JUNE 30, 2023 - From coast to coast, Atlantic to Pacific, hard working Canadians are passionatley dedicated to the service of brand building. According to IBIS World, the promotional products industry in Canada generates $2-billion in transactions, shared between more than 5,700 companies, and employs nearly 9,000 talented creators - and we at marketingedge don't think that includes the thousands more on the supplier (manufacturer) side.
This Canada Day weekend, we raise our branded camping mugs high to salute great Canadians making a positive impact with creative innovations, new technologies, sustainable materials and a history of supporting brands across Canada with top quality branded merchandise, apparel, premiums and print goods.
Enjoy our marketingedge magazine salute to 12 CANADIAN COMPANIES supplying our economy with solutions to grow brands, outfit organizations and drive new business.
#12 Foamworx Canada (Clementsport, Nova Scotia)
Foamworx Canada is a supplier of advertising based imprinted foam promotional products, best recognized as Cheer Gear at events held across Canada, the United States and Europe.
Based in the town of Clementsport, a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, on the southern shore of the Annapolis Basin (Annapolis Valley). Foamworx excels in its customized printing capability on two main raw materials – polyurethane foam and EVA foam. Able to provide short and long runs with quick turnaround times of printed products tailored to customer-specific needs, they are a go-to source for engaging merchandise. Products are tested annually for CPSIA, CCPSA and Prop 65 compliance by approved 3rd party labs.
#11 Zoogee World (Dieppe, New Brunswick)
Zoogee World Inc. is supplier of custom full colour domed promotional products: guitar picks, key chains, golf ball markers, zipper pulls, wine glass charms, window name badges, shatterproof ornaments, badges, hat clips, bag tags, dog tags, necklaces, pull reels, badge reels, coins, spinners, domed decals, repositionable decals, skins, paper clips and multipurpose charms.
Based in the town of Dieppe, New Brunswick just outside of Moncton on Canada's East Coast, Zoogee has provided full photo colour custom creations for promotional marketing for over 20 years. One of their added value features is a customizable executive clamshell packaging option, to create a more retail-inspired gift presentation.
#10 Martini Vispak (Montreal, Quebec)
Martini Vispak is the evolution of two earlier Canadian companies, INSANEPRODUCTS & CRAZYCORDZ. Both Montreal-based companies were leaders in introducing new and hip ways to grow brand awareness through customizing and personalizing promotional merchandise and apparel traditional and innovative decorating technologies.
Today as a unified company with a combined 40 years of experience and success as industry leaders in dye sublimation printing, Martini-Vispak operates a manufacturing facility in Montreal, where team members are are empowered to have fun and encouraged to bring creativity to life.
Martini Vispak is an industry leader in custom apparel creations using dye sublimation decoration technology and innovation to create fashions and accessories based on digital concept designs that incorporate brand elements into a retail-inspired style and presentation. Many products are made and printed in Canada.
#9 Spector and Co. (Saint-Laurent, Quebec)
Spector & Co. grew out of another earlier company, acquired in 1991 by Allen and Rob Spector. Father and son, the two men shared a vision to build a great promotional products company in Canada. "The Spector Way" is a corporate culture all about the team. It’s about everyone working together towards the same goal. Spector & Co. is also invested in being an industry leader in sustainable best practices.
Best recognized as a manufacturer and supplier of top quality writing tools and notebooks, Spector & Co, has evolved to offer a wide selection of promotional products and premiums fit for corporate gifting and creating impactful brand impressions.
Based in Saint Laurent, Quebec, just outside of the busy cultural hub of Montreal, the Spector & Co. team create custom branded gifts and merchandise that ship around the world to some of the most recognized brands. Spector's brand family also includes Ashbury Bags, Ora drinkware, Scribl notebooks, Droppr customizable drop ship boxes.
#8 Faro/Souvenirs Avanti, (Pointe-Claire, Quebec)
Faro Canada or Souvenirs Avanti was founded in 1986 by Tony Ronci Sr., and from its humble beginning as a family operation in a small factory in Lachine (Quebec), this former costume jewelry supplier evolved into a leading manufacturer in the Promotional Products and Souvenir industries, specializing in custom metal creations such as key rings, belt buckles, lapel pins, bottle openers, and 3D-models.
About 85% of Faro products are produced domestically in Canada, keeping hundreds of emplyoees busy in their factory located in Pointe-Claire, Quebec just outside of Montreal.
Faro is also a leading innovator of decoration techniques. exciting customers with a new Realism print technique that introduced full photo colour decoration on custom metal creations that can be used to replicate textures and scenes to better showcase brand elements representing organizations, tourism attractions and entertainers.
