Custom Ink
Type of business | Private |
---|---|
Type of site | Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce |
Available in | English |
Founded | 2000McLean, Virginia[1] | , in
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 | 800+ |
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.[2][3]
History[edit]
Custom Ink (first launched as CustomInk) was founded in 2000 by Marc Katz, the company’s CEO and Chairman, and several of his college friends.[4][5][6][7] It began as a t-shirt design company with funding from family and friends, and consisted of a 10-person team.[8] BT Wolfenshohn was the company’s first lead investor.[9] CustomInk reported $1 million in sales its first year and $3 million in 2002.[10] The company’s first profit was reported in 2003 with gross revenue of $7 million.[11]
In 2005, Inc. Magazine ranked Custom Ink the 55th fastest growing business in the U.S.[12] The company reported $61 million in sales in 2009.[13]
In November 2013, Custom Ink received $40 million from Revolution Growth, the investment fund run by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.[14] The investment reportedly helped the growth of two new projects: Booster and Pear.[14] Booster[15] (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.[16]
In 2019, Custom Ink's investors sold their shares for an undisclosed amount.[17]
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. [18][19][20][21][excessive citations]
Acquisitions[edit]
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.[22][23][24] In 2019, CustomInk purchased Sidestep, a website and mobile app that strictly sells concert merchandise. The acquisition was done through CustomInk's subsidiary Represent.[25]
In November 2021, the company purchased New York City-based giveaway startup Swag.com for an undisclosed amount.[26][27] Swag.com is an online design and ordering company for corporate swag and gifting.[28] Two months later, in January 2022, the company acquired Printfection, a swag management platform.[3]
Locations[edit]
By April 2024, Custom Ink has 42 showroom locations across 15 states and Washington DC.
Awards[edit]
In 2014, Fortune and Great Place to Work ranked Custom Ink as one of their Top 100 places to work.[29]
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Custom Ink".
- ^ "Ink positive: With national ambitions, Custom Ink continues to grow". C-VILLE Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Lucia Murillo, Ana (January 19, 2023). "Merrifield's Custom Ink consolidates production operations, lays off hundreds". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Central, A. S. I. (January 7, 2022). "Custom Ink Acquires Printfection". members.asicentral.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Heath, Thomas. "Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". Washington Post.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (October 17, 2010). "Thomas Heath - Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (October 17, 2010). "Thomas Heath - Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (October 17, 2010). "Thomas Heath - Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "Ink positive: With national ambitions, Custom Ink continues to grow". C-VILLE Weekly. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (October 17, 2010). "Thomas Heath - Harvard graduate left Wall Street to start CustomInk T-shirt design business". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Schulte, Katherine (November 10, 2021). "Custom Ink acquires corporate swag platform". Virginia Business.
- ^ "Custom Ink". Fortune. Retrieved December 20, 2020.