# Brian Marks

> Brian Marks is the Richmond-based co-founder, chairman and CEO of Bonfire, the custom-apparel platform born after his 2011 Save Shaka campaign left him with unsold shirts. A Virginia Commonwealth University graduate who spent a decade in medical-device sales, Marks built Bonfire around removing inventory risk and operational friction for fundraisers, creators and nonprofits; he also co-founded Belle Isle Craft Spirits.

- **Role:** Co-founder, Chairman & CEO at Bonfire
- **Organizations:** Bonfire, Belle Isle Craft Spirits
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's studies in exercise science with a minor in psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Bonfire and developed a model that removes upfront inventory, payment, printing, shipping and customer-service work from apparel sellers., Expanded Bonfire from a fundraising-first service into a broader custom-apparel platform for creators, nonprofits and businesses., Co-founded Belle Isle Craft Spirits in Richmond and served as chairman of its board.

## Career timeline

- **2000s** — Worked for roughly a decade in medical-device sales while attempting several side businesses.
- **2011** — Created SaveShakaSmart.com and a fundraising T-shirt during VCU's Final Four run; unsold inventory exposed the problem Bonfire would address.
- **2012** — Founded Bonfire Funds as a no-upfront-cost custom-apparel fundraising platform.
- **2013** — Co-founded Richmond-based Belle Isle Craft Spirits and later served as chairman of its board.
- **2015** — Bonfire had 16 employees, including 10 in Richmond; Marks said sales had tripled in the prior year.
- **2016** — Bonfire Funds became Bonfire.com and expanded from fundraising campaigns to custom apparel sold for profit as well as causes.
- **2021** — Bonfire marked ten years since its beginnings and highlighted its evolution into creator merchandise, stores and fundraising.
- **Present** — Serves as Bonfire's co-founder, chairman and CEO in Richmond.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Bonfire and developed a model that removes upfront inventory, payment, printing, shipping and customer-service work from apparel sellers.
- Expanded Bonfire from a fundraising-first service into a broader custom-apparel platform for creators, nonprofits and businesses.
- Co-founded Belle Isle Craft Spirits in Richmond and served as chairman of its board.
- Helped make custom apparel a fundraising tool for community causes, including adoption fundraising and nonprofit campaigns.

## Latest updates

- **2023-07** — A Belle Isle Craft Spirits offering memorandum listed Marks as co-founder and chairman of the board while continuing as Bonfire CEO.
- **2021-11** — Bonfire celebrated its tenth year and documented its shift from Bonfire Funds into a broader creator and custom-apparel platform.

## Links

- Website: https://www.bonfire.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarks7
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/bonfire
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BonfireVideos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonfire/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonfire/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/brian-marks
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-26