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TeePublic
TeePublic
TeePublic
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TeePublic is a platform for custom apparel and designs owned by Articore. The company was founded by Adam Schwartz and Josh Abramson, who had previously co-founded Vimeo and CollegeHumor.[2]

Key Information

History

[edit]

In 2011, Abramson bought back BustedTees, an online T-shirt company he had previously sold to IAC. He and Schwartz launched TeePublic in 2013 as an e-commerce crowdsourcing site where artists could upload and sell their designs. The original business model required at least thirty people to commit to buying a shirt before a design went into production,[3] but today, designs are immediately manufactured and sold.[4] The company has also expanded into other products such as smartphone cases, notebooks, mugs, and canvas prints.

In 2016, TeePublic shipped more than one million products.[5]

In August 2016, the company took down a controversial T-shirt mocking the USC football team.[6] The shirt said "Our OJ only killed Clemson", in reference to O. J. Simpson, who played football at USC and was famously tried and acquitted for murder, and Alabama senior tight end O. J. Howard.[7]

In October 2018, Australia-based Articore acquired TeePublic for US$41 million.[8][9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

TeePublic

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
TeePublic is an online print-on-demand marketplace that enables independent artists to upload and sell original designs on a variety of customizable merchandise, including apparel, accessories, and home goods, while handling production, fulfillment, and shipping for buyers worldwide. Founded in 2013 by entrepreneurs Adam Schwartz and in , TeePublic initially focused on building an for t-shirt designers, quickly growing to generate approximately $20 million in annual revenue by 2018. In October 2018, the company was acquired by Australian-based for US$41 million in cash, operating as a separate entity under the parent company Articore Group Limited (rebranded from Redbubble Group in 2023), which oversees both platforms as leading global marketplaces for artist-driven products. Today, TeePublic supports a global community of creators, boasting millions of unique designs and over 100 product types, with a transparent commission structure for artists ranging from 11% to 30% per sale. The platform emphasizes high-quality and practices, such as ethical sourcing and recyclable , while offering features like limited-time discounts on new designs to drive and visibility for artists. It also includes a Program partnering with over licensed intellectual properties, allowing creators to produce official merchandise. In 2023, TeePublic contributed to Articore's of $176.8 million, primarily from apparel .

History

Founding

TeePublic was founded in 2013 by Adam Schwartz and in . Both entrepreneurs drew from their extensive experience in digital media, with having co-founded in 1999, a prominent online humor and content platform that highlighted their expertise in community-driven digital ecosystems. This background informed their vision for TeePublic as a participatory marketplace, shifting from traditional retail models like their earlier venture BustedTees to a more collaborative, zero-inventory approach enabled by emerging print-on-demand technologies. The platform emerged as a direct response to shortcomings in existing design marketplaces, which often prioritized demand-side curation over scalable supply-side participation and lacked robust network effects for independent creators. Schwartz and Abramson aimed to create an accessible site where independent artists could upload original designs for apparel without upfront costs or inventory risks, allowing immediate manufacturing and sales upon purchase. Initially structured around a model, artists submitted designs that required pledges from at least 30 buyers to trigger production, fostering while minimizing financial barriers for creators; shirts were priced at $20, with $5 allocated to designers per sale. TeePublic launched publicly in March 2013, marking a transition from to operation. In its first week, the site attracted over 50,000 visits, more than 2,000 registered users, and funded 22 designs out of over 480 uploaded, demonstrating early traction for the model. The company was bootstrapped using personal funds, forgoing or debt to maintain operational discipline and achieve profitability from the outset through commissions on sales, aligning with the founders' emphasis on sustainable growth over rapid scaling.

Growth and acquisition

Following its launch in , TeePublic experienced rapid expansion, achieving 32 consecutive months of revenue growth through its print-on-demand model that attracted independent artists and customers seeking unique apparel. The platform scaled by diversifying product offerings beyond t-shirts to include items like stickers, phone cases, and home goods, while introducing international shipping to reach global markets. By 2018, TeePublic had grown to a team of 38 employees and generated pro-forma annual revenue of $25.5 million, with an operating EBITDA of approximately $3.3 million, reflecting its profitable trajectory without external venture funding. In October 2018, announced the acquisition of TeePublic for $41 million in cash, with the deal closing on November 6, 2018. Co-founder remained involved until the end of 2018 to support operational continuity, while co-founder and COO Adam Schwartz continued leading the platform, reporting to Redbubble's CEO. The strategic rationale centered on merging TeePublic's agile, trend-focused "fast-fashion" approach to designs with Redbubble's established of independent artists and international infrastructure, aiming to accelerate overall growth, streamline artist tools, and enhance protections against through shared resources.

