Varsity Graphics
Varsity Graphics is a private, owner-operated e-commerce custom printer that designs and sells photo banners, big head cutouts, car magnets, yard signs, garden flags, and stickers to K-12 schools, universities, and youth sports organizations across the United States, and runs fundraising programs in which schools retain the retail markup.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersEllicott City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Varsity Graphics does
Varsity Graphics is a private, owner-operated custom printing and e-commerce business that designs and produces personalized spirit and signage products for K-12 schools, universities, youth sports leagues, and community organizations across the United States. Its core catalog includes individual and team vinyl photo banners, big head cutouts made from 4mm coroplast, round/oval/custom-shaped car magnets on 30 mil vinyl with UV inks, garden flags, vinyl stickers and decals, and yard signs; products are printed on commodity substrates (4mm coroplast, 13 oz premium vinyl) using UV inks for outdoor durability. Every order includes a complimentary human custom design service covering touchups, color correction, and photo extraction, and the company operates a fundraising program — most prominently Senior Banner Fundraisers and a Garden Flag fundraising enrollment program — in which schools and booster clubs set their own retail prices and retain the markup between wholesale cost and sale price, with automated email notifications and direct proceeds delivery handled through the website.
The company monetizes via direct-to-consumer e-commerce on varsitygraphics.net using a pay-as-you-go unit pricing model (e.g., $20-$40 per big head cutout, sub-$3 per car magnet at volume, free shipping on orders of $99+) plus its fundraising programs, which have helped school groups raise over $230,000 cumulatively over the past two years at an average of $500-$2,000 per program. Customer segments are organized vertically: K-12 schools and districts (primary), universities and colleges, and youth sports and community organizations. Distribution is single-channel direct e-commerce supported by organic social (Facebook, Instagram), blog content, email, and a VIP Rewards referral program offering $10 per referral and $50 on enrollment. The business is led by founder/owner/designer Sandra Barton from the Ellicott City, Maryland area, with a headcount of 1-10 employees, and shows no evidence of outside investment, M&A activity, or AI/ML capabilities.
Varsity Graphics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Varsity Graphics
- Legal name
- Varsity Graphics
- Website
- https://varsitygraphics.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Varsity Graphics is a private, owner-operated e-commerce custom printer that designs and sells photo banners, big head cutouts, car magnets, yard signs, garden flags, and stickers to K-12 schools, universities, and youth sports organizations across the United States, and runs fundraising programs in which schools retain the retail markup.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Varsity Graphics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Printed Promotional Products
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customized & Personalized Fan Gear Retail (CRAMAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)
Keywords
Where Varsity Graphics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ellicott City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Varsity Graphics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Custom Product Sales: One-time sales of custom-printed products including photo banners, team banners, yard signs, car magnets, big head cutouts, garden flags, and vinyl stickers. Schools and organizations can also sell products as fundraisers, setting their own prices and keeping the difference between cost and sale price.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Big Head Cutouts - Standard 12"x15" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Big Head Cutouts - Large 15"x18" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Big Head Cutouts - Jumbo 24"x30" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Round Car Magnets - 3" Round |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Round Car Magnets - 4" Round |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Round Car Magnets - 5" Round |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Oval Car Magnets - 2" x 4" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Oval Car Magnets - 3" x 5" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Oval Car Magnets - 4" x 6" |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Shaped Car Magnets - 18-20 Sq. In. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Shaped Car Magnets - 20-24 Sq. In. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Shaped Car Magnets - 24-28 Sq. In. |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping Threshold |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Varsity Graphics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Varsity Graphics designs, prints, and ships custom personalized products — individual photo banners, team/group banners, big head cutouts, car magnets, garden flags, vinyl stickers, and yard signs — for schools, teams, and organizations. The company also runs online fundraising programs where participating schools and groups sell these products to their communities, set their own prices, and keep the difference between Varsity Graphics' cost and the sale price. A complimentary custom design service is included with all orders.
Product overview
Varsity Graphics is a custom printing company offering personalized products for celebrating milestones, building school spirit, and supporting fundraisers. The product portfolio includes Individual Photo Banners and Team/Group Banners (custom vinyl banners in 13 oz premium vinyl), Big Head Cutouts (durable waterproof 4mm coroplast in Standard, Medium, and Jumbo sizes with built-in handles), Car Magnets (round, oval, and custom shaped in 30 mil vinyl with UV-resistant inks), Garden Flags, Vinyl Stickers/Decals, Yard Signs (4mm coroplast), and Senior Banner Fundraisers. The company also operates a VIP Rewards referral program for schools and organizations participating in fundraising programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Individual Photo Banners Custom-designed athletic banners personalized to showcase individual athletes' dedication, achievements, and memorable moments for senior nights and school celebrations.
- Team/Group Banners Custom vinyl banners designed to showcase team spirit and group achievements, uniting fans and players in celebration of team excellence.
- Big Head Cutouts Larger-than-life coroplast cutouts made from durable waterproof 4mm coroplast with built-in handles, available in Standard (12"x15"), Medium (15"x18"), and Jumbo (24"x30") sizes for cheering on teams at games and events.
