Our Story: A Company with Heart

The Custom Ink story began in 1999 when three former college classmates got the bug to start a business about a year after graduating. Co-founder Marc Katz was hard at work in a Wall Street job that he says “didn’t have a lot of heart” and was itching to do something entrepreneurial and meaningful.
Meanwhile, Marc’s former college roommate Mike Driscoll was tinkering with the earliest iteration of the customink.com website, which would let people upload graphics onto t-shirts and buy them as special keepsakes. Though Mike was returning to grad school, he had a handful of eager customers and talked with Marc about launching the “design online” website into a legitimate business.
Marc contacted another former classmate and computer whiz, Dave Christensen. Marc spent long hours on his green couch (a hand-me-down from his big brother) talking to Dave on the phone, planning the business, and figuring out ways to make designing and buying custom t-shirts fun, easy, and reliable. In March 2000, Custom Ink was officially launched with a small team of “Inkers” running the show. They were all from different backgrounds but shared the same goal: to make this new business a success.

Core Values
In 2003, Marc held a company-wide meeting and officially introduced our core values of The Golden Rule, Ownership, and Innovation. Formally stating these values has caused us to think actively about them on a daily basis and to act in accordance with them. Our commitment to these values is genuine - it's not just jargon or words but a way of doing business that defines our company.
Rapid Growth
We could tell business was expanding by the way we kept outgrowing our office space y inear after year. As it turns out, others noticed as well: In November 2005, Inc. Magazine released its annual Inc. 500 ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the country, and we debuted at No. 55.
Through expansion, Custom Ink evolved into a committed, effective organization and grew more than 100-fold. Our product catalog grew, too. We now offer a generous selection of apparel, accessories, and promo products.
Current Era
In 2024, after nearly 25 years as CEO, Marc was ready to pass the torch. We welcomed David Doctorow as CEO and board member. Marc remains deeply committed to the company and provides oversight and support as Chairman of the Board. David’s extensive knowledge and experience in digital businesses made him the perfect choice to guide Custom Ink’s continued growth into the future as CEO.
Impacting Communities
We believe in the power and importance of community. That’s what we have always been about - even before we knew it - and it’s why our brands offer innovative ways to help activate and strengthen communities.
Custom Ink enables people to design and order custom t-shirts and gear for their companies, teams, clubs, charities, family reunions, and more. Through the Custom Ink Fundraising tool, people can sell custom t-shirts to help individuals and organizations raise money and awareness.
What sets us apart is our commitment to helping our customers express what brings them together. We’re not about just ordering custom products; we truly believe custom apparel can ignite a sense of belonging and connection.