Ownership under Articore

In October 2023, , the parent company of TeePublic, rebranded to Articore Group Limited and changed its ASX ticker to ATG, reflecting a strategic shift toward diversified digital marketplaces. TeePublic continues to operate as a core within Articore, alongside the platform, contributing to the group's focus on artist-driven . Following the 2018 acquisition by , TeePublic co-founder stepped down from his role by December 2018, transitioning leadership to align with the broader integration. In June 2022, Vivek Kumar was appointed CEO of TeePublic, bringing over 20 years of expertise to drive optimizations in direct-to-consumer operations and digital growth. Kumar's tenure emphasized platform efficiency, culminating in his promotion to Articore Group CEO in June 2025 amid ongoing restructuring. For the ended June 2025, TeePublic generated approximately $184 million in marketplace revenue, a 1% year-over-year increase that helped stabilize the group's performance despite broader headwinds. Articore as a whole reported total revenue of $439 million, down 11% from the prior year, amid challenges in the print-on-demand sector including post-pandemic normalization and market saturation, resulting in a net loss of $11 million. The company's shares fluctuated around 0.32 AUD (approximately 0.21 USD) in late 2025, reflecting investor caution over these dynamics. TeePublic has retained its distinct branding and independent platform to preserve its artist community and , while leveraging shared with to enhance efficiency, particularly after operational integration in October 2024. This hybrid model supports cost synergies without fully merging the marketplaces, allowing TeePublic to focus on its North America-centric apparel sales.

Business and operations

Platform model

TeePublic operates as a platform, enabling independent artists to upload their designs at no cost for application to various merchandise items. Upon receiving a customer order, the platform manages all aspects of production, including printing via direct-to-garment (DTG) technology using Kornit Digital printers, packaging, and fulfillment, while also handling customer service and returns. This model eliminates the need for artists or the platform to maintain inventory, reducing overhead and waste through on-demand production with biodegradable, vegan inks. The revenue structure centers on fixed royalties paid to artists per sale, with TeePublic retaining a commission to cover production costs, platform operations, and profit after deducting those expenses. For example, artists typically earn $4 on full-priced t-shirt sales, dropping to $2 during promotional periods, while royalties vary by product such as $3 for mugs or $0.75 for stickers at regular prices. Artist earnings are determined by account tiers, with higher tiers offering consistent rates regardless of sales volume, ensuring predictable income without upfront fees. Sales are driven through regular promotional mechanics, including weekly limited-time offers like $16 t-shirts and sitewide discounts up to 35% off, which boost order volume while adjusting artist royalties downward during these events. The platform supports global reach by shipping to numerous countries worldwide, including the , , , , and many in and , with standard international rates starting at $7.99 USD and free shipping thresholds like $70 for qualifying U.S. orders outside sales periods. What distinguishes TeePublic is its emphasis on high-quality, artist-driven content, prioritizing original in niche areas like pop culture, fandoms, and independent illustrations over mass-produced generic merchandise. This focus fosters a where creators' unique artwork is showcased on over 100 product types, appealing to buyers seeking personalized, culturally resonant items produced with premium materials and unlimited color capabilities via DTG printing.

Artist ecosystem

TeePublic provides independent artists with a straightforward process for submitting designs to the platform. Artists can artwork in format via the web interface or by dragging and dropping files, adding titles, tags for discoverability, and selecting products and colors for mockups. Upon completion, designs can be published immediately to go live on the marketplace or saved as inactive for later editing. While there is no pre-upload approval wait time, artists are required to indicate if content is mature during submission to ensure appropriate categorization, and all uploads must comply with the platform's guidelines to avoid post-publication removal. To support artist visibility and sales, TeePublic offers built-in promotion tools including tag-based search optimization for better discoverability within the platform and easy social sharing options to promote storefronts on external networks. Artists receive email notifications for sales and earnings rather than a comprehensive real-time analytics dashboard, though they can track overall performance through periodic reports. The platform also features "Artist Spotlight" interviews on its official blog, highlighting rising creators and their work to drive traffic to their stores and encourage community engagement. TeePublic's community policies emphasize accessibility and protection for creators, with zero upfront fees required to join or designs, allowing artists to start selling without initial investment. The platform enforces rules by responding to infringement reports through a dedicated , including removal of violating content and potential account termination for repeat offenders; while specific anti-theft measures like watermarking are not detailed, TeePublic collaborates with partners to monitor and prevent unauthorized copying across marketplaces. Royalty disputes or issues are addressed via support tickets submitted through the contact system, with earnings held temporarily if account details are outdated until resolved. Growth initiatives on TeePublic include seasonal design contests, such as the annual Inktober challenge, where artists submit themed entries for potential featuring and prizes to foster creativity and participation. These events, along with resources on trending topics and tips, help emerging creators build their portfolios and audience within the ecosystem. TeePublic pays artists monthly via PayPal or Payoneer on the 15th of each month for earnings from sales made during the previous calendar month (e.g., January sales paid on February 15th). There is no minimum payout threshold specified by TeePublic, although Payoneer may impose a $20 threshold in some cases. Artists set up payments by logging into their account, navigating to the Earnings section under account settings, and entering the email address associated with their PayPal or Payoneer account (avoiding PayPal.me links or Payoneer IDs); an email with further instructions is sent immediately, active for 30 minutes. For payment issues, artists can contact [email protected]. TeePublic recommends using a desktop browser (latest Google Chrome or Firefox) for optimal setup experience.

