> president / creative director

Collins + Company was started by Tom Collins on August 1st, 2005 and founded upon the 
idea that great service, great ideas, and great results were not limited to big clients and 
big marketing budgets. That in the end, it's not always the size of the budget that counts 
- but the size of the idea that really makes the difference.

Over Tom's 21 year career, that simple concept has been the foundation for award
-winning work for Fortune 500 companies world wide. Beginning in the late 80's in 
North Carolina, Tom started making a name at Coyne Beahm Shouse, Tone Advertising, 
and Long Haymes & Carr(now Mullen). Tom helped re-brand Camel Cigarettes and 
re-introduce "Joe Camel" for his 75th Anniversary, He also introduced new products for 
Sara Lee, Planters, and RJR nationally and made Carlyle & Company one of the 
largest privately owned jewelry chains in the world.

During the early 90's, Tom moved to Dallas, Texas to lead the Pepsi New Products Division 
for DDB Needham World Wide. As Creative Director, he helped introduce Aquafina, 
Starbucks Frappacino, All Sport, and Lipton Brisk Iced Tea. Over the next 4 years, while 
splitting time between New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, Tom helped 
introduce over 30 new brands with the biggest “perks” being able to work with Shaq, 
Ken Griffey Jr., Steve Young, and Jerry Rice, to name a few.

In 1997, with the birth of his first daughter, Tom made a career decision and decided to 
move back home to South Carolina and become Executive Vice President/Creative 
Director at Brandon Advertising in Myrtle Beach. Over the next 8 years, Tom helped 
double the agency in size, won over 800 national advertising awards, and turned 
Brandon into one of the Southeast's leading travel and tourism advertising agencies; 
and South Carolina's most creatively awarded advertising agency. 

Having achieved most of his goals, in 2005 Tom decided to move on to a new challenge 
and open his own agency,  Collins + Company Advertising/Design. Starting out with no 
clients and only himself, Tom has put together a team of talented professionals and 
helped guide it over the past 5 years to phenominal growth and recognition in the 
advertising community. In 2008, after just 2.5 yrs in business, Tom guided the agency to 
27 Gold Addys, 18 Silver Addys, and “Best of Print” in the 2008 American Advertising 
Federation Addy Awards - winning more awards than other agencies 4 times larger 
than themselves. 

Tom is originally from Columbia, SC and graduated from the University of South Carolina 
with a BFA in Design and a minor in Advertising & Public Relations. Tom has been happily 
married to Catherine for 19 years and they have three children - Reed 14, Blake 11, 
and Eileen 9. Tom is a member of Myrtle Beach Presbyterian Church, and serves on the 
Board of Directors for the American Advertising Federation / Coastal Carolinas and 
BE2 / Early HighSchool Education Commission. Tom is also very active in coaching youth
basketball, baseball, and football.