After exhibiting at CanGift in Toronto in January and returning from previous Craft East shows in Halifax, we're heading back to the Halifax Exhibition Centre for something new—the first combined CanGift Atlantic & Craft East Buyers' Expo, March 8-10, 2026.
This marks a significant shift in the Atlantic wholesale landscape. CanGift, organized by the Canadian Gift Association, and Craft East, run by the Craft Alliance Atlantic, have joined forces to create a unified buying event for retailers across the Maritimes and beyond. For exhibitors like us who have attended both shows separately, this consolidation brings together two distinct audiences—gift retailers and craft buyers—under one roof.
Event Details
Event: CanGift Atlantic & Craft East Buyers' Expo
Dates: March 8-10, 2026
Location: Halifax Exhibition Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Booth: TBA - check back for booth number
Registration: cangift.org/atlantic-gift-home-market
What Makes This Show Unique
The merger of CanGift Atlantic and Craft East creates a buying event that serves both traditional gift retailers and craft-focused shops. You'll find everything from established gift lines to emerging artisan makers, all vetted for quality and originality. For buyers, it's efficient—one trip, one venue, access to hundreds of vendors representing both streams.
We've exhibited at CanGift Toronto and at Craft East in Halifax for the past two years, and each show has its own character. CanGift draws gift shop owners, museum stores, and specialty retailers looking for proven product lines. Craft East attracts buyers seeking handmade, artisan-focused work with strong maker stories. This combined show brings both audiences together, which means more diverse conversations and connections for exhibitors and buyers alike.
Our Complete Collection
Downtown Sketcher is all about capturing the character of your favourite city corners through hand-drawn sketches that become functional art for everyday life. At the combined Atlantic show, retailers will be able to explore a curated mix of bestsellers and new releases, including:
Art prints: Landmark, streetscape and neighbourhood illustrations ready for framing, ideal for gift shops, galleries and museum stores.
Greeting cards: Versatile designs for year-round sales, featuring Canadian city scenes, coastal views and architectural details.
Tote bags: “Walkable art” that turns local streets and skylines into stylish, practical accessories.
Coasters and magnets: Small but impactful souvenirs that bring favourite corners to kitchen tables, office desks and hotel gift shops.
Luxury mini puzzles: Compact, giftable puzzles packaged in sleek tins, perfect for museum shops, bookstores and lifestyle boutiques looking for something fresh and collectible.
Each product line is designed to work together visually, making it easy to build cohesive in-store stories or destination-themed displays.
Customize to Your Location
One of our most successful wholesale offerings is our "Customize to Your Location" option. Retailers can work with us to commission sketches of landmarks specific to their region—whether that's a historic building in their downtown, a beloved lighthouse, a local garden, or a waterfront scene that defines their community.
This customization option has resonated particularly well with museum stores, visitor centres, and independent gift shops who want exclusive products that can't be found anywhere else. We handle the sketching, production, and fulfillment, creating a product line that's uniquely yours. It's proven to be a strong differentiator for retailers who want to offer authentic local art rather than generic souvenirs.
We'll have examples and details available at our booth to discuss how this works, minimum orders, timelines, and the range of products we can customize (prints, cards, magnets, totes, puzzles).
For Retailers
All products are retail-ready with protective packaging designed for shelf display. Greeting cards come individually packaged in cellophane bags with kraft envelopes, prints arrive in eco-friendly sleeves with backing boards, and magnets are mounted on sturdy backing cards.
We work with retailers across Canada, with strong performance in both tourist markets and local gift shops. You can register for wholesale ordering to access our complete range, featuring regional focuses from Halifax to Vancouver that resonate with different markets.
Why This Show Matters
For us, it's a chance to reconnect with retailers we've worked with through both CanGift and Craft East channels, and to meet new buyers who are discovering what a combined show can offer. We're looking forward to conversations about what's working in your stores, which regions and themes resonate with your customers, and how we can support your business with both our existing collection and custom work.
Stop by our booth in March to see the collection, discuss wholesale terms and customization options, and connect about what makes sense for your store.
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