Stone firm chosen as one of the UK’s top 100 startups

The UK’s only ranked index of up and coming start ups has singled out a Staffordshire couple’s Stone based business as one to watch this year.

Tshirtify is the first on-demand merchandisers offering creative entrepreneurs the chance to print and distribute their wares as and when they need making their dream of a new business or a passive income from an existing business a reality.

The Stone tshirt firm, set up by husband and wife duo Richard and Kerry Flanagan from Stafford, has now been recognised in the top 40 of the country’s new businesses on the Start Up 100 index.

Tshirtify supports projects worldwide through global giving campaign Buy1Give1, is dedicated to the core believe that business can be a force for good. For every t-shirt sold on  a donation is made to make an ‘impact’ in projects around the world including the Indonesia, Nepal, India, Cambodia and Ethiopia. So far, the Staffordshire company has helped make more than 135,000 impacts on projects such as lie-saving water for families in Cambodia and learning tools for nursery school children in Ethiopia. They are now hoping the donations can continue to make a difference as the company grows.

Managing director of Tshirtify Kerry Flanagan said: “When we started the company our dream was always to make a business that made a difference. From offering ethically sourced clothing to using business cards made from recycled tshirts our ethos is all about helping the smaller independent creatives to grow their business in a way that supports and helps others.

“Being recognised in the Start Up 100 list goes to show that as a business we can make a difference and as the business grows so does the amount of help we can provide through B1G1.”

Tshirtify now hopes to further expand the business with plans to support a further 50 entrepreneurs in realising their dream and look at how technology such as augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D printing can have a positive impact on the garment industry.

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Through B1G1 each ‘impact’ adds up to fund a project which will make a difference to families and individuals whether that is by providing education, access to play equipment, clean water or food. In the last 12 months sales through the Staffordshire enterprise has supported:

• more than 54,000 days access to education materials
• • 20,000 days access for children to playparks in Cambodia
• 17,000 days access o reading materials for vulnerable girls in Cambodia being protected from sexual exploitation
• 19,700 days access to e-learning for children in rural India which has seen their performance dramatically increase
• 3,500 days of access to life-saving clean water to families in Ethiopia.

Recognising the “extraordinary” work of Tshirtify in making a difference not just in the business model it uses but also in the way it gives back through its sales, Chairman of B1G1 Paul Dunn said: “Tshirtify is an exceptional business. Every time you do business with them they promise to make a difference in the world with you.
“We are proud they are part of the B1G1 movement which works right around the world and find their achievement so far extraordinary.”

Tshirtify was set up in March 2017 and is based in Stone Business Park. It is a revolutionary new way for creative individuals to sell their designs as it allows each item to be printed to order reducing the need for bulk orders and excess stock. It allows independent designers to spend more time being creative while also offering an online order and distribution store to sell their designs worldwide.

More information on Tshirtify is available at www.tshirtify.com or you can see how the company ranked in the Start Up 100 listing at https://startups.co.uk/startups-100/2018/39-tshirtify/