Bear Grips

Bear Grips Pro Shops

2026 COMPARISON

Bear Grips vs Merchize

Which custom apparel platform is better for your business? Here's an honest breakdown.

What is Bear Grips Pro Shops?

Bear Grips Pro Shops is a premium print-on-demand platform for athletic custom apparel. We built it because most POD platforms dump thousands of products on you and say "figure it out." We take the opposite approach — our catalog is curated using real sales data from our vendor network. Every product is a proven performer. That means your customers get items they'll love, and you get higher margins without burning cash on samples. Free shipping included. No order minimums. Done-for-you design service available. Built-in affiliate program for passive income.

What is Merchize?

Merchize is a pod fulfillment specializing in all-over print, based in vietnam. Sellers focused on all-over print products who can handle longer international shipping times.

Their pricing: No monthly fee, pay per order

Their model: POD fulfillment specializing in all-over print, based in Vietnam

Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, API

Feature Checklist

Feature
Bear Grips
Merchize
Free shipping included
No monthly fee option
Done-for-you design
Built-in affiliate program
No order minimums
USA-based printing
Curated best-seller catalog
Shop included (no Shopify needed)

How They Compare

Shipping Cost
Bear Grips
Free always
Merchize
Paid
Design Support
Bear Grips
Done-for-you VIP
Merchize
DIY
Ease of Setup
Bear Grips
Shop included, ready in minutes
Merchize
Need separate store
Passive Income
Bear Grips
10% recurring + $1/unit
Merchize
None
Product Curation
Bear Grips
Best-sellers only, data-driven
Merchize
200+ items, you test

What Each Platform Does Well

Bear Grips Pro Shops

  • Premium brands: Nike, Champion, Bella+Canvas, Sport-Tek, Next Level
  • Your own branded shop included — no Shopify or third-party platform needed
  • $0 to start with the free plan — upgrade when you're ready
  • Analytics-driven product selection — skip the guesswork, sell what works
  • Every signup gets an affiliate link automatically — two income streams from day one

Merchize

  • Competitive pricing
  • All-over print specialty
  • Wide range of print methods
  • No monthly fees
  • Custom product development

Where Merchize Falls Short — and How Bear Grips Solves It

Merchize
Ships from Vietnam (slow to US)
Bear Grips
USA printing and shipping (~1 week)
Merchize
Quality concerns from overseas production
Bear Grips
Free shipping included
Merchize
Communication timezone challenges
Bear Grips
Premium US brands
Merchize
Long shipping times
Bear Grips
Done-for-you design service
Merchize
Less brand recognition
Bear Grips
Built-in affiliate program

Before comparing platforms, many businesses start with a local print shop. Here's the problem:

  • High minimums — most shops require 50-100+ pieces per design
  • Thousands upfront — you're paying for inventory before selling a single item
  • Sitting on inventory — unsold boxes in your back room or garage
  • Limited selection — stuck with one color, one product, whatever they have in stock
  • Never updated — your local shop isn't tracking apparel trends, seasons, or new styles
  • You handle shipping — packing and mailing is on you

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.

The Verdict

Merchize is a capable platform for sellers focused on all-over print products who can handle longer international shipping times. But for a full branded apparel shop with free shipping and done-for-you support, Bear Grips is the stronger choice.

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.

Make the switch — start selling custom apparel the easier way

Bear Grips Pro Shops gives you everything Merchize doesn't: free shipping, a free storefront, and a curated catalog so you never waste time guessing what sells.

Start Your Free Shop →

You Might Also Want to Compare