Sending swag to Canada sounds simple enough. It’s right next to the US, the carriers are the same, and for a lot of teams, Toronto or Vancouver is one of the first places they need to ship outside the country. But the moment a box crosses that border, it becomes an import.
Say you’re sending a welcome kit to a new hire in Canada. The box leaves your US warehouse, makes it through customs, and gets all the way to their door. Then the courier asks your new hire to pay the duties, sales tax, and brokerage fee before they can have it. That’s the part teams usually don’t expect. Because while Canada is close geographically, you still need to think about customs paperwork, duties, taxes, and where the swag is actually shipping from. And if you send them often, those details start to matter just as much as the item itself.
Now, if you want to avoid the hassle of sending swag yourself, you might search for custom swag Canada and find local promo shops mixed in with full swag platforms. Some are great for one bulk order. Others can store inventory, run swag stores, handle recurring sends, and support your Canadian team alongside employees in other countries. So, to make your search simpler, we narrowed the list down to five platforms that are best for sending swag to Canada: PerkUp, SwagDrop, Ethical Swag, Fairware, and Merchloop.
For each swag platform, we’ll look at where Canadian orders come from, what the minimums look like, which features actually matter for Canada, and where the platform may not be the best fit.
You can also read our guide to shipping swag to Canada, where we cover everything you need to know about sending swag there.
Why is sending swag to Canada more complicated in 2026?
Sending swag to Canada gets harder once you cross the border because every commercial box becomes an import. So even if you’re only sending something from Seattle to Vancouver, you still need the right paperwork, someone has to cover any duties and taxes, and you need to leave more time for delivery.
Every box is an import
If you send gifts to Canada from another country, you need customs paperwork for the shipment. That usually means a commercial invoice with the HS (Harmonized System) codes, declared value, and country of origin for everything inside the box. HS codes are the product numbers customs offices around the world use to sort goods into categories and decide what duty applies.
Low-value shipments can come in duty-free, but the threshold depends on where the shipment comes from and how it enters Canada. Canada Border Services Agency’s, which runs customs at the border, (CBSA) page on low-value shipments has the current limits. For something small, you may stay under them. Once you start sending a proper onboarding kit with apparel, drinkware, and a few extras, that becomes less likely.
Sales tax depends on the province
Every province charges the 5% GST (Goods and Services Tax, Canada’s federal sales tax), while some provinces add their own sales tax or combine the two into HST (Harmonized Sales Tax, which combines GST with the provincial sales tax into one charge). That means you may pay a different amount to send the same kit in Halifax than you would in Calgary.
Someone still has to pay the brokerage fees
Once a shipment goes over the applicable limits, duties and sales tax can apply. The courier may also add a brokerage fee for clearing the parcel through customs. Sales tax depends on the province, too, so the same kit may cost more to deliver in one part of Canada than another. You can check the current rates on the CRA’s GST/HST page.
The bigger issue is who pays all of that. If your vendor doesn’t prepay the charges, your recipient gets the bill when the package arrives. For employee swag, you must avoid that completely. A new hire shouldn’t have to pull out their credit card just to receive the welcome kit your company sent them. That’s why most employee gifting programs use DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). In that case, you or your swag partner handles the duties and taxes before delivery. If you want the full breakdown, our DDP shipping guide explains who pays what.
Cross-border delivery takes longer
Typically, you can get a domestic Canadian shipment to someone in about five business days. A cross-border order may take anywhere from 5 to 15 business days, and you can wait even longer if the shipment reaches customs without the right HS codes or origin information.
What to look for in a swag management platform for Canada shipments?
A Canada-ready swag platform should give your team a way to send more orders from inside Canada, pay duties before your recipient sees the box, keep up with changing border rules, and let Canadian employees choose swag that actually works for them. As such, here are the things you should look for when choosing a swag management platform for Canada swag shipments.
Local warehousing and fulfillment in Canada: If you make or store swag in Canada, you can skip customs on those shipments and get orders to employees faster. That matters even more when you’re shipping regularly to people across places like Toronto, Vancouver, or Victoria.
Prepaid duties: Ask every vendor whether they ship DDP and what happens if customs still adds a charge. “Shipping included” doesn’t always mean the swag vendor is covering the duties, too.
An importer of record for bulk orders: When you bring a large order into Canada, customs needs a company to act as the importer of record. If your team doesn’t have a Canadian entity, ask whether the vendor can take on that role and bring the swag into a Canadian warehouse for you.
Bulk and On Demand swag: Make sure your swag vendor offers swag flexibility. This way, you can use bulk when you’re ordering larger quantities for events, kits, or anything where everyone gets the same thing. On Demand works better for smaller orders and apparel, where you don’t want to guess sizes ahead of time. If your swag vendor can handle both, you don’t need to bring in someone else just for your Canadian team. If you want to see why that matters, you can read our post on dead stock swag.
