Stark Awning & Canvas

What Stark Awning & Canvas does

Stark Awning & Canvas Co., also doing business as Stark Mfg. Co., is a family-owned custom manufacturer of fabric awnings, shade structures, protective covers, and specialty canvas products founded in 1953 and operated from a single 4,500 sq. ft. facility at 76 Broadway in Chula Vista, California. The company designs, fabricates, and installs its products entirely in-house using company-employed crews (no subcontractors), working with Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic fabric, heavy-duty vinyl, vinyl mesh, steel frame construction, and SOMFY motorized components. Its product portfolio spans fixed and retractable awnings, canopies and cabanas, slide-on-wire canopies, shade sails, exterior drop roll panels, outdoor curtains, protective covers and tarps, spa covers, Mil-Spec military products (berth curtains, shipboard canopies, brow skirts), and a specialized global line of animal stretchers/carriers for marine mammals and terrestrial animals serving marine parks, zoos, and aquariums.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model with quote-based pricing, free in-person consultations, and customer contact via phone, text, and email. It serves three primary customer segments: residential homeowners across 31 cities in San Diego County; commercial customers across theme parks, retail, hospitality, aerospace, and institutional buyers; and U.S. military and government agencies requiring Mil-Spec compliance. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time project sales plus installation services, with nationwide and global shipping limited to animal stretchers and selected military items. The company holds BBB accreditation and is a member of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). No revenue figures, funding rounds, institutional investors, or recent M&A activity are disclosed.

Name

Stark Awning & Canvas

Legal name

Stark Awning & Canvas Co.

Website

https://starkmfgco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stark Awning & Canvas Co. is a family-owned custom manufacturer of awnings, shade structures, protective covers, and specialty canvas products founded in 1953, serving residential, commercial, military, and zoo/aquarium customers from its Chula Vista, California facility with in-house design, fabrication, and installation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chula Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Awning & Shade Products: Design, fabrication, and sale of custom stationary awnings, retractable awnings, canopies, cabanas, shade sails, slide-on-wire canopies, exterior drop roll panels, and outdoor curtains. Products are custom-designed per customer specifications and manufactured in-house.
2. Protective Covers & Tarps: Custom fabrication of protective covers for equipment, outdoor furniture, spas, and military items. Also includes standard in-stock tarps in sizes 11' x 20', 11' x 25', 12' x 16', and 12' x 26'.
3. Military Products: Design and manufacture of military-specific products including shipboard canopies, brow skirts, bunk curtains, equipment covers, chair covers, table covers, beach markers, and floor mats. Accepts government credit cards, requisitions, and purchase orders.
4. Animal Stretchers / Carriers: Specialty handling equipment for marine mammals and terrestrial animals sold to marine parks, zoos, aquariums, and institutions worldwide. Custom design and fabrication services.
5. Installation Services: Professional installation of all products by company-employed crews (no subcontractors). Installation is included as part of the product offering with satisfaction guarantee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stark Awning & Canvas Co. is a custom manufacturer of fabric awnings, shade products, covers, tarps, military-spec canvas items, and specialty animal handling stretchers. All products are designed, fabricated, and installed in-house at the company's 4,500 sq. ft. facility in Chula Vista, CA. The portfolio includes stationary and retractable awnings, canopies, cabanas, slide-on-wire canopies, shade sails, exterior drop roll panels, outdoor curtains, protective/spa covers, tarps, military products (berth curtains, shipboard awnings, brow skirts), and animal stretchers/carriers.

Product overview

Stark Awning & Canvas Co. is a custom manufacturer of fabric awning, shade, and canvas products serving San Diego County since 1953, with nationwide shipping. All products are custom-designed, hand-fabricated, and installed in-house at their 4,500 sq. ft. Chula Vista facility. The portfolio consists of a unified set of custom-fabricated shading and covering products: Fixed/Stationary Awnings and Retractable Awnings (both using Sunbrella and steel frames, with retractable versions featuring SOMFY motors) form the core awning line; Canopies and Cabanas provide freestanding or attached shade structures; Slide-On-Wire Canopies offer retractable wire-mounted solutions; Shade Sails deliver tensioned fabric shade in multiple shapes; Exterior Drop Roll Panels/Solar Shades provide roller-mount UV protection with motorized and manual options; Outdoor Curtains offer sliding curtain panels for residential and commercial settings; Protective Covers, Spa Covers, and Tarps address covering and containment needs; Military Products serve U.S. Navy and armed forces with specialized shipboard and base equipment; and Animal Stretchers/Carriers provide specialty handling devices for marine mammals and land animals at zoos and aquariums worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fixed/Stationary Awnings Custom-designed stationary fabric awnings with steel frames attached to building exteriors in styles including standard slope, arched, bullnose, dome, convex, concave, box, gable, spear, entrance, mitered, corner, and cantilever. Provides shade, rain protection, and climate control with claimed 55–65% heat gain reduction.
• Retractable Awnings

Quantifiable outcome

• 55-65% heat gain reduction when awnings installed over windows and patio doors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)minorOthersMember of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, a trade association for the specialty fabric industry. Provides industry networking, standards, and professional resources.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)minorOthersBBB Accredited Business demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices and customer satisfaction standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Insolroll Window Shading Systems: Manufacturer of retractable exterior solar screens, roll-up shades, and insect screens for residential and commercial applications. Closely comparable to Stark's exterior drop roll panels / solar shades product line.
• Sunsetter: Mass-market direct-to-consumer manufacturer of retractable awnings sold through home improvement retailers. Operates at much larger scale than Stark and competes for the same residential shading budget, though with standardized rather than fully custom products.
• Marygrove Awnings: Custom manufacturer of aluminum-framed stationary and retractable awnings, canopies, and entrance canopies serving both residential and commercial customers. Comparable to Stark's stationary awning, canopy, and entrance awning lines.
• Solair Shade Solutions: Manufacturer of retractable awnings and motorized exterior screens targeting residential and commercial customers. Comparable to Stark on motorized retractable products and shade fabrics (Sunbrella and acrylics).
• NuImage Awnings: Custom manufacturer of retractable and stationary awnings, canopies, and shade structures for residential and commercial markets. Direct competitor in the custom shade fabrication space, with overlapping product categories.
• Eclipse Shading Systems: Designer and manufacturer of retractable awnings, retractable screens, and motorized exterior shade products. Comparable to Stark on motorized retractable systems and integration of SOMFY-style motors with fabric panels.
• Rollac Rolling Shutters & Screens: Manufacturer of retractable rolling shutters, motorized screens, and exterior shading products for hurricane protection and solar control. Comparable to Stark on exterior drop roll / solar shade product category and motorized deployment.
• KE Durasol (KE Outdoor): U.S. manufacturer of retractable awnings, drop-arm awnings, and exterior shade systems distributed through a dealer network. Direct competitor to Stark's retractable awning and drop roll panel lines across residential and light-commercial customers.
• AdvanTex Awnings: Manufacturer and distributor of commercial and residential awnings, including stationary, retractable, and custom fabric structures. Overlaps with Stark's commercial segment across retail, hospitality, and industrial shade applications.

Broad incumbents

• Carefree of Colorado: Established manufacturer of RV awnings, patio awnings, and outdoor shade products for the recreational vehicle and adjacent outdoor lifestyle markets. Adjacent incumbent with fabric awning expertise but focused on mobile/vehicular applications rather than site-installed custom residential/commercial work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StarkAwningandCanvas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stark-mfg-co
• Instagraminstagram.com/StarkAwningandCanvas
• Xx.com/starkmfgco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Stark Awning & Canvas