Fountain Tire
Encyclopedia
Fountain Tire provides tire
and automotive services to the general consumer and the commercial, farming, and mining industries. The company employs licensed technicians to service automotive needs ranging from tire services and brakes, to shocks and transmissions.
Fountain Tire also has a Corporate Fleet Program to service companies with large vehicle fleets. Companies enrolled in this program can manage their transactions, purchasing information, and prices using an online system.
, Alberta
. With its head office now in Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
, Fountain Tire operates over 140 stores across Canada, spanning from Victoria
, British Columbia
to Vaughan
, Ontario
. The company was under Bill Fountain’s leadership for 20 years and expanded to 19 stores before a car accident claimed his life in 1976.
In 1987 Fountain Tire formed a business partnership with Goodyear
(increasing the number of stores from 19 stores to 30). On September 24, 1987, Fountain Tire sold 49% of its business interest to Goodyear Canada. By the end of the 1990s, Fountain Tire had added over 100 new stores in Canada, as far East as Vaughan, Ontario. Fountain Tire’s head office changed its role from that of a retail goods supplier to a central resource centre and began providing partnership support in areas such as purchasing, training, accounting, insurance, legal services, and marketing to its stores. Fountain Tire has been one of the “50 Best Managed Companies” in Canada every year since 1994 becoming a Platinum Club Member in 2003.
The company is associated with various industry organizations, including Western Canada Tire Dealers Association, Automotive Industries Association of Canada, Tire Industry Association, Tire Retread Information Bureau, and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
. Fountain Tire has also been involved with both local and national charitable causes since its inception in 1956. It currently supports Rick Hansen
Wheels in Motion, United Way of Canada
, and Junior Achievement, and created the Fountain Tire Foundation in 2000 to focus its fundraising efforts in the community.
As of September 2008 FT has acquired six Tirecraft locations across Canada and re-branded them as Fountain Tire locations. Many of these stores in large truck centres.
Previous taglines have included: “Home of the Tire Experts”, “Winning the West”, and “Your Alberta Tire Store”.
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
and automotive services to the general consumer and the commercial, farming, and mining industries. The company employs licensed technicians to service automotive needs ranging from tire services and brakes, to shocks and transmissions.
Fountain Tire also has a Corporate Fleet Program to service companies with large vehicle fleets. Companies enrolled in this program can manage their transactions, purchasing information, and prices using an online system.
History
Fountain Tire was founded by Bill Fountain in 1956 and began as a small double-bay garage in WainwrightWainwright, Alberta
Wainwright is a town on the prairies of east-central Alberta, Canada.It is located on the north side of the Canadian National Railway, with CFB Wainwright located on the southwest side. The town lies south of Vermilion, in the Battle River valley, along Highway 41, called the Buffalo Trail....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. With its head office now in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Fountain Tire operates over 140 stores across Canada, spanning from Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The company was under Bill Fountain’s leadership for 20 years and expanded to 19 stores before a car accident claimed his life in 1976.
In 1987 Fountain Tire formed a business partnership with Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
(increasing the number of stores from 19 stores to 30). On September 24, 1987, Fountain Tire sold 49% of its business interest to Goodyear Canada. By the end of the 1990s, Fountain Tire had added over 100 new stores in Canada, as far East as Vaughan, Ontario. Fountain Tire’s head office changed its role from that of a retail goods supplier to a central resource centre and began providing partnership support in areas such as purchasing, training, accounting, insurance, legal services, and marketing to its stores. Fountain Tire has been one of the “50 Best Managed Companies” in Canada every year since 1994 becoming a Platinum Club Member in 2003.
Ownership Structure
Fountain Tire allows managers employed at Fountain Tire stores the opportunity to own part of the business and become 50/50 partners in their store. The company’s mission is to “create opportunities that enable its people to satisfy customer needs with integrity.”Marketing
Thom Sharp became Fountain Tire’s spokesperson in 1994. Current ads feature Thom interviewing bystanders about their knowledge of cars and Fountain Tire. Fountain Tire’s current slogan is “Trust. Fountain Tire”. Previous taglines have been “Home of the Tire Experts”, “Winning the West”, and “Your Alberta Tire Store”.The company is associated with various industry organizations, including Western Canada Tire Dealers Association, Automotive Industries Association of Canada, Tire Industry Association, Tire Retread Information Bureau, and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada.CCOHS functions as the primary national agency in Canada for the advancement of safe and healthy workplaces and preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths...
. Fountain Tire has also been involved with both local and national charitable causes since its inception in 1956. It currently supports Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen
Richard M. Hansen, CC, OBC is a Canadian Paralympian and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour...
Wheels in Motion, United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
, and Junior Achievement, and created the Fountain Tire Foundation in 2000 to focus its fundraising efforts in the community.
As of September 2008 FT has acquired six Tirecraft locations across Canada and re-branded them as Fountain Tire locations. Many of these stores in large truck centres.
Advertising
Thom Sharp became Fountain Tire’s spokesperson in 1994. Current TV commercials feature Thom on a road trip across western Canada in a Fountain Tire branded R.V in search of tire savings. Fountain Tire’s current slogan is “Trust. Fountain Tire”.Previous taglines have included: “Home of the Tire Experts”, “Winning the West”, and “Your Alberta Tire Store”.