Inventory and spend reporting: If you keep swag in a Canadian warehouse, you and/or your team should be able to check what’s left without having to email someone. You should also be able to break spending down by country or team so you can see what you’re actually spending on the Canadian program.
Size and address collection: If you’re guessing apparel sizes for a team you rarely see in person, you’re eventually going to get some of them wrong. Swag stores, pop-up shops, redemption pages, and gift links let your employees choose their own size and enter their own address instead. If you’re trying to figure out apparel sizing, you can read our guide to branded apparel.
Automated milestone sends: If you connect your swag platform to the system where you keep employee records, you can automate sends for occasions like onboarding and work anniversaries. So when someone in Calgary starts or hits five years, your team doesn’t have to remember to place the order manually. You can see an example in our post on automating anniversary and birthday gifts.
Itemized quotes: Ask for a quote that breaks down the item, decoration, shipping, duties, and taxes. That way, you know what the full order will cost before you approve it.
Trade rule tracking: Trade rules between the US and Canada change often, and your team shouldn’t have to keep checking them before every order. Your swag vendor should keep track of those changes for you and let you know if they affect what you’re sending.
Digital gift cards: For a last-minute thank-you or someone in a remote area where shipping takes longer, a digital gift card can make more sense. If you’re sending to Canada, look for options that show the value in Canadian dollars. If you want examples of using both, you can read our guide to pairing swag and gift cards.
What are the best swag platforms for sending swag to Canada?
The five best swag platforms for sending swag to Canada are PerkUp, SwagDrop, Ethical Swag, Fairware, and Merchloop. PerkUp is the best overall when Canada is one of several countries you need to support, while the other four make more sense for specific use cases.
Platform | Ships to Canada from | Minimums | Best for |
PerkUp | A Canadian warehouse and local suppliers, plus warehouses in the US, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Dubai | 1 unit for On Demand swag; bulk varies by item | Best overall, especially when Canada is one of several countries you’re sending swag to |
SwagDrop | Toronto for most Canadian orders; Pittsburgh for On Demand orders | $5,000 program minimum for On Demand stores and pop-up shops | One-time pop-up shops in North America |
Ethical Swag | Its own Toronto warehouse, with a Salt Lake City warehouse for US orders | Varies by item and is listed on each one | When you’re choosing swag by sustainability rating |
Fairware | A Vancouver-based team; fulfillment locations not published | Not published | Nonprofits and universities |
Merchloop | Ships to Canada from the US; no Canadian production listed | No minimums | Small teams trying out a swag store |
PerkUp: Best overall for sending swag to Canada and beyond
PerkUp is a swag management platform for global teams. You can use it to choose swag, add your logo, store inventory, and send orders to employees without managing each step through a different vendor. Teams can use PerkUp to send swag to more than 100 countries through warehouses and suppliers in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Dubai.
For your Canadian team, PerkUp delivers swag through local distribution. If you want your swag made in Canada, PerkUp works with Canadian suppliers. If it’s made somewhere else, like the US, PerkUp bulk ships it into Canada, with PerkUp or its partners acting as the importer of record for the import, duties, and customs. Once it’s in the Canadian warehouse, your employee in Toronto gets their hoodie as a domestic delivery, usually in about five business days, while your London team gets its kit from the UK warehouse. You can manage both orders from the same account.
For the actual swag, you can choose from 2.5 million bulk swag options and 1,000 On Demand swag items. You can also order from 175+ premium brands, including Stanley, Bose, TUMI, Beats by Dr. Dre, Native Union, Ember, Apple, Patagonia, Rhone, YETI, Fitbit, Callaway, TravisMathew, Samsonite, Bellroy, Vuori, Anker, Sony, Mophie, and Osprey. And if you specifically want to order in Canada, you can use PerkUp’s Canada catalog. You’ll find local names there too, including Grosche, a Certified B Corp based in Cambridge, Ontario.
Main features
Local distribution from a Canadian warehouse: If your swag is made outside Canada, PerkUp bulk ships it into the country, and PerkUp or its partners act as the importer of record for the import, duties, and customs. Once your swag is in the Canadian warehouse, each order goes out to your team as a domestic delivery.
Canadian suppliers: If you’d rather have the swag made in Canada, PerkUp works with Canadian suppliers, so it doesn’t have to cross a border at all. According to PerkUp’s Canada page, sourcing locally can also reduce total swag and gifting costs by up to 30%.
Local catalog: PerkUp has a dedicated Canada catalog, which means that you can find swag items that are specific to your recipients in the region.
Duties handled on cross-border orders: When you do need to ship into Canada, PerkUp prepays duties wherever possible. On the rare order that doesn’t ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), PerkUp handles customs and fully reimburses the charges. If tariffs between the US and Canada change, PerkUp absorbs the fluctuation instead of passing it on to you.