Production and fulfillment

TeePublic relies on a network of third-party fulfillment centers for production, with facilities located across the , the , , and other regions to handle global orders. These partners specialize in print-on-demand manufacturing, enabling efficient scaling without large-scale inventory storage. The primary printing method for apparel is direct-to-garment (DTG) technology, which applies designs directly onto fabrics using advanced digital printers, such as Kornit systems, for high-quality, vibrant results. The fulfillment process begins with order placement, followed by on-demand printing and at the nearest facility to optimize delivery speed. Production and initial processing typically occur within a few business days, after which items are shipped via standard or expedited methods, including local postal services and couriers like DPD or USPS. Domestic U.S. shipping generally takes 3-7 business days, while international delivery can extend to 7-14 days or more, depending on the origin facility and destination; tracking is available for most shipments originating from U.S. or major international hubs. TeePublic emphasizes in this process, employing 100% biodegradable, water-based inks that are certified and vegan-friendly, alongside recyclable materials containing at least 10% recycled content. Misprints and returns are donated or recycled to minimize waste. Quality assurance is enforced through rigorous standards for all third-party printers, including adherence to a Fair Labor , social compliance certifications, and non-hazardous production protocols to protect worker and the environment. Items undergo checks prior to shipment to meet these benchmarks, and TeePublic provides a for free exchanges or fixes on defective products. A 30-day return window applies from the expected delivery date for qualifying issues, such as errors or damage, supporting without full refunds in most cases. The system is built for , allowing production shifts between facilities during high-demand periods like sales events to maintain reliability. Since its acquisition by Articore Group in 2018, TeePublic's supply chain has integrated with the parent's broader network, enabling cost efficiencies through shared resources and optimized logistics. A significant milestone occurred in October 2024, when operations merged with sister platform , further streamlining fulfillment and improving margins via enhanced supply chain coordination while preserving the print-on-demand model for individualized designs.

Products and features

Merchandise categories

TeePublic's merchandise categories center on print-on-demand items that showcase independent artists' designs across apparel, accessories, and home goods. The platform emphasizes versatility, allowing a single design to be applied to multiple product types for broad accessibility. Core apparel offerings include t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, and kids t-shirts, available in sizes from to 5XL to ensure inclusivity for various body types, including gender-neutral fits. These items form the foundation of the catalog, with t-shirts as the flagship product featuring high-quality, artist-driven graphics. Accessories and home categories provide practical extensions of artistic expression, encompassing phone cases for device protection, durable stickers for personalization, hats, ceramic mugs for daily use, and posters for wall decor. Post-2018, following the platform's acquisition, these lines expanded to include bags such as totes and backpacks, as well as notebooks, enhancing options for on-the-go and creative applications. Seasonal merchandise caters to holidays and events, with holiday-themed designs prominently featured on apparel and accessories like t-shirts, Halloween stickers, and mugs to align with cultural celebrations. Artist-exclusive drops introduce limited-availability items, such as time-bound releases of unique designs on select products, fostering scarcity and collector appeal—for instance, limited-time artist designs inspired by figures like , available only briefly. Designs on TeePublic are scalable across merchandise types to fit product dimensions, but the platform limits customization to artists' original uploads, without options for customer-specific alterations like text additions or color changes.

