Popular printing company Vistaprint announced Monday that its parent company Cimpress has acquired 99designs, a freelance design marketplace out of Australia.
Vistaprint is perhaps best known for printing custom banners, business cards, coffee mugs and other marketing materials. This acquisition will allow the company to work closely with the more than 20 million small businesses that use its site, providing professional design services through 99designs’ team of freelancers and the actual printed product all in one place.
Founded in 2008, 99designs connects freelance designers with businesses, agencies and individuals looking for custom designs. Teaming up with Vistaprint means its network of designers will have a new channel to find clients.
“In a year when the whole world has had to work together online, 99designs’ mission of championing creativity to bring opportunities to people around the world has never been more relevant,” Patrick Llewellyn, 99designs’ CEO, said in a statement. “Vistaprint’s belief and investment in both our team and technology is a testament to the enormous potential in human-powered creativity, as well as the profound impact that great design has on small businesses.”
While the financial terms for the deal have not been disclosed, the two companies said in a joint press release that 99designs will operate both as a part of Vistaprint and as a standalone company. Llewellyn will report to Robert Keane, the CEO of both Cimpress and Vistaprint, and will continue to lead the company and its freelancers. Meanwhile, Vistaprint plans to make a “significant post-acquisition investment” to grow 99designs’ team and accelerate its product development, with an emphasis on small businesses.
This interest in helping small businesses is part of an ongoing effort for Vistaprint. In April, the company teamed up with the United States Chamber of Commerce to launch and donate $1 million to the Save Small Business Fund in a push to alleviate the financial strains brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in July, it rolled out the #VPSupportSmallBusiness campaign to spotlight small businesses. Now, with the help of 99designs, Vistaprint can help these businesses in a new way.
“The driving force behind Vistaprint’s future with 99designs is our passion to help small businesses,” Keane said in a statement. “We know how critical great design is for entrepreneurs on their journey. 99designs and Vistaprint have shared values and vision to be a trusted partner for business owners and creators, which lay the foundation for something bigger and more valuable than either of our teams could create alone.”
In the meantime, both companies are growing. Vistaprint is currently hiring for a handful of open positions at its Boston headquarters and 99designs is hiring at its Berlin and Richmond offices.
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