Swag flexibility: You can manage different kinds of swag for your Canadian team from one PerkUp account. Use bulk swag for larger orders, On Demand swag for smaller sends or apparel sizing, and swag kits for recurring onboarding. You can also send event swag straight to venues and choose from more than 5,000 gift cards when a physical send doesn’t make sense.
Swag stores with prices in CAD: You can set up a swag store where Canadian employees only see swag available in their country and prices in Canadian dollars. You can also offer bulk and On Demand swag in the same store.
Amazon Business: Employees in the US and Canada can also redeem rewards through Amazon Business.
Integrations and milestone gifting: You can connect PerkUp with more than 200 integrations, including Rippling and BambooHR, and automate milestone gifting for new hires, birthdays, work anniversaries, and other recurring sends.
Design help and custom sourcing: You can work with PerkUp’s in-house designers on decoration methods, logo placement, and mockups. If you need something outside the catalog, PerkUp can also use its custom sourcing feature to create swag from scratch or simply match your Pantone colors.
Security and sustainability: PerkUp is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and is also a member of Pledge 1% and partners with Stripe Climate.
A dedicated Customer Success Manager: Every account gets a dedicated CSM, plus a Slack Connect channel where your team can ask questions.
Limitations
No South America coverage: PerkUp doesn’t have warehouses or suppliers in South America, so it can’t fulfill locally in countries like Brazil.
If you want to see everything else you can manage through the platform, you can read our PerkUp deep dive.
SwagDrop: Best for one-time pop-up shops in North America
SwagDrop is based in Oakville, Ontario. The company started in 1992 as Promotion Resource Group and rebranded as SwagDrop in 2022. For Canadian bulk orders and swag packs, SwagDrop ships from Toronto. For US orders, it ships from Pittsburgh.
If you only need a temporary store for one program, you can also use one of its pop-up shops. Your team picks the items first, then employees choose their own swag and sizes before production starts. SwagDrop says setup takes about one to two weeks.
Main features
Toronto fulfillment: SwagDrop ships bulk swag and swag packs for Canadian recipients from Toronto.
On Demand stores: You don’t pay a setup fee for an On Demand store, and SwagDrop adds a flat $9.95 USD shipping fee to each order anywhere in North America. Its vendor partner covers cross-border customs on Canadian deliveries.
Prices in Canadian or US dollars: You can switch the website between Canadian and US dollars.
Limitations
On Demand orders ship from Pittsburgh: Canadian employees generally wait about a week longer than US employees for On Demand orders because SwagDrop ships them from Pittsburgh.
$5,000 program minimum: You need to spend at least $5,000 for an On Demand store or pop-up shop.
No HRIS integration: You can’t connect SwagDrop’s stores directly to your HRIS, so you’ll need another process if you want to automate onboarding or anniversary sends.
Mostly North America: If you also have a large team in Europe, you’ll have fewer options since SwagDrop still lists its EU launch as coming soon.
If you’re considering it, you can read our full SwagDrop review.
Ethical Swag: Best for comparing swag by sustainability rating
Tara Milburn founded Ethical Swag in 2010, and the company is headquartered in Nova Scotia. Ethical Swag is a Certified B Corp and is certified as women-owned through Women Business Enterprises Canada (WBE Canada), which certifies companies that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by women.
If your team wants an easier way to compare the sustainability of different swag, Ethical Swag gives every item a Good, Better, or Best rating based on how it was sourced and what it’s made from. The company also keeps inventory in Toronto and Salt Lake City, so Canadian orders can ship from Canada while US orders stay in the US.
Main features
Warehousing in Canada and the US: You can request a shipment through Ethical Swag’s dashboard, and the company says its team will send it within two business days.
Swift Swag: If you’re short on time, you can choose from a smaller selection of swag that can arrive within 10 business days.
Made in Canada packs: You can order ready-made packs with Canadian-made swag, along with Made in USA packs for your US team.
Pop-up shops: You can use a temporary shop to collect each employee’s choice, size, and address before you place the order.
Spend reporting: Your team can use SwagCentral to check inventory and see how much each team or cost center has spent.
Limitations
Company stores still have minimums: You still need to meet the standard bulk minimums when employees order through a company store.
Storage fees aren’t published: You’ll need to get a statement of work from Ethical Swag before you know what warehousing will cost.
Limited international shipping: You can’t use Ethical Swag for bulk orders outside North America, and its team handles individual international sends case by case.
Fairware: Best for nonprofits and universities
Andrea Harris, Denise Taschereau, and Sarah White founded Fairware in Vancouver in 2005. Fairware became one of Canada’s founding B Corps in 2010 and is also certified as women-owned and LGBTQ+ owned.
Its client list includes universities like Columbia University and Queen’s University, nonprofits like the Rockefeller Foundation, and a smaller group of mission-driven brands. So if you work in one of those spaces, it may be worth comparing.
