Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Ink Alternative for Youth Basketball Leagues
- Custom Ink works as a one-time group order with a hard deadline.
- Pro Shops works as an always-on storefront the league earns from.
- Pricing is comparable on the family side, very different on the league side.
- Most youth leagues that switch to Pro Shops do not go back.
Custom Ink has been the default group-order path for youth basketball leagues for years. It works: each parent submits a size by the deadline, the order ships in bulk, the jerseys arrive. The trade-off is that the league captures none of the apparel revenue and parents only get one chance to order. Pro Shops is the always-on alternative: the storefront stays open all season, each family orders directly, the league earns a margin on every sale.
Custom Ink Model: One-Time Group Order
The Custom Ink flow: the league commissioner builds a group page, each parent enters size by the deadline, the system gathers payment, and at a minimum threshold the order ships in bulk 2 to 3 weeks later. Strengths: zero financial risk to the league (parents pre-pay), good design tools, well-known brand. Weaknesses: hard deadline (anyone who misses it is out), the league earns nothing, and the storefront closes after the order ships.
Pro Shops Model: Always-On Storefront
The Pro Shops flow: the commissioner builds an ongoing storefront, families check out any time during the season, jerseys ship in about a week per family. Strengths: no deadline, no group threshold, league earns a margin on every sale, multiple SKUs across the season (jersey, warm-up, opening day, championship, banquet). Weaknesses: requires more sustained commissioner attention than one-and-done Custom Ink.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Family-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Custom Ink | Pro Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey retail price | $28-$36 | $36-$42 |
| Lead time | 2-3 weeks from deadline | ~1 week from order |
| Name and number setup | Often included | Always included, no fee |
| Can order after deadline | No | Yes, all season |
| Size exchange | Difficult once shipped | Direct with Pro Shops support |
League-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Custom Ink | Pro Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Front money | None (parents pre-pay) | None |
| League margin per jersey | $0 | $10-$14 |
| Multi-SKU storefront | One design per order page | Up to 200 products on VIP |
| Always-on availability | No, single deadline | Yes, full season |
| Affiliate income | Not offered | 10% commission on referred leagues |
When Custom Ink Still Wins
Custom Ink wins for: one-time event apparel where the league does not want any ongoing relationship (a single tournament shirt), leagues that prefer the simplicity of one deadline and one shipment, and very small one-team programs (10-12 kids) where setting up a full storefront feels like overkill. For everything else, Pro Shops is the better long-term path.
Switch from Custom Ink
Open a free Pro Shops league storefront in 90 minutes. Always-on storefront, league earns margin on every sale, no deadline, no group threshold.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Can a league run both Pro Shops and Custom Ink?
Yes. Some leagues use Custom Ink for a one-time tournament shirt or banquet shirt and Pro Shops for the always-on jersey storefront. The two tools serve different needs.
What about jersey print quality compared to Custom Ink?
Print quality on the equivalent garments (Sport-Tek Performance, Bella+Canvas, Next Level) is comparable. Both platforms use direct-to-garment, screen print, or transfer methods. The garment is what determines the perceived quality, and Pro Shops carries the same garment lines as Custom Ink.
How long does it take to switch from Custom Ink to Pro Shops?
About a weekend. Setting up the storefront takes 90 minutes (see the run a league merch store guide). The transition usually happens between seasons so parents see one platform replace the other cleanly.
