What Richards & Stehman does

Richards & Stehman, operating as R&S Custom Products, is a U.S. manufacturer and e-commerce retailer of custom and stock rubber stamps, embossing seals, engraved signs, and name badges. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in central Illinois, the company self-describes as the largest rubber stamp manufacturer in its region and holds a Women Owned Business designation. The business operates with 1-10 employees and serves individual consumers, small businesses, general office users, notaries, and BCSP (Board of Certified Safety Professionals) credential holders.

The product catalog spans 20+ categories and combines in-house custom manufacturing with resale of established industry brands including Xstamper (with 245+ stock SKUs), Shiny, Colop, 2000 Plus, Trodat, Cosco, and Classix. Prices range from approximately $6 for entry-level stock products up to $114 for premium items. The company's digital storefront is built on Connectweb Technologies' Custom Vantage Web platform and includes an online stamp designer that allows customers to specify custom text, layouts, and artwork before ordering, which is then manufactured to specification.

The business model is direct-to-customer e-commerce with self-service customization, supplemented by custom manufacturing. Revenue is generated per-transaction on small-ticket items with no disclosed subscription, enterprise contract, or volume pricing tiers. The go-to-market is a mix of long-tail organic online traffic, niche vertical targeting (notaries, safety professionals), and brand-driven discovery through resold premium brands. The company has no public funding, no disclosed enterprise customers, and operates as a privately-held regional business with an e-commerce footprint that extends its reach nationally.

Name

Richards & Stehman

Legal name

Richards and Stehman

Website

https://rscustomproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Richards & Stehman (R&S Custom Products) is a central Illinois-based manufacturer and e-commerce retailer of custom and stock rubber stamps, embossing seals, engraved signs, and name badges, serving notaries, credential holders, and small businesses since 1954.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Rubber Stamp Manufacturing

NAICS

Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316), Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing (316990)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Decoration & Branding Services (Printing, Hot Stamping, Metallization, Labeling) (IMALAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Leather Goods & Handbags (CRAKAFAB), Luxury Handbags & Leather Goods (CRAAAFAD)

Keywords

• Custom rubber stamps
• Self-inking stamps
• Pre-inked stamps
• Notary stamps and seals
• Embossing seals and signs

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom and stock rubber stamp sales: Core revenue stream — direct e-commerce sales of made-to-order custom stamps (configured online via the designer) and in-stock pre-made stamps (Notary, Date, Address, Signature, BCSP, Endorsement, Numbering, Inspection, Stock Office, etc.). One-time hardware purchases with prices ranging from roughly $6 to $114 per item.
2. Consumables — stamp ink and replacement pads: Recurring/consumable revenue from refill inks (Trodat 1 oz $6.75, 2 oz; Xstamper 10 ml $6.00; 1/2 oz Shiny Premier $9.50) and replacement ink pads across Shiny, COLOP/2000 Plus, Trodat, and Classix product families. Refill ink colors include Black, Blue, Red, Green, Purple, Brown, Hot Pink, and Orange.
3. Engraved signs and name badges: Per the company homepage, R&S also manufactures embossing seals, engraved signs, and name badges in the U.S.A. in addition to rubber stamps — a complementary one-time hardware line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Richards & Stehman (R&S Custom Products) manufactures and sells custom and stock rubber stamps, embossing seals, engraved signs, and name badges from its central Illinois facility, operating continuously since 1954. Its product portfolio spans pre-inked, self-inking, traditional hand, and heavy-duty metal stamp formats across multiple top brands (Xstamper, Shiny, COLOP/2000 Plus, Trodat), with an in-browser online designer that lets customers configure text, font, color, borders, and logos before ordering directly through its e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

