Dealer Spotlight: Meet John Anderson

Meet John Anderson

John’s career in grocery retail began in stores, where he could be found stocking shelves, receiving trucks, serving customers, and implementing merchandising planograms. Early on in his grocery retail career, he recognized his deep passion for the business and subsequently rose through the ranks at many of the top grocers in Canada.?Over the course of his 20-year career, John operated stores in different markets across Ontario under the Zehrs, Loblaws, Sobeys and Fortinos banners. From Store Manager, he progressed to Franchise Owner at Sobeys and Fortinos, which gave him a taste of what being a business owner was like.

Looking ahead to the next step in his career, John’s desire for a larger-scale opportunity that would provide him with more autonomy and freedom as an entrepreneur, is what made him decide in 2019 to join the Canadian Tire Dealer network. His deep roots in retail, desire to give back to his community, experience driving results as well as his passion for employee morale and customer excellence made the Canadian Tire Dealer role a natural fit.

So, what inspired John to become a Canadian Tire Dealer?

John already felt a connection to the iconic Canadian Tire brand thanks to a lifetime of family shopping trips, but what sparked his interest in pursuing the role was the opportunity for full ownership and support that it combined. In his words, “this is what really excited me”. He would be able to achieve his entrepreneurial goals while being set up for success by the Corporation. A world class Dealer training program, First Store Business Coaches, Mentor Dealers, and the Canadian Tire Dealers’ Association are just a few of the key resources that are available to Canadian Tire Dealers. Further research into the Dealer role allowed John to understand the scope of the Dealers’ involvement in their businesses and the key role they play in helping to inform the strategic direction for the company. Says John, “this struck a chord for me personally”.

What have been John’s key learnings as he transitioned from grocery Franchisee to independent business owner with Canadian Tire?

“Retail is retail – that part is easy. It’s the shift in ability to be able to directly impact your business each day that was a big revelation”.

As a Franchisee in the grocery industry, many of John’s actions were directed by the Corporation. In contrast, as a Canadian Tire Dealer, he quickly transitioned to having free reign and autonomy for his enterprise. This has allowed him to make his own decisions for his business including being able to use data and analytics and a deep understanding of his local market to choose the right product assortment for his local demographic.

John’s staff are also a critical part of his success. In past roles, he worked with larger teams (at times 300+ employees), which made regular involvement and daily interactions with staff a challenge. Operating his now, 5,000 SQFT Canadian Tire store has allowed him to work alongside and establish close relationships with his team members. Says John, “I feel deeply connected to my staff and proud to have established a Canadian Tire family culture.”

“Freedom to challenge the status quo to deliver customer excellence”

Being a Dealer has also allowed John to find unique and innovative ways to serve his customers and community.?For example, when COVID-19 hit, John took a proactive approach to identifying and meeting local customer needs. Despite the fact that his Canadian Tire store is primarily an Automotive Centre, John understood the local demands of his community during the pandemic and strategically diversified his product assortment to include the essential products that customers sought. He even encouraged his staff to follow up with customers by phone, asking “are there any other products we can offer or order for you?”

What advice would John give to a store leader in the grocery industry who is considering the Canadian Tire Dealer role?

For someone who wants to be a true entrepreneur with a strong network of support, the Canadian Tire Dealer network is the place to be. John is grateful he made the move, stating, “there is no other model like it in North America – not a day goes by that I regret the move I made to join Canadian Tire”. The support the Corporation provides to each Dealer is world class. There is constant collaboration to work towards solutions to move the company forward. Plus, as your own boss, you can directly influence your results. Says John, “you get what you put into it; the more you put in, the better returns financially you will realize”.

John has operated stores in various roles throughout his grocery career, from Store Manager to Franchisee, but he says, “there is no comparison to being a Canadian Tire Dealer – a true Franchise opportunity that will allow the entrepreneurial side to truly shine through!”?

Special thanks to John for sharing his insights and perspectives on the early days of his Dealer journey. The impact that he and his loved ones have had in London, Ontario is outstanding! We wish @John Anderson all the best as he continues his journey with the Canadian Tire Dealer network and moves on to his second store in Kitchener, Ontario!

Are you passionate about retail and looking to take on a larger-scale challenge? Always wanted to have full autonomy and freedom to make decisions for your business??If so – our team would love to chat! @CanadianTireCorporation is actively recruiting new Dealers to join our growing network. Stand beside John and a network of close to 500+ entrepreneurs to boldly shape the next generation of retail in Canada. Apply now!

Written by: Melissa Mazza & Brenda Heatley