Canadian Tire

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Canadian Tire (TSX: CTC CTC.a, CTC) is one of Canada's 35 largest publicly traded companies and operates an inter-related network of businesses engaged in retailing, financial services and petroleum. It operates Canadian Tire Retail, Canada's largest and most-shopped general merchandise retailer best known for its unique and innovative product selection of home products, hardware, automotive, sports, camping, lawn and garden products. It also operates Canada's largest independent gasoline station network, a chartered bank in Canadian Tire Bank, and owns Mark's Work Wearhouse/L'ÉQUIPEUR, a leading specialty apparel retailer of work and casual clothing, and Part Source, dealing exclusively with auto parts. Its head office is based in Toronto, Ontario.

The chain is also known for its Canadian Tire "money" which is a pioneering loyalty program first introduced in 1958. It is also known for its innovative advertising.

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[edit] Associate Dealer History

The first Canadian Tire store opened on September 15, 1922 in Toronto, Ontario by J. William Billes and Alfred J. Billes. This store, was located at the corner of Yonge and Isabella. In 1937, the store and head office was moved to Yonge & Davenport. This location remains as an associate store in the chain today. In 1928, the store issued its first catalogue, becoming one of Canada's most famous mail order businesses. To this day, the company has grown to over 460 stores. A publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Canadian Tire shares are widely held.

Canadian Tire has experienced a period of significant growth and success, having transformed its store network in three major waves beginning in 1994. In its last five-year strategic plan it attained top-quartile total returns to shareholders among all publicly traded North American retailers, with a total return of 286%

Canadian Tire Financial Services is the credit arm of the company. This division is considered a bank, under Canada's Bank Act. Since achieving the bank designation, Canadian Tire Financial Services has launched additional credit and loan products including Personal Loans and Lines of Credit.

Canadian Tire is also known for its community roots. Through its Canadian Tire Foundation for Families, Canadian Tire has raised more than $20 million for families in need. Through its JumpStart program, focused on helping disadvantaged kids get access to recreation and build self-esteem and leadership, more than 55,000 children have benefited across Canada.

[edit] Canadian Tire Money

Main article: Canadian Tire money

Canadian Tire "money" distinguishes the company from other retailers in Canada. These coupons, an incentive for non-credit purchases, are a national cultural fixture. Customers using Canadian Tire's Options Mastercard for their purchases also receive an additional 20% Canadian Tire money, in electronic form, on the card.

[edit] Trivia

  • Kingston, Ontario is home to Canada's largest Canadian Tire Store. This is also, coincidentally enough, the hometown of Ted Simonett, who played the male half of the "Canadian Tire couple" in the company's TV spots.
  • Canadian Tire has twice expanded into the US market with disastrous results. In the 1980s the White Auto Store chain, concentrated in Texas was acquired and cost the company $200 million to fold. In the 1991 a second attempt with the Auto Source chain with grand plans of 100 to 120 outlets in the midwest was started. The Auto Source chain was sold costing the company a reported $80.6 million.
  • Canadian Tire is is also colloquially referred to as Crappy Tire. The corporation lost in a legal action to acquire the CrappyTire.com domain name at WIPO.

[edit] Advertisements

For many years, Canadian Tire's Christmas ads featured Santa Claus and Ebenezer Scrooge arguing about whether Canadian Tire's great selection or their low prices are the better reason to do your Christmas shopping there. A stamp was issued by Canada Post commemorating Canadian Tire's 75th anniversary which depicted the famous ad of a boy receiving his first bicycle which was purchased by his father at the Tire.

In recent years, the company's ads have featured the "Canadian Tire couple". The male role was played by Canadian actor Ted Simonett, and Gloria Slade played the female role. They are usually showing off a new product to one of their neighbours, who are in need of a certain tool. The 'Canadian Tire Couple' were once featured on Royal Canadian Air Farce as one of their targets of the year, as "Canada's most annoying couple". Ads featuring the couple were phased out in mid-2006. The Company is one of Canada's largest advertisers, and has nearly universal unaided brand awareness.

[edit] Slogans

  • 1980s: "There is a lot more to Canadian Tire than tires"
  • 1992: "There is a lot more for a lot less"
  • 2001: "I'll start with you" (Originally from a song released as a solo in 1992 by Paulette Carlson, the lead singer of country group Highway 101)
  • Various Christmas seasons: "Give like Santa, save like Scrooge" "Scrooge Approved prices"
  • 2005 The chain began using a talking dog named Gilbert. The slogan, "I smell gifts", which the dog says, also appears on instore Christmas advertising displays. The dog proved unpopular both with the viewing public and among Canadian Tire Corporation's employees.[citation needed]

[edit] Canadian Tire Petroleum

Launched in 1958, Canadian Tire Petroleum is Canada's largest independent gasoline retailer with over 260 locations. Canadian Tire was the world's first hard goods retailer to begin selling gasoline at their stores as a means of driving customer traffic. This model has since been copied by most of the world's top hard goods retailers, including Wal Mart, Home Depot and Safeway.

Canadian Tire's famous "Canadian Tire Money" loyalty program was launched through the gas bars as "Gas Bonus Coupons". The program proved so popular that it was later expanded to the entire enterprise.

[edit] Canadian Tire Online

Canadian Tire Online is an online purchasing system where customers of Canadian Tire can choose to either provide a representative with their billing and shipping information over the phone and then have the goods selected delivered to their home via mail or courier service. Customers also have the option to place the order themselves on the Canadian Tire website. While revenue from store purchases go primarily to the dealer, the revenue from online and telephone shopping goes directly to the corporation.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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