CustomInk is an online retail company that operates CustomInk.com, a site that enables customers to design and order custom apparel such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other products online. People can upload their own art, or use CustomInk's design tools, to create a design and order the customized product.

Services

The CustomInk web site allows people to choose from CustomInk's design ideas, clipart, fonts and colors, or upload their own images to be printed on T-shirts. "The Lab" is the site's design tool which enables people to create their design on the product they select. A team of professional artists review and make any necessary adjustments to each design, and email the customer a picture proof of how the design will print. CustomInk offers screen printing

Screen-printing

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that transfer ink or other printable materials which can be pressed through the mesh as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate...

, digital printing

Digital printing

Digital printing refers to methods of printing from a digital based image directly to a variety of media. It usually refers to professional printing where small run jobs from desktop publishing and other digital sources are printed using large format and/or high volume laser or inkjet printers...

, and embroidery

Embroidery

Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....

 services on a range of products. Product offerings include apparel, hats, bags, drinkware, office supplies, and other miscellaneous items. Customers are able to place orders for just one or many items. Areas served include the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. CustomInk also hosts a weekly photo contest, "Ink of the Week", where customers can submit photos for a chance to win a $100 voucher.

History

CustomInk was officially founded in 2000 by former college classmates Marc Katz and Dave Christensen. The first fully functioning CustomInk.com site was launched in late 2000. CustomInk employees developed the term "Inkers" to refer to themselves (at present, the term is at times used to refer to customers). In 2002 all customer feedback, uncensored and unedited, was put on the site. The uncensored reviews still remain on the CustomInk.com homepage today. In 2003 Marc Katz introduced the core values for the company to live by, "The Golden Rule, Ownership, and Innovation". The company holds an annual "Inkademy Awards" ceremony to recognize employees who best exemplify each value. CustomInk has been recognized three times in a row as one of the Washingtonian Magazine's "Great Places to Work" in 2005, 2007, and 2009. Inc Magazine placed CustomInk in their list of 500 fastest growing companies in 2005 and 2006. CustomInk also won the 2006 eTail Award for eCommerce

Electronic commerce

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, eCommerce or e-comm, refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. However, the term may refer to more than just buying and selling products online...

fulfillment and PC Magazine ranked CustomInk in their Top 500 Online Retailers and recognized the company in their SMB awards for "hard work, technological leadership, and innovative spirit", both in 2006.