#7 Attraction Inc. (Lac-Drolet,Quebec)
Attraction Inc. started as a small sports shop, founded in 1980. In full growth today, Attraction is recognized as a Canadian leader in casual apparel manufacturing and decorating. From their headquarters in Lac-Drolet, Quebec along the province's eastern border, Attraction supplies Ethica-brand apparel - a collection designed, made and decorated locally in Lac-Drolet by unionized teams, using fabrics made from organic cotton and recycled polyester (rPET).
Attraction Inc. is committed to supporting a global ethical commitment. They are dedicated to supporting social development, the environment and investing in the happiness of their team and customers. Recognition and commitment are deeply rooted in the DNA of Attraction Inc.
#6 DML Creation (Saint-Jérôme,Quebec)
DML Creation is a promotional products provider based in St-Jerome, Quebec. Since 2011, DML works to help customers recognize the little things that improve a brand experience. A creative team that relishes opportunity to help customers create ideal solutions to wow their audience, DML is a provider of Cap America brand headwear, and offers a mix of offshore sourcing solutions for custom creations including soft pvc, metal, golf tools and USB flash drives.
#5 Canada Sportswear (Toronto, Ontario)
Canada Sportswear is a Canadian, family-owned and operated apparel manufacturer based in Toronto, Ontario. Operations began in 1954, when Canada Sportswear specialized in outerwear for the retail market across Canada. Today, the ability to offer both imported and locally made clothing has enabled Canada Sportswear to better serve the unique and changing needs of customers across a wide mix of industries. They are providers of safety apparel, performance styles, athleisure wear, golf shirts, team and business uniforms, and custom merchandise for retail outlets.
Canada Sportswear promotes deep inventory levels for popular in-stock styles, including ring-spun combed cotton t-shirts, pique mesh snag-resistant performance golf polos, and cotton blend fleece pull over hoodies.
#4 LogoWorks Inc. (London, Ontario)
LogoWorks Inc. may be best recognized for introducing The Grill Paddle to the promotional products industry, winning the 2018 marketingedge magazine Top Product award. From their headquarters in London, Ontario, LogoWorks provides many made in Canada productst to the promotional products industry, specializing in live edge wood creations, metal work and jewellery.
LogoWorks is a top provider of Canadian made corporate gifts, combining modern styles with rustic materials to create warm home and lifestyle products. This featured example - a Winer Tower - is Artisan crafted from solid sustainable Canadian Ambrosia Maple.
#3 Jay-Line, (St. Catharines, Ontario)
Jay-Line promotional products, or J&J Manufacturing, is based in the Niagara region of Ontario, outside of Port Weller in St. Catharines. A provider of everday essentials, Jay-Line has become a specialist in custom print materials, such as signs, stickers, booklets, packaging and seed paper, in addition to their popular candy line, eco products and event marketing solutions. They have a mix of made in Canada product options.
Jay-Line is always innovating, introducing new products and decorations. Stone Paper notebooks are a recent addition to their catalogue, offering a better performing note paper with an interesting eco-story.
#2 Botanical Paperworks, (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Botanical PaperWorks is certified as a Women Business Enterprise by the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada), Canada’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the centre of Canada, Botanical PaperWorks is a a world-leading supplier and manufacturer of eco-friendly seed paper products that grow into wildflowers, herbs or vegetables.
Exapnding their portfolio of eco-friendly, made in Canada product creations, Botanical Paperworks recently introduced handmade soaps made with natural, vegan ingredients. Made in small batches with essential oils, the unique promotional products have been embraced as a wellness and self-care gift, as well as thoughtful item for travel and tourism.
#1 Stormtech (Burnaby, British Columbia)
Stormtech Performance traces its roots back to 1977 and the rugged west coast rainforests of British Columbia. Over decades Stormtech has evolved into a premium provider of performance apparel and accessories, producing functional, fashionable clothing with minimalist styling, from the ground up. Stormtech is constantly developing new technologies to improve the comfort, durability, and function of their products, with focus on product quality and responsible sourcing and social responsibility. From their headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, and eastern offices in Thornhill, Ontario, Stormtech serves large international brands and local businesses and organizations.
Stormtech is a specialist in blending comfort and performance, offering good-better-best options across their many catgegories of uniform and outfitting options. Their recent Premium Basics collections offers top quality solutions for entry-level budgets.
This Canada Day weekend we salute all the hard working Canadians, suppliers, agents and distributors, propelling the promotional products industry forward and driving the growth of brands and businesses across the country. You're all Grade 'Eh! mem
