Custom Ink
Type of businessPrivate
Type of site
Online Custom Apparel and Accessories, eCommerce
Available inEnglish
Founded1999 (1999), in McLean, Virginia[1]
HeadquartersFairfax, Virginia
No. of locations18 (July 2020)
Area servedUnited States, Canada, Europe
Founder(s)
  • Marc Katz
  • Dave Christensen
  • Mike Driscoll
CEOMarc Katz
IndustryCustomized Apparel and Accessories
ProductsT-shirts, Apparel, Accessories
ServicesScreen Printing, Digital Printing, Custom Media, Embroidery
Revenue~US$300 million
Employees1500+
URLcustomink.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] On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Custom Ink fired most of their production staff, eight days after Christmas, by email, including 206 workers in Charlottesville, Virginia and another 132 in Reno, Nevada. Workers were promised a small severance package as long as they signed a non-disclosure agreement including a stipulation to not write any "disparaging" comments on the internet, else they would receive nothing. [4][5][6][7]

History

Custom Ink was launched in 1999 (as CustomInk) by former college classmates Marc Katz, Dave Christensen, Mike Driscoll, and Andrew Moss.

In November 2013, Custom Ink received $40 million from Revolution Growth, the investment fund run by Steve Case, Ted Leonsis, and Donn Davis.[8] The investment reportedly helped the growth of two new projects: Booster and Pear.[8] 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.[9]

In 2019, Custom Ink's investors sold their shares for an undisclosed amount.[10]

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.[11][12][13] In 2019, CustomInk purchased Sidestep, a website and mobile app that strictly sells concert merchandise. The acquisition was done through CustomInk's subsidiary Represent.[14]

In November 2021, the company purchased New York City-based giveaway startup Swag.com for an undisclosed amount.[15][16] 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.[17]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 Ruvo, Christoper (January 7, 2022). "Custom Ink Acquires Printfection". www.asicentral.com. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ Staff, News (January 3, 2023). "Custom Ink closing production facilities in Charlottesville, Reno". CBS19 News, Charlottesville.
  5. ↑ Hidalgo, Jason (January 3, 2023). "Custom Ink closing Reno and Charlottesville production facilities; 338 jobs affected". Reno Gazette Journal.
  6. ↑ Murillo, Anna Lucia (January 19, 2023). "Merrifield's Custom Ink consolidates production operations, lays off hundreds". Washington Business Journal.
  7. ↑ Our Town, Reno Reporting (January 12, 2023). "Former Reno Inkers Relieved to Leave Custom Ink In Their Past". Our Town Reno.
  8. 1 2 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.
  9. ↑ Castellanos, Sara (April 9, 2014). "Online crowdfunding site Booster lets users raise money for social causes". www.bizjournals.com/boston. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Heath, Thomas (February 4, 2016). "Washington-area T-shirt seller goes Hollywood". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Tepper, Fitz (February 5, 2016). "CustomInk Acquires Represent, A Custom Merchandise Marketplace for Influencers". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  14. ↑ Ruvo, Christopher (September 23, 2019). "Custom Ink Subsidiary Acquires Music Merch Platform". www.asicentral.com. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ Verdon, Joan. "Apparel Company Custom Ink Acquires Fast-Growing Digital Disruptor Swag.com". Forbes. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  16. ↑ Schulte, Katherine (November 10, 2021). "Custom Ink acquires corporate swag platform". Virginia Business. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Custom Ink". Fortune. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
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