Canadian Tire: History of Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire, a well known Canadian retail company had started their career in year 1922. John William Billes and Alfred Jackson Billes(founders of Canadian Tire), the two brothers first buy the Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd with their combined fund of $1800. The Garage was located at the corner of Gerard and Hamilton Streets in Toronto. In 1923, the two brothers sold the Hamilton Tire and Garage and move to the corner of Yonge Street under the name Canadian Tire Corporation. Later on, in 1928 the Billes brothers published their first catalogue featuring tire values on one side and a Ontario road map on the other side. And here comes a day, in 1934 the Hamilton Store becomes the first officially designated Canadian Tire Associate Store. Moving further, the Canadian Tire opened their first gas bar in 1958, located at Yonge and Church Streets in Toronto where gas bar costumers receive discount coupons, redeemable at Canadian Tire Stores. Then in 1963 and 1973 various distribution centres were opened, besides which Canadian Tire opened their first store in the province of Saskatchewan, celebrating 50 successful years. In 1980, corporate gross operating revenue exceeds $1 Billion for the first time and employees share $7,265,000 in profit sharing and share purchase bonuses. Then in 1995 the Canadian Tire Financial Services launch a MasterCard called as Options MasterCard. At the beginning of 21st century Canadian Tire launches the online shopping website which brings the unique experience of shopping to the costumers (www.canadiantire.ca). Then step by step company is developing more and more; launches Canadian Jumpstart in 2005, announces partnership with NASCAR and TSN in 2006, unveils 'Smart" Store concept, opened the GENCO Distribution Centre in 2009, launched the 3 limited edition Canadian Tire 'Money' Coins in 2010. Now in the present time Canadian Tire has 490 retail locations and around 85000 employees across Canada which itself makes the company Canada's largest retailer.