Redbubble
{{short description|Global online print-on-demand marketplace}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Redbubble Ltd
| logo = Redbubble logo.svg
| logo_caption = Logo since 2012
| parent = Articore ({{ASX|ATG}})
| founders = Martin Hosking,
Pete Styles,
Paul Vanzella
| key_people = Martin Hosking (CEO)
| industry = Online, on demand marketplace for artists
| products = Customized products with original art work
| revenue = A$290.7 million (FY23)[https://shareholders.redbubble.com/site/pdf/5cb41ecc-e3d2-45e2-a4b4-5c8fa0b6c42e/FY2023-Annual-Report.pdf Redbubble Group FY23 Annual Report]
| foundation = {{start date and age|2006}}
| location_city = San Francisco & Melbourne
| homepage = {{URL|redbubble.com}}
}}
Redbubble is a global online marketplace for print-on-demand products based on user-submitted artwork. The company was founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia,[https://web.archive.org/web/20100818042347/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=36276704 Redbubble profile]. BusinessWeek (September 15, 2011). Retrieved April 14, 2012. and also maintains offices in San Francisco and Berlin.
The company operates primarily on the internet/websites and allows its members to sell their artwork as decoration on a variety of products. Products include prints, T-shirts, phone cases, hoodies, cushions, duvet covers, leggings, stickers, skirts, and scarves. The company offers free membership to artists who maintain the copyrights to their work, regulate their own prices, and decide which products may display their images.Ryan, Paul (October 1, 2007). [http://anthillonline.com/building-online-marketplaces/ Building Online Marketplaces], Anthill Magazine, retrieved April 4, 2012.
In fiscal year 2023 Redbubble had 5.0M customers, buying 4.8M different designs, from 650K artists.[https://shareholders.redbubble.com/site/pdf/ab13829d-f0c4-4f98-ad40-e15623690040/FY2023-Results-Investor-Presentation.pdf Redbubble Group FY23 Investor Presentation]
Redbubble is a part of Articore Group Limited, which is publicly traded as {{ASX|ATG}}.{{cite web|url=https://shareholders.redbubble.com/site/pdf/1fca8d6b-c67c-430e-93ec-e3d384847786/Change-of-Company-Name-and-ASX-Ticker.pdf|title=Change of Company Name and ASX ticker}}
History
The company was founded in 2006 by Martin Hosking, Peter Styles, and Paul Vanzella after raising $2 million in investor capital.{{cite web |url=http://www.mbs.edu/index.cfm?objectid=46F0EBD6-D60E-CDDB-85106CA08C4ECA08 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210082224/http://www.mbs.edu/index.cfm?objectid=46F0EBD6-D60E-CDDB-85106CA08C4ECA08 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2012 |title=MBS entrepreneurs launch Australia's biggest online art gallery |work=Melbourne Business School |date=June 2007 |access-date=6 April 2012}} On 16 June 2011, Hosking left his position at Aconex to focus on his job as CEO of Redbubble.{{cite web|url=http://www.aconex.com/news/press-release/aconex-appoints-simon-yencken-chairman|title=Aconex appoints Simon Yencken as Chairman|date=16 June 2011|work=aconex.com|access-date=18 June 2011|archive-date=22 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622075708/http://www.aconex.com/news/press-release/aconex-appoints-simon-yencken-chairman|url-status=dead}}
In March 2014, it was reported that 51,900 artists have successfully sold their creations on Redbubble, generating more than A$15 million in earnings. At the time it was estimated that eight million unique viewers visited the site every month.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/03/07/street-cred-art-sales-site-redbubble-eyes-80-million-year/|title='Street cred' art-sales site Redbubble eyes $80 million year |date=7 March 2014 |access-date=30 November 2016}}
In 2015, Redbubble raised A$15.5 million in funding from various investors including Melbourne-based Acorn Capital and London based investor Piton Capital.{{cite web|url=http://blog.redbubble.com/2015/05/redbubble-investment/ |last=Hosking |first=Martin |title=$15.5 Million is A Lot of Money |date=22 May 2015 |website=Redbubble Blog |access-date=30 November 2016}}
Since February 2015, Redbubble has been running an artist residency program at their Melbourne office. The purpose of the program is to enable selected artists with the opportunity to produce artwork at Redbubble artist studio while collaborating with other artists.{{cite web|url=http://blog.redbubble.com/2015/02/introducing-redbubbles-artists-in-residence/ |last=Snow |first=Madeline |title=Introducing Redbubble's Artists-in-Residence |date=3 February 2015 |website=Redbubble Blog |access-date=30 November 2016}}
The company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 2016.{{Cite web |last=Sadler |first=Denham |date=2016-05-17 |title=Redbubble successfully completes $288 million IPO: Founder Martin Hosking on what comes next for the startup giant |url=https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/advice/startupsmart-funding/redbubble-successfully-completes-40-million-ipo/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=SmartCompany |language=en-AU}}
In January 2017, Hosking reported 450,000 active artists and 10 million site visits per month.{{cite web|last =Hosking |first =Martin |title=A Word From Our CEO as Redbubble Turns 10|url=http://blog.redbubble.com/2017/01/a-word-from-our-ceo-as-redbubble-turns-10/ |website=Redbubble Blog |date=31 January 2017 |access-date=22 February 2017}} In the last ten years, almost 7 million people have bought products from the site, generating $70 million earned by artists.
