Darn It

What Darn It does

Darn It! Inc. is a privately held, family-owned apparel refurbishment and fulfillment company headquartered in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Founded in 1996 as a strategic pivot from the Glassman family's Ronnie Manufacturing contract clothing business, the company was created to address the wave of quality control and logistical problems that emerged as US apparel production shifted overseas following NAFTA. Darn It! operates from a single 300,000-square-foot facility and provides three core service lines: apparel inspection (visual, AQL statistical sampling, and 100% points-of-measure inspection), apparel repair and refurbishment (sewing repairs, relabeling, heat transfer labeling, trim replacement, cleaning, mold/mildew remediation via ozone shock treatment, and repackaging), and warehouse/fulfillment services operated under the Darn It Distribution sub-brand.

The company's underlying technology stack centers on a proprietary Warehouse Management System with real-time inventory tracking, EDI/XML/ASN/UCC-128 capabilities, and integrations with major shopping carts and shipping carriers. A notable specialized capability is ozone shock treatment technology for restoring musty or mold-contaminated apparel to first-quality condition. The company is sales-led, targeting apparel retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and distributors through direct B2B relationships. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional services fees for inspection, repair, and refurbishment, supplemented by managed 3PL services for storage, pick/pack/ship fulfillment, packaging, kitting, assembly, and reverse logistics. Pricing is quote-based, dependent on volume, complexity, and turnaround requirements, with no public rate card. Darn It! has served over 1,000 customers across its 30-year history and counts STATE Bags among its named customers, with case studies highlighting capacity for processing 500,000+ units per season for returns and complex time-sensitive projects.

Name

Darn It

Legal name

Darn It! Inc.

Website

https://darnit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Darn It! is a family-owned apparel refurbishment and 3PL fulfillment company serving apparel retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers with inspection, repair, mold remediation, reverse logistics, and warehouse services from a 300,000 sq ft New Bedford, MA facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apparel Quality Control & Refurbishment Services

NAICS

Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (8114), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Footwear and Leather Goods Repair (811430)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Apparel Alterations, Repair & Circular Manufacturing (Remake/Upcycle) (CRAAAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rework, Repair & Refurbishment (Depot/Light Manufacturing) (TLAIAFAG)

Keywords

• Apparel inspection services
• Garment refurbishment
• Apparel fulfillment services
• Reverse logistics apparel
• Quality control services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Bedford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apparel Inspection Services: Revenue generated from providing visual inspection, AQL inspection, and measurement inspection services for apparel shipments. Charges for inspection services based on volume and complexity.
2. Apparel Repair and Refurbishment: Revenue from sewing repairs, relabeling, heat transfer labeling, part/trim replacement, cleaning, mold/mildew removal, and repackaging services. Service fees based on type of repair and volume.
3. Warehouse and Fulfillment Services: 3PL services including packaging, kitting, assembly, reverse logistics, WMS inventory management, and value-added services. Revenue based on storage volume, order volume, and service complexity.
4. General Merchandise Inspection and Repair: Inspection and repair services for non-apparel merchandise including auditing, reticketing, repackaging, and repair of general goods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Darn It! is a third-party apparel refurbishment and fulfillment services provider that inspects, repairs, relabels, repackages, and remediates defective or non-compliant apparel and general merchandise for retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers. The company combines quality control services (visual inspection, AQL inspection, measurement inspection), apparel repair services (sewing repairs, relabeling, trim replacement, cleaning, mold/mildew removal via ozone treatment, repackaging), and warehousing/3PL fulfillment under one roof at a 300,000 square-foot facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Product overview

Darn It! is an apparel refurbishment and fulfillment company offering a comprehensive suite of quality control, repair, and logistics services. The core offering consists of apparel inspection services (visual, AQL, and measurement inspection), apparel repair services (sewing repairs, relabeling, trim replacement, cleaning, mold/mildew removal, and repackaging), and general merchandise inspection and repair. These are complemented by warehouse and fulfillment services including storage, pick/pack/ship operations, reverse logistics, and WMS inventory management with real-time reporting. The company operates as a third-party refurbisher helping retailers, brands, manufacturers, and importers recover defective or non-compliant merchandise and return it to retail-ready condition. All operations are conducted under one roof at the company's 300,000 square-foot facility in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Darn It Distribution: Warehouse, fulfillment, and distribution division of Darn It! offering storage, inventory management, and logistics services.

