Hunting Club Apparel Without Custom Ink Minimums or Setup Fees

Custom Ink is the default name most hunting clubs reach for when somebody on the committee says "we should do club shirts." It works for one-time bulk runs. It does not work for a year-round club merch program. The model is built around screen-print bulk orders, setup fees, and committee-managed buys. Bear Grips Pro Shops is built around the opposite model: no minimum, no setup, no committee, members order direct from a permanent shop. Below is the side-by-side and when each makes sense.

How the two models compare

	Custom Ink	Bear Grips Pro Shops
Minimum order	Typically 6-12 pieces	1 piece
Setup fee	Often $50-$100 per design	$0
Order model	One-time bulk runs	Permanent shop, member-direct orders
Pricing tier	Lower per-piece on large runs (50+)	Flat per-piece, no quantity tiers
Shipping	To one address	To each member individual
Embroidery	Available at extra cost	Included at no setup fee
Reorders	Repeat the bulk order process	Members reorder from shop anytime
Family and guest sales	Need separate bulk runs	Anyone with the URL can buy

When Custom Ink still makes sense

Honest answer: Custom Ink wins one scenario.

• 50+ identical tees in one run, shipped to one address: at that volume the per-piece screen-print price drops below our per-piece DTG price for cotton tees

Every other scenario favors the Pro Shops model.

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

When Pro Shops wins

• Year-round member orders: Custom Ink does not support a permanent shop
• Variable sizes and customization: Custom Ink charges extra for personalization, we do not
• Family and guest sales: Custom Ink requires another bulk order, we support open URL ordering
• Embroidered hats: Custom Ink charges $5-10 setup per hat run, we charge $0
• Multi-product catalogs: Custom Ink is per-product orders, we are a catalog shop

The per-piece comparison on a 30-tee run

A 30-piece tee run with one chest logo:

	Custom Ink (bulk screen)	Pro Shops (per piece)
Per-tee price	~$15-18	$19.88 base
Setup fee	$50-100 once	$0
Personalization	+$3-5 per shirt	$0
Reorder later	Repeat bulk	Same per-piece, no setup

Custom Ink is cheaper on the first run if no personalization. Pro Shops is cheaper on every reorder, on every individual personalized order, and on every guest or family purchase. Across a full year, Pro Shops nets more revenue for the club.

How clubs make the switch

Three steps from Custom Ink one-off model to permanent shop:

1. Open a free Pro Shops account, upload the existing club logo
2. Add 5-6 starter products at retail markups of base plus $10-$20
3. Send the shop URL to the existing roster, replace the old "order shirts in the next two weeks" thread with a permanent link

The transition takes one afternoon. See setup walkthrough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the print quality comparable to Custom Ink screen prints?

Modern DTG and DTF on cotton tees holds up alongside screen prints for full-color logos. For single-color simple designs, screen print on bulk has a slight feel advantage. For all other cases the print is comparable.

Can we still place bulk orders through Pro Shops?

Yes. The bulk-order tool runs at the same per-piece price as individual orders. See bulk orders.

Does Pro Shops handle international shipping like Custom Ink?

Pro Shops ships to US addresses. Custom Ink ships internationally with surcharges. For US-only clubs this is a wash.

Can the same club logo be used across both platforms during a transition?

Yes. The logo file works in both. No exclusivity.