In June 2018, it was announced that Hosking would be stepping down as CEO. COO Barry Newstead, who had been with the company since 2013, took over as CEO in August 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/redbubble-ceo-martin-hosking-steps-down-20180626-h11v1s|title=Redbubble CEO steps down |last=Redrup |first=Yolanda |date=26 June 2018 |work=Financial Review |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702045331/https://www.afr.com/technology/redbubble-ceo-martin-hosking-steps-down-20180626-h11v1s |archive-date=2018-07-02 |url-status=live}}
In October 2018, Redbubble acquired US-based TeePublic for A$57.7 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/technology/redbubble-buys-us-competitor-teepublic-for-57-million-20181024-h171bb|title=Redbubble buys US competitor TeePublic for $57 million |last=Redrup |first=Yolanda |date=24 October 2018 |work=Financial Review |access-date=30 October 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.alleywatch.com/2018/10/teepublic-acquired-by-redbubble-for-41m-in-cash/ |title=TeePublic Acquired by RedBubble for $41M in Cash |last=Chowdhury |first=Reza |website=AlleyWatch|access-date=30 October 2018}} In February 2020, Newstead was ousted as CEO after the company's non-executive directors decided a change in leadership was necessary.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-18 |title=Redbubble CEO Ejected from Role |url=https://edm.powerretail.com.au/news/redbubble-ceo-ejected-from-role/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Power Retail |language=en-US}} In January 2021, Michael Ilczynski joined the company as CEO.{{Cite web |last=Newell |first=Elisha |date=2020-11-20 |title=Michael Ilczynski takes the wheel as Redbubble (ASX:RBL) CEO |url=https://themarketherald.com.au/michael-ilczynski-takes-the-wheel-as-redbubble-asxrbl-ceo-2020-11-20/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Market Herald |language=en-US}} He resigned in March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Pattabiraman |first=Rakshnna |date=2023-03-27 |title=Redbubble co-founder Martin Hosking named CEO |url=https://insideretail.com.au/business/redbubble-co-founder-martin-hosking-named-ceo-202303 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Inside Retail |language=en-US}}
In November 2023, Redbubble Group (owner of Redbubble and TeePublic) rebranded as Articore.
