About Us

Welcome to our unique world. Home of an outstanding shopping experience, every time!

Princess Auto is a proudly Canadian retailer that provides hard-working people a blend of quality products in 5 categories. In Workshop, you'll find the garage and shop equipment you need, whether you're a backyard mechanic or a trained professional, while Driveline features electric motors, gas engines and hydraulics — with every component in between — to deliver power where you need it. Our Trailer category contains everything to repair and upgrade your trailer, or even build it from scratch and All Seasons has those items you need at special times of the year, like tarps, fans, pumps, generators and log splitters. Last, but not least, is Surplus, one of our unique cornerstones featuring a constantly changing variety of discontinued items, overstocks, and factory-reconditioned items, from hardware to electronics and more.

Princess Auto is also proud to be the exclusive provider of Powerfist and Pro.Point brand name products.

Today, there are 34 stores coast-to-coast ready to serve you, with more to come.

So what are you waiting for? Be our Guest, and enjoy an outstanding shopping experience, whether you shop in-store, online, or by phone!

Our History

Princess Auto Wrecking (PAW) began life in 1933. The original owner sold the company to Harvey Tallman in 1942, for the money he received when he sold his truck.

Harvey began by selling auto parts to customers who came into his small outlet on Princess Street. By the 1950's PAW was buying parts in the United States, and buying cars all over Western Canada, and Harvey had begun to travel in search of new products that farmers across Canada needed. Most of the products were War Surplus, and it was with those items the first Princess Auto Catalogue was created.

Eventually, the Princess Street location would become too small and the company relocated to a much larger location on the corner of Fort and York, and created a small manufacturing division. In time, Shur Lift Industries would become a major supplier to PAW, which would change its name several times, first to Princess Auto and Machinery, and later to simply Princess Auto.

From Fort and York the company eventually relocated to Panet Road where our Home Office continues to operate to this day.

In 1977, Princess Auto became a retailer, opening its first store in Edmonton, Alberta. Less than a year later, Harvey Tallman decided to retire, leaving the company to his two sons, Larry and Bob.

The retail part of the company grew quickly after that with stores opening across Western Canada, when Larry announced his retirement and sale of his portion of the company to Bob in the spring of 1989.

The retail expansion continued through the years, with the company reaching $50 million in sales by 1995, over $100 million by 2000 and closing in on $400 million as we near 2012.

The company's retail stores have been built by a dedicated group of Leaders and Team Members who are committed to several key things: a Unique selection of products, High Level of Customer Service (Royal Service), and great Pricing remain the driving forces behind Princess Auto.

Another major initiative begun by Larry and Bob Tallman was the creation of Sharing Financial Information and Profit Sharing. It has long been a commitment of this company to ensure that the company operates in an inclusive manner with its team members. To the end of 2011, Profit Sharing has reached over $90 million in total.