Design tools and customization

TeePublic's interface features a straightforward drag-and-drop tool accessible via the "Upload Art" on the homepage, allowing artists to easily transfer PNG files directly into the platform for processing. This method supports high-resolution images with transparent backgrounds, recommended at a minimum of 1500x1995 pixels at 150 DPI for basic compatibility across products, or 5000x5500 pixels to enable the full range. Once uploaded, the system automatically generates product mockups, providing instant visual previews of the design applied to items like t-shirts and mugs, which helps artists assess fit and appeal before publishing. The platform offers basic editing capabilities within the uploader, including a slider tool for resizing designs to optimal scales for different merchandise surfaces, as well as auto-centering options for horizontal and vertical placement to streamline alignment. For more advanced modifications, such as detailed color corrections or complex layering, TeePublic recommends integration with external software like , , or , providing tutorials on resizing and optimization within these tools to prepare files prior to upload. To maintain a compliant , TeePublic enforces guidelines that require artists to submit original work or approved , with resources including detailed submission rules and legal FAQs to guide creators in avoiding or issues that could lead to rejections. While there are no automated built-in scanning tools during upload, the platform conducts manual reviews and relies on its DMCA for post-upload infringement reports, emphasizing artist responsibility through terms that prohibit unauthorized use of protected material. These guidelines, such as adding legal disclaimers for from partnered IPs, help prevent account suspensions and promote original creation.

Reception and impact

Market position

TeePublic occupies a prominent position in the print-on-demand () industry, serving as a key for independent artists to sell custom apparel and accessories directly to consumers worldwide. The platform features millions of unique designs created by a global community of designers, emphasizing accessibility and rapid fulfillment to support creative entrepreneurship. As of late 2025, TeePublic attracts substantial , recording approximately 6.8 million sessions in September 2025. Its revenue was $181.8 million in FY24 (ended June 30, 2024), growing 1% to $184 million in FY25. Its user base is predominantly from , reflecting the company's New York headquarters and strong domestic market penetration, though it maintains a global footprint with expanding reach in and emerging interest in Asia-Pacific regions through international shipping and localized promotions. In the competitive landscape, TeePublic differentiates from its sister platform —both under parent company Articore—by offering faster sales cycles and higher conversion rates in apparel categories, making it particularly appealing for and clothing-focused creators. Key rivals include Society6, known for broader home decor options, and , which emphasizes community-voted designs; TeePublic stands out for its streamlined upload process and promotional sales model that drives quick visibility for new listings. The platform's achievements include recognition as a leading POD site in 2024 and 2025 e-commerce analyses, where it ranked second in organic traffic among major , underscoring its effectiveness in artist discovery and consumer engagement. In 2025, TeePublic contributed to Articore's first profitable quarter in four years, demonstrating recovery from post-2023 economic pressures through margin expansion and sustained marketplace performance.

Controversies and challenges

TeePublic has faced several intellectual property disputes, primarily involving user-uploaded designs that infringe on copyrights and s. In one notable case, Motorcycle Corporation reached a settlement agreement with TeePublic over trademark infringements related to third-party designs featuring the organization's logos on apparel and printed matter sold through the platform. Additionally, the platform has issued takedowns for designs, such as a 2024 notice for a Mouse-themed that incorporated elements from later copyrighted iterations, despite the original character entering the . These incidents highlight ongoing challenges in moderating to comply with IP laws, with TeePublic responding to valid complaints by removing allegedly infringing works. Criticism has also arisen regarding TeePublic's content moderation policies, particularly for allowing extremist and hateful merchandise to proliferate on the site. A 2022 report identified numerous designs promoting election denialism, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, graphic violence, and racist imagery, which appeared to violate the platform's guidelines against and . Artists and users have reported account suspensions and withheld earnings due to alleged IP violations or terms breaches, even when claiming original content, leading to complaints about inconsistent enforcement. The print-on-demand sector, including TeePublic, encountered market challenges from 2023 to 2025 amid economic pressures and industry saturation, resulting in group-wide declines for parent company Articore. TeePublic's grew modestly by 1% to $184 million in FY25, but overall operations faced macroeconomic uncertainty, shifting consumer trends, and intensified competition, contributing to broader net losses. Artist-related issues included clawbacks of unpaid earnings for policy breaches, which generated a $5.3 million gain for the company in FY25, raising concerns about financial transparency and creator support. In response, TeePublic and Articore implemented enhanced in 2025, significantly automating processes to improve consistency and speed while introducing policies to manage AI-generated art and IP compliance. The company also consolidated and TeePublic operations in October 2024 to streamline supply chains and reduce costs, achieving margin expansions despite challenges. Efforts toward greater transparency included regular milestone reporting to shareholders and detailed disclosures on litigation risks and financial clawbacks.

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