Princess Auto

Infobox Company
name = Princess Auto, Ltd.
type = Privately held company
slogan = "No Sale is Final Until You're Satisfied!"
foundation = 1942
location = flagicon|Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
key_people = Harvey Tallman (founder)
Larry Tallman (former CEO)
Bob Tallman (Owner and CEO)
Harold Romanychyn (CFO and Co-CEO)
industry = Retail
num_employees = 1,700
products = Farm, Industrial, Hobby
homepage = [http://www.princessauto.com/ Official Website (English)]

Princess Auto is a Canadian retail chain specializing in farm, industrial, garage, and surplus items. Started in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1942, by a Mr. Harvey Tallman who traded his truck for the business, Princess Auto quickly grew to one of the most competitive industrial supply chains in Canada. Princess Auto has its own brand, PowerFist, which produces a wide range of inexpensive products manufactured in developing nations. Deca, a welder manufacturer based out of Italy also produces their welders exclusively for Princess Auto. The store's slogan is The Unique World of Princess Auto, which makes reference to the uniqueness of the chain and its products which has contributed to its popularity among a small market sector. All Princess Auto product are backed by a "No Sale Is Final Until You're Satisfied" policy, or "Royal Service" as it is sometimes referred to.

It currently operates 31 locations across Canada In most provinces.In BC; Langley, Kelowna, Prince George and Coquitlam.In Alberta; Edmonton(2), Red Deer, Calgary(2), Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Lloydminster.In Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, and Regina.In Manitoba; 3292 Portage Av and 465 Panet Rd - Headquarters(both in Winnipeg), and Brandon.In Ontario; Ottawa, Mississauga, Kitchener, Hamilton, London, Kingston, Barrie, Windsor, Sarnia, Newmarket and Whitby.In New Brunswick; MonctonIn Newfoundland; St. John's.In Nova Scotia; Dartmouth

Company Overview

Princess Auto Ltd. (PAL) is a Canadian retailer with its Home Office based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As of 2007, the Company owns and operates 31 Retail Stores coast to coast. Supporting its Retail Stores are two Distribution Centres located in Winnipeg, MB and Milton, ON. Princess Auto also offers National Mail Order Service and operates a Manufacturing Division in Winnipeg.

Princess Auto Manufacturing (PAM) builds hydraulic cylinders and assembles items such as air compressors, chemical sprayers and logsplitters to be distributed and sold through its retail locations. The Manufacturing Division also makes product for customers in the Original Equipment Marketplace (OEM), which includes customers such as the Canadian military and Zamboni.

tore Brands

There are several items that are produced specifically for or sold only by Princess Auto. One is Deca, a welder manufacturer based out of Italy who produces welders specifically for sale by Princess Auto. A majority of Princess Auto’s budget line of hand tools and hobby tools are sold under the brand name Power Fist. Power Fist tools are manufactured in developing nations such as China, and as such are not built under a very stringent quality control program like higher quality tools are, which contributes to their low cost. Shur-Lift is the brand name used by Princess Auto Manufacturing for its line of hydraulic cylinders. Princess Auto is also the sole Canadian dealer for BLB Hydraulic products, a hydraulic valve and accessory company based out of Italy.

Corporate Culture

At Princess Auto, employees are referred to as Team Members, and Managers are referred to as Leaders (ie. The Store Manager is referred to as the Store Leader, and an Assistant Manager is referred to as an Assistant Leader).

Princess Auto operates on a ‘customer is always right’ principle, indicated in their “Royal Service Promise” which dictates that: “No Sale is Final Until You’re Satisfied”.

History

In 1942, a Winnipeg truck driver reluctantly sold his 3 ton truck. He wandered into an auto wrecking shop on Princess Street and was told he could buy the business for the price of his truck.

The truck driver became the owner of a business, and that was how Mr. Harvey Tallman bought Princess Auto Wrecking. Soon, employees were hired; they stripped parts off cars and sold these parts to local garages. This is the source of the original nomenclature of the company. These days, Princess Auto has little to do with automotive parts.

When the Second World War ended, there were lots of army surplus goods to be had. Princess Auto took this opportunity to expand into buying and selling these goods. Purchasing surplus hydraulic cylinders led to the manufacturing of truck hoists. A good buy on aircraft tires led to manufacturing wagons. Slowly but surely, the Company expanded into the manufacturing of farm and industrial machinery.

When Japan had settled down to become a friendly, industrial country, a nation ready and willing to sell its products, Princess Auto saw another opportunity, purchasing goods in Japan and marketing these goods in Canada.

By far the greatest number of items purchased came from the USA. The many buying trips into the United States led to thousands of items now for sale at Princess Auto. All of these were listed in a catalogue. These catalogues were sent across the country into every province in Canada.

Harvey Tallman retired in 1976. His sons, Larry and Bob, began a new era of expansion. This expansion started with the first retail store opened in 1977 in Edmonton, AB and continued with the building and opening of more stores over the following years.

In 1979, the requirement for Princess Auto manufactured products had grown to the point where it became necessary to build a new factory, which was erected next to the Home Office in Winnipeg, MB. The factory continues to be an integral part of operations.

When Larry Tallman retired in 1989, Bob Tallman took over as president of the company.

In 2005, Bob Tallman became the sole owner of Princess Auto Ltd. after purchasing all shares in the company from his siblings.

In 2007, Bob Tallman announced that he would be stepping down as CEO of the company, although he would still remain as Chairman and full owner of the company. Chief Financial Officer Harold Romanychyn and President Moe Claude were appointed as the new ‘co-CEOs’ of Princess Auto.

On September 17th of 2008, Bob Tallman announced that co-CEO and president Moe Claude had left the company. Details of his departure are as of yet unclear, however; Bob Tallman has stepped in once again as CEO of the company. He stated that he is sharing the role of CEO with Harold Romanychyn. Harold will continue his current role while Bob Tallman will take over marketing and communications.

Chronology of Store Openings

1977 – Edmonton, AB
1978 – Saskatoon, SK
1979 – Calgary, AB
1981 – Regina, SK
1982 – Kelowna, BC
1985 – Lethbridge, AB and Grande Prairie, AB
1986 – London, ON and Brandon, MB
1988 – Mississauga, ON and Red Deer, AB
1989 – Portage Avenue and a new store on Panet Road in Winnipeg, MB
1990 – Kitchener, ON
1993 – Ottawa, ON
1995 – Dartmouth, NS
1996 – Hamilton, ON
1998 – Langley, BC
1999 – Barrie, ON
2000 – Moncton, NB
2002 – Whitby, ON
2003 – Coquitlam, BC and Prince George, BC
2004 – Lloydminster, AB
2006 – St. John’s, NF, Kingston, ON, Windsor, ON and Sarnia, ON
2008 – South Calgary, AB, South Edmonton, AB, Newmarket, ON and Winnipeg, MB*

* The existing Panet Road store was relocated to a 40,000 square foot building next door to the head office in Winnipeg.

External links

* [http://www.princessauto.com/ Princess Auto Official Website]