The Union Tribune ran a story on young web start-ups in San Diego and what they are doing to make the most out of the recession. Artistic Hub was a featured company along with Takelessons.com and Freakatars.com.
Steven Cox, Founder of Takelessons.com
Adam Jacobs, Founder of Freakatars.com
The recession-driven shift away from funding unproven businesses nearly did in ArtisticHub.com, which launched about a year ago as CollarFree.com. The plan was to compete with Threadless.com, a successful site that holds design contests for T-shirts. Anyone can offer a design, and site visitors vote. The winning T-shirts are printed and sold, and the designers get a cash prize.
By the time CollarFree was up and running, funding had dried up.
Founder Jimmy Hendricks changed the business plan and began marketing the custom design software to other Web sites, allowing them to run contests to create T-shirts, coffee mugs and other brand-promoting items.
The startup money was just about gone when ArtisticHub signed its first customer. Fortunately for Hendricks, it was a sizable site, Sports Illustrated’s SIKids.com.
Jimmy Hendricks
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