What BaySix does

BaySix is a woman-owned, HUB-certified custom imprinting and branding business headquartered at 414 Dupont Circle in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The company operates eight in-house decoration methods — screen printing, embroidery, Direct-to-Film (DTF), Direct-to-Garment (DTG), laser engraving, pad printing, sublimation, and art/design services — alongside managed online-store solutions for schools and businesses and a broad promotional products catalog. Reported production capacity reaches 1,000 shirts per hour following equipment investments in late 2022 (DTG printer and high-capacity press) and February 2024 (DTF equipment).

BaySix serves four primary customer verticals: schools and educational institutions (spiritwear, athletic gear, online stores), local businesses and corporations (staff apparel, promotional merchandise, company stores), nonprofits and community organizations (event shirts, fundraising merchandise, awareness campaigns), and sports/athletic organizations (team uniforms, fan apparel). Notable named customers span 321 Coffee, Milner Inc., GenKIND, Oak + Iron Fitness, The Coley Group, Benchwarmers Bagels, A Place at the Table, Kōmana Brewing, and Band Together.

The business model is primarily project-based and direct-to-consumer: orders are quoted per unit based on decoration method, quantity, and product, with volume discounts and periodic promotions (e.g., January 2025 special pricing at $5.99/shirt for 100 one-color Gildan tees; a Merch Madness promotion offering free hats or tumblers on 72+ shirt orders). Distribution is direct via phone, email, website quote form, walk-in pickup, and nationwide shipping. BaySix supplements its commercial activity with Space for Good, a 625-square-foot donated nonprofit community workspace launched in Spring 2023 that supports 36 nonprofits and 31 schools annually and underpins much of its referral and brand-loyalty engine.

Name

BaySix

Legal name

BaySix

Website

https://wearebaysix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BaySix is a woman-owned, HUB-certified custom imprinting and branding shop in Downtown Raleigh offering eight in-house decoration methods — screen printing, embroidery, DTF, DTG, laser engraving, pad printing, sublimation, and art services — to schools, local businesses, nonprofits, and athletic organizations, with nationwide shipping and a community nonprofit workspace called Space for Good.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Apparel Printing and Branded Merchandise Services

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)

Keywords

• Custom apparel printing
• Screen printing services
• Custom embroidery services
• Promotional products branding
• Direct-to-garment printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh, North Carolina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Apparel Production: One-time production fees for custom printed and embroidered apparel including t-shirts, uniforms, hats, and promotional items. Customers submit designs and pay per-unit or order minimum pricing.
2. Branded Merchandise and Promotional Products: Production and sale of custom branded merchandise including drinkware, bags, accessories, and promotional items
3. Online Store Management: Setup and hosting of company and school stores where employees or members can order custom branded items individually
4. Art and Design Services: Design services for customers needing assistance with artwork or brand development

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BaySix is a custom imprinting and branding shop that produces decorated apparel (t-shirts, hats, uniforms, polos) and promotional merchandise (drinkware, bags, accessories) using eight in-house methods: screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-film, direct-to-garment, laser engraving, pad printing, sublimation, plus in-house art/design services. The company also builds and hosts managed online stores for schools, businesses, and organizations to sell branded products on an ongoing basis.

Product overview

BaySix is a local, female-owned imprint and branding powerhouse offering a comprehensive suite of custom printing and branding services from its Downtown Raleigh warehouse. The core offering centers on ten in-house imprint and decoration services: Screen Printing, Embroidery, Laser Engraving, Pad Printing, Sublimation, Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing, Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing, Art & Design Services, Online Stores, and Promotional Products. These services enable customization across apparel (t-shirts, hats, uniforms), drinkware (mugs, tumblers, glasses), accessories, and seasonal merchandise. Additionally, BaySix operates Space for Good, a nonprofit community workspace program that donates workspace to local organizations. The company serves businesses, schools, nonprofits, and events ranging from small custom orders to high-volume production runs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space for Good: A nonprofit community workspace program providing 625 square feet of shared working space for local nonprofit and community organizations, launched Spring 2023.

