Giant Tiger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Giant Tiger Stores Limited | |
 |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 in Ottawa |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Key people | Gordon Reid, Founder, Chairman & CEO Jeff York, President & COO |
| Industry | Retail |
| Employees | 6500 |
| Slogan | Your All Canadian Family Discount Store |
| Website | www.gianttiger.ca |
Giant Tiger Stores Limited is a discount store in Canada and the United States founded on May 13, 1961, by Gordon Reid, who served as the Chairman and CEO. Reid opened his first store in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The business was launched with a $15,000 investment, and first year sales were $139,781. As of 2005, annual sales now exceed $1 billion.
Current President and chief operating officer Jeff York is the brother of former National Hockey League player Jason York.
There are now 171 stores employing over 6,500 people. There are over 100 stores in Ontario, 42 stores in Quebec (as Tigre Géant), nine stores in Manitoba, four stores in New Brunswick, five stores in Saskatchewan, four stores in Alberta and one in Potsdam, New York, the only location in the US.
The headquarters and main distribution centre are located on Walkley Road in Ottawa.
In 1968, Giant Tiger opened its first franchise stores, which now account for the majority of locations. The goal was to better serve the customer by having local owners in the stores.
In 1977, Giant Tiger established Chez Tante Marie stores in Hull and Gatineau, Quebec.
In 1987, Tiger Trucking began operations and started making shipments from the warehouse to stores.
On September 1, 1990, Giant Tiger established a clothing and footwear buying office in Montreal, Quebec. The objective was to be closer to the suppliers and manufacturers in order to be in a position to pick up trends faster and move merchandise to the stores faster.
On May 31, 1996, Giant Tiger purchased and took possession of a 29,000 m² (315,000 sq. ft.) distribution centre on Walkley Road in Ottawa, previously occupied by Sears Canada.
Also in 1996, the Scott's Discount brand was launched as an alternative format for smaller stores.
In 2001, Giant Tiger and The North West Company (NWC) signed a 30-year Master Franchise Agreement, that grants NWC the exclusive right to open and operate 72 Giant Tiger stores in western Canada.
In December 2005, Giant Tiger opened a new 3700 m² (40,000 sq. ft.) distribution centre for frozen and refrigerated products in Brockville, Ontario.
The store has been nicknamed "GT Boutique" by some of its customers. The names comes from the logo, which is printed on the shopping bags used when customers buy clothing in the store.
The chain has undertaken a major expansion in the Greater Toronto Area since 2005. They have recently opened six stores in Bradford, Brampton, Markham, Mississauga, Newmarket, and Scarborough. All of these stores were other stores prior to the Giant Tiger opening in these locations.
On June 30, 2006, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, accompanied by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, chose to announce the lowering of Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 7% to 6% at an Ottawa-area Giant Tiger store (Store 92 on Bank St.). Harper was accompanied by Giant Tiger founder Gordon Reid. Harper seems to have chosen Giant Tiger because Scott Reid, a Conservative Deputy House Leader, is the son of Giant Tiger founder, Gordon Reid, as well as a member of the Giant Tiger Board of Directors.