R&S Custom Products (Richards & Stehman) is a single unified e-commerce offering from a central Illinois rubber stamp manufacturer that has been in business continuously since 1954. Rather than a modular SaaS platform, the portfolio is a category-based catalog of physical marking products manufactured in the U.S.A., including the flagship R&S Custom Stamps line, Address Stamps, Date Stamps, Signature Stamps, Notary Stamps and Supplies, BCSP Certification Products, Endorsement Stamps, Numbering Stamps, Inspection Stamps, Stock Office Stamps, Seals & Embossers, Replacement Pads, and Stamp Ink / Refill Ink & Stamp Pads. Sub-brands such as the Xstamper Eco-Friendly Custom Stamps line and the Heavy Duty / HD Series (including the 2400 Classic, COLOP Expert, Shiny H-6103, and Pullman models) sit alongside Shiny self-inking/pre-inked/traditional address stamps and dedicated consumables like Xstamper 10 ml Refill Ink, all ordered and customized through the same storefront.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• R&S Custom Stamps Custom rubber stamps available in self-inking, pre-inked, hand/traditional, and heavy duty formats from brands including 2000 Plus, Xstamper, Shiny, COLOP Expert, and Trodat. Customers can customize text, font, size, and upload logos or artwork.
• Address Stamps Custom address stamps for home or office in Traditional, Self-Inking, Pre-Inked, and Xstamper variants, customizable with address, ink color, font style, size, and optional logo or artwork.
• Date Stamps Date/dater stamps including heavy duty and light duty date stamps, date-only stamps, stock date stamps, and replacement pads, offered across 2000 Plus, COLOP, Shiny, Pullman, Xstamper, and Cosco product lines.
• Signature Stamps Custom signature stamps available in Traditional, Self-Inking, and Pre-Inked formats, including Initials Stamps.
• Notary Stamps and Supplies Notary stamps, seals, and related supplies for notaries public, including notary journal stamping and seal products.
• BCSP Certification Products Custom pre-inked stamps for Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) credentials, including CSP, SMS, ASP, OHST, CHST, CIT, STS, and STSC designations.
• Endorsement / Deposit Stamps Bank deposit and endorsement stamps offered in HD Series, Self-Inking, Pre-Inked, and Xstamper variants.
• Numbering Stamps Manual and heavy duty numbering stamps with die plate options, available in multiple sizes (Size #1 5/32", Size #2 3/16") and date-and-numbering combinations.
• Inspection Stamps Inspection stamps from 2000 Plus, HD Series, and Xstamper product lines for industrial/quality-control use.
• Stock Office Stamps Pre-made stock office message stamps including Xstamper and Shiny stock stamps (e.g., PAID, COPY, URGENT, APPROVED, FILE, FAXED, ENTERED, RECEIVED, etc.).
• Seals & Embossers Embossing seals and embossers manufactured by R&S Custom Products as part of its U.S.-made marking product portfolio.
• Replacement Pads Replacement ink pads for Shiny, COLOP/2000 Plus, Trodat, and Classix stamp models, available in round and rectangle shapes and single- or two-color options.
• Stamp Ink / Refill Ink & Stamp Pads Refill ink products including 1 oz and 2 oz Trodat ink for self-inking stamps and stamp pads, 1/2 oz Shiny Premier refill ink, and Xstamper 10 ml refill ink in multiple colors.
• Heavy Duty Stamps (HD Series / 2000 Plus Classic) Heavy duty metal self-inking custom stamps including the 2400 Classic (up to 7 lines, 1-1/8" x 2-5/16"), COLOP Expert 3160 and 3660, Shiny H-6103, Pullman, Cosco Comet/Classic, XCPN numbering, and BFPD Bold Face Daters.
• Jumbo Xstamper Stock Stamps Larger pre-inked Xstamper stock message stamps including multi-line messages such as 'PAST DUE PLEASE SEND PAYMENT', 'THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS', 'CONFIDENTIAL', 'FAX', 'COPY', 'PAID', and 'READ AND ROUTE', in 1-Color and 2-Color variants.
• Xstamper 10 ml Refill Ink 10 ml oil-based refill ink for Xstamper pre-inked stamps, available in Black, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Hot Pink, and Brown.
• Xstamper Eco-Friendly Custom Stamps Xstamper-branded eco-friendly custom pre-inked stamps available in 25 sizes (N04 through N90 series), customized with custom text or uploaded artwork, with multiple ink color, font, and size options; engineered to deliver thousands of clear imprints before re-inking.
• Xstamper Pre-Ink Stamps (Pocket & Specialty) Specialized Xstamper pre-inked stamps including pocket models (N40, N42) and round models (N51, N53) designed for portability and round impressions.
• Engraved Signs and Name Badges U.S.-manufactured engraved signs and name badges sold as a complementary one-time hardware line alongside rubber stamps and embossing seals.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~50,000 impressions per Xstamper pre-inked stamp before re-inking is needed
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• XstamperflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXstamper is one of R&S Custom Products' two anchor brands. R&S sells the full Xstamper line including custom pre-inked stamps (N04 through N60 series), Xstamper stock stamps (1-color 1000-series — Air Mail, Paid, Copy, Rush, Approved, Urgent, File, etc.), Jumbo Xstamper stock stamps (3000-series — Paid, Fax, Copy, Confidential, etc.), and Xstamper 10 ml refill ink. The Xstamper Lifetime Warranty is explicitly referenced on multiple product pages.
• ShinyflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShiny is R&S's other anchor brand. R&S resells Shiny self-inking stamps (S-850 and S-840 series), Shiny pre-inked stamps (EA-70/115/150 series), Shiny hand stamps, Shiny Traditional Address Stamps (M2040/M2050/M2560), Shiny stock message stamps (13454 Approved, 13461 Completed, 13468 Confidential, 13475 Copy, 13482 Draft, 13489 Emailed, etc.), and Shiny Premier refill ink.
