Chillybears
Chillybears Decorated Apparel is a privately held, Needham, MA-based custom apparel manufacturer offering screen printing, embroidery, 3PL warehousing, and sourcing services to B2B and B2C customers across the New England region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersNeedham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chillybears does
Chillybears Decorated Apparel, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, is a privately held custom decorated apparel manufacturer and merchandiser serving both business clients (B2B) and individual consumers (B2C). The company offers screen printing, embroidery, and proprietary fabric treatments — most notably the Beantown Brand Softwash process and unique dyeing techniques — applied to garments sourced from third-party brands such as Bella + Canvas, Champion, Next Level, Flexfit, and Dri Duck. It operates two proprietary sub-brands (Beantown Brand Apparel and Teddy the Dog) and sells through a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront as well as a self-serve "Design Online" customizer hosted at custombeantownbrand.com.
Beyond apparel decoration, Chillybears operates a 100,000-square-foot climate-controlled warehouse facility in Wilton, New Hampshire, providing third-party logistics (3PL) and storage services, plus branding, sourcing, and full-service eCommerce operations to external clients. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: one-time sales of custom decorated apparel (per-unit, quote-based pricing via DTC and SMB channels), recurring managed-services revenue from 3PL warehousing (monthly subscription-style engagements), and professional-services revenue from branding and sourcing work. Enterprise customers include Ole Smokey Moonshine, March & Millco (the outdoor lifestyle brand founded by NHL players Brad Marchand and Kevan Miller), and Lily Transportation, alongside a broad base of SMB and individual buyers.
The company is bootstrapped, employs 11–50 people, and operates with a regional New England footprint. In 2023 it announced expansion of the Wilton, NH facility with a planned conversion to hydro and rooftop solar power, targeting carbon-negative production by year-end. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce for SMB/individual buyers with a dedicated enterprise sales team handling custom orders, corporate apparel programs, and 3PL service inquiries through phone and quote-request workflows.
Chillybears firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chillybears
- Legal name
- Chillybears Decorated Apparel
- Website
- https://chillybears.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chillybears Decorated Apparel is a privately held, Needham, MA-based custom apparel manufacturer offering screen printing, embroidery, 3PL warehousing, and sourcing services to B2B and B2C customers across the New England region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chillybears industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Apparel Manufacturing and Decoration
- NAICS
- Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gloves & Mittens (CRAAAJAG)
Keywords
Where Chillybears is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Needham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chillybears business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Custom Decorated Apparel Sales: Direct sales of custom decorated apparel including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, and accessories through their e-commerce platform. Customers can purchase pre-designed items or request custom branded merchandise.
- 3PL & Storage Services: Third-party logistics and warehouse storage solutions offered to businesses. Includes secure indoor storage in their 100,000 sq ft facility in Wilton, NH with climate control, inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping coordination, and retail distribution services.
- Branding & Sourcing Services: Complete branding services to help grow customer brands with custom products featuring logos, plus sourcing services to make product visions a reality.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Apparel Products |
| Subscription | Monthly | 3PL & Storage Solutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Chillybears product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chillybears designs, decorates (via screen printing and embroidery), and distributes custom branded apparel, headwear, and accessories for businesses and individual consumers, operating a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront. It also offers value-added services including product branding, product sourcing, full-service eCommerce operations, and 3PL warehousing solutions from a 100,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility in Wilton, NH.
Product overview
Chillybears Decorated Apparel is a custom apparel and merchandise company offering a platform-plus-services model. The core offering centers on custom decorated apparel printing and embroidery services, supported by two proprietary sub-brands: Beantown Brand Apparel (soft casual apparel with unique dying processes) and Teddy the Dog (dog-themed branded merchandise). The company provides complementary service modules including 3PL & Storage Solutions (100,000 sq ft climate-controlled warehouse in Wilton, NH), Branding Services, Sourcing Services, and eCommerce Operations. Product categories include Men's Custom Apparel, Women's Custom Apparel, Custom Hats & Headwear, Custom Fleece & Sweats, and Accessories. The company operates on Shopify eCommerce infrastructure and serves as a distributor for third-party apparel brands including Champion, Next Level, Flexfit, Dri Duck, and Bella + Canvas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chillybears Custom Decorated Apparel Custom decorated apparel and merchandise service offering personalized garments with logos, designs, and branding via screen printing and embroidery for businesses and individuals, distributed through a Shopify e-commerce storefront.
- Beantown Brand Apparel Chillybears-owned specialty casual apparel sub-brand offering uniquely dyed and Softwash-treated super soft garments (short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees, crewnecks, hoodies, quarter zips, sweater dresses) with collections such as Beantown Dyed, Salt Wash, Newbury Street, Southie, On The Go, and Back Bay Kids; decorated in the USA with quick turn design, development, and fulfillment services.
- Teddy the Dog Apparel Dog-themed branded apparel line featuring witty designs on entertainment, pop culture, and dog-themed merchandise, made from garment-dyed, ring-spun blended cotton and decorated in the USA.
- 3PL and Storage Solutions Third-party logistics and indoor warehouse storage offering flexible short- and long-term storage in a 100,000 sq ft secure, climate-controlled Wilton, NH facility (over 1 million cubic feet of storage), with inventory management, order fulfillment, shipping coordination, and retail distribution services for business clients.
- Branding Services Brand growth service that provides clients with a curated assortment of apparel products featuring their logos, supporting brand expansion through custom branded merchandise.
- Sourcing Services End-to-end product sourcing service that helps clients turn product concepts into finished goods, covering supplier selection and product realization for custom merchandise programs.
- Full-Service eCommerce Operations Managed eCommerce operations service for client brands, including retail distribution, online store management, and delivery services tailored to each client's business needs and product strategy.
