GIANT TIGER 2 PRODUCTS & SERVICES • Giant Tiger

GIANT TIGER www.gianttiger.ca 2 PRODUCTS & SERVICES Giant Tiger

2 Giant Tiger Celebrates 50 years in business MAY 2011 The Canadian Business Journal 3 PRODUCTS & SERVICES CB

Giant Tiger Celebrates 50 years in business 4 PRODUCTS & SERVICES Giant Tiger

On May 7, Canadian owned and operated fam- Woolworths was one of the world’s largest retail ily discount store Giant Tiger celebrates its chains, at that time with stores in the United 50th anniversary. States, Canada, England, Germany and Australia. Much has changed since Gordon Reid Reid fondly remembers, “As a child I loved to go founded the first Giant Tiger in Ottawa’s Byward into Woolworths and smell the fresh popped pop- market in 1961, but the company’s dedication to corn. That was my indoctrination into retail. I was providing the lowest prices in Canada has never particularly influenced by the size of the store wavered. Weeks before Giant Tiger’s coast-to- and the merchandise model.” coast celebration, CBJ took a look at the secrets Today, there are 201 Giant Tiger stores to Giant Tiger’s unprecedented success. across Canada. Many of the stores with the iconic black and yellow banner are located in Founding vision rural areas or small towns, providing goods Founder Gordon Reid’s mother worked at Wool- and employment for citizens, and supporting worths variety store lunch counter in Vancouver. local charities and other vital services in the MAY 2011 The Canadian Business Journal 5

community, including hospitals, women’s shel- the store then tailors the merchandise to suit ters and food banks. the surrounding community—its location, people, incomes, and sizes. “In small towns, for example, Tailored stores Giant Tiger will be the general store, it has every- In rural and urban centres alike, however, Giant thing,” says Reid. “In an urban area, depending Tiger always offers the lowest price on its wide on the competition, one Giant Tiger store sells variety of goods. A true one-stop shop, Giant Ti- more groceries, another more pots and pans, ger offers everything from fashion and groceries, others focus on family clothing.” to kitchenware, home décor, and toiletries. The manager of each Giant Tiger tailors what his or Strong franchising model her store offers to the specific needs and unique “A key reason for Giant Tiger’s success is our demographics of the surrounding community. unusual franchising system in which the store New stores are provided with a standard manager owns the store,” says Reid. “We have setup, colour scheme, and layout. The owner of attracted some of the best managers in the 6 PRODUCTS & SERVICES Giant Tiger

50 years of success adds up

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industry with this model. Many owners have the recipient of the 2010 Retail Council Lifetime worked for other retail companies and brought Achievement Award. Last year alone, the compa- years of retail experience and ideas to their ny donated more than $2 million to charities and role. Owning the store and living in the commu- organizations across Canada. nity creates a personal and professional invest- “We are very proud to be a real Canadian ment in Giant Tiger’s success for them. The retail company,” says Andy Gross, President and customers are their neighbours.” CEO, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “We are proud Reid adds, “Our store owners are dedicated to celebrate what our founder Gordon Reid has to their community. I’m sure a number of our accomplished—we are glad he took that risk 50 store owners would be elected if they ran for may- years ago. I have worked with Giant Tiger for 27 or because they are so visibly involved in making years. It has been an extraordinary journey.” a difference where they work and live.” Giant Tiger has certainly navigated many “Community has been, is, and will always changes in the Canadian retail store market. “We be an integral part of Giant Tiger,” emphasizes have seen a lot of good Canadian retailers go by MAY 2011 The Canadian Business Journal 7

BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP CONGRATULATES GIANT TIGER FOR 50 YEARS OF SUCCESS!

the wayside,” Gross notes. “There really are very store that did not brace for the arrival of Walmart few true Canadian banners left. Most of our se- from the U.S. did not thrive. “We recognized it nior executives have been here for 15-plus years, was just a matter of time until Walmart came to through this period when U.S. retailers came in Canada. We did our research and were prepared and many Canadian retailers disappeared.” for its arrival. We have always done a good job Gross notes that sticking to the principles of recognizing you have to study the competition, good sound management, low cost, good value both strengths and weaknesses. Naturally, we and good quality at low prices has kept Giant Ti- want to be better than our competitors and make ger on course. “I think Canadians enjoy seeing us sure we clearly communicate to our customers succeed. For us, being a privately-owned Cana- the advantages of shopping at Giant Tiger. Inter- dian company that provides work for 7,000-plus nally we want to identify where our competitors Canadians is a source of great pride.” are stronger and use this knowledge to improve Giant Tiger’s success comes from being ourselves. Good ideas don’t just have to come diligent and proactive. In the late 1980s, any from inside—we studied Biway stores and Bargain 8 PRODUCTS & SERVICES Giant Tiger MAY 2011 The Canadian Business Journal 9

Harold’s in Canada as well as Walmart and other “We are opening new stores every year and U.S. retailers in order to continuously improve.” we continue on that path,” says Reid. Reid, Gross and the entire Giant Tiger family Principal of low cost anticipate a great event on May 7. Each store is Giant Tiger knows its strengths and has an un- having a 50th Anniversary Celebration, with activi- wavering dedication to offering its customers ties and entertainment. In Giant Tiger tradition, the best prices. Giant Tiger buyers are on the every store will be raising funds for a local charity. market daily looking at competition and react- “Giant Tiger buyers have spent well over a ing to local promotions. year scouring the market and working hard with “By keeping our costs low, we compete on price vendors to provide special buys and great prices and still make a profit,” says Gross. “Our prices are for customers to celebrate our 50th Anniversary,” as good as or lower than the competition.” says Gross. “We look forward to the opportunity Positioned to reach another 50 years of suc- to thank our customers and celebrate this spe- cess, Giant Tiger continues to expand at about cial occasion together.” CB eight stores a year. With the franchise structure in place, sound finances and the highest credit rating www.gianttiger.ca available, Giant Tiger is open to many opportunities for growth across Canada. AS SEEN IN THE MAY 2011 ISSUE OF THE CANADIAN BUSINESS JOURNAL