One of Canada's oldest business icons got a makeover for the digital age this week, giving Sandy McTire a chance to be an icon for a whole new generation.
If you don't recognize the name, you'll likely recognize the face — it's the one that adorns about $1 billion worth of Canadian Tire money in circulation.
It's been a mainstay of Canadian wallets (and more than a few junk drawers) over the years, dating back to 1958 when the wife of the chain's founder pitched the idea of giving customers some "money" that could only be used in store, as a way of building repeat business.
As Don Pittis wrote this week, almost every Canadian has a story about Canadian Tire money, but the company is working hard to maintain that ubiquity into the next generation by expanding the program beyond paper money to include a card and smartphone app to collect reward points.
The chain was quick to assure loyal collectors that it has no plans to phase out the paper money any time soon. But with an electronic points-based system, perhaps the days of trudging down to the local store with a three-inch wad of bills to buy a $6 bag of tennis balls might be a thing of the past.
Le Chateau facing tough reno job
A Chinese man talking on his smartphone walks into an Apple store in Beijing Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. An Apple supplier in China is violating safety and pay rules despite the computer giant�s promises to improve conditions, two activist groups said Thursday ahead of the release of the iPhone 6. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) (Andy Wong/Associated Press)
Carrying on a proud tradition works fine for a hardware and automotive retailer, but women`s wear retailers must blow with the winds of fashion.
Fashion chain Le Chateau made its name for much of the last five decades by offering cheap trendy clothes. But as tastes for a notoriously fickle young demographic change, the former retail royalty has had to remake itself yet again.
Sales are way down, and so is the company's stock price. Problems at Canadian chains like Sears, Target and Jacob are well-documented, and the company told Dianne Buckner this week it's working hard not to fall into the same fate.
They've been around since 1959 and having survived numerous rough patches before, they're confident of doing the same this time.
Small business catches a break
The federal government made some waves in the business press this week, with a move to reduce the amount that employers have to pay in EI premiums.
Ottawa's going to give small businesses a break on those premiums, in the hopes they'll take those savings and re-invest them in more hiring.
"It's the right thing to do to alleviate the, well the tax, or the cost burden on small companies who are after all the biggest generator of employment growth in the country," Finance Minister Joe Oliver told Amanda Lang in a sit-down interview this week.
The government says the move could give about $500 million back to employers, but the Opposition and labour groups are not impressed, noting that EI costs are down in part because fewer unemployed Canadians can qualify for them.
Apple's newest gadgets unveiled
If you were living under a rock this week, you may have missed a tiny, under-the-radar announcement by an upstart California technology company this week, so allow us to catch you up.
Apple wowed the tech world on Tuesday by unveiling its next iPhone model. But there a few other things in the company's bag of tricks. The company unveiled Apple Pay, its mobile payment processing system that turns a smartphone into an all-encompassing digital wallet.
Apple also showed off an Apple watch that's drawing mixed early reviews but nonetheless generating headlines.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Sandy McTire and the iPhone get makeovers: the business week in review
Dengan url
http://belajarbisnismen.blogspot.com/2014/09/sandy-mctire-and-iphone-get-makeovers.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Sandy McTire and the iPhone get makeovers: the business week in review
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Sandy McTire and the iPhone get makeovers: the business week in review
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar