What's the Difference Between a Print Shop and a Done-for-You Apparel Partner?

When gym owners tell me they "already have a guy for shirts," I ask them five questions: Does your vendor create original designs for you? Do they send you garment samples before you order? Do they set up an online store for your preorders? Do they remind you when it's time for your next drop? Do they advise you on marketing and pricing?

If the answer to most of those is no — you have a print shop, not a partner. And that distinction is the difference between an apparel program that generates consistent profit and one that feels like a chore.

A Print Shop takes your design, prints it on shirts, and ships them to you. That's the full extent of the relationship. You handle the design (or pay extra for it), you manage the ordering process, you figure out quantities and sizes, you market the drop yourself, and you deal with any issues after the fact. The print shop's job starts when you submit the order and ends when UPS delivers the box.

A Done-for-You Apparel Partner manages the entire process from design through delivery. They create custom designs based on your vision (with unlimited revisions and no art fees). They send garment samples to your gym before you sell anything. They set up and manage a webstore for your preorders. They help you plan your annual apparel calendar. They provide marketing guidance and templates. They handle production, quality control, and shipping. And they follow up proactively to keep you on schedule.

The practical difference is time and results. With a print shop, the gym owner is the project manager. You're coordinating timelines, chasing designs, managing spreadsheets, and troubleshooting problems. With a partner, you approve a design, share a link with your members, and receive finished product at your door.

Cost comparison is where gym owners get confused. A print shop might quote you $8 per shirt. A full-service partner might charge $10-14 per shirt. On the surface, the print shop is cheaper. But factor in the art fees ($50-100 per design), the time you spend managing the process (hours you could spend coaching or running your business), the lack of marketing support (which directly impacts how many shirts you sell), and the headaches when something goes wrong — and the "cheaper" option often costs you more in lost revenue and wasted time.

The best way to evaluate the difference: look at the results. Gym owners who work with full-service partners consistently sell more apparel, at higher margins, with less personal time investment than those managing the process themselves through a print shop.

This isn't a knock on print shops — they serve a purpose. But for a gym owner who wants apparel to be a consistent, profitable, low-effort part of their business, a done-for-you partner is the clear choice.

Q: Is a done-for-you partner more expensive than a print shop?

A: Per-item cost may be slightly higher, but the total value — including design, sampling, webstore management, and marketing support — typically results in higher sales and more profit overall.

Q: Can I switch from a print shop to a full-service partner mid-year?

A: Absolutely. Most gym owners who switch see immediate improvements in design quality, sales volume, and personal time saved. There's no contract to break — you simply start your next order with the new partner.

Q: How do I know if my current vendor is a partner or just a print shop?

A: Ask yourself: do they proactively reach out about your next order? Do they offer design services at no extra cost? Do they help with preorder logistics? If not, you have a print shop.