• Colop / 2000 PluscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR&S resells Colop and 2000 Plus eco-friendly self-inking date and message stamps (COLOP Expert 3160, 3660; 2000 Plus Classic Line Daters, 2400 Classic Heavy Duty Custom Stamp; replacement pads). Categorized as '2000 Plus Eco-Friendly Stamps' and 'COLOP' branded date stamps.
• TrodatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR&S sells Trodat-branded self-inking refill ink in 1 oz and 2 oz sizes and Trodat replacement pads across multiple stamp categories.
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&S operates a dedicated 'BCSP Certification Products' category selling Xstamper pre-inked stamps branded with BCSP credential designations: CSP (Certified Safety Professional), SMS (Safety Management Specialist), ASP (Associate Safety Professional), OHST (Occupational Hygiene & Safety Technician), CHST (Construction Health & Safety Technician), CIT (Certified Instructional Trainer), STS (Safety Trained Supervisor), and STSC (Safety Trained Supervisor Construction). The BCSP ® marks are used under license.
• Connectweb Technologies (Custom Vantage Web / SSW)coreTechnology or IntegrationFooter of the R&S Custom Products website credits Connectweb Technologies' Custom Vantage Web platform (powered by SSW) as the underlying e-commerce and online-designer stack. The platform enables catalog browsing, the in-browser stamp designer (designer.aspx), shopping cart, account management, tax-exempt checkout, and email-a-friend features.
• Cosco (Pullman, Comet, Classic lines)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR&S lists Cosco-branded product imagery and SKUs throughout the Heavy Duty category, including the CLD (Comet Line Dater) family, Pullman Line Daters (PD-0 through PD-3), Pullman Extra Condensed Numbering (XCPN), Bold Face Daters (BFPD), and the 2000 Plus Classic 2400 / 2300 / 2008P line numbering stamps.
• ClassixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorR&S sells Classix replacement pads (rectangle and 2-color date stamp pads) listed under the Replacement Pads category.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Trodat: Trodat is a major global rubber stamp and self-inking stamp manufacturer. R&S resells Trodat self-inking stamps and Trodat refill inks, but also competes directly with Trodat's own e-commerce channels across the U.S. self-inking and date-stamp categories. Comparable on product line (self-inking stamps, refill inks, replacement pads) and target customer (office, industrial).
• Shiny Stamps: Shiny is a Taiwanese manufacturer of self-inking, pre-inked, and traditional hand stamps, and is R&S's other anchor brand. Both serve the same custom and stock address/date/signature stamp use cases for consumers and small businesses, with R&S as a U.S. reseller competing against Shiny's direct and Amazon channels.
• Bates Manufacturing: Bates Manufacturing is a long-standing U.S. manufacturer of custom rubber stamps, embossing seals, and engraved signage — directly overlapping R&S's address-stamp, signature-stamp, and notary-stamp product lines, and serving the same consumer and small-business e-commerce buyer via online ordering.
• Shachihata (Xstamper): Shachihata is the manufacturer of the Xstamper line — R&S's flagship stamp brand. Both companies sell custom and pre-inked rubber stamps to overlapping consumer, office, and industrial customers, and compete directly for the same end buyer (notary publics, offices, individuals). R&S is a downstream reseller of Xstamper and competes with the brand's own direct channels.
• Colop: Colop manufactures eco-friendly self-inking and date stamps (including the COLOP Expert 3160/3660 lines that R&S resells). Both sell made-to-order and stock date/numbering stamps to offices, notaries, and industrial users, and Colop's own online store competes with R&S for U.S. customers seeking customizable stamp hardware.
• Discount Rubber Stamps / Notary Public Central: Notary Public Central (and adjacent Discount Rubber Stamps–style sites) is a direct online competitor in custom rubber stamps, notary stamps/seals, and address/signature stamps for individuals and small businesses. Same self-serve customization model, same price band, and same notary/SMB buyer.

Broad incumbents

• The Office Depot / ODP Corporation: Office Depot (ODP) is a broad office-supplies retailer with a custom-stamp offering across self-inking, date, and pre-inked categories. It overlaps R&S on the SMB/office stock-stamp side and competes on price and immediate retail availability.
• 4imprint: 4imprint is a large promotional-products distributor that, among many categories, offers custom rubber stamps and self-inking stamps to businesses. It competes with R&S for the small/medium-business order volume, especially where stamps are ordered as part of a broader branded-merchandise purchase.
• Staples (Staples, Inc.): Staples is a broad office-supplies retailer that sells custom rubber stamps (often white-labeled to vendors like R&S or its peers), date stamps, and refill inks to the same SMB and consumer buyers R&S serves. It competes mainly on convenience and one-stop shopping for office supplies.

Others

• Essendant: Essendant is a wholesale distributor of office products (including stamps and marking supplies) to resellers and dealers. It is a channel partner/adjacent rather than a head-to-head retailer, but its catalog breadth influences the competitive pricing and product availability that R&S must match in its niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RichardsStehman

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 Richards & Stehman