Which custom apparel platform is better for your business? Here's an honest breakdown.
Bear Grips Pro Shops gives any business a branded online apparel shop with zero inventory risk. Instead of a massive catalog where you waste time and money testing which products sell, we give you a data-driven, curated selection of best-sellers. These are the items your customers will actually buy — proven across hundreds of vendors. We handle printing, packing, and free shipping on every order. Start free, or go VIP for lower base prices and done-for-you design service. Every signup also gets an affiliate link to earn 10% recurring commissions.
Redbubble is a open marketplace where artists upload designs and earn royalties. Independent artists who want passive income from designs without handling any business operations.
Their pricing: Free to list, artists set markup percentage
Their model: Open marketplace where artists upload designs and earn royalties
Integrations: Standalone marketplace only
| Feature | Bear Grips | Redbubble |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Free, $59/mo VIP, $109/mo DFY VIP | Free to list, artists set markup percentage |
| Product Catalog | Data-driven curated catalog — best sellers across all vendors, no guesswork | 70+ products — you figure out what sells |
| Shipping | Free shipping on every order | Paid shipping, 5-12 business days |
| Brands | Nike, Champion, Bella+Canvas, Sport-Tek, Next Level + more | Varies |
| Design Service | Done-for-you on VIP ($109/mo) | No done-for-you design service |
| Affiliate Program | 10% recurring + $1/unit sold by referrals | No affiliate program or limited |
| Minimums | No minimums — sell 1 at a time | No minimums |
| Shipping Speed | ~1 week, USA printing | Paid shipping, 5-12 business days |
| Target Audience | Any business type — gyms, churches, schools, restaurants, creators + more | Independent artists who want passive income from designs without handling any business operations |
Before comparing platforms, many businesses start with a local print shop. Here's the problem:
Bear Grips Pro Shops eliminates all of this. Zero inventory, zero minimums, zero upfront costs. We print and ship each order directly to your customer with free shipping. And we're constantly adding new products to keep your shop current with the latest styles and trends.
Redbubble works for a specific kind of seller: an artist who designs prolifically, doesn't want to do any marketing, and is happy with single-digit royalties per sale in exchange for marketplace traffic. They have millions of monthly visitors searching for art, stickers, and quirky designs, and a strong design will find buyers without you doing anything.
Pick Redbubble when: (1) you're a hobby artist uploading volume, not running a business, (2) you don't care about owning the customer relationship, and (3) you'd rather upload designs and walk away than build a brand.
Bear Grips is the wrong fit for that workflow, but the right fit when you actually want a business. The trade-off Redbubble makes is brutal at scale: the marketplace decides what gets shown, your designs sit next to thousands of competitors, and a $30 hoodie nets the artist around $4-$6. With Bear Grips, you set your own retail price and keep 100% of the margin above your cost. For someone with even a small audience, the math flips fast.
Redbubble offers marketplace traffic but at the cost of your brand. You can't build real customer relationships or control pricing.
If you want a branded athletic custom apparel shop with a curated best-seller catalog, free shipping, and done-for-you design support — Bear Grips Pro Shops is the better choice.
No inventory. No minimums. No upfront costs. Free shipping on every order. 100+ premium products with new styles added regularly. Start free.
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