Custom Ink (Redirected from CustomInk)
Type of business | Private |
---|---|
Type of site | Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce |
Available in | English |
Founded | 1999McLean, Virginia | , in
Headquarters | Fairfax, Virginia |
No. of locations | 18 (July 2020) |
Area served | United States, Canada, Europe |
Founder(s) |
|
CEO | Marc Katz |
Industry | Customized Apparel and Accessories |
Products | T-shirts, Apparel, Accessories |
Services | Screen Printing, Digital Printing, Custom Media, Embroidery |
Revenue | ~US$300 million |
Employees | 1500+ |
URL | customink |
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.
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. The investment reportedly helped the growth of two new projects: Booster and Pear. Booster (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.
In 2019, Custom Ink's investors sold their shares for an undisclosed amount.
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. [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. In 2019, CustomInk purchased Sidestep, a website and mobile app that strictly sells concert merchandise. The acquisition was done through CustomInk's subsidiary Represent.
In November 2021, the company purchased New York City-based giveaway startup Swag.com for an undisclosed amount. Two months later, in January 2022, the company acquired Printfection, a swag management platform.
Awards
In 2014, Fortune and Great Place to Work ranked Custom Ink as one of their Top 100 places to work.