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PAGE 2A, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE i7,1987 Canadian Tire, 25 years and.sdïll, going strong By DONNA DONALDSON For 25 years, 311 Brock Street was the site of Whitby's Canadian Tire stor e. But due to growth and the need, for expansion, Canadian Tire closed its doors on Brock St. and moved to the Glen Hill Dr. ocation in October, 1984. The Billes brothers started the company some 60 years ago, which has since expanded to 400 stores across Canada. Each store is a franchise and is independently owned. Jack Ellis has owned the Whitby Canadian Tire store for six years. Ted Mangnall of Whitby has been the general manager for 10 years. "We have just gone through an internai change and expanded to a 12,000 sq. ft., retail area, " he says of recent changes., The service area. has a 12-bay garage which Mangnall said is "fully equipped to handle anything that mav occur. " a Chuck Key is Canadian Tire',s service manager, and has been working in the trade since 1971. He has been at the Whitby location sin- ce 1982 and is well informed in al the aspects of- automobile ser- vicing. -Mangnall says mechanics attend courses to stay up-to-date on vehicle changes and maintenance. Canadian Tire has 10 licensed mechanics, three installers, two apprentices and part-time tire in- stallers. They make up some of the 70 staff working throughout- the store. "We have a completely moder- nized service centre, that handies a variety of work. If a customer needs a ride home, we'll give them a ride home anywhere in town," says Mangnall. The store has a computerized in- ventory system, which Mangnall says keeps them on top of their competitors with regard to having merchandise on hand when they need it. Mangnall says thereare different trends in consumner buying every year. "People are shying awvay from the lesser-priced lawn products," he says of, one -trend. "They're going towards the more expensive lawn mowers and garden sets." With summer. now here, people are ."1going heavy" on the fishinig line. Down riggers and fish finders are popular sellers right now. And he rememnbers when the Cabbage Patch doîl was a big hit. "The reason for Canadian Tire's success is each store being in- dependently ,Uwned. It helps them cater to the needs of the community that they are in," he says. Each store is involved ini com- munity affairs. The Whitby store is involved in the Chamber of Com- merce and sponsors different even- ts and sporting events. It also supply prizes. for dances, as long as it is a Whitby group. And if you have ever wondered who the smiling gentleman is on the Canadian Tire coupon, it's Sandy McTire, created in 1952 as an ad campaign and- since found on Canadian Tire catalogues and coupons. The idea of cash coupons was hatched by the Billes brothers to keep customers comiflg back. CHUCK KEY works on a car in the service area of Canadian Tire. CANADIAN TIRE general manager for years has been Ted Magnail. [0 fanpoipn TIR]