My Canadian Tire 'Money' program combines the ease and convenience of digital with the benefits customers know and love

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - As a pioneer of loyalty programs in Canada, Canadian Tire and its iconic Canadian Tire 'Money'® have long been synonymous with customer rewards and value. Today, Canadian Tire announced the evolution of its much beloved loyalty platform, introducing My Canadian Tire 'Money'™, an easier way to collect and redeem Canadian Tire 'Money'.  The program will launch in Nova Scotia on October 10 and to customers nationally on October 28, 2014.  The digital rewards program will complement paper Canadian Tire 'Money', which will remain in circulation.

My Canadian Tire 'Money' combines the best attributes of Canadian Tire's paper 'Money' with the benefits of a digital rewards program, making it easier and faster for customers to collect, and redeem. Members can collect e-Canadian Tire 'Money' on qualifying purchases at Canadian Tire stores, at canadiantire.ca and at participating Canadian Tire gas bar locations.  e-Canadian Tire 'Money' can also be redeemed for merchandise and gift cards or donated to Canadian Tire's Jumpstart charity.  Customers can also collect and redeem e-Canadian Tire 'Money' on automotive services, a benefit to the updated program.

"As Canada's oldest loyalty program, we know Canadian Tire 'Money' holds an extraordinary place in the hearts of Canadians," said Allan MacDonald, Chief Operating Officer, Canadian Tire.  "We're building on it by introducing another way to reward loyal customers who prefer the ease and convenience of digital currency and rewards, further improving the Canadian Tire shopping experience and ultimately helping our customers tackle the jobs and joys of everyday life in Canada."   

A true evolution to the program Canadians have known and loved for 56 years, new benefits include the ability to collect 10 times the amount of e-Canadian Tire 'Money' when using a Canadian Tire Options MasterCard to pay for qualifying purchases at Canadian Tire stores, Mark's, Sport Chek, PartSource, L'Equipeur and on Canadian Tire Home Services.  Additionally, My Canadian Tire 'Money' Members receive exclusive bonus offers sent directly to their online account and smartphone.

As part of the program, Members can collect e-Canadian Tire 'Money' when making payment by cash, debit and credit cards, providing enhanced value and convenience.  Importantly, e-Canadian Tire 'Money' has no expiry date and can be shared with other members by request.

To fully take advantage of the program's benefits and features, customers are being encouraged to download Canadian Tire's enhanced Mobile App.  The updated version, available for download at launch, allows users to collect, redeem and manage their e-Canadian Tire 'Money', view bonus offers, review  transactions,  and return products in-store without presenting a receipt.

"Meeting customer needs has always been at the heart of our innovation strategy, ensuring that everything we do has a positive end benefit for the consumer," said MacDonald. "My Canadian Tire 'Money' will serve as a great complement to our existing data programs, allowing us over time to increase the relevancy of our messages, provide a more personalized and tailor made approach and ultimately better serve our customers."  

To join the program, customers can register through the Canadian Tire Mobile App, at canadiantire.ca with a card available in-store, or by applying for the Options MasterCard. Existing Canadian Tire Options MasterCard cardholders and participants in the Canadian Tire 'Money' Advantage loyalty program in Nova Scotia will automatically have their loyalty program changed to My Canadian Tire 'Money'. 

Fast Facts: 

• Canadian Tire 'Money' was introduced in 1958, pioneering the loyalty program concept in Canada.
• The Sandy McTire character was designed by employee Bernie Freeman and is still pictured today.
• Over $1 billion Canadian Tire 'Money' notes have been in circulation.
• Paper Canadian Tire 'Money' is available in denominations of 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 and $2.
• Through its loyalty programs, Canadian Tire awards more than $100 million dollars to customers every year.
• Many communities collect and donate Canadian Tire 'Money' to support local fundraising efforts.
• Introduced in 1995, there are now 2.4 million Canadian Tire Options MasterCard cardholders in Canada.

About Canadian Tire Corporation

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX:CTC.A) (TSX:CTC) or "CTC," is a family of businesses that includes a retail segment, a financial services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal categories. PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear, and FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Pro Hockey Life and Atmosphere), which offers the best active wear brands. The nearly 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across the Company. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

† Canadian Tire Options MasterCard cardmembers paying with their Options MasterCard collect e-Canadian Tire 'Money' at a rate that is 10X the rate at which other members of the My Canadian Tire 'Money' Program collect e-Canadian Tire 'Money' on purchases made by such other members at Canadian Tire stores (if those other members paid by cash, debit or a credit card not linked to this loyalty program). The offered rate is exclusive of any bonus or promotional offers or redemption transactions.

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

Image with caption: "Carol Deacon, SVP of Loyalty and Digital at Canadian Tire, left, and Allan MacDonald, COO of Canadian Tire, unveil the next evolution of Canadian Tire's loyalty program, My Canadian Tire 'Money', during a news conference in a bank vault in Toronto, September 9, 2014. My Canadian Tire 'Money' is a game changer. Whether customers are loyal or occasional visitors, the new program will undoubtedly drive sales, store traffic and repeat visits. ‎#MyCTMoney THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/J.P. Moczulski (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140909_C3010_PHOTO_EN_5450.jpg