i second this so heavily i can recognise instantly when someone has gotten their stuff from wooacry because thats what i use, but i still buy it cuz i want their art lol. the art is what makes it unique and worth buying
Artists gatekeeping their manufacturers is annoying to me because it isnt the manufacturer that makes your merch unique, but your art. If you're worried about the competition if people use the same manufacturer as you, then maybe your stuff needs to be a little more original