Our Story

1971
Great American Products (GAP) was co-founded by Roger Tuttle, the current President and CEO. The company was started as a mail order firm selling to the motorcycle market and evolved into a manufacturer of pewter buckles, keychains and model miniatures.


1985
GAP started affixing metal emblems to drink ware, including glassware, steins, ceramic coffee mugs, and shot glasses to expand sales to mass merchants, mail order catalogs and department stores.


1991
GAP entered the licensed sports business by becoming licensees of the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and NCAA.


1994
GAP entered into an agreement to form a partnership and manufacturing facility near Vera Cruz Mexico, for the exclusive production of high-end decorative cast metal parts for Great American Products.


1996
GAP moved operations from Chicago to New Braunfels, Texas.


2002
GAP acquired Fort U.S.A. A souvenir company located in Providence, Rhode Island.


2004 to 2014
GAP almost exclusively steered marketing efforts to Pro-Sport and College branded consumer product retail opportunities; with the focus becoming more directed to drinkware and hydration products.


2014
GAP introduced full 360 metallic graphic drinkware and hydration items. This all-new graphic styling was a major success for a number of our key retail partners.


2016
GAP introduced the first wave of our Vacuum Insulated drinkware collection. This collection soon became the flagship of our overall product offering as consumer demand dictated high-quality insulation properties that keep beverages the perfect temperature for hours on end.


2016
GAP re-introduced itself to the Souvenir/Resort segment of retail with high-end / premium drinkware and hydration product offerings. As suspected, this channel of retail was experiencing growing demand for Vacuum Insulated items and premium quality offerings.


2018
GAP introduced the initial collection of Powder Coated Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel. With this new introduction also came Laser Etching as a third way of decorating our drinkware and hydration products.


2019
Kim Holtz was elected President and Bryan Oyler Vice President as part of our succession plan preparing GAP for the future.

2020
At the conclusion of the Sports License & Tailgate Show in January, it was looking to be GAP's Best Year Ever.  Then, in late March, operations were brought to a halt as the COVID-19 Pandemic emerged.  Great American was shut down for almost two months, with most of the pre-booked retail business placed on hold. 

Upon reopening operations with only a skeleton crew and a limited amount of orders to work on, it quickly became necessary to scale up staffing in order to support all of the Online Business that was being generated at record levels.  With the mass transition to 'work from home', and no one able to attend live sporting events, fans were looking for ways to Enhance Their Home Viewing Experience.  Drinkware became an extremely popular and sought after category.  With the retail world essentially on lockdown, the internet exploded with 'Holiday' level sales.

In the end, 2020 is viewed as an incredible success for Great American, given the unprecedented levels and varieties of problems and volatilities in retail.  The new leadership team at Great American Successfully Navigated all the complexities of 2020 created by the pandemic; preparing them for a whole new level of challenges that were soon to come.  

2021
With confidence that the worst of the pandemic was in the past, Great American was quickly engaged in plans for product features throughout the year with many of the biggest retail chains in the US.  Then the Supply Chain Crisis hit and parts shortages, shipping costs and production timelines became highly unpredictable.  Thanks to quick realization, action and pro-active planning, the impacts were minimal to the overall business.

2021 proudly marks Great American's 50th Anniversary.  Celebrating 30 Years in the Officially Licensed Sports & College Product Business. The core focus continues to be on the Drinkware, Barware, Ceramics and Hydration category of Consumer Products.  

Great American strives to Always deliver Best-In-Class product and service, Inspired & Created by a team that Loves what they do.


Shareholders information is available HERE. Email Kim Holtz Kim@gap1.com for a password to access the information. 


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