*** From the Archives ***

This article is from April 23, 2009, and is no longer current.

Inkd's Online Marketplace for Print Design Templates

Inkd is a Web site where designers can sell their original templates for print items such as newsletters, brochures, business cards, letterhead, and flyers. Graphic design firms, printing companies, and freelancers are encouraged to contact the Inkd design and sales staff for details on file customization, conversion and library subscription details. All designs submitted by the Inkd community come with a royalty-free license that grants the customer the right to use the product on an unlimited basis.
Not only does Inkd give businesses a cost-effective alternative for projects with short deadlines or very limited budgets, but graphic designers can generate recurring revenue from their design investment. Each time a design is sold, the designer earns a commission on a basis that’s similar to the microstock photography model.
This flyer template is for an ice cream shop.

Growing Fast
Since launching just four weeks ago, Inkd has accepted more than 1,000 new print designs submitted by contributors from over 20 countries.
“We think that Inkd has grown so fast in our first month because graphic designers generally understand that there are advantages to designing something once and selling it over and over,” says Inkd founder and CEO Kelly Smith. “When designers look at the Inkd site they can see that we are designers ourselves. As such, we try hard to communicate that this marketplace is intended to provide a new revenue stream that supplements the traditional creative consulting practice. When a print template is sold on Inkd, customers can contact the graphic designer directly for any associated services. This could include helping to customize the template, development of a new corporate identity or even designing a matching website.”
“As graphic designers, we have to acknowledge that not every business can afford to spend thousands of dollars for every marketing initiative that they need to address,” said contributing designer Adrian Montesoro. “Our traditional creative practice will continue to thrive but we see in Inkd a sensible new way to develop incremental recurring revenue and reach customers in a different market than we traditionally serve. Most other businesses have a recurring revenue component and the graphic design industry desperately needs something like this.”
The Inkd print marketplace was launched and financed by online veterans who have seen these kinds of industry transformations before. Backers include Seattle venture capital firm Second Avenue Partners along with an impressive line-up of angel investors who are associated with game changing online ventures such as Expedia, Zillow, Corbis and Whitepages.com. Mike Slade is an Inkd board member and founder of ESPN.com, ABCNews.com and the Go.com network – leading online destinations eventually sold to the Walt Disney Corporation. “We look for opportunities where there is a real opportunity to disrupt and improve upon the status quo. Inkd could be a win-win for marketers, business owners and print shops but also for designers as well because they’re able to earn recurring revenue in an entirely new way.”
Business owners, print shops and marketers have provided valuable feedback on Inkd’s new marketplace. “Traditionally, our printing customers range in size from small technology firms to some of the regions largest companies,” says Luis Palau, founder of the Printing Connexions. “Even Fortune 1000 companies have projects with very tight deadlines and limited budgets. We’re able to quickly browse a wide range of creative content and then get multiple brochure or datasheet ideas in the hands of customers to review very quickly.”
[Editor’s note: What do you think about Inkd? Let us know by clicking the Comments button below.]

  • Anonymous says:

    I guess the market will determine things.

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