Celebrating 50 Years of Innovation: Tic Toc’s Remarkable Journey
Tic Toc, which is an acronym for “The Imagination Company, Tomorrow’s Original Concepts,” is jubilantly celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. What began in the summer of 1974 as a fraternity and sorority t-shirt company, this disability-owned business enterprise (DOBE) was founded by best friends, Bill Dunlap and Ted Case, and has evolved into a force in the marketing industry. Divested from Omnicom in 1995, the company later achieved independence in 2010 through a management buyout spearheaded by Paul Gittemeier.
Over the decades, Tic Toc has significantly expanded its service platform from its original t-shirt offerings. It now includes employee reward and recognition programs, wellness initiatives, incentive and loyalty programs, and the design, production, and distribution of custom-branded merchandise and apparel. Additionally, the company offers consumer engagement initiatives such as event marketing, games, contests, and sweepstakes.
Throughout its history, Tic Toc has partnered with some of the most renowned brands in the market. These include Shell USA, Inc., Top Golf, 7-Eleven, GameStop, Humana, Kohl’s, Subway, Omni Hotels, Denny’s, LG, Frito-Lay, Nestle, Jiffy Lube, PepsiCo, Samsung, Planet Hollywood, Whataburger, Slurpee, Google, CVS, KPMG, Merck, and Wal-Mart. Since 2007, Shell USA has referred its subsidiaries to TicToc for managing their rewards management programs.
For over a decade, Tic Toc has been instrumental in the Jiffy Lube International (JLI) network’s marketing initiative, Race to Rewards. This volume-driven program rewards Jiffy Lube franchisees with points, equivalent to dollars, for purchasing qualifying Pennzoil-Quaker State lubricant products. These points can be redeemed for valuable marketing collateral and products to support employee promotions and incentive programs at the store level.
Today, Tic Toc ranks in the top 1% of a marketing industry comprising over 10,000 companies (based on sales volume rankings). The company has garnered numerous accolades over the years, including perennial recognition as Counselor Magazine’s “Best Places To Work” and PROMO MAGAZINE’s “Top Shop” designation, winning Disability:IN’s “Pitch Perfect Challenge” in 2021, and placing second for Disability:IN’s “Supplier Of The Year.” Paul Gittemeier, Owner and CEO, has been celebrated as one of the “Most Influential People in The Industry.”
As Tic Toc celebrates 50 years, the company continues to innovate and inspire, maintaining its legacy of excellence and commitment to its clients and community. Here’s to another 50 years of creativity, dedication, and success!
