The holiday season is a time to give thanks and celebrate. At Interac, we create an annual holiday catalogue where each employee gets to pick a gift as a thank you for their contribution to a successful year.
This year, the holiday catalogue was thoughtfully compiled to ensure we could give thanks to our employees who worked tirelessly to keep our products and services working efficiently and securely for Canadians, while also supporting small businesses that were hit hard by the impacts of COVID-19. Through our holiday catalogue, we supported nine small businesses that offer products ranging from food and beverage, locally sourced travel bags and clothing to technology, self-care and jewelry.
Read on to learn more about each business we supported!
LOVEFRESH
Founded by Stacy Davis, LOVEFRESH is a Toronto-based luxury line of natural beauty products. The company was created out of Davis’ Toronto home where she was conducting a ‘kitchen experiment’. The company quickly evolved into a complete line of natural, non-toxic, and cruelty-free beauty products. Click here to learn more about LOVEFRESH.
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
There’s a good chance you’ve passed Dark Horse, one of Toronto’s original indie espresso bars, on your morning commute to work. Dark Horse was founded 14 years ago out of a desire for people to feel a sense of belonging. They’re best known for their variety of espresso and whole bean coffee options, but also sell craft beers, cocktails, and wine. Click here to learn more about Dark Horse.
West Avenue Cider
If you’re a fan of hard ciders, you may already know about West Avenue. Located in Freelton, Ontario, they’re an award-winning small-batch cider distillery that uses the best ingredients and a slow fermentation process when creating every beverage. Click here to learn more about West Avenue Cider.
Drake General Store
Established in 2008 as the official gift shop of The Drake Hotel, Drake General Store is a traditional hotel gift shop, a classic general store, a flea market stand, and a museum shop all rolled into one. Click here to learn more about Drake General Store.
PKG Carry Goods
PKG Carry Goods is a family-run business, founded in 2009 by brothers Andy and Mike Priestman. Their head office is located in Stouffville Ontario and their products are designed with a work/life balance in mind. Using lightweight, durable, weather-resistant materials and functional feature sets unique to each original bag design, PKG offers a range of carrying solutions for any day of the week. Click here to learn more about PKG Carry Goods.
Wolfe Co.
Wolfe Co. is a 100% Canadian brand that sells apparel with a purpose. The idea began in 2016 out of a struggle to find clothes made in Canada and since then, they’ve become that solution.. Click here if you’re interested in grabbing one yourself!
Jenny Bird
Designer Jenny Bird grew up immersed in the scenic, artistic town of Elora, Ontario, and was consistently inspired by her natural surroundings. Since founding her eponymous line in 2008, the brand has experienced explosive growth thanks to her bold, modern designs; her pieces are carried in leading fashion retailers worldwide and are a favourite among celebrity stylists. Click here to learn more about Jenny Bird and her gorgeous jewelry.
Bay-Bloor Radio
Bay Bloor Radio started out as a little radio sales and service shop in 1946. From the beginning, Sol Mandlsohn put his customers first – and his dedication to great service, along with his commitment to honesty and integrity, helped his little radio store grow, and grow. In the 1950s, Sol opened Canada’s first hi-fi studio and hired the city’s best technicians, and his wife Peppie sold vinyl records. Click here to learn more about Bay Bloor Radio and yes, they still sell radios.
Pretty Clean Shop
Are you looking to become more eco-conscious in 2021? Pretty Clean Shop is a proudly local and female-owned business that carries a large selection of plastic-free, reusable and refillable products for the body, skin, hair, and home. Made with safe ingredients free from cruelty and toxins, all our products are gentle on both you and on the environment. Click here to learn more about Pretty Clean Shop.
Interested in learning more about life at Interac? Click here.
