Teespring is one of the most popular and successful crowd-funding platforms with a 10-year history. Launched in 2008 as a way to raise money for musician and songwriter Tommy Lee Jones’ solo album, it has since grown into a business with $35 million in annual revenue. How did TeeSpring become so successful? Let’s take a closer look.
Building A Community
Teespring is completely community-driven. When you create a campaign, you not only have the option of seeking financial support from your followers, but you can also ask them to participate in the project. For example, Tommy Lee Jones used TeeSpring to fund the production of his solo album, which he describes as a “collaboration [with] hundreds of talented artists, producers, and musicians.” The album’s title, Songs From a Rock Album, refers to the story behind its creation. While working on his previous albums, Jones had reached out to bands like Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and The Who, asking them to contribute to his next project. When these bands refused, he decided to use the internet to find other musicians who would be open to the idea. He found many, and when the album was done, he gave credit to all of them by name.
Teespring is also one of the few platforms that allow users to earn money from content they produce, much like how YouTube content creators can make money with their videos. The ability to make money directly from a campaign is what helped the platform grow so quickly in its early days. Back in 2008, when the platform first launched, it had only 100,000 users. Now, 10 years later, it has 500,000 monthly active users.
Growth Through Innovation
Innovation is a core tenet of TeeSpring’s business philosophy, and it’s what helped the company continue to grow even as the platform changed over the years, evolving to meet the demands of its users. One of the first major changes came with the launch of the Beta platform in 2014. The original TeeSpring was designed to be a very basic and easy-to-use crowdfunding platform, but many entrepreneurs and creators discovered that there was a lot more they could do with it. So, the company launched the Beta platform to give consumers more options and to allow for more customization. One of the biggest changes since the Beta platform launched is the introduction of the Shop section, which was previously only available to creators.
A Return To The Roots
Teespring has always remained true to its roots as a musician-oriented platform and has continued to innovate, adding new features to keep up with the demands of modern consumers. In 2019 alone, it added a “Shop By Brand” feature, which gives creators the chance to sell branded goods, such as hats and T-shirts, directly from their campaigns. Now, creators can add products from over 100 different brands, including their own.
A 10-Year History
In 2018, TeeSpring celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the company’s success can be attributed, in part, to its dedication to providing an exceptional user experience. To commemorate this milestone, the company released a special edition of its solo album, Songs From a Rock Album, featuring 10 newly written songs and an additional 10 previously unrecorded. The album’s title, 10 Years Strong, refers to the company’s ability to grow even in the face of major economic and political turmoil. This year, TeeSpring also made headlines when it became the first major crowdfunding platform to file for Incorporation in the State of Delaware, an important milestone for any business.
Why Is TeeSpring Important?
Teespring is important because it’s one of the most popular and successful crowdfunding platforms, with a 10-year history of innovation and growth.
In 2019 alone, it clocked in over $35 million in revenue, which makes it one of the 100 most lucrative and prominent companies in America. With 500,000 monthly active users and over 100 employees, it’s evident that the platform is growing at a steady rate.
Perhaps most impressively, TeeSpring has seen a 300% increase in revenue over the past three years. While other crowdfunding platforms struggle to see steady growth, TeeSpring continues to innovate and evolve, providing consumers with a polished and easy-to-use experience.