Background
Spoonflower makes it possible for individuals to design, print and sell their own fabric designs. It was founded in May 2008 by two Internet geeks who knew nothing about textiles, but had crafty wives. The Spoonflower community now numbers over 100,000 individuals who use their own fabric to make a tremendous variety of handmade products, including curtains, quilts, clothes, bags, furniture, dolls, pillows, framed artwork, costumes, banners and much, much more. The Spoonflower marketplace offers the largest collection of independent fabric designers in the world. The site has appeared in the New York Times, Associated Press, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Make, CRAFT, ApartmentTherapy, Photojojo, and many other renowned publications and blogs.
It all started when Stephen Fraser’s wife asked, "Why can’t I print my own fabric?" Familiar with the product customization made possible by Internet startups like CafePress and Lulu, Fraser knew that there had to be an answer. And, with the North Carolina State University College of Textiles in his backyard, he set off to find it. At the time, digital textile printing technology was only being marketed to a a small number of high-end customers, like Hollywood set designers or high-end fashion designers, but there was nothing for the everyday fabric connoisseur. Fraser convinced Gart Davis, former CEO of a digital manufacturing startup for books, to join him and by the end of summer 2008, the new company had a waiting list of 10,000 people eager to learn how to print their own fabric.
CED Connection
While doing his research to start Spoonflower, Fraser decided that CED’s FastTrac® program would provide him with the tools and resources needed to start his own company. According to Fraser, “FastTrac® is a touchstone for many entrepreneurs in the area when they are in the process of starting their own business. It’s really an important indoctrination into the local entrepreneurial community and the resources that are available.”
Fraser also adds that the FastTrac® program provided him with a great overview of the options that are available to entrepreneurs when looking to raise venture capital. He found that education to be an invaluable benefit of the program.
Both Fraser and Davis continue to be active members of CED. As a repeat entrepreneur, Davis is participating in the newly launched CED Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) and both continue to network at various CED events with other entrepreneurs in the community.
Says Fraser, “I consider CED to be the unifying force for otherwise disparate elements of the community. It's a common ground for many entrepreneurs and allows us to learn from our peers in a variety of industries.”
Key Factors to Success
Fraser attributes much of Spoonflower's early success to its focus on community. For example, with more than 100,000 active users of the Website and more than 500,000 designs, the company continues to be rewarded by a constant stream of buzz in the blogosphere.
In addition, the local community has provided significant resources and connections including CED, NC IDEA, the NC State College of Textiles and [TC]2. "We truly are at the intersection of this historical textile and technology economy and our position here has allowed us to start this great company. We could not have done this anywhere else."
Advice to other Entrepreneurs
With a strong background in marketing, Fraser offers the following advice, "build products around people with a real need - know that it will be useful for someone."