Products and services

• Screen Printing Traditional screen printing service that applies custom designs to apparel and promotional products using durable, vibrant ink. Suited for both one-color and multi-color bulk orders for schools, businesses, nonprofits, and events.
• Embroidery Professional embroidery service that stitches designs onto fabrics including hats, corporate sweatshirts, and other apparel items, producing a sophisticated, durable finish for uniforms and premium branded goods.
• Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printing Direct-to-Film transfer printing service where designs are printed onto special film and heat-pressed onto garments. Works on almost any fabric, suitable for complex artwork, multicolor designs, mixed sizing, and fast turnaround runs.
• Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing Digital DTG printing service that sprays ink directly onto garments, soaking into fibers for detailed, full-color prints. Best suited for high-cotton apparel with complex multicolor designs and small-quantity orders needing quick turnaround.
• Laser Engraving Laser engraving service that etches designs onto hard surfaces including drinkware, metals, and other promotional items to create permanent branding.
• Pad Printing Pad printing (tampography) service that transfers 2D images onto 3D objects using a silicone pad. Suitable for curved or uneven surfaces such as drinkware, golf balls, glass containers, and most hard surfaces with intricate art or small text.
• Sublimation Printing Heat-based sublimation printing service that infuses ink into fabrics and materials, creating permanent, vibrant full-color images that will not crack, peel, or wash away.
• Art and Design Services In-house art department service that helps customers bring brand visions to life, including artwork creation, logo development, and file preparation for custom branding projects.
• Online Stores Custom online store setup service for schools, businesses, and organizations that enables members or employees to order branded apparel and products individually. BaySix manages design, site building, order processing, and ongoing fulfillment.
• Promotional Products Wide range of customizable promotional items including drinkware, bags, hats, accessories, and seasonal merchandise, branded through BaySix's various imprint methods for corporate clients, schools, and events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 165.5 hours of donated workspace provided to nonprofits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TowneBankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024TowneBank assisted with the installation of BaySix's new Direct-to-Film equipment, helping finance and facilitate the capital improvement. Also partnered on nonprofit affiliate mixer events at Space for Good. Towne Insurance sponsored events. A key financial and community partner supporting BaySix's growth initiatives.
• Triangle ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Assisted BaySix team with electrical work for new DTF machine installation, helping integrate the new equipment into their production facility.
• Axiom AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Contributed to BaySix's DTF equipment installation process as part of the vendor team.
• 321 CoffeecoreGTM or Marketing Partner321 Coffee is both a client and community partner. BaySix produces their merchandise (T-shirts, hats, mugs, tumblers). 321 Coffee was featured on TODAY Show and is a sponsor of Space for Good. They employ 50+ adults with IDD and have 3 locations. BaySix actively promotes them as a community partner.
• Band TogethercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBaySix sponsors Band Together's annual live music events. Band Together is a nonprofit using live music as a platform for social change since 2001. BaySix donates event shirts and supports fundraising efforts.
• A Place at the TablecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBaySix has been APATT's merchandise vendor since 2017, providing branded products and staff apparel. Platinum sponsor of their Pull Up a Chair Fall Fundraiser. Long-term strategic partnership supporting the pay-what-you-can cafe's mission.
• The Coley GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey Space for Good sponsor. Gretchen Coley, founder, sponsored the hospitality corner at the Space for Good facility. Strategic partner in community initiatives.
• Sears Contract, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace for Good sponsor. Lynn Sears donated interior walls and dropped ceiling for the nonprofit workspace.
• We the ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWoman-owned B-Corp networking organization. BaySix attends their networking breakfasts as a community sponsor alongside other Raleigh businesses.
• GenKINDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner. BaySix produces custom screen printed t-shirts and embroidered hats for GenKIND, being conscious of their nonprofit budget while bringing creative ideas.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Alphabroder: One of the largest wholesale blank apparel distributors serving the imprintables/promotional products market. Comparable as an upstream blank supplier rather than direct competitor, but sets pricing and availability context for BaySix's blank apparel sourcing.
• SanMar: Wholesale distributor of blank apparel (including Gildan, the blank brand BaySix uses for special offers) supplying apparel decorators across the US. Comparably relevant as an upstream supplier/part of the same custom apparel supply chain rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Printful: Print-on-demand apparel and merchandise platform serving creators, SMBs, and brands with DTG, DTF, embroidery, and sublimation. Competes for the same custom apparel customer wallet and uses many of the same decoration technologies BaySix invested in.

Direct peers

• Underground Printing: Custom screen printing and apparel decoration shop with multiple production facilities and strong college/school custom merchandise vertical. Directly comparable to BaySix on decoration services, school-store business, and community-focused branding.
• Quality Logo Products: Distributor and decorator of branded promotional products including apparel, drinkware, and accessories. Overlaps with BaySix on promotional merchandise and screen printing/embroidery decoration methods for SMB and event clients.
• RushOrderTees: Online-first custom screen printer specializing in fast-turnaround group apparel orders, overlapping with BaySix on schools, events, and SMB customers. Comparable on product (screen-printed apparel) and quote-based/order-form buying experience.
• CustomInk: National custom apparel decorator offering screen printing, embroidery, and digital printing direct to consumers and groups. Directly comparable to BaySix on core service mix (apparel decoration) but at much larger scale and with stronger digital ordering infrastructure.
• EmbroidMe: Local-franchise embroidery and apparel decoration shop network specializing in corporate apparel, uniforms, and promotional products. Closely comparable to BaySix on decoration services (especially embroidery), target customers (local SMBs and schools), and storefront model.

Broad incumbents

• 4imprint: Large, publicly traded promotional products distributor with broad decoration capabilities (screen printing, embroidery, pad printing, engraving, etc.). Broader portfolio and scale than BaySix but comparable core methods and customer overlap on promo merchandise.
• Vistaprint (Cimpress): Large online printing platform (under Cimpress) offering custom apparel, signage, and promotional products with broad SMB reach. Comparable on broad custom decoration capabilities and SMB target customers, though broader portfolio and digital-first.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wearebaysix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baysix
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearebaysix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 BaySix