CustomInk Launches Booster

TYSONS CORNER, VA--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2013) - CustomInk, the "design online" custom t-shirt company, announced today the launch of a new platform, Booster (www.booster.com), designed to help people raise money and rally support for their causes, loved ones, groups and projects through the online sale of custom t-shirts. CustomInk expects Booster to attract veteran fundraisers looking for better tools; and empower newcomers with an easy way to launch their first campaigns.

"At CustomInk, 'T-shirts Unite!' is our rallying cry," said CustomInk's co-founder & president, Marc Katz. "We know that uniting around a common purpose is important to our customers, and it's important to us too. We're extremely excited to introduce this new platform and can already see that a Booster campaign is so much more than a fundraiser. T-shirts raise awareness, boost spirits and create a lasting connection like nothing else. This is all deeply part of our company character, so it's really a privilege to help people come together and make a positive difference with Booster."

Booster is simple, fast and free. Campaign organizers design a t-shirt using the design lab, set a selling price and sales goal and then spread the word about their campaign using Booster's simple tools and social media integration. The t-shirt pros at CustomInk handle the rest -- proofing artwork, creating high-quality shirts and delivering them to supporters. After the campaign has concluded, Booster sends payment to the organizer or his/her designated cause for the full amount of funds raised.

Booster appeals to individuals supporting a loved one or promoting a passion; as well as organizations like charities, schools, churches, businesses, sports teams, neighborhoods and community groups. Because there is no upfront cost to create a campaign and organizers are not responsible for collecting money or managing an inventory, Booster removes much of the hassle and uncertainty of fundraising.

CustomInk already does a significant volume of business for charitable causes -- in the company's history, it has serviced nearly 35,000 charitable groups and events. The company attributes that level of demand to the general popularity of t-shirts and to their function as "walking billboards" for organizers seeking to promote a cause and help to raise awareness as well as dollars.

While in beta, more than 500 people used Booster to raise nearly $300,000 for a variety of causes, groups and projects.

Friends and family of six year-old cancer patient Cash McCandless rode in the 3-day Courage Classic bike ride to benefit Children's Hospital Colorado. They used Booster to sell more than 100 "Cash's Crew" t-shirts and all funds raised supported the work of the hospital's cancer unit. 

"With the help of CustomInk and Booster our Cash's Crew Campaign brought together family, friends and supporters to raise over $1,200.00 for The Morgan Adam's Foundation and Children's Hospital of Colorado," said Stacy McHargue, Cash's aunt. "It was really meaningful to us that so many people bonded together to wear the shirts and share Cash's story. We're still receiving photos of groups of people in the shirts. We post all of those to a Facebook page so Cash can see his team of supporters in action. Seeing people wearing 'his' shirts lift his spirit."

Beginning next week and through October, CustomInk itself will utilize Booster for its annual Be Good to Each Other campaign, which raises funds and awareness for bullying prevention. Celebrities, including Super Bowl Champion, Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens running back), Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars), Beau Mirchoff (MTV's Awkward), Karan Brar (Disney Channel's Jesse and Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Richard Sherman (Seattle Seahawks cornerback), and more will design bullying prevention t-shirts. The "Celebri-tees" will be sold through Booster with CustomInk handling printing and fulfillment at cost, allowing 100% of the profits from those sales to go to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. 

Regarding the name of the new platform, Marc Katz commented, "Traditionally, boosters are enthusiastic and energetic supporters of a cause -- people with a 'can do' attitude who help create positive change. Our aim is to give those people a platform to be even more successful with their projects. A booster is also a rocket that really helps something take off. Booster will help propel causes to the next level -- boosting awareness and spirits while also raising funds."

About Booster (www.booster.com)
Booster is an online platform for raising funds and rallying support through the sale of custom t-shirts. Booster allows users to design a custom t-shirt and create a personalized page to share their motivation and fundraising goals. Simple online tools make it easy to promote the sale of the shirt to friends, family and the community. Booster is the free, easy and fun way to raise money and rally support through custom tees. Booster was created by CustomInk (www.customink.com), the leader in custom t-shirts. Since its founding in 2000, CustomInk has delivered approximately 50 million custom shirts to customers nationwide.

About CustomInk (www.customink.com)
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Northern Virginia, CustomInk is the leader in "design online" custom t-shirts for groups and occasions. CustomInk's innovative online Design Lab offers customers a huge selection of art and fonts, including offerings from the renowned design firms of Charles S. Anderson™ and House Industries™, as well as the option to upload their own artwork. Customers also enjoy free expert support from CustomInk's acclaimed "T-shirt Ambassadors" and professional artists. The company's exacting standards for design and print quality underscore its commitment to perfection. Recognized nationally for its rapid growth and workplace excellence, CustomInk is committed to its core values of the Golden Rule, ownership and innovation. To learn more, visit www.customink.com/our_story/ or call 800-293-4232.

© 2013 CustomInk, LLC. All rights reserved. CustomInk is a registered trademark of CustomInk, LLC. The "Inky" octopus is a trademark of CustomInk, LLC.