News

A collective of Canada’s suppliers of home and gift merchandise plan to open permanent showrooms called SHOW T.O. at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, this July. The showrooms will soon be home to eight agencies and distributors that are opening permanent showrooms, and will offer more than 40,000 square feet of space dedicated to servicing Canadian retailers, design professionals and media.

SHOW T.O will include the following companies:

Abbott

“We’re excited to be part of a destination for buyers across the country – where they can visit year-round to connect with leading vendors, all in one convenient location,” Jody Abbott shared. For more information on Abbott, visit www.abbottcollection.com.

Auralim

“Auralim wants to give retailers access to new products every day of the year, and that requires a permanent showroom. We are going to be there when our reps and customers need us, on their own timetable – exciting times ahead for the gift industry,” Tom Taylor, Auralim, stated. For more information on Auralim, visit www.auralim.com.

Canadian Gift Concept

Canadian Gift Concept specializes in elevating products to a new level, and maximizes sales through packaging design, branding, concept display and taking advantage of various market venues. For more information on Canadian Gift Concept, visit www.cgconline.ca.

David Youngson & Associates

Breaking away from the constrictions and limitations of biannual gift shows, pop-up showrooms and roadshows, David Youngson explained, “Having a permanent showroom allows us to be more creative with merchandising and displays. It also allows us to showcase new brands and product releases added to our roster throughout the year.”

Edenborough

Edenborough, founded in 1983, partners with U.S. based lines to offer Canadian retail clients an array of products. For more information on Edenborough, visit www.edenborough.com.

Group One Associates

Group One Associates is a national sales agency that represents over 20 international and national vendors in the Canadian retail market. For more information, visit www.grouponeassociates.com.

North American Country Home

North American Country Home is a wholesaler of décor accessories, specializing in the rustic home and garden categories. It imports both new and vintage products from around the world under its own brand, NACH. For more information, visit www.northamericancountryhome.com.

Torre & Tagus

Torre & Tagus is a wholesale company that specializes in global contemporary home décor and accessories. It distributes to more than 6,000 North American and other international retailers. For more information, visit www.torretagus.com.

Showroom Details

Hospitality

Each company is working with its own design firm to showcase its well-established brands. Additionally there are hospitality areas for customers to have space to recharge.

Independent Retailers

Independent retailers will appreciate the flexibility of shopping on days that best suit their busy schedule, with a much more relaxed and personalized approach. For retail buyers, this news represents a long-overdue pivot recognizing today’s buyers’ habits. No longer are retailers limited to two hurried buying trips per year.

Media Influencers

For media and influencers, SHOW T.O. will be a destination for discovering new lines – from across Canada and around the world, spotting fresh trends and borrowing samples for featuring on various platforms, including print and television.

A soft opening of SHOW T.O. is scheduled for July, with an official opening celebration to follow.