A Jumpstart to a Good Future

Canadian Tire Started the Jumpstart program in 2005. The idea was develop a charity to help disadvantaged children across Canada get involved in sports. There are currently over 370,000 children between the ages of 4 and 18 playing the sports they previously could not afford to play. Thanks to Canadian Tire, these children will gain the skills to meet friends, accomplish goals, stay in shape, and acquire good team morals.

Jumpstart and charities like it are something I support. Growing up, I had the privilege of being placed in multiple sports. Much of my fondest childhood memories came from the the various sports that I played. Being able to play sports has really molded me as a person. I had a lot of built up aggression as a child and sports helped me to channel this into something positive. If I did not personally have sports as a child I do not know where I would be today. It is really good to see a company such as Canadian Tire giving back to the community that does so much for them.

What is your opinion of the Jumpstart program?

To learn how to donate online you can visit the Canadian Tire: Jumpstart website. You can also visit any local Canadian Tire and donate at the check-out or in the donation bin.

CTM

This modern television advertisement shows the longevity of one of Canadian Tire's most successful reward programs, Canadian Tire Money.

If you know anything about Canadian tire then you know about Canadian Tire Money. In 1958 Canadian Tire Money was introduced in the company's gas bars to compete with various other gasoline retailers who were offering rewards to their customers. The money featured a character known as "Sandy McTire". It is said that he was a representation of the blue-collar citizens of Canada. Canadian Tire money soon became the most successful customer reward campaign in Canadian retail history.

The notes themselves are known as "Cash Bonus Coupons" and they come in 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar, and 2 dollar amounts. When the program was initiated customers could receive 5% cash back in Canadian Tire Money. Now this has dropped to about 0.4%. Why do you think this is? I personally feel that the company was sacrificing too much of their profit to maintain a 5% cash bonus on every purchase made. The popularity of the program could also factor into the lower bonuses. The style of reward program is outdated. nowadays, companies have store credit cards and rechargeable purchasing cards that offer the same rewards with just a swipe.

To learn more about how the Canadian Tire Money loyalty program came to be and works visit the Canadian Tire Money section of their website.

A Brief History...

One of the first locations of Canadian Tire

It all started on September 15, 1922. James William Billes and Alfred Jackson Billes collectively invested $1,800 in a local Toronto, Ontario garage called The Hamilton Tire and Garage Ltd. This was quite a large amount of money for the time. The company itself was sold in 1923. After moving from various locations, The Billes brothers finally found their first permanent location. They decided to maintain their business in Toronto but their success allowed the now Canadian Tire to expand. the first associate store was opened in Hamilton, Ontario and the company soon began to provide mail order services. Since then, Canadian tire has become one of Canada's most successful businesses. The publicly traded organization currently has over 487 locations and is currently on the Toronto Stock Exchange. They have become one of Canada's most well known Canadian based businesses and take pride in their country. This is what has made them the success they are today. 


If you wish to learn more about the history of Canadian Tire visit the History Timeline Section of their website.