Great Canadian Dollar Store
| Private | |
| Industry | Variety store |
| Founded | 1993 in Vancouver Island, BC, Canada |
| Founder |
Bud Walker Vivian Walker |
| Headquarters | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
Number of locations | 96 |
Area served | Canada |
Key people | Kevin Walker (CEO[1] |
| Products | Party, Stationery, Housewares, Hardware, Confectionery, Toys, Crafts, Giftware, Cleaning and School Supplies |
| Website |
www |
Great Canadian Dollar Store (abbreviated "GCDS") is a privately owned Canadian franchise dollar store. The discount merchandiser was founded in 1993 by Bud and Vivian Walker, with the set-up of a head office in Victoria, British Columbia and opening of the first BC store in Kamloops.[1] There are currently over 100 franchised stores spanning across Canada, including the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Kevin Walker, the eldest son of Bud and Vivian Walker, is the current CEO for Great Canadian Dollar store.[1]
History
Great Canadian Dollar Store initially sold products with a price point of $3 or less. Since then they have expanded their product line by offering products that are priced from $3-$20 to provide a greater range of products with better quality.[2] Great Canadian Dollar Stores have a goal to be bright, clean and tidy and the company puts emphasis on the importance of good customer service.[3]
Awards and recognition
Individual franchise members and the company have gained awards and recognition throughout the years.
- Doreen Samways, responsible for five Newfoundland stores, was recognized by Trader’s Forum as 2010’s “Retailer of the Year”.[2]
- Kevin Kane, a franchise member with more than 25 stores across Atlantic Canada, had been recognized by Trader’s Forum as 2007’s “Retailer of the Year”.[2]
- In 2003 Great Canadian Dollar Store Ltd. made it on the list of Profit (magazine)’s annual Profit 100, which ranks companies based on five-year revenue growth.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Interview with Kevin Walker CEO of Great Canadian Dollar Store". BeTheBoss.ca. MFV Expositions/ FranTech Media, Inc. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Trader's Forum Show". Retrieved 11 July 2013.
- ↑ "Dollar stores a haven in time of tight budgets". canada.com. Times Colonist (Victoria). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ↑ "Dollar Store Makes Top 100 List". Canadian Grocer: 115. Aug 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||