Fountain Tire

Fountain Tire is a Canadian tire dealer and automotive service provider with 160 consumer locations in Central and Western Canada. The company also provides tires and tire-related services to commercial truck fleets and off-road vehicles used in agriculture, oil and gas, mining and construction.

Fountain Tire
Private
IndustryAutomotive Retail Distribution
Founded1956, Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
HeadquartersEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Number of locations
162 locations (As of October 26, 2016)
Key people
  • Brent Hesje, CEO
ProductsTires and automotive parts, sales, and service
Websitewww.fountaintire.com

Fountain Tire operates on a 50/50 partnership model whereby the majority of Fountain Tire managers own equity in their stores[1]. The company’s shared ownership business model has contributed to it being named one of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies” since 1994[2].

History

Fountain Tire was founded in 1956 by Bill Fountain. The company started as a small, double-bay garage in Wainwright, Alberta, and offered in-the-field service to farmers[1]. As it grew, Bill Fountain wanted to support local store managers, so he offered them 50 per cent equity in their stores[3]. This 50/50 partnership between Corporate and store managers continues today.

In 1976, Bill Fountain was tragically killed in a car accident. He left behind a network of 19 stores and partners.

The 1980s included further expansion for Fountain Tire: a move to the new head office in Edmonton and a change in Fountain Tire's expansion strategy. On September 24, 1987, Fountain Tire sold 49 per cent of its business to Goodyear Canada. This move was a first for the industry, combining a western Canadian distribution network and a tire manufacturer with a global marketing presence. By the end of the 1990s, 100 new Fountain Tire stores had been added across Western Canada.

In 2014, Fountain Tire relocated its corporate headquarters to a new facility in the South Edmonton, called Fountain Tire Place[4].

In 2016, Fountain Tire celebrated its 60th anniversary. To celebrate, the company hit the road with a 60-day cross-country campaign paying tribute to the 1950s with a drive-in movie tour[5] and giveaways of 60,000 AIR MILES[6].

Today Fountain Tire operates 160 locations in Canada from Victoria, B.C. to Vaughan, Ontario.

Corporate

Headquarters

Fountain Tire’s corporate office is located in South Edmonton at Fountain Tire Place.

Community Involvement

Fountain Tire supports the United Way, Junior Achievement and local charities in cities across Canada[7]. In 2015, the company donated a 15-seat passenger van to Grow Calgary, Canada’s largest urban farm, which supplies the local food bank[8]. In 2019, Fountain Tire CEO Brent Hesje received a Northern Lights Award of Distinction by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his corporate, community and industry leadership[9].

Marketing

Fountain Tire's slogans have included "Home of the Tire Experts," "Winning the West," "Your Alberta Tire Store" and “Trust. Fountain Tire.”

Actor comedian Thom Sharp became Fountain Tire’s spokesperson in 1994 and was known as “The Fountain Tire Guy”[10] for more than 20 years.

In 2018, Fountain Tire launched a new brand and tagline, “We’re on this road together,” to reflect a philosophy of partnership across the company.[11]

Awards

Fountain Tire’s “Fan Bods ” campaign won three Gold and two Silver awards at the 2019 Clio Sports awards[12] and a Silver Digital – Apps/Mobile and Merit, PR – Community Building at the 2019 Marketing awards[13]. The campaign allowed hockey fans to spell out messages using the painted bodies of Fountain Tire employees in support of the company’s hometown Edmonton Oilers[14].

Services

Retail

Fountain Tire sells tires from Goodyear, Dunlop, Kelly, GT Radial, Continental, Aeolus and Trelleborg, as well as various other brands.

Vehicle Services

Fountain Tire offers complete automotive service and repair including diagnostic services and maintenance services. Services offered are: alignments, brakes, steering, chassis and suspension, battery testing and replacement, heating/air conditioning, cooling system services, electrical diagnostics and repair, fuel and ignition, exhaust system, transmission service, vehicle inspections, maintenance, and oil changes.

Commercial

Fountain Tire offers commercial and fleet vehicle tires and retreads, as well as commercial truck repair services. Fountain Tire also provides commercial roadside service with a 24-hour emergency on-site tire service at 85 locations throughout Western Canada.

Industrial

Fountain Tire carries a full line of industrial and specialty industrial tires including tires for forklifts, high speed trailers, skidsteers, lawn and garden equipment. The company also offers sales and servicing for industrial equipment, foam filling and solid tire pressing.

Mining & Off-The-Road

Fountain Tire's OTR (Off-The-Road) sales and services includes retreading and tire repair. Their mining tire sales and services include retreading, section repairs, reinforcements, spot repairs, lug repairs and sidewall bumpers.

Farming & Agriculture

Fountain Tire offers farm tires and on-the-farm services. They carry products that reduce soil compaction and improve overall ride and traction in agricultural environments.

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References
  1. "How Fountain Tire maintains its legacy without sacrificing innovation - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  2. "Canada's Best Managed Companies: Platinum Winners 2019". www.canadianbusiness.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  3. "Fountain Tire's unique 50/50 partnership model helped it grow into a Western Canadian powerhouse". AlbertaVenture.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  4. "Fountain Tire moves into employee-focused HQ". www.google.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  5. Kazmierski, Jack (2016-11-11). "Fountain Tire: Bringin' Back the '50s". Autosphere. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  6. "Fountain Tire celebrating 60th anniversary". Tire Business. 2016-07-19. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  7. "Edmonton Chamber Commerce" (PDF).
  8. "Grow Calgary Gets Gift of Van from Fountain Tire | The Chestermere Anchor Weekly". Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  9. "Fountain Tire CEO Brent Hesje earns Northern Lights Award". Tire Business. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  10. Makichuk, Dave. "10 travel questions with 'that bald guy, Thom Sharp". www.calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  11. Pawlett, Steve (2018-10-26). "Refreshing Your Brand". Autosphere. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  12. May 15, Josh Kolm; 2019 (2019-05-15). "FCB Toronto wins Gold at Clio Sports". strategy. Retrieved 2020-02-03.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "Marketing Awards ★ 2019 Winner ★". marketingawards.strategyonline.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  14. October 22, Josh Kolm; 2018 (2018-10-22). "Fountain Tire paints its employees for the Oilers". strategy. Retrieved 2020-02-03.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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