Custom Ink Acquires Concert Apparel Company Sidestep

FAIRFAX, Va.-Custom Ink acquires concert merchandise app and website Sidestep through its apparel company Represent. Sidestep enables artists to sell merchandise to fans before, during, and after performances.

While terms of the deal were not disclosed, Washington Business Journal says the agreement sees some shifts in leadership. Sidestep CEO Eric Jones assumes the role of head of music at Represent and heads up operations for musicians and events in the industry. Sidestep’s footprint in the global market spans North America, Europe, and Australia and includes a series of high-profile artists including Adele, Guns N’ Roses, and Beyonce. According to TechCrunch, Beyonce invested $150,000 into the app back in 2016.

The announcement comes during a busy year of changes at the company. In April 2019, Custom Ink entered into a definitive agreement with an investor group to recapitalize the company for its next phase of growth.