Custom Ink
 | |
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
Type of site | Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce |
| Available in | English |
| Founded | 2000, in McLean, Virginia[1] |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, Virginia |
| No. of locations | 42 (February 2022) |
| Area served | United States, Canada, Worldwide |
| Founder(s) |
|
| CEO | Marc Katz |
| Industry | Customized Apparel and Accessories |
| Products | T-shirts, Apparel, Accessories |
| Services | Custom Apparel, Swag, Promotional Products, Fundraising Campaigns, Uniforms and Corporate Gifts |
| Revenue | ~US$500 million |
| Employees | 1500+ |
| URL | customink.com |
Custom Ink is an American online retail company headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia that makes custom clothing and other items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, and tech accessories.[2][3]
History
Custom Ink was launched in 1999 (as CustomInk) by former college classmates Marc Katz, Dave Christensen, Mike Driscoll, and Andrew Moss.[citation needed]
In November 2013, Custom Ink received $40 million from Revolution Growth, the investment fund run by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.[4] The investment reportedly helped the growth of two new projects: Booster and Pear.[4] Booster[5] (later Custom Ink Fundraising) was launched by Moss (previously founder of BuyWithMe) who rejoined Custom Ink after being one of the original CustomInk founding members.[6]
In 2019, Custom Ink's investors sold their shares for an undisclosed amount.[7]
On January 3, 2023, Custom Ink fired most of its production staff, including 206 workers in Charlottesville, Virginia, and another 132 in Reno, Nevada. Workers got a small severance package if they signed a non-disclosure agreement that instructed them not to write disparaging comments, or else they would receive nothing. [8][9][10][11][excessive citations]
Acquisitions
On February 4, 2016, Custom Ink acquired the Los Angeles company Represent.com, which helps celebrities sell limited-run T-shirts and merchandise to fans and followers.[12][13][14] In 2019, CustomInk purchased Sidestep, a website and mobile app that strictly sells concert merchandise. The acquisition was done through CustomInk's subsidiary Represent.[15]
In November 2021, the company purchased New York City-based giveaway startup Swag.com for an undisclosed amount.[16][17] Two months later, in January 2022, the company acquired Printfection, a swag management platform.[3]
Awards
In 2014, Fortune and Great Place to Work ranked Custom Ink as one of their Top 100 places to work.[18]
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.
- ^ Murillo, Ana Lucia (December 10, 2021). "Custom Ink CEO says the company is back in growth mode after pandemic low. But supply challenges remain a sticking point". Washington Business Journal.
- ^ a b Ruvo, Christoper (January 7, 2022). "Custom Ink Acquires Printfection". www.asicentral.com. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Lawler, Ryan (November 12, 2013). "CustomInk Nabs $40 Million In Funding From Revolution Growth, Adds Ted Leonsis To Its Board". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "What happened to Booster?". www.customink.com. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Castellanos, Sara (April 9, 2014). "Online crowdfunding site Booster lets users raise money for social causes". www.bizjournals.com/boston. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Gregg, Aaron; Heath, Thomas. "Private investors buy out shares of Custom Ink, which built a fortune on T-shirts". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Staff, News (January 3, 2023). "Custom Ink closing production facilities in Charlottesville, Reno". CBS19 News, Charlottesville.
- ^ Hidalgo, Jason (January 3, 2023). "Custom Ink closing Reno and Charlottesville production facilities; 338 jobs affected". Reno Gazette Journal.
- ^ Murillo, Anna Lucia (January 19, 2023). "Merrifield's Custom Ink consolidates production operations, lays off hundreds". Washington Business Journal.
- ^ Our Town, Reno Reporting (January 12, 2023). "Former Reno Inkers Relieved to Leave Custom Ink In Their Past". Our Town Reno.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (February 4, 2016). "Washington-area T-shirt seller goes Hollywood". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Niedt, Bob (February 4, 2016). "CustomInk buys L.A.-based T-shirt firm with large roster of celebrity investors, customers". www.bizjournals.com/washington. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Tepper, Fitz (February 5, 2016). "CustomInk Acquires Represent, A Custom Merchandise Marketplace for Influencers". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Ruvo, Christopher (September 23, 2019). "Custom Ink Subsidiary Acquires Music Merch Platform". www.asicentral.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ Verdon, Joan. "Apparel Company Custom Ink Acquires Fast-Growing Digital Disruptor Swag.com". Forbes. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Schulte, Katherine (November 10, 2021). "Custom Ink acquires corporate swag platform". Virginia Business. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ "Custom Ink". Fortune. Retrieved December 20, 2020.