Dropshipping apparel almost always starts with the question of Printify vs Printful, since both are the standard backends plugged into a Shopify or Etsy storefront for this exact model. Custom Ink is not really part of this conversation, its group-order structure does not fit an ongoing dropshipping catalog. But there is a second question dropshipping sellers often skip: whether a bolt-on backend plus a separate storefront subscription is actually the best structure for a seller who already has a defined audience (a niche community, a gym, a creator following) rather than a cold-traffic store.
Both platforms integrate directly with Shopify and Etsy, which are the two most common storefronts dropshipping sellers already run. Neither requires holding inventory, and both print only after a sale, which is the core dropshipping requirement. The tradeoff for both is a separate monthly storefront subscription and, in most integrations, shipping charged to the buyer on top of the item price.
Dropshipping apparel needs an always-open catalog that a cold or warm audience can discover and buy from at any time. Custom Ink's group-order model closes on a set date, which does not match a dropshipping store's need for a catalog that stays live indefinitely.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.| Cost line | Printify/Printful dropshipping | Bear Grips Pro Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Base item cost | Per-item, varies by provider | Fixed catalog price (tees from $19.88 VIP) |
| Storefront subscription | Shopify or Etsy fees, separate | Included on every plan |
| Shipping charged to buyer | Typically separate, added at checkout | Free, folded into item price |
| Margin the seller keeps | Retail minus base cost minus storefront fees | Retail minus base cost, seller sets retail and keeps the margin |
Cold-traffic dropshipping (paid ads driving strangers to a generic store) genuinely benefits from Printify or Printful's wide non-apparel catalog and established storefront integrations. But a seller with a defined audience already (a gym's member base, a creator's following, a club's roster) is not dropshipping in the cold-traffic sense, they are running a branded shop for people who already know them. That seller often does better with an all-in-one storefront like Bear Grips Pro Shops, since there is no separate Shopify fee to run alongside the fulfillment, and the built-in affiliate program pays 10% of a referred vendor's subscription plus $1 per unit sold, on top of the seller's own retail margin.
Branded storefront, no separate subscription, built-in affiliate program paying 10% forever plus $1 per unit.
Start FreeNot in the typical sense. Custom Ink is built around closing group orders rather than an always-open catalog a cold or warm audience can browse anytime.
Both work. The choice usually comes down to which provider network best covers the specific products and regions a seller is targeting.
No, on any of these platforms including Bear Grips Pro Shops. Items print only after a sale happens.
A niche-audience shop sells to people who already know the brand (gym members, fans, club roster), so a branded storefront with a built-in affiliate program often outperforms a bolt-on backend plus a separate storefront fee.
Bear Grips Pro Shops