Gooten Competitive Intelligence & Landscape

Gooten (gooten.com) is a technology and fulfillment company specializing in print-on-demand (POD) services. They empower brands, from startups to enterprises, to design and sell over 525 premium POD products without the need for inventory. Their core offering includes an end-to-end fulfillment solution, integrating with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, TikTok Shop, Woocommerce, and BigCommerce, in addition to their custom API.

Gooten focuses on helping businesses minimize risk, reduce costs, grow sales, and expand their reach through on-demand manufacturing.

Gooten provides a diverse product catalog, which they claim is the most extensive in the print-on-demand industry, featuring over 500 custom products, including more than 200 exclusives. These products span various categories such as fashion & apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, etc., for men, women, and kids), home & lifestyle (blankets, pillows, candles, drinkware), wall art (canvas, posters, framed prints), and accessories (phone cases, bags, pet products). They cater to a wide range of use cases, from custom merchandise and personalized products to holiday-themed collections.

Gooten operates as a globally distributed company with a smart supply chain. They leverage their proprietary technology, operational expertise, and a global network of over 30 manufacturing partners to fulfill orders efficiently and sustainably at competitive prices. Their mission, established at their inception, is to make print-on-demand accessible at scale, emphasizing a partnership approach with their clients. The company was acquired by Taylor Corporation, further bolstering its capabilities in the print-on-demand sector.

While specific founding year, headquarters, and precise company size are not explicitly stated on the provided Gooten pages, it is clear they have been operating for "the last decade." Their focus is on providing a flexible and reliable network to enable eCommerce businesses, retailers, and global merchants to scale their operations without needing to manage inventory, while also prioritizing sustainability in their practices.

Gooten offers a transparent and accessible pricing structure for its print-on-demand services, emphasizing zero membership or hidden fees [https://help.gooten.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047739271-Payment-pricing-and-taxes]. There are no sign-up or start-up costs, making it an attractive option for new entrepreneurs, artists, and Etsy sellers [https://www.gooten.com/compare/]. The company ensures product and shipping costs are optimized and affordable, partly through economies of scale pricing [https://www.gooten.com/reduce-business-costs/].

Individual product prices, which include the cost of the good and the custom printing, can be viewed directly within the Gooten Admin's Product Catalog [https://help.gooten.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047739271-Payment-pricing-and-taxes]. This feature allows merchants to get faster, more accurate pricing and download CSVs for detailed evaluation [https://help.gooten.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047737791-Where-can-I-find-product-and-shipping-prices].

Gooten integrates seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and BigCommerce, with the Gooten app being free to add to Shopify stores [https://www.gooten.com/startup/].

For high-volume merchants, Gooten provides a "Very Important Merchant" (VIM) loyalty program, offering unique benefits and support to help businesses grow [https://help.gooten.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048165912-VIM-Overview-FAQ]. VIM status is determined by annual spend with Gooten, with tiers starting from $0 and escalating to over $400,000 [https://www.gooten.com/vim-program/]. Higher VIM statuses grant perks such as early access to new features and product roadmap reviews [https://www.gooten.com/vim-program/].

Gooten boasts a diverse product catalog of over 525 premium print-on-demand products, including apparel, drinkware, wall art, and accessories, with over 200 exclusive items not found elsewhere [https://www.gooten.com/]. The company emphasizes its flexible API for custom solutions, allowing for personalized shopping experiences and sourcing of virtually any product SKU [https://www.gooten.com/print-on-demand/products/]. This extensive catalog and customizable fulfillment options are available without upfront fees, reflecting Gooten's commitment to supporting businesses from start-up to enterprise level [https://www.gooten.com/compare/].

Gooten maintains a dedicated careers page on its website, indicating ongoing hiring efforts to support its operations as a technology and fulfillment company [https://www.gooten.com/careers/]. The company emphasizes its role in enabling established brands to optimize and supplement their e-commerce businesses through a print-on-demand manufacturing model [https://www.gooten.com/careers/]. This suggests a strategic focus on expanding its workforce to manage its proprietary technology, operational expertise, and a global network of over 30 manufacturing partners [https://www.gooten.com/careers/].

