SkinnyCorp runs a number of community websites, the most popular of which is Threadless (www.threadless.com). Threadless runs a daily t-shirt contest; all entries are submitted by the users. The highest voted design wins $750 cash and $250 in gift certificates, and a batch of the winning shirt is printed (~600 shirts) and sold for $15 each. The site sell over 50,000 t-shirts per month!
SkinnyCorp runs a number of other websites in this same template: Naked and Angry (for neckties), OMG Clothing (for t-shirt captions), and 15 Megs of Fame (for musical artists). The company was founded by Jake Nickell and Jacob DeHart after Jake won a t-shirt design competition. The two worked full time as web developers as the company grew until they could quit and focus full-time on the company. Their latest site, Extra Tasty, allows users to share drink recipes and recommends cocktails based on what is currently stocked in your wet bar. You can read a nice history of the company.
Dimensions: 15 people x 6 years x ~$6.5 million in 2005
Funding: $500 Initial funding from the founders
Customers: Threadless: People looking for unique, well designed t-shirts
Location: Chicago + www.skinnycorp.com
