CustomInk
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000, McLean, VA[1] |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, VA |
| No. of locations | Charlottesville, VA; Reno, NV; Flower Mound, Texas; Boston, MA; and Chicago, IL |
| 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 |
| Type of site | Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce |
CustomInk is an American-based online retail company that enables customers to design and order 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, VA with additional offices in Reno, NV, Dallas, TX, and Charlottesville, VA. As of 2015, CustomInk has expanded its office space to Boston, MA and Chicago, IL to accommodate their Booster and Pear projects launched in 2014 and 2015.[2]
History
CustomInk was launched in 1999 by former college classmates Marc Katz, Dave Christensen, and Mike Driscoll.[3] CustomInk was officially founded in March 2000. Since then, CustomInk has helped create more than 60 million custom T-shirts.
Services
CustomInk is the leader in custom apparel for groups and occasions. The website enables people to design and order custom apparel and accessories. The CustomInk Design Lab allows people to choose from thousands 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. The design lab contains a library that has over 65,000 pieces of artwork, 6,500 artist-designed templates, and 350 fonts. Artists review each design and email the customer a picture proof of how the design will print. Depending on the desired quality and quantity of the item, CustomInk offers screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery services. In April 2015, CustomInk launched its Group Order Form which allows customers to order custom products as a group and collects individual sizes and payments.
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.[4] In 2015, Fortune named CustomInk #29 in the "100 Best Workplaces for Millennials.[5]
CustomInk was also ranked 62nd in Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2015. For the past five years, CustomInk has received a CARE Award from Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), recognizing the company for its commitment to providing family-friendly policies, programs and services.
In 2014, Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work ranked CustomInk #1 on their list of the 20 best retailers to work for.[6]
CustomInk was recognized as one of the Washingtonian Magazine's "Great Places to Work" in 2005,[7] 2007,[8] and 2009, and 2013.[9]
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.[10]
Growth
CustomInk has developed into a leader of custom apparel and accessories. In 2014, CustomInk’s revenue exceeded $200 million. CustomInk’s product catalog has grown to include more than just T-shirts; it offers customizable hats, hoodies, bags, drink ware, and stickers, as well as many other products. In November 2013 CustomInk received $40 million from Revolution Growth, the investment fund run by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.[11] The investment reportedly helped promote the growth of two new projects - Booster and Pear. Booster is a fundraising platform that allows individuals or groups to sell custom apparel in order to contribute to a charity, cause, or project, collecting donations online. Pear is a sponsorship platform that allows brands to sponsor various groups and occasions. Pear sponsors offer funding for custom apparel, gift cards and direct donations for all types of groups and events.
On February 4, 2016, CustomInk announced the acquisition of a Los Angeles company called Represent.com that helps celebrities and influencers such as Ronda Rousey, Susan Sarandon and Channing Tatum sell limited-run T-shirts and merchandise to fans and followers.[12][13][14]
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.
- ↑ "Top Workplaces 2015". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ johnciacia (22 June 2015). "CustomInk". Fortune. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ Fortune - best retailers 2014
- ↑ Washingtonian - Great Places to Work 2005
- ↑ Washingtonian - Great Places to Work 2007
- ↑ Washingtonian - Great Places to Work 2009
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.