Martin Hosking is Group CEO and Managing Director.{{Cite web |last=Catterson |first=Rosalea |date=2024-04-26 |title=Redbubble CEO: "There is More Work to be Done." |url=https://powerretail.com.au/redbubble-ceo-there-is-more-work-to-be-done/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Power Retail |language=en-AU}}
Controversy
=Offensive materials=
In June 2011, The Register and The Age reported that artists on Redbubble were offering T-shirts images taken from the satirical online comic strip Hipster Hitler. Some Redbubble users perceived the comic and its products as antisemitic, pressuring PayPal to investigate whether it violated their policy. In May 2011 Arnold Bloch Leibler, a law firm with connections to the Australian Jewish community, severed their business relationship with Redbubble for "promoting Nazism".Apostolou, Natalie (3 June 2011). [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/03/lawyers_dump_redbubble_over_hitlerhipsters/ "RedBubble’s Nazi trouble"]. The Register, retrieved April 23, 2012. Both Redbubble's CEO, Martin Hosking, and the head of B'nai B'rith's Anti Defamation Commission recognized Hipster Hitler as parody but noted that it was being misunderstood – this was due in part to the limited context of the merchandise and stories that some hate groups had allegedly praised Hipster Hitler – and discussed how best to deal with such work. Three weeks later on 5 June 2011, The Age reported that Hosking, who had originally defended the work as free speech,{{cite web|url=http://www.startupsmart.com.au/pr/top-10-pr-disasters-of-2011/201112084803.html|title=Top 10 PR disasters of 2011|first=Oliver|last=Milman|date=8 December 2011|publisher=StartupSmart|access-date=30 November 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110336/http://www.startupsmart.com.au/pr/top-10-pr-disasters-of-2011/201112084803.html|url-status=dead}} removed the entire Hipster Hitler merchandise line and said the guidelines would be changed to "prohibit parodies of genocide and the Holocaust, as well as other material likely to cause deep offence". Such a statement does not appear literally or clearly semantically in Redbubble's community guidelines. At the same time he said it was hard to take a nuanced approach to removing Hipster Hitler merchandise due to the nature of the controversy.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/dont-mention-the-war-artists-reminded-that-hitlers-no-joke-20110604-1fmdf.html |title=Don't mention the war: artists reminded that Hitler's no joke |publisher=The Age |first=Peter |last=Munro |date=5 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2011}} Hosking's decision to pull Hipster Hitler
According to a 9 September 2011 article in the Herald Sun, more than 100 children's items remained on sale, some with "four-letter swear words" and drug images.O'Brien, Susie (9 September 2011) [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/anger-at-porn-images-on-baby-clothes/story-fn7x8me2-1226132571643 "Anger at Porn Images on Baby Clothes"], Herald Sun. Retrieved April 23, 2012.{{Dead link|date=January 2021}} In 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that due to outrage over the death of Trayvon Martin, artists on Redbubble were offering a hoodie with a version of a "Neighborhood Watch" sign, which warns, darkly, "We immediately murder all suspicious persons".{{cite news|last=Fausett |first=Richard |date=2 April 2012 |url= http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-t-shirt-roundup-20120402,0,1198041.story |title=Trayvon Martin T-shirts: American outrage, size XXL |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date= April 14, 2012}}
As of February 25, 2024, users can tag designs as mature content. Artists should indicate that their work is Mature Content as a part of the upload process, however, this can also be done at any time using the Edit Work function. Marking their work as Mature Content ensures that it will only be seen by viewers who choose to include this content while browsing Redbubble, and it will not be indexed off-site. Failure to comply with this guideline may result in account restriction or closure. [https://help.redbubble.com/hc/en-us/articles/202270929-Community-and-Content-Guidelines#mature Community and Content Guidelines – Redbubble]. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
=Trademark infringement=
In 2019, the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club sued Redbubble in the Federal Court of Australia for infringing on its trademark, launching another suit in 2021 after providing evidence that Redbubble had continued to breach the trademark. The 2019 case concluded with the Hells Angels being awarded $5,000 in damages. In July 2022, in the second ruling against Redbubble, the company was ordered to pay the club more than $78,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/redbubble-s-hells-angels-woes-continue-20210909-p58qae|title=Redbubble's Hells Angels woes continue|first=Joe|last=Aston|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|date=9 September 2021|access-date=11 September 2021}}{{Cite news |date=2022-07-20 |title=Outlaw motorcycle club wins $78,000 court case for trademark breach |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/redbubble-ordered-to-pay-hells-angels/101254418 |access-date=2023-04-20}}
Awards
Since 2008, Redbubble has been nominated and won a series of awards, including:
- June 2008: BRW, 3rd-ranked Australian 2.0 Website{{cite web |url=http://rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2008/06/official_launch.html |last=Dawson |first=Ross |title=Official launch of the Top 100 Australian Web 2.0 Applications list – Ross Dawson |date=18 June 2008|website=RossDawson.com}}{{cite web |url=http://www.redbubble.com/p/25-awards-and-media|title=Awards and Media – Redbubble |website=Redbubble |access-date=30 November 2016}}
