Careers / Success Stories
Christine
I first started at Giant Tiger as an administrative associate helping in the mailroom. I had joined the team because it was a growing company and I felt there was so much opportunity to grow within the company.
Over the years, the company grew which allowed me to try new things. After only a few years, I was managing a department! I now manage a team of eight people who are responsible for basically everything from our Home Office reception and mailroom areas, to purchasing fixtures and supplies for our stores (shopping carts, flags, displays, shopping bags), to negotiating service contracts, and our Health and Safety program.
Giant Tiger has been supportive and receptive to new ideas, which allowed me to be creative. In most companies, it is hard to be recognized. At Giant Tiger, if you work hard and smart, you get noticed. Giant Tiger has given me the opportunity to pave my own path to success. I enjoy finding new ways to do things better. Whether it is lowering costs, redesigning a display fixture, or a new process to make things more efficient, helping stores succeed is very gratifying. I still look forward to coming to work each day!
We are different from most retailers in that we do not have a top-down approach. In contrast, we listen to the person who is closest to the customers, and work towards systems that work. Since customers are what keep us in business, this is a successful strategy to continued success.
Ray
I started as a full time associate with the Embrun, Ontario store in 1993. After joining the team, I realized what a rare opportunity I had found. I worked in different positions until the spring of 1997. When a new store in Casselman opened, I joined its team as a store Receiver. I worked a year in that position before being promoted to Assistant Manager. Four years later, I moved to our Ottawa large format stores to work on special projects such as training supervisors and associates, and developing various programs. In the spring of 2004, I became the store manager of Giant Tiger's first store in the United States, in Potsdam, New York. I returned to Canada in December of that year to manage the Giant Tiger store in Carleton Place and in August 2007 I became the Franchise Owner.
What I enjoy the most about Giant Tiger is the freedom to run the Giant Tiger store in Carleton Place as my own business. I am in control of every aspect of the business from selecting and ordering the merchandise, to hiring and store merchandising. Giant Tiger is still a privately owned All-Canadian company, which makes me feel proud to be part of it. Giant Tiger is a leader in community involvement and support. What makes Giant Tiger different from other retailers is that we are given all the tools, and the freedom to use these tools, to become as successful as we want to be.
Mireille
I first started with Tigre Géant in Beloeil as an associate in the men's department 4 years ago. After only 2 weeks, I was transferred to the women's department. After showing initiative and making changes to the department, proposing ideas to improve sales and also taking on new challenges, I was promoted to the fashions manager. What I enjoy the most about my role is the diversity, the newness, supervising and training team members, and being creative. At Tigre Géant, there is always something new and exciting. Every aspect of Tigre Géant is in constant evolution. This is not a boring job but rather a stimulating environment. We are always searching for new ideas and ways to improve the sales.
John
Eleven years ago, I started working at the Distribution Centre through a placement agency. After 3 months, I felt that it was an excellent company to build a good career with. I felt the company could provide me with job security and future opportunities. The management was very strong and did a lot of good things to develop their employees.
I started out in the receiving department and after learning the department, I was quite interested in other areas of the warehouse. After been trained for all the positions in the warehouse, I became a Team Leader. I really enjoyed this as I learned a great deal about leading and supervising people. A year later, I applied for and received the Nightshift Supervisor role. I was responsible for building my own staff, motivating and developing people to be key members of the team, which was very exciting. After 2 years, I was promoted to Weekend Manager for our Walkley and Bantree facilities with a bigger staff base. Six months later I became the Operations Manager of the Bantree facility where we handle our direct import purchases. A year later I was selected to staff and operate our brand new Brockville Freezer facility which I am currently the Operations Manager.
What I like about working here is the culture of all the people and the opportunities that exist for anyone who works hard and wants to succeed. I think what makes us different from other work places is the fact that we put a lot of time in the development of our employees. It is a great team atmosphere!
Elaine
I joined Tigre Géant in Sainte-Thérèse as the fashion supervisor 3 years ago. What I enjoy the most is to watch us achieve great results from the right buying decision or simply a great idea. Tigre Géant allows you to try, even if that means making a mistake and then succeed.
Scott
Eleven years ago, I started working night shifts in the distribution centre picking and preparing store orders in order to supplement my income while I pursued an art career. At that time we used a hand jigger with a skid on it and piled the boxes on it as we moved through the warehouse. When the stack reached 7 feet high or too heavy to pull, we put it in the shipping lane. I've never been in a better shape than I was in those years!
After getting married and having children, becoming an artist didn't make much financial sense and there were interesting possibilities with the Giant Tiger organization so I watched for job postings that had potential for me.
When the IS department needed someone to clean about 150 retired computer terminals, I was asked to do it. This task is what started me into the world of building and repairing PCs and it eventually lead to another job in the IS department doing computer support for the stores and Home Office users. It was a great job as I got to know everybody in the Home Office and what their role was within the company. At that time, I had also been learning to build websites and I saw the advantages of communicating this way with the stores. My IS job then evolved into developing helpful information for our stores and posting it on our intranet. The intranet development finally lead to other possibilities including my current position of Store Merchandise Planning.
