Bonfire

Bonfire: custom merch on demand

Bonfire is a platform that lets you design and sell custom products without having to manage inventory. The company takes care of printing, shipping, and customer support, so you can focus on your project. The online design tool is free and lets you upload your own design and choose it to be printed on different products.

The company presents itself as a service used by millions of customers, from individual creators to nonprofits. Its offering is built around three main paths: sell online, run fundraisers, and place direct orders for custom products.

Sell online and custom stores

Bonfire lets you open a fully branded merch store in minutes, with no inventory or integrations needed. The platform also makes it easy to create limited-edition drops to energize a community. The company handles printing, shipping, and customer support. The online selling service is offered for free.

Fundraising for causes and nonprofits

The platform is geared toward fundraising campaigns using custom t-shirts. It lets you launch a limited-edition campaign to raise funds and raise awareness for a cause, whether your own or a nonprofit's. Bonfire has a suite of tools specifically for nonprofits and presents itself as a partner to these organizations. Among the cases cited is the National Forest Foundation, which used the platform for its campaign supporting national forests.

Direct orders and product catalog

In addition to selling online, Bonfire lets you place direct orders for custom products with no order minimums. Items ship directly to the buyer and volume discounts apply. The catalog includes t-shirts, hoodies, bags, printed hats, long sleeve tees, tie-dye shirts, eco-friendly sweatshirts, activewear, kids products, and drinkware, among others. The company also offers a selection of summer products.

Customer profile

The platform serves artists, creators, schools, political movements, fundraisers, small businesses, churches, and nonprofits. Bonfire states that since 2012 it has worked with individuals, communities, nonprofits, and businesses.

How it works and service terms

The model is based on on-demand production: no inventory is required to sell on Bonfire. The company handles printing, shipping, and customer support. The design tool is free and the online selling service is free as well. The platform states that orders can ship worldwide and that there is no minimum order quantity. The company is based in Richmond, Virginia.