- August 2008: Interactive Media Association, two Best-in-Class awards{{cite web |url=http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/gallery.asp?id=37349 |title=Interactive Media Awards – Award Gallery |website=www.interactivemediaawards.com}}
- May 2009: The Webby Awards, nominee – Community{{cite web |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2009 |title=2009 {{!}} The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive |website=winners.webbyawards.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412062354/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2009 |archive-date=2013-04-12}}
- June 2009: Interactive Media Association, finalist Top 10 Sites of 2008{{cite web |url=http://www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/2008/top10sites.asp|title=Interactive Media Awards – Honoring Outstanding Achievement in Website Design and Development |website=www.interactivemediaawards.com}}
- July 2009: Telstra Business Awards, finalist MYOB Small Business{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
- September 2009: Web Marketing Association, Outstanding Achievement in Web Development{{cite web |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=12437#.Uylrvxagw6U |title=RedBubble Pty Ltd wins 2009 WebAward for RedBubble |website=www.webaward.org|access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423142402/http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=12437#.Uylrvxagw6U |url-status=dead}}
- November 2009: Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Rising Star Runner-up{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
- February 2010: Next Web, Runner-up, Most Likely to Change the World{{cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/au/2010/02/12/winners-web-australia-awards-announced/|title=The Next Web Australia Awards – Winners Announced! |first=Kim |last=Heras |date=12 February 2010}}
- March 2010: AIMIA, Finalist Cultural or Lifestyle,{{cite web |url=http://www.aimia.com.au/i-cms?page=1.36.6636.6815 |title=Home - AIMIA |website=www.aimia.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821203154/http://www.aimia.com.au/i-cms?page=1.36.6636.6815 |archive-date=2011-08-21}} Social Media{{cite web |url=http://www.aimia.com.au/i-cms?page=1.36.6636.6843 |title=Home - AIMIA |website=www.aimia.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821203147/http://www.aimia.com.au/i-cms?page=1.36.6636.6843 |archive-date=2011-08-21}}
- August 2010: Smart Company Award, Best Website Under 20 Employees{{Cite web |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/20100812-meet-the-winners-of-the-web-awards-2010/2.html |title=Meet the winners of the Web Awards 2010 |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=22 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422060145/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/internet/20100812-meet-the-winners-of-the-web-awards-2010/2.html |url-status=dead }}
- September 2010: Web Marketing Association, Outstanding Achievement in Web Development{{cite web |url=http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=14289#.UylrGBagw6U|title=RedBubble Pty Ltd wins 2010 WebAward for RedBubble |website=www.webaward.org |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423142353/http://www.webaward.org/winner.asp?eid=14289#.UylrGBagw6U |url-status=dead}}
- October 2012: BRW, BRW FAST 100{{cite web|url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/brw_fast_the_list_NBrzzNNw4dRWCOjVxGOgZK |title=BRW Fast 100: the list |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=19 March 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320070011/http://brw.com.au/p/sections/features/brw_fast_the_list_NBrzzNNw4dRWCOjVxGOgZK |url-status=dead}}
- November 2012: Deloitte Technology, Fast 50, 2012 winner{{cite web |url=http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_AU/au/industries/tmt/8c44f654033ea310VgnVCM2000003356f70aRCRD.htm |title=Deloitte {{!}} Technology Fast 50: 2012 Winners' Report |website=www.deloitte.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309083325/http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_AU/au/industries/tmt/8c44f654033ea310VgnVCM2000003356f70aRCRD.htm |archive-date=2013-03-09}}
- December 2012: Deloitte Technology, Fast 500, Asia Pacific 2012 winner{{cite web | url=http://www.deloitte.com/au/aptechfast500 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121213505/http://www.deloitte.com/au/aptechfast500 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-01-21 | title=Deloitte | Asia Pacific Technology Fast 500 }}
- November 2013: SmartCompany, Web Awards 2013 – Best company website (over 20 employees){{cite web |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/34912-smartcompany-web-awards-2013.html |last=Clark |first=Brady |title=SmartCompany Web Awards 2013 - The Winners Revealed - SmartCompany |date=11 December 2013 |website=SmartCompany}}
- December 2013: Pixel Awards, nominee – Art{{cite web |url=http://www.pixelawards.com/nom_win_2013.php |title=2013 Web Awards Nominees {{!}} The Pixel Awards |website=www.pixelawards.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125092532/http://www.pixelawards.com/nom_win_2013.php |archive-date=2013-11-25}}
- May 2015: Two Hermes Awards{{cite web |last1=Durant |first1=Jen |date=2015-05-11 |url=http://blog.redbubble.com/2015/05/redbubble-wins-two-hermes-awards |title=Redbubble Wins Two Hermes Awards |website=Redbubble Blog |access-date=2023-02-27}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official|http://www.redbubble.com/ }}
{{Self-publishing|state=expanded}}
{{S&P/ASX 200}}
Category:Australian artist groups and collectives
Category:Companies based in Melbourne
Category:Retail companies established in 2006
Category:Internet properties established in 2006
Category:Retail companies of Australia
Category:Self-publishing online stores
Category:Australian companies established in 2006
Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange