CustomInk
 | |
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
Type of site | Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce |
| Founded | 2000, McLean, VA[1] |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, VA |
| No. of locations | Charlottesville, VA; Reno, NV; Dallas, Texas; and Boston, MA |
| Area served | United States, Canada |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Industry | Customized Apparel and Accessories |
| Products | T-shirts, Apparel, Accessories |
| Services | Screen Printing, Digital Printing, Embroidery |
| Revenue | ~US$300 million |
| Employees | 1500+ |
| Slogan(s) | T-Shirts Unite!, Design T-shirts Online |
| Website |
www |
CustomInk is an American-based online retail company that makes custom apparel such as T-shirts and sweatshirts. Customers can upload their own art, or use the site's design tools to create a design and order the customized product. CustomInk is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia with additional offices in Reno, Dallas, and Charlottesville. As of 2015, CustomInk has expanded to Boston to accommodate their Booster projects.[2]
History
CustomInk was launched in 1999 by former college classmates, Marc Katz, Dave Christensen, and Mike Driscoll.[3]
Services
CustomInk sells custom apparel for groups and occasions.[4] The website allows people to design and order custom apparel and accessories.[4] Customers can choose from a variety of design ideas, clipart, fonts and colors, or upload their own images to be printed on items including apparel, bags, drink ware and office supplies. CustomInk review each design and email the customer a picture proof of how the design will print, and offers screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery services.
Company culture and employment
In 2015, the Washington Post listed the best 150 workplaces in the D.C. area, and CustomInk ranked #38 in the Top Midsize Workplaces category.[5] In 2015, Fortune named CustomInk #29 in the "100 Best Workplaces for Millennials.[6] In 2017, they tanked #7 on large companies. [7]
In 2014, Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work ranked CustomInk #1 on their list of the 20 best retailers to work for.[8]
Inc Magazine placed CustomInk in their list of 500|5000 fastest growing companies in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Prior to that, CustomInk ranked in the Inc. 500 list in 2005 and 2006.[9]
Growth
In November 2013 CustomInk received $40 million from Revolution Growth, the investment fund run by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.[10] The investment reportedly helped promote the growth of two new projects - Booster and Pear.[11] Booster is a fundraising platform that allows individuals or groups to sell custom apparel for a charity, cause, or project, while collecting donations online.
On February 4, 2016, CustomInk announced the acquisition of a Los Angeles company called Represent.com that helps celebrities sell limited-run T-shirts and merchandise to fans and followers.[12][13][14]
As of 2017, the company has two retail locations, one in Fairfax VA, and one in Richmond, VA. [15]
References
- ↑ Heath, Thomas (October 17, 2010). "Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Washington Post Media. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ↑ Levine, Adam (February 10, 2014). "CustomInk Opens New Office in Reno, NV". Customink.com. Customink.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ↑ "CustomInk, LLC Company Information". Hoovers.
- 1 2 Chapman, Lizette (November 13, 2013). "Ted Leonsis Aims for ‘Warren Buffet Play’ and $1 Billion Company With CustomInk Deal". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Top Workplaces 2015". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ johnciacia (22 June 2015). "CustomInk". Fortune. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ johnciacia (1 June 2017). "CustomInk". WashingtonPost. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
- ↑ Fortune - best retailers 2014
- ↑ "CustomInk - Awards & Media". customink.com. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ Lawler, Ryan. "CustomInk Nabs $40 Million In Funding From Revolution Growth, Adds Ted Leonsis To Its Board". TechCrunch. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ↑ Lawler, Ryan. "CustomInk Nabs $40 Million In Funding From Revolution Growth, Adds Ted Leonsis To Its Board". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ↑ "Washington-area T-shirt seller goes Hollywood". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "CustomInk buys L.A.-based T-shirt firm with large roster of celebrity investors, customers". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "CustomInk Acquires Represent, A Custom Merchandise Marketplace for Influencers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ↑ "Custom shirtmaker inks lease for first brick-and-mortar". Richmond Times. Retrieved 6 August 2017.