Retro-Fit, Boston, a brick-and-mortar entertainment industry merchandiser, this week announced it would expand its services to Web-based companies with the launch of its Web site 360merch.com.
According to CEO Dave Balter, the reason for creating the new Web site was to make life easier. “When someone wanted to place an order with us in the past they would first e-mail us what they wanted us to do for them,” Balter said. “Then we would mail them back a quote and have to wait for their response again.”
Now businesses can upload their logos, tell 360merch what they want and place their order. In real-time they will receive their quote.
Prior to the launch of the new site, Retro-Fit specialized in designing and producing merchandise for such companies as MTV, Miramax and bands like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Balter said as a result of what it learned in working with those companies over the Web, it felt comfortable to expand and offer its services to Web-based companies.
360merch is marketing the new site at trade shows, affiliate programs and will be conducting an e-mail campaign to its existing base of customers.
“We will download their logos and e-mail it to them letting them know that their graphic is in our new system and all they have to do now is place an order from the e-mail,” Balter said.
The company also has expanded to design more than shirts and jackets. “We recently designed imprinted walnuts, water guns and coasters,” Balter said.
Last year it worked with more than 2,000 clients and is hoping to quadruple that number by the end of next year.