Companies that use Chillybears
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chillybears technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Chillybears partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Beantown Brand ApparelcoreBeantown Brand is a specialty retailer-focused apparel brand known for super soft casual apparel with unique dying processes and Softwash treatment. Decorated right in the USA, they provide quick turn design, development, and fulfillment services. Chillybears carries their full product line including short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees, crewnecks, hoodies, quarter zips, and sweater dresses, plus collections like Beantown Dyed, Salt Wash, Newbury Street, Southie, On The Go, and Back Bay Kids.
- Bella + CanvascoreBella + Canvas is a major apparel brand featured in Chillybears' women's collection. Their products include tees, tanks, sweatshirts, outerwear, wovens, dress shirts, polos, sport shirts, and bottoms across multiple collections.
- ChampioncoreChampion is a top brand carried by Chillybears, featured in their men's and women's apparel offerings including sweatshirts, activewear, and athletic apparel.
- Next Level ApparelcoreNext Level Apparel is a featured brand in Chillybears' men's collection, offering quality casual apparel. Products include t-shirts and related garments.
- FlexfitminorFlexfit is a headwear brand carried by Chillybears, offering hats and headwear products including beanies and structured caps.
- Dri DuckminorDri Duck is a workwear and outdoor apparel brand featured in Chillybears' product lineup, offering rugged and durable clothing options.
- Teddy the DogminorTeddy the Dog is a dog-themed apparel brand featuring witty and clever designs on entertainment, pop culture, and dog-themed merchandise. All apparel is garment-dyed, ring-spun blended cotton and decorated in the USA.
- Sportswear CollectioncoreSportswear Collection is a wholesale/distributor partner providing access to multiple apparel brands including Bella + Canvas, Champion, and Next Level through Chillybears' platform. They offer men's, women's, and headwear products through their collection.
- Custom Beantown BrandcoreDesign Online platform allowing customers to design custom products through Chillybears' partner website custombeantownbrand.com for personalized decorated apparel.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Chillybears competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CustomInk: CustomInk is a leading direct-to-consumer and B2B custom apparel decorator offering screen printing and embroidery on a wide range of blank apparel — directly comparable to Chillybears' core decorated apparel offering, though at significantly larger national scale.
- RushOrderTees: RushOrderTees specializes in custom screen-printed and embroidered apparel with quick-turn fulfillment for businesses, teams, and events — closely aligned with Chillybears' custom decorated apparel services and similar B2B/team-oriented customer base.
- Printful: Printful is a print-on-demand and custom apparel/decorated merchandise platform serving creators, SMBs, and enterprises — comparable to Chillybears' DTC custom apparel e-commerce model, though primarily digital/fulfillment-network rather than facility-based.
- Lands' End Business Outfitters: Lands' End Business Outfitters provides custom decorated corporate apparel, uniforms, and branded merchandise for enterprises — closely comparable to Chillybears' enterprise corporate apparel program work (e.g., Lily Transportation), though at substantially larger scale.
- Threadless: Threadless operates an artist-driven custom apparel e-commerce platform with print-on-demand decoration — comparable to Chillybears' DTC decorated apparel model via Shopify, though differentiated by community/art-driven merchandising.
- Spreadshirt: Spreadshirt is a global custom apparel and merchandise platform enabling individuals and businesses to design, sell, and purchase decorated apparel — comparable e-commerce-enabled custom apparel model to Chillybears' Shopify storefront.
Broad incumbents
- 4imprint: 4imprint is one of North America's largest promotional products and custom apparel distributors — comparable to Chillybears' enterprise branded merchandise offering but operating at much larger national scale and broader product category.
- Cimpress (Vistaprint parent): Cimpress/Vistaprint operates a portfolio of mass-customization and printed product businesses serving SMBs and consumers — comparable to Chillybears' custom decorated product model but as a much larger incumbent focused on printing, signage, and apparel.
- SanMar: SanMar is one of North America's largest apparel wholesalers and distributors, supplying blank apparel to decorators — comparable upstream role to Chillybears' reliance on wholesale apparel partners, though serving a national decorator network rather than operating its own decoration.
- Alphabroder (now S&S Activewear): S&S Activewear (formerly Alphabroder) is a major wholesale apparel distributor serving decorators and promotional product distributors — directly comparable to the wholesale supply role Chillybears accesses via Sportswear Collection and other partners.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chillybears social profiles
Digital presenceChillybears financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chillybears leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Chillybears funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chillybears M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chillybears
What does Chillybears do?
Chillybears designs, decorates (via screen printing and embroidery), and distributes custom branded apparel, headwear, and accessories for businesses and individual consumers, operating a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront. It also offers value-added services including product branding, product sourcing, full-service eCommerce operations, and 3PL warehousing solutions from a 100,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility in Wilton, NH.
Is Chillybears a public or private company?
Chillybears is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chillybears founded?
Chillybears was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chillybears based?
Chillybears is headquartered in Needham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chillybears make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Decorated Apparel Sales are the primary driver. The others are 3PL & Storage Services and branding & Sourcing Services.
Who are Chillybears's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CustomInk, RushOrderTees, Printful, Lands' End Business Outfitters, Threadless and Spreadshirt. Broad incumbents are 4imprint, Cimpress (Vistaprint parent), SanMar and Alphabroder (now S&S Activewear).
Does Chillybears have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chillybears.
What industry is Chillybears in?
Chillybears's product category is Custom Apparel Manufacturing and Decoration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAAAI, Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers, with a secondary code of CRAAAJAG, Gloves & Mittens. Its NAICS code is 458 and its SIC code is 5600.