Two Trade Shows, Six Women & A Whole Lot of Glee
A few weeks ago, we made our way to Toronto for two trade shows simultaneously: Toronto Gift and Home Market, and MODE, both kicking off on August 9th.
Taking on one trade show is a lot. Taking on two coinciding trade shows? That takes a village.
Marika, Ellie, Hailey and myself all flew in from Victoria, and we were joined by Lorna from Kingston, ON and Lyne from Montreal, QC.
I love having so many of the team members with me at these shows. I've found it's so valuable for them to meet the retailers they may only ever email or see on Instagram. It brings in the human element, and suddenly a name in an inbox becomes a real person with a real store.
It Starts Months Before the Show
What you see when you walk into our booth is really just the very end of a long process. Packing and shipping start months in advance, and there is so much detailed organization that goes into putting everything together..
There is a LOT of jewelry, and wow, it’s always more than I think!
And I take a lot of care in that last part. When I'm arranging the jewelry, I'm thinking about everything from grouping collections and colours to materials and details. How does each new piece mix into the current collection and does it all stand out enough!?
But I'm also thinking about the retailer experience. How can I make it easy to shop?
How can I make it easy for them to see a collection come together for their store?
How can I make it feel effortless to find the pieces they're looking for and place an order?
Then Comes Setup
For Toronto Home and Gift Market, Lorna and I spent Wednesday and Thursday setting up, with Hailey joining us on Friday to capture some content.
Then it was onto MODE. Friday was all about unloading, arranging the displays and creating the structure. Saturday was the final push and putting out all the jewelry to bring it to life!
The MODE setup day was sweltering, but we pushed through. It was like a HOT yoga session!
But we did it! You walk out of the booth, walk back in, and for a second you look at it with fresh eyes, like you’ve never seen it before.
I love that moment.
Then the Opening Day is Here!
We were bouncing between both shows throughout, but the energy stayed high.
And then came my favourite part: the retailers.
After more than 15 years of doing these shows, there is nothing quite like seeing the retailers who have been with us for so long. We savour the opportunity to catch up on their news, hear updates on their stores, and help curate their order based on their customers and aesthetic. These conversations are something I really value.
Every store is different, and I love getting to know each one.
Then there are all the new faces. The joy of meeting a retailer for the first time, seeing their love and excitement for the brand.
And our new fall collection? Let's just say Instagram teasers are one thing. Seeing the reaction in-person is another.
The response was incredible.
Trade Show Groundhog Day
I call trade shows a bit of a Groundhog Day, because you do the same things every single day. You wake up. You get ready. You head down for hotel breakfast. You go to the show. And then you do it all again.
And somehow, that repetition is exactly what makes it. There's something really special about the camaraderie that comes from long days, hotel rooms, working toward the same goal, supporting one another and, of course, laughing our way through it all. Everyone is there wholeheartedly supporting the business, and I never take that for granted.
A Little Pursuit of Glee
We couldn't go to two trade shows without bringing a little extra fun with us. We brought back our Pursuit of Glee, hiding pieces of jewelry around the shows for retailers to find.
It turned into a little treasure hunt, and one of our winners was SO excited when she found our jewelry. Those are the moments that make me smile, because yes, we are there to work, but we also want people to have fun with Glee.
A Little Bit of Toronto
As long as the days were, we made sure to have some off-the-clock fun. We celebrated each day with beautiful meals at some of our favourite spots, including Scaddabush, Chop, and Parallel Brothers. We even squeezed in Marika's birthday celebration with a Blue Jays game against the Red Sox, hot dogs included of course!
There is something about sitting down for a meal after a long trade show day, reflecting on the wins and what pieces people are loving the most. There are always funny stories and laughs, and it all makes me feel deeply grateful to have such a fabulous team.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Trade shows are about so much more than selling jewelry.
They're about connection. And I've always believed in connection over anything. People don't just want to buy what you're selling. They want to know the people behind the brand, hear the story, feel the passion and build a relationship.
So, thank you. Thank you to every retailer who stopped by Toronto Home and Gift Market or MODE. Thank you to the retailers who have been with us for years and continue to believe in Glee.
Thank you to all the new retailers who welcomed us into their stores this year.
Thank you to my amazing team at the show for travelling, lifting, unpacking, organizing, merchandising, laughing, sweating, running between shows and giving this business your whole hearts.
And also cannot forget to thank the team that kept orders going out the door and business running and flowing back in Victoria.
It really does take a village. And I couldn't ask for a better one.
Until January, Toronto!