What makes Giant Tiger different from any other retailers is how friendly the staff is in every aspect of the company. Whether it is in the stores, distribution centre, Home Office or senior management, everybody is down to earth and anxious to do a great job. It is a real team environment! There are a lot of talented, bright people I deal with daily and it is a pleasure to watch their ideas help evolve the company.
Sally
After a maternity leave, I decided it was time to go back to work. Given I had several years of experience in buying, I decided to apply for a position on Giant Tiger's buying team. I started as a merchandise associate and after a few years I was promoted to a buying position in the home fashions category. What I enjoy the most of this position is that it is a fast paced job. It is exciting! Everyday has a new experience. I have the opportunity to travel and my most exciting and favorite destination is China. Each journey is an amazing experience!
Giant Tiger is a family business and the people make you feel like you are part of the family. The team is amazing. Teamwork! We are working together to achieve one goal: to give our customers the best price and best quality. While achieving our goals, we are also having fun. Mr. Reid (founder of Giant Tiger) makes everyone feel that we are all on the same level and we all have the same goals. How many Company Chairman go around the office to speak with employees on a regular basis? Not many.
Tom
I was working for another company when Giant Tiger purchased the facility I was working in. They needed maintenance personnel and I had experience in that building so it was a good fit for both of us. I started as a Building Maintenance Associate. After only two years of service, I applied for a position in the IS department as a Computer Hardware Technician. I had little experience working with computer hardware at the time but the hiring manager was confident that I could perform the tasks. I picked up on it pretty quickly and, after a few more years, I progressed into a support role as a 1st Line Network Support Technician for our stores. I stayed in that position for a few years and, when our department restructured, I was promoted to Desktop Support Supervisor. Today, with eleven years of service at Giant Tiger, I am the IS Purchasing and Hardware Support Manager.
What puts Giant Tiger ahead of its competition is the team atmosphere. Team members are focused on doing whatever it takes to make the business successful.
Nick
I first started with Giant Tiger as a morning crew associate in a store where I was responsible for restocking shelves. After a year, I became a dairy/deli associate and soon after, I was the morning crew chief. I was then given the opportunity to become the Grocery Manager. What I enjoy the most of working at a Giant Tiger store is being able to help the company grow.
Mohamad
For my first 3 months at Giant Tiger, I was a morning crew associate restocking shelves in a store. Then I became a floor associate in the grocery department. A year later I was promoted to the morning crew chief. What I enjoy the most about my career with the store is learning new things every day. What I like the most about this company is that if you work hard, you have the opportunity to move up to different and interesting positions.
Andreas
Two years ago, I had heard of career opportunities at the Distribution Centre and decided to take advantage of it as well as the benefits included. My first position was an order picker. Hard work and focused goals, not to mention the nature of the workplace, the flexibility and incentives available, helped me get to where I am now, the weekend supervisor.
There is nothing more pleasing to me than knowing that I'm going to work and meet an array of people. The diversity is stunning and the sense of fellowship is strong. Feels like home from home.
There are numerous reasons why I would choose this company over other employers; however the one thing that stands out the most is the way employees are treated. This company recognizes that each individual is different and thus has an outstanding flexibility with individual situations.
Julie
I first joined the Distribution Centre through a temporary assignment in the merchandise return department 5 years ago. When the assignment was complete, I asked my supervisor to give me a chance in the merchandise picking department. I started part time and a few months later, I became a full time employee. After a year I moved up to a forklift operator. A year later I progressed to a lead hand position which in turn led me to a supervisory role.
The aspect that I enjoy the most is seeing my associates reach their goals. What is great about working here is the atmosphere and the fact that the upper management takes the time to get to know everyone. This company takes care of its employees.
Stephane
My career with Giant Tiger started 18 years ago, as an assistant manager. I was looking for a stable job. I was able to gain experience by working in different markets and finally, I became a Store Owner. What I enjoy the most of my current position is managing by own business. Partnership between the Home Office and the stores is what makes Giant Tiger different from other retailers.
Luc
I started at Giant Tiger in 1994 as a part time associate because I was attending college. In 2000, I became supervisor of 3 departments and only after one year, I became the assistant store manager. After a few years of hard work, I became a store manager. As the store manager, I have the opportunity to accomplish all sorts of tasks on a day to day basis. Everyday is a new challenge and an adventure. I have the opportunity to work on the floor with my team, get their input and their ideas on how to solve different solutions. I have the authority to make changes to displays to promote a product. I enjoy being able to make every display unique and noticeable. The results in the end come from a team's effort which is what I enjoy most of all.
Francine
I have been with Tigre Géant in Sainte-Thérèse for 3 years as the Grocery Manager. During this time, I have gained more knowledge, learned new strategies on merchandising and enjoyed the constant challenges in sales opportunities. What makes us different from other retailers is that store owners have confidence in our abilities. They give us the opportunity to make buying decisions.