PepWear

What PepWear does

PepWear is a privately held US event merchandise and custom apparel company headquartered in Cedar Hill, Texas. Founded in the late 1980s/early 1990s and operating for over 30 years, the company runs merchandise operations at more than 700 youth events annually, serving national and state-level organizations such as Drum Corps International (DCI), Winter Guard International (WGI), Bands of America/Music For All, USBands, UIL, MHSAA, AIA, LHSAA, and GHSA, as well as school music/performing arts programs and corporate clients. Its core offering is an end-to-end Event Merchandising Solution that combines proprietary event management software, a cloud-based pop-up store POS system, branded e-commerce webstores for partner organizations, and a field force of 100+ trained "PepReps" who staff on-site retail. The platform captures per-event data on attendance, sales-by-size, weather/venue issues, and customer feedback, then generates forecast models for product counts, sizing, and safety stock on subsequent events.

The product surface spans three connected sub-brands: the Event Merchandising Solution (event-managed retail), PepWear Custom (direct custom screenprinting, embroidery, vinyl, patches, plaques, and specialty items sold through a sales team and 6-step ordering process), and PepWear Professional (corporate screenprinting/embroidery using brands such as Brooks Brothers, Nike, Under Armour, Carhartt, The North Face). Revenue is generated through merchandise sales — both at events (transaction/commission share) and through branded e-commerce webstores — plus direct custom apparel orders via a 5-person Strategic Account/Account Executive sales team. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed list prices; PepWear Custom advertises free designs, setup, and screens. Distribution is domestic-only and multi-channel: on-site event pop-ups (enterprise), branded e-commerce webstores (mid-market), and direct custom sales (SMB and enterprise corporate). The company carries no disclosed institutional funding, has not transacted M&A, and operates with an 11–50 person core team plus a 100+ person PepRep field force, led by President/CEO Craig Johnson.

Name

PepWear

Legal name

PepWear

Website

https://pepwear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PepWear is a US event merchandising and custom apparel company that operates branded pop-up stores and e-commerce webstores at 700+ youth music, sports, and arts events annually for national and state-level organizations, schools, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Apparel and Event Merchandise Manufacturing

NAICS

Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Kids Athletic Footwear & Apparel Retail (CRAMACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Streetwear & Contemporary Apparel Retail (CRAAABAM)

Keywords

• Custom apparel printing
• Event merchandise management
• Screenprinting services
• Embroidery services
• Youth event retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event Merchandising Operations: PepWear manages end-to-end merchandise operations at over 700 youth organization events per year, including product selection, staffing (PepReps), merchandising, on-site sales, and data analysis. Revenue is generated through merchandise sales at events, with the company taking a share of sales or operating on a commission/fee basis.
2. Custom Apparel Sales: Direct custom apparel ordering through the PepWear Custom and PepWear Professional sites. Services include screenprinting, embroidery, vinyl names & numbers, patches & pins, award plaques, and specialty promotional products. Customers place orders through a 6-step process and pay for custom-manufactured goods.
3. E-Commerce Webstore Operations: Branded e-commerce webstores for youth organizations (e.g., AIA, BOA, DCI, WGI, USBands, UIL, MHSAA). PepWear hosts and operates these stores, fulfilling prepaid backorders with free shipping. Generates revenue through merchandise sales processed through these storefronts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PepWear operates a full-service Event Merchandising Solution that manages pop-up retail stores at over 700 youth organization events annually across music, sports, academics, and arts. The company also provides custom screenprinting, embroidery, vinyl, patches, plaques, and specialty promotional items through PepWear Custom for schools and programs, and PepWear Professional for corporate and business clients, supported by proprietary event management software and a cloud-based POS system.