Products and services

• Apparel Visual Inspection 100% visual inspection to identify and quantify quality issues including stains, damage, missing components, and other defects in apparel shipments; serves apparel retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers.
• Apparel Inbound AQL Inspection Statistical sampling inspection to assess quality and adherence to specifications using Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) standards for inbound apparel shipments.
• Apparel Measurement Inspection 100% inspection of Points of Measure (POMs) including body length, sleeves, inseams, bust, hem lines, and waist to verify garments meet specification requirements using professional measurement tools.
• Apparel Sewing Repairs High-volume sewing repairs including open seams, skipped stitches, reinforcement of seams, and construction inconsistencies for retail and import challenges.
• Apparel Relabeling and Heat Transfer Labeling Replacement of incorrect or outdated woven or printed labels with new sewn-in labels, plus heat transfer labeling for a tagless modern finish applied directly onto garments.
• Apparel Part and Trim Replacement Replacement of buttons, zippers, grommets, and other trim components that are damaged, incorrect, or non-compliant on apparel items.
• Apparel Cleaning Spot cleaning and full laundering services using professional equipment and targeted chemistry to remove stains, odors, and soil from garments.
• Apparel Mold and Mildew Removal Ozone shock treatment using state-of-the-art ozone chambers to eliminate mold, mildew, and musty odors from garments, ensuring items won't grow mold back.
• Apparel Returns Processing and Reverse Logistics Inspection, cleaning, repair, and repackaging of returned apparel merchandise to restore items to sellable, retail-ready condition.
• Apparel Repackaging and Ticketing Repackaging, reticketing, and barcode correction services to ensure apparel merchandise meets retailer specifications.
• General Merchandise Inspection and Repair Inspection, repair, and remediation services for non-apparel merchandise including jewelry, footwear, bags, accessories, and home goods.
• Warehouse and Storage Services Expansive warehousing space with state-of-the-art inventory management technology (ASN, XML, EDI, UCC-128 capabilities), providing storage and inventory management for apparel and general merchandise.
• Fulfillment and Distribution (3PL) 3PL fulfillment services including pick, pack, and ship operations for wholesale and direct-to-consumer orders with real-time inventory visibility and same-day shipping for orders received before 2pm.
• Packaging, Kitting, and Assembly Efficient packaging, kitting, and assembly projects with quality-control processes to meet exact specifications for retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and importers.
• Reverse Logistics Services Reverse logistics services for customer returns, retail outlet recalls, and end-of-season consolidations to book revenue quickly.
• WMS Inventory Logistics Real-time warehouse management system with inventory visibility, reporting, and integration capabilities with shopping carts and major shipping carriers.
• Value-Added Services Additional value-added services to get first-quality goods on shelves quickly, including various support activities for retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and importers.

Named customers3 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

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Switzerland-headquartered testing, inspection, and certification giant with an apparel and softlines inspection practice. Competes with Darn It! on inbound AQL inspection and QC audits but offers a vastly broader portfolio across many industries.
• GXO Logistics: U.S.-headquartered contract logistics provider with apparel-focused warehousing, fulfillment, and value-added services. Overlaps with Darn It! Distribution's 3PL offering but at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Intertek: Global TIC company with apparel and textile quality assurance services including AQL inspection and lab testing. Overlaps with Darn It! on inspection but at much larger scale and with testing-led differentiation.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global contract logistics arm of Deutsche Post DHL with apparel and retail fulfillment, returns processing, and value-added services. Competes with Darn It! on 3PL fulfillment for major apparel retailers.
• Bureau Veritas: France-based testing, inspection, and certification firm with a consumer products division that includes apparel inspection and social audits. Provides similar but broader-scope QC services than Darn It! specializes in.
• Eurofins: Global testing and inspection network with apparel and softlines testing capabilities. Adjacent competitor to Darn It!'s inspection services, anchored in lab-based textile testing rather than rework/repair.

Emerging players

• Optoro: U.S. technology-driven returns management platform helping retailers resell, donate, or liquidate returned merchandise. Competes with Darn It! on the returns-processing value chain via a software-led rather than labor-led model.
• Happy Returns: Reverse logistics and returns experience company now owned by UPS, providing box-free returns and processing for apparel brands. Adjacent competitor in the returns management space, more software and brand-consumer facing than Darn It!'s B2B remediation model.

Direct peers

• QIMA: Hong Kong-based quality control and inspection provider serving apparel and consumer goods brands. Closest direct competitor to Darn It!'s apparel inspection, AQL, and measurement services, though typically positioned closer to offshore factory hubs.
• Reverse Logistics Group: Germany-based reverse logistics service provider operating across Europe and the Americas. Directly comparable to Darn It!'s returns processing and reverse logistics capabilities for retail and apparel clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DarnItInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Darn It