The company describes itself as a globally distributed entity, suggesting a flexible and potentially remote-friendly work environment [https://www.gooten.com/about-us/].

Gooten is actively seeking to expand its global supply chain network by looking for unique vendors and manufacturing partners who offer premium products and consistent quality [https://www.gooten.com/manufacturing-intake-form/]. This outward-facing recruitment for partners signals a drive for growth and increased capacity in its core print-on-demand and fulfillment services.

While specific details on recent layoffs are not readily available on the company's public-facing career or news pages, the news section highlights a significant development: the acquisition of Gooten, Inc. by Taylor Corporation [https://www.gooten.com/gooten-news/]. Acquisitions often lead to organizational restructuring; however, the public information from Gooten consistently points towards a mission of making print-on-demand accessible at scale, suggesting a focus on continuity and growth rather than contraction [https://www.gooten.com/blog/gooten-to-ordermesh/]. The company continues to provide an end-to-end fulfillment solution, from product sourcing to centralized order management, indicating a stable and expanding operational scope [https://gooten.com/].

Gooten's hiring patterns, as suggested by its career page and emphasis on network expansion, indicate a strategic approach to scaling its business and enhancing its global fulfillment capabilities. The company is actively looking for talent and partners to support its mission of transforming e-commerce through on-demand manufacturing for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises [https://gooten.com/]. The consistent messaging around partnership and growth suggests a stable outlook for potential employees and collaborators.

Gooten, an eCommerce technology company specializing in print-on-demand manufacturing and fulfillment, has demonstrated significant financial activity and growth. In August 2021, Gooten was ranked No. 703 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America [https://www.gooten.com/blog/gooten-earns-place-on-inc-5000-list-of-fastest-growing-companies-in-america/]. The company further appeared on the Inc. 5000 list again, ranked No. 2192, with a three-year revenue growth rate of 191.74% [https://www.gooten.com/blog/gooten-named-one-of-americas-fastest-growing-companies/]. Additionally, Gooten was recognized as No. 51 on the Inc. 5000 Regionals: New York City Metro list, highlighting its rapid growth within the NYC area [https://www.gooten.com/blog/gooten-recognized-as-one-of-nyc-metro-regions-fastest-growing-private-companies-by-inc-magazine/].

In December 2021, Gooten successfully raised $15 million in combined primary equity and debt. This capital raise was led by Tech Pioneers Fund, with continued participation from existing investors KEC Ventures and ff Venture Capital. This funding round aimed to support the company's significant growth plans for 2022 [https://www.gooten.com/blog/gooten-announces-15-million-capital-raise-and-unveils-new-leadership-poised-for-significant-2022-growth/].

Looking ahead, Gooten announced that it was acquired by Taylor Corporation. The acquisition includes Gooten's technology platform, OrderMesh, and its expanding fulfillment network [https://www.gooten.com/blog/taylor-acquires-gooten/]. This strategic move by Taylor Corporation incorporates Gooten's leading print-on-demand technology and fulfillment capabilities into its operations, indicating a significant M&A event for Gooten [https://www.gooten.com/blog/taylor-acquires-gooten/].

Gooten (gooten.com) actively participates in various events, including trade shows and industry summits, to showcase its print-on-demand solutions and connect with businesses. The company was an exhibitor and presenter at the White Label World Expo in Las Vegas on September 1st and 2nd, 2021, where they offered platform demos and product samples to attendees at Booth 3125 [source]. They also had a digital marketplace profile at Sourcing at MAGIC Las Vegas, available from August 2nd through October 8th [source], targeting creative dropshippers, licensee holders, and print-on-demand sellers.

Gooten has also been involved in the Esports Business Summit, an event that unites various sectors of the esports ecosystem for networking, education, and inspiration [source]. While specific future events are not listed, Gooten encourages interested parties to check their events page for updates on upcoming participations [source].

Beyond in-person events, Gooten extends its educational outreach through webinars. Their VIM (Very Important Merchant) program provides access to webinars and Q&A sessions with industry experts, offering valuable insights to its members [source]. These webinars are also categorized within their broader resources, which include eBooks and case studies, demonstrating their commitment to providing continuous learning opportunities for the e-commerce community [source] [source].