
Switching cost analysis
Three things to confirm before switching from Custom Ink:
- Logo file portability: most logos transfer cleanly. Embroidery files digitize fresh on our side.
- Pantone color matching: brand colors match on screen-print and embroidery to brand standard.
- Existing reorder history: Custom Ink reorder data does not transfer. New store, new history. Most ops teams treat the switch as a clean break.
Pricing comparison on a typical SKO drop
| Order | Custom Ink est. | Pro Shops VIP |
|---|---|---|
| 40 embroidered polos, 3-color logo | ~$1,800 | $1,395 |
| 40 hoodies, front emblem plus back graphic | ~$2,200 | $1,475 |
| One new hire welcome kit (4 pieces) | Not available below MOQ | $121.50 |
Numbers are estimates. Get a real quote from both before committing.
Switch From Custom Ink to Pro Shops
No MOQ, no setup fee, faster lead time, year-round company store. For sales teams that need on-demand, not one-time bulk.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is Custom Ink more expensive overall?
For low-volume on-demand orders, yes. For very large single drops (500+ pieces), the per-piece price can be similar or lower.
Can I run a Custom Ink store alongside a Pro Shops store?
Yes. Many ops teams use Custom Ink for the once-a-year bulk SKO and Pro Shops for the ongoing on-demand swag closet.
Does Pro Shops support the same garment brands as Custom Ink?
Most overlapping brands: Bella+Canvas, Sport-Tek, Champion, Gildan, Next Level, Independent Trading Co., Richardson, Yupoong.
What happens to my Custom Ink reorder history if I switch?
It stays on the Custom Ink account. Pro Shops builds new reorder history under the new store.
