What Custom Direct does

Custom Direct, Inc. is a privately held, Illinois-incorporated B2B integrated marketing agency headquartered at 715 E. Irving Park Rd, Roselle, IL. The firm is vertically specialized, serving small and mid-sized U.S. industrial and manufacturing clients with a 14-service portfolio organized into four pillars: Strategy (Discovery, S.M.A.R.T. Goals, Branding, 90-day Marketing Roadmap), Websites (custom development, redesign, B2B eCommerce on WooCommerce, managed hosting), Digital Marketing (SEO, social media, paid promotion, email marketing with CRM integration), and Sales (trade shows/events, sales collateral). It operates on EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) principles internally and offers the framework to clients.

The technology stack is WordPress-centric and partner-dependent rather than proprietary. Website builds use WordPress CMS with WooCommerce for eCommerce; managed hosting is delivered through official partnerships with WP Engine and Pressable; marketing automation and CRM run on ActiveCampaign; web accessibility is delivered via the accessiBe partner; performance is tracked with Google Analytics. The firm has codified a 90-day iterative Marketing Roadmap methodology and applies the Buyer Persona Institute's 5 Rings of Buying Insight framework, but these are process frameworks layered on standard third-party platforms rather than differentiated technology.

Commercially, Custom Direct uses a sales-led B2B go-to-market anchored by free consultations, phone (630.529.1936) and email ([email protected]) outreach, and a website funnel. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured as project-based, retainer, or hourly professional-services engagements. Distribution is domestic, concentrated in Illinois and the broader Midwest via GTM alliances with the Valley Industrial Association (VIA), the Technology Management Association (TMA), and IMEC, supplemented by the Manufacturing Mavericks sub-brand for thought leadership. The firm reports 100+ cumulative industrial clients, a single named senior leader (VP Nancy O'Leary), no external investors, no M&A activity, and no disclosed headcount or revenue figures.

Name

Custom Direct

Legal name

Custom Direct, Inc.

Website

https://customdirect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Custom Direct, Inc. is a privately held B2B integrated marketing agency in Roselle, Illinois that delivers strategy, website, digital marketing, eCommerce, and sales-collateral services to small and mid-sized U.S. industrial and manufacturing companies, primarily in the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Marketing Services

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD), Creative & Brand Campaign Development (BPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Industrial marketing services
• Manufacturing marketing agency
• B2B website development
• Search engine optimization services
• Email marketing automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Roselle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Integrated Marketing Services: Custom Direct generates revenue through professional marketing services including strategy, website development, digital marketing (SEO, social media, paid promotion, email marketing), and sales collateral creation. Services are project-based, retainer arrangements, or hourly consulting engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Custom Direct is an integrated marketing agency that develops and executes strategy, websites, digital marketing, and sales collateral for manufacturing and industrial companies. Their offerings include four strategy services (Discovery, S.M.A.R.T. Goals, Branding, Marketing Roadmap), website services (development, redesign, eCommerce, managed hosting), digital marketing (SEO, social media, paid promotion, email/CRM), and sales support (trade shows, sales collateral).

Product overview

Custom Direct is an integrated marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of marketing services for manufacturing and industrial companies. The portfolio includes four core strategy services (Discovery, S.M.A.R.T. Goals, Branding, and Marketing Roadmap) that form the foundation for all marketing initiatives. Website services encompass Website Development, Website Update + Redesign, eCommerce solutions built on WooCommerce, and Managed Hosting through WPEngine and Pressable partnerships. Digital marketing services include Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Paid Promotion, and Email Marketing with CRM integration. Sales services round out the offering with Trade Shows + Events support and Sales Collateral creation. All services are delivered using a 90-day iterative cadence with data-driven measurement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Discovery
• S.M.A.R.T. Goals
• Branding
• Marketing Roadmap
• Website Development
• Website Update + Redesign
• eCommerce
• Managed Hosting
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social Media Marketing
• Paid Promotion
• Email Marketing: Automation + CRM
• Trade Shows + Events
• Sales Collateral

Quantifiable outcome

• User engagement scores nearing 40% achieved for Monarc Sport website within 6 months post-launch
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WP EnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial WP Engine Agency Partner Member. Provides managed WordPress hosting with guaranteed 99.95% uptime, automatic core updates, nightly backups, and server monitoring for client websites.
• PressablecoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud hosting partner providing managed WordPress infrastructure with globally-recognized security features.
• Active CampaigncoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Affiliate Member for CRM and marketing automation platform, enabling email marketing, automation workflows, and customer relationship management for clients.
• EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom Direct operates on EOS principles and implements this operating system framework for clients, providing tools for vision, traction, and team health.
• VIA - Valley Industrial AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership with VIA for industry events, webinars (including 123GROW! Sales Workshop), and marketing initiatives targeting manufacturing clients in the Valley Industrial Association region.
• TMA (Technology Management Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with TMA Illinois for marketing initiatives and professional development targeting manufacturing and industrial companies.
• IMECcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for video content production and webinar delivery, including videos on branding, website updates, LinkedIn success, and eCommerce for manufacturers.
• Bridge CommunitiesminorOthersCommunity partnership - charitable organization in DuPage County, IL serving those experiencing housing insecurity.
• GECRCminorOthersPartnership with Greater Elgin Corporate Recycling Council for corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Industrial Strength Marketing: Marketing agency dedicated exclusively to the industrial sector, offering strategy, branding, web development, and digital marketing. Directly comparable to Custom Direct's manufacturing-only positioning.
• Weidert Group: Industrial marketing agency serving manufacturers with inbound marketing, web development, and content strategy. Closely matches Custom Direct's manufacturing specialization and integrated service offering.
• Gorilla 76: B2B marketing agency specializing in industrial and manufacturing clients — directly comparable to Custom Direct in vertical focus, service mix (strategy, websites, digital marketing), and mid-market customer profile.
• Heinz Marketing: B2B marketing agency focused on industrial and technology clients, providing demand generation, content, and sales enablement. Comparable in target market and B2B services depth.
• Square 2 Marketing: Integrated B2B marketing agency serving mid-market industrial and professional services clients with strategy, web, and inbound marketing — similar in size and service scope to Custom Direct.
• Revenue River: B2B growth agency serving industrial, manufacturing, and SaaS clients with HubSpot, web, and digital marketing services — closely overlaps with Custom Direct's mid-market manufacturing GTM.
• Tilt Metrics: HubSpot-focused agency serving industrial and B2B manufacturers with marketing strategy, web design, and CRM implementation — comparable to Custom Direct in vertical and integrated marketing approach.
• Think it Creative: B2B marketing and web agency with manufacturing clients, offering branding, web development, and digital marketing services — overlaps with Custom Direct's manufacturing vertical and integrated offering.

Broad incumbents

• HubSpot: Large marketing-software platform and agency ecosystem that competes for the same manufacturing client budgets through its partner-agency network. Represents a broader incumbent that Custom Direct partners with (via ActiveCampaign/CRM equivalents) but also competes against for marketing-services spend.

Others

• Tilt Metrics Manufacturing Resource Partners: IMEC is a manufacturing-focused nonprofit that delivers consulting, training, and marketing-adjacent services to Illinois manufacturers — adjacent ecosystem participant and Custom Direct's content partner, competing indirectly for the same client relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/customdirectinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/customdirectinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/custom-direct-inc

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 Custom Direct