Product overview

PepWear operates as a unified merchandise solutions company with three interconnected offerings: the core Event Merchandising Solution handles pop-up retail operations at over 700 youth events annually; PepWear Custom provides direct-to-customer custom apparel ordering with screenprinting, embroidery, and specialty items; and PepWear Professional serves business clients with corporate branding and workwear solutions. The platform combines proprietary event management technology, e-commerce capabilities, and order fulfillment services to deliver end-to-end merchandise experiences for youth organizations in music, sports, academics, and arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PepWear Event Merchandising Solution A comprehensive event merchandise service that manages pop-up store operations, inventory, staffing, and sales at over 700 youth organization events annually across music, sports, academics, and arts.
• PepWear Custom Custom apparel ordering platform for schools and organizations offering screenprinting, embroidery, vinyl names and numbers, patches and pins, award plaques, and specialty promotional items with free design and setup services.
• PepWear Professional Custom screenprinting and embroidery services for corporate, hospitality, trades, and event clients, featuring brands including Brooks Brothers, Nike, Under Armour, Carhartt, Dickies, and The North Face.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2+ million annual attendees at events managed by PepWear, with merchandise available for purchase
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Drum Corps International (DCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCI is a major youth drum and bugle corps organization. PepWear operates merchandise at DCI events and hosts a branded webstore (store.dci.org) for drum corps merchandise, including apparel and commemorative items for competitions.
• Winter Guard International (WGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWGI organizes color guard and percussion competitions for youth. PepWear manages merchandise and hosts a branded webstore (shop.wgi.org) for WGI events.
• Bands of America / Music For AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBands of America is a nonprofit serving school band programs. PepWear provides merchandise at BOA events and hosts a webstore (shop.musicforall.org).
• USBandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSBands is a national competitive circuit for school marching bands. PepWear operates branded webstore (shop.usbands.org) and provides event merchandise.
• University Interscholastic League (UIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUIL is the Texas state athletic and music organization. PepWear hosts uil.pepwear.com webstore and provides merchandise for Texas youth events.
• Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHSAA governs Michigan high school athletics. PepWear operates store.misshsaa.com webstore for Michigan high school sports merchandise.
• Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIA is the Arizona state athletic organization. PepWear operates shop.azpreps365.com webstore for Arizona school merchandise.
• Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLHSAA governs Louisiana high school athletics. PepWear operates shop.lhsaa.org webstore for Louisiana school merchandise.
• Mississippi Public School Sports/Activities Association (MPSSAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPSSAA governs Mississippi high school activities. PepWear operates shop.mpssaa.org webstore for Mississippi school merchandise.
• Blue DevilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Devils is a world-renowned drum and bugle corps. PepWear operates store.bluedevils.org branded webstore for Blue Devils merchandise.
• The CavalierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cavaliers is a competitive drum and bugle corps from Rosemont, IL. PepWear operates shop.cavaliers.org webstore for Cavaliers merchandise.
• The CadetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cadets is a competitive drum and bugle corps. PepWear operates shop.cadets.org webstore for Cadets merchandise.
• Santa Clara VanguardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Clara Vanguard is a world-class drum and bugle corps. PepWear operates store.scvanguard.org webstore for Santa Clara Vanguard merchandise.
• Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMEA is a major Texas music educators association. PepWear partners with TMEA for music program merchandise.
• Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFMEA supports Florida music education. PepWear partners with FMEA for event merchandise.
• Georgia High School Association (GHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHSA governs Georgia high school athletics and activities. PepWear partners with GHSA for merchandise operations.
• Winter Guard Association (WBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWBA organizes color guard competitions. PepWear partners with WBA for event merchandise.
• Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMEA supports Kentucky music education. PepWear partners with KMEA for music program merchandise.
• Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OKMEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOKMEA supports Oklahoma music education. PepWear partners with OKMEA for music program merchandise.
• Ohio Band Directors Association (OBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBA supports Ohio band directors. PepWear partners with OBA for band program merchandise.
• Indiana Percussion Association (IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPA organizes Indiana percussion competitions. PepWear partners with IPA for event merchandise.
• US Youth Soccer (USYS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSYS is a national youth soccer organization. PepWear partners with USYS for merchandise.
• Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAU organizes national youth sports competitions. PepWear partners with AAU for merchandise operations.
• USA Field HockeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Field Hockey is the national governing body for field hockey. PepWear partners with USAFH for merchandise.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RushOrderTees: RushOrderTees is a custom screenprinting and embroidery provider focused on fast-turn group orders for schools, events, and organizations. It competes head-to-head with PepWear Custom on price, speed, and quality for school and event apparel.
• CustomInk: CustomInk is a leading online custom apparel and accessories retailer specializing in group orders for schools, teams, and organizations with screenprinting and embroidery. It directly competes with PepWear Custom for school spirit wear, team apparel, and group custom orders in the same SMB and education segments.
• Herff Jones: Herff Jones supplies class rings, yearbooks, graduation products, and school apparel/awards. It competes with PepWear's spirit wear and commemorative merchandise offerings in the K-12 and youth achievement segments.
• Varsity Brands: Varsity Brands is a major school spirit and youth sports apparel provider (including BSN Sports and Herff Jones lines). It competes with PepWear across school music, spirit wear, and athletic apparel, and is a logical scaled incumbent in PepWear's core verticals.
• BSN Sports: BSN Sports is one of the largest U.S. distributors of team sports apparel and equipment, serving schools and youth leagues. It directly overlaps with PepWear's school-organization merchandising footprint, particularly across athletic apparel and spirit wear.
• OrderMyGear: OrderMyGear provides a group-ordering platform for custom team and school apparel, connecting organizations with decorator networks. It overlaps with PepWear Custom's group ordering workflow and is increasingly active in the school and youth-organization merchandise space.

Broad incumbents

• 4imprint: 4imprint is one of the largest North American promotional products distributors, supplying custom apparel and branded merchandise to organizations and businesses. It is a broader incumbent competing with PepWear Professional for corporate and promotional merchandise budgets.
• Cimpress (Vistaprint parent): Cimpress operates mass-customization print and apparel platforms (including Vistaprint and National Pen) serving small businesses and organizations. It is a broader incumbent in custom apparel and promotional products with substantially greater scale and technology investment than PepWear.
• HALO (Halo Branded Solutions): HALO is one of the largest U.S. promotional products and branded merchandise distributors, serving enterprise clients with custom apparel and merchandise programs. It competes with PepWear Professional for corporate and event merchandise spend, though at much broader scale.
• Fanatics: Fanatics is a global leader in licensed sports merchandise and operates event/venue merchandise programs for major leagues and organizations. It is a broader incumbent whose on-site event merchandise capabilities overlap with PepWear's pop-up event model at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PepWear
• Facebookfacebook.com/pepwear
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pepwear-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PepWear