Tourism Winnipeg

A commitment to community Princess Auto Winnipeg has a strong sense of community. So, it is no surprise that family-owned-and-operated businesses thrive in this city. They understand customer loyalty and have a commitment to serving the needs of Winnipeggers. Princess Auto, now in its third generation as a family business, is one such company. With its home office, national call centre and a distribution centre in Winnipeg, the Tallman family-owned company has grown with, and in, the communities it serves. "It's about commitment," said Heather Turnbull-Smith, Princess Auto's Vice-President, Learning & Corporate Communications. "If you make a commitment to a city, the city makes the commitment back to you." Turnbull-Smith noted, "Not everybody (in Canada) knows Princess Auto, but we're certainly more well known in Winnipeg. It all goes back to the community connection, and the family connection to the team members here." Though, the company might soon be better known across the country thanks to Princess Auto's ranking on the Forbes list of Canada's Best Employers, taking first spot in the retail category and 43rd overall. Princess Auto's reputation is that of quality service to customers both in its retail locations throughout Canada and its growing online store. This includes the company's Royal Service Promise: "No sale is final until you're satisfied." The handshake has long been a part of doing business and for Princess Auto it is an important gesture, whether literal or figurative, for the day-to-day operations of the company. "If you go into any of our stores you'll see a sign on the wall," said Turnbull-Smith. "It's called our Handshake. In the Handshake, it talks about our relationship with our customers and it talks about building a long-lasting relationship. I would say the same goes for our team members." Turnbull-Smith noted the numerous community and charitable initiatives Princess Auto undertook during the 2021 holiday season. "Just in the month of December, it was crazy how many things we were doing to get involved in the community," said Turnbull- Smith, outlining how staff holiday parties across the country and generosity of its 3,000-plus employee workforce turned those events into gift-giving campaigns for the less fortunate. "It's not only supported by the family, it's encouraged." When it comes to investing in community, Princess Auto, and the Tallman family, have been doing something right… since 1933. Courtesy of Princess Auto Courtesy of Princess Auto Y E S ! W I N N I P E G I N V E S T O R S THE WINNIPEG INVESTOR 44 YES! WINNIPEG INVESTORS | PRINCESS AUTO

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