Gibco Inc. is a family owned and operated company that began in 1984 and is based in beautiful Billings, Montana. William R. Gibson Sr. began designing and developing children’s products including children’s sleds, dolls and doll carriers. His son, William (Bill) R. Gibson Jr., an educated graphic designer, designed and developed games and children’s products. Bill Jr. and Julie Gibson’s three daughters fondly remember their father at his drawing board creating and designing unique products by hand. The company, then known as Interpretive Marketing Products, designed and imported a vast array of products for resale in the promotional and retail marketplace. A fondness for trivia and their home state of Montana led the Gibson’s to design and develop the WIT ™ Games on Montana’s National Parks including Yellowstone, Glacier and eventually Grand Teton. The trivia card games were very popular and the Gibson’s then combined another passion into their growing business- Baseball.  They became licensed by Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Hockey League (NHL). The company grew quickly and developed relationships with clients and quality overseas manufacturers. The trivia card games became collectable and were enjoyed by baseball, hockey and trivia fans all over the world. In 1997, Mr. Hockey himself Gordie Howe proudly became the face of Hockey Wit.

After the baseball strike in 1995, the company quickly recognized the need to design and develop other items intended for use by children. They began developing custom mascot plush toys and stickers. In 1999 the Gibson’s middle daughter Cami Chandler took interest in the company and began selling the custom developed toys through a network of promotional product distributors.  She fell in love with the company, selling the quality products, and especially her clients and production contacts. “I had no idea at the time, but I was about to develop long lasting and meaningful relationships with clients and vendors all over the world”, Cami exclaims.

The company experienced great growth. Many trusted partnerships developed and continue to this day. They joined Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) and Promotional Product Association International (PPAI). A detailed factory audit procedure was developed and implemented. Cami worked her way up the ranks in the company eventually becoming Sales Manager.  The company found success in a different industry; the promotional product industry. In 2007, Cami purchased the business and has continued to grow the Gibco brand. Today, Gibco is a 5-star, A+ rated plush toy supplier in the promotional product industry. Gibco has produced plush toys for some of the largest companies in the world including Kraft Foods, Disney, Paramount Pictures, United Airlines, Disney and DreamWorks just to name a few. Cami works together with her distributor partners on a variety of plush toy projects fulfilling the need for quality promotional toys in the advertising industry.

In 2008, Gibco increased auditing measures and safety protocol to ensure all measures were taken to fulfill their promise to the businesses they work with— to supply safe, appealing and engaging toys that aid in company promotion and comply with all applicable toy safety laws while maintaining the integrity of the company. As a result, Gibco has increased production capacity to fulfill the need for safe, quality toys for use in promotions. Today Gibco currently works with eight plush toy factories in both China and Indonesia and continues their auditing process to grow and provide their clients with the highest quality merchandise for the best value. Their detailed safety compliance program is a result of many years of education and training. Gibco imports plush toys to every continent and works with several CPSC accredited testing facilities and freight forwarders. “Our clients are proud of the work we manufacture for them and that is our greatest compliment.” Cami says.

Gibco is still proudly family owned and operated. Cami and her husband Dave are the grandparents of six beautiful grandchildren. Family and relationships is still the basis of what this company is all about.