A hoodie is simple. Getting the right hoodie, in the right size, to 5,000 people across borders - without losing the brand or the budget - is not. Imprint Engine turned that operational headache into a global business.
Custom Ink is an online retailer that lets anyone design and order custom apparel and promotional products - t-shirts, hoodies, hats, drinkware and swag - without order minimums or design software. Founded in 2000 in a Virginia basement, the company built an easy online Design Lab plus human design and support help, turning group orders for teams, schools, businesses, nonprofits and events into a business that has grown to roughly $500 million in revenue. It has since expanded into corporate swag management through acquisitions like Swag.com and Printfection.
THE/STUDIO is a custom product manufacturing and on-demand merchandising platform that connects brands, creators, and organizations to a global network of vetted factories. Founded in 2013 as a custom patch shop, it now produces 300+ categories of custom goods - pins, patches, apparel, coins, drinkware and more - with no minimum orders, fast turnaround, and software that compresses the traditional sourcing process from months to days. The company positions itself as a modern, ethical answer to slow legacy manufacturing, serving over 100,000 customers including Nike, Adidas, Netflix, Uber and the Met Store.