- Round Car Magnets Custom round car magnets printed on 30 mil high-quality vinyl with UV inks for 2-3 years of fade resistance, available in 3", 4", and 5" sizes with volume pricing tiers.
- Oval Car Magnets Custom oval-shaped car magnets in 2"x4", 3"x5", and 4"x6" sizes printed on high-quality vinyl with UV-resistant inks for outdoor durability, offered with volume pricing.
- Custom Shaped Car Magnets Custom-shaped car magnets sized by square inches (18-20, 20-24, 24-28 sq. in.) with full-color bleed, no setup charges, and complimentary custom design service.
- Garden Flags Custom double-sided garden flags used to show school spirit, celebrate teams, or raise funds for organizations.
- Vinyl Stickers/Decals Custom vinyl stickers and decals serving as promotional tools for showcasing school or team identity and elevating school/team spirit.
- Yard Signs Custom yard signs printed on 4mm thick coroplast sheeting that is strong, waterproof, and weatherproof, suitable for graduations, school events, clubs, and fundraisers with flexible options for personalized and large-group orders.
- Senior Banner Fundraisers Fundraising program featuring custom 13 oz premium vinyl senior banners that recognize student achievements while generating funds for schools or booster programs, with online ordering and customized marketing materials provided.
- Custom Logo Shoes (Fundraising) Custom-logo shoes sold as part of the school fundraising program, with orders placed through the Varsity Graphics website and products shipped direct to customers' homes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $230,000 raised for school groups over two years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Varsity Graphics
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Varsity Graphics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Varsity Graphics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Varsity Graphics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cheerleading Company: Cheerleading Company focuses on cheer and dance spirit products including banners, signs, and accessories for schools and squads; it overlaps with Varsity Graphics' spirit-product positioning in the school athletic channel.
- Makit: Makit offers custom photo-printed products (magnets, banners, puzzles) for schools and organizations, overlapping with Varsity Graphics' photo banner and personalized product lines in the school fundraising space.
Direct peers
- BuildASign: BuildASign is a direct competitor specializing in custom signs, banners, and yard signs with online design tools; it competes head-on with Varsity Graphics' core banner and yard sign products for school and event customers.
- Signs.com: Signs.com offers custom banners, yard signs, and magnetic signs via an online configurator; its product mix and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model closely mirror Varsity Graphics' approach, making it a comparable niche competitor.
- School Pride: School Pride is a school-spirit merchandise retailer carrying banners, signs, magnets, and apparel for K-12 customers, sharing Varsity Graphics' target buyer, product mix, and direct-to-school distribution motion.
- CustomInk: CustomInk is a direct competitor in custom-printed group apparel and accessories for schools, teams, and organizations; it offers similar online design tools, group ordering, and fundraising-adjacent product lines, operating at significantly greater scale than Varsity Graphics.
- Carstickers.com: Carstickers.com specializes in custom car magnets and vinyl decals, directly overlapping Varsity Graphics' round, oval, and custom-shaped magnet product lines; it competes for the same school-spirit and small-business buyer.
Broad incumbents
- BSN Sports: BSN Sports is a broad team-sports equipment and uniform retailer that also supplies spirit items and banners to schools and athletic programs; it competes for the same booster-club and athletic-department wallet share as Varsity Graphics.
- VistaPrint: VistaPrint is a broad incumbent in custom printing offering banners, yard signs, magnets, stickers, and apparel to small businesses and consumers including schools; its scale and pricing power make it a structural threat across Varsity Graphics' entire SKU catalog.
- Riddell: Riddell is an established team-sports brand selling equipment, uniforms, and spirit accessories through school and league channels; it represents the broader incumbent set that Varsity Graphics competes against for school athletic department spend.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Varsity Graphics social profiles
Digital presenceVarsity Graphics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Varsity Graphics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Varsity Graphics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Varsity Graphics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Varsity Graphics
What does Varsity Graphics do?
Varsity Graphics designs, prints, and ships custom personalized products — individual photo banners, team/group banners, big head cutouts, car magnets, garden flags, vinyl stickers, and yard signs — for schools, teams, and organizations. The company also runs online fundraising programs where participating schools and groups sell these products to their communities, set their own prices, and keep the difference between Varsity Graphics' cost and the sale price. A complimentary custom design service is included with all orders.
Is Varsity Graphics a public or private company?
Varsity Graphics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Varsity Graphics founded?
Varsity Graphics was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Varsity Graphics based?
Varsity Graphics is headquartered in Ellicott City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Varsity Graphics make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Product Sales.
Who are Varsity Graphics's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Cheerleading Company and Makit. Direct peers are BuildASign, Signs.com, School Pride, CustomInk and Carstickers.com. Broad incumbents are BSN Sports, VistaPrint and Riddell.
Does Varsity Graphics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Varsity Graphics.
What industry is Varsity Graphics in?
Varsity Graphics's product category is Custom Printed Promotional Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAOAJ, Customized & Personalized Fan Gear Retail, with a secondary code of MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support). Its NAICS code is 339920 and its SIC code is 3949.