Customer Stories: The Smart Wallet Startup That Gives Back

Posted By Tess Lynch

Maria Schriber, the Operations Lead at smart wallet startup Kudos, was looking for custom gear for the 12-person team when she found Custom Ink. “We’re a very small, scrappy startup,” she tells us, with half of the employees based in Los Angeles and the other half split between the Bay area, Denver, and Chicago. 

The gray t-shirt Kudos designed with Custom Ink, featuring the Kudos logo on the chest

Kudos’ custom t-shirt, created with Custom Ink.

One of the many benefits of custom gear is how it can unite employees based in different locations, creating a shared sense of brand values and belonging—but that’s not all Maria had planned for Kudos’ new merch. “I also love to send these comfy, soft t-shirts to our users who help inspire us or reach out to tell us about a cool new feature they’d like for us to support,” she explains. “Sending our users a Kudos t-shirt is our way of saying thank you to them for supporting us and supporting our mission.” Showing customer appreciation through branded apparel and accessories is a great way to build relationships while introducing your business’s name and logo to the world via continued impressions. 

A gray cat sits atop a custom Kudos t-shirt

Furry friends can attest to the softness of Custom Ink’s t-shirts. Pictured above: one of the Kudos cats curls up for a snuggle.

Kudos’ mission is to simplify the often time-consuming process of choosing the right credit card for each online purchase (with the added benefit of streamlining autofill). “We wanted to make each purchase as rewarding and delightful as possible and to show our users how simple it is to save money with the click of a button,” Maria explains. “Credit cards are overly complicated, and our free tools help our users choose the best credit card for each of their purchases to take the unnecessary guesswork out of it.” Maria points out that Kudos can save its members $750 a year, or even more, by helping them choose the right payment method every time they shop online. 

By showing users how they’re saving, Kudos also aims to help improve their financial literacy and can even help them explore different card options that suit their spending habits (head to their Instagram, X, and LinkedIn accounts to learn a few tips and tricks). Kudos also thanks its users through its newest feature, Kudos Boost, which doubles rewards at thousands of participating online merchants—including Custom Ink. 

After a professional designer created Kudos’ logo, Maria took the design to Custom Ink, where she found the ordering process to be a breeze. “The experience was very seamless. It was easy to design and customize the swag,” she says. “I loved that process.” 

Custom Ink’s design tools make it fun and easy to create professional-looking custom gear for your business, whether you have a logo in hand like Maria did or you’re just starting to brainstorm how to transform your idea or hobby into a recognizable brand. It’s essential to choose high-quality apparel and accessories to ensure your business makes a great impression—and we were thrilled to hear that the t-shirts Maria designed were a big hit. “The t-shirts are super soft and comfy,” Maria tells us. “The whole team is happy with them. The users who have received t-shirts love them too! They’re so soft we could sleep in them.”

A regal-looking feline with a white bib and half-closed eyes relaxes next to a gray custom Kudos shirt

Custom Ink takes care of the heavy lifting when it comes to creating your gear, so you can relax and enjoy the results.

We’re always happy to hear why customers love Custom Ink, whether they’re supercharging their brands, reaching new clients, or thanking their hardworking teams. “My experience was awesome!” says Maria. “I look forward to ordering more fun stuff for Kudos soon.” 

Inspired by Maria’s story? It’s easy to make your own custom gear!


Tess Lynch is a copywriter at Custom Ink.