Main features
Patagonia co-branding: Fairware is an approved reseller of custom Patagonia swag, and its team manages Patagonia’s approval process for you.
Company stores and pop-up shops: You can use Fairware to run a store and track inventory. Its team also sends reports on stock levels and the swag employees order most.
Kits and fulfillment: Fairware can build custom kits and send them across North America and internationally.
Limitations
Little published pricing: You’ll need to ask Fairware for its minimums, storage fees, and warehouse locations.
No fossil fuel clients: If you work for a fossil fuel company, you can’t use Fairware because the company has pledged not to work with that industry.
No On Demand option listed: You’ll need to order and stock inventory for Fairware’s company stores because the company doesn’t list an On Demand production option.
Merchloop: Best for small teams trying out a swag store
Merchloop is a Las Vegas-based swag store platform that builds and hosts a branded store for your company. When an employee places an order, Merchloop makes the item On Demand and ships it straight to that person.
For Canada, you can switch the site’s prices to Canadian dollars, and Merchloop charges a flat $14.95 per package for Canadian orders. That said, Merchloop doesn’t list any production in Canada, so you should expect every order for your Canadian team to ship across the border.
Main features
No minimums: You can order a single item or a few thousand, since Merchloop makes each one after someone orders it.
Free starter plan: Merchloop’s Essential plan has no monthly fee for teams of up to 99 people, with up to 20 products in the store. You also don’t pay a setup fee or an artwork fee.
Coupon-based budgets: You can prepay coupon codes for each employee, limit codes to people with your company email address, or set codes to expire after a certain date or dollar amount.
Department pages: On the paid plans, you can add group pages so different teams see different swag.
Limitations
Cross-border shipping only: Since Merchloop doesn’t list Canadian production, Canadian orders have to clear customs, and its FAQ doesn’t say who covers duties on those orders.
Monthly fees for bigger teams: Once you go past 99 people, you’ll need the Plus plan at $199 per month, the Pro plan at $499 per month, or the Enterprise plan at $999 or more per month.
No published HRIS integrations: Merchloop doesn’t list connections to your HR software, so you’ll need another way to automate onboarding or anniversary sends.
No bulk ordering or warehousing: You can’t produce a batch ahead of time and keep it in storage for an event or a kit program, because Merchloop makes every item to order.
If you’re comparing it with other swag store platforms, you can read our roundup of Merchloop alternatives.
Which swag platform should you choose for your Canadian team?
PerkUp is the right pick for most teams because you can manage Canada alongside everywhere else you send swag. If you only need company swag in Canada and the US for one specific project, one of the other four may be enough.
For most Canadian (and global) programs: Use PerkUp if you want to manage bulk swag, On Demand swag, kits, stores, event swag, and gift cards for Canada alongside the rest of your team. You can also keep finished new hire kits in a Canadian warehouse and send one whenever someone joins.
For one pop-up shop in North America: SwagDrop can work as long as your program meets its $5,000 minimum.
For comparing products by sustainability rating: Ethical Swag gives every item a Good, Better, or Best rating based on its sustainable qualities.
For nonprofits and universities: Fairware works with several organizations in those categories, so they know how to help you with your swag.
For a small team’s first swag store: Merchloop works if your team has fewer than 100 people and you’re comfortable with every Canadian order shipping across the border.
If you need to compare more options, you can read our roundups of swag platforms for global teams and swag platforms for new hire swag kits.
What swag do employees in Canada like most?
If you’ve chosen a swag platform for your Canadian team, the next step is to choose the swag they’ll actually use. Employees in Canada tend to get the most use out of warm layers, insulated drinkware, and swag from Canadian brands. Winter lasts a long time in most of the country, so a heavyweight hoodie or a pair of mittens can get worn from October to April, and a good travel mug will be used on cold commutes.
Many companies sending swag to Canada also look for items that are made or sourced in Canada. For instance, a hoodie from a Canadian maker tends to feel more thoughtful to a team in Toronto or Calgary than a generic import, and when it ships from inside the country, it skips customs entirely, too. That said, timing matters as much as the swag itself. Cold-weather swag gets the most use when it arrives in early fall, and since a typical bulk order takes about five weeks before the order is shipped, you’ll want to place it by late summer.
Below are some swag ideas from PerkUp’s Canada catalog, grouped by the kind of swag Canadian teams will likely use the most.
Warm layers
Redwood Classics Banff Hoody ($79.99)
Redwood Classics makes its clothing in Toronto, and the Banff Hoody is one of its made-in-Canada staples. The hoody is a gender-neutral pullover cut from the brand’s 16-ounce brushed-back fleece, with a slim fit and a double-lined hood, so anyone who prefers a roomier fit can size up. It also ships from Canada, which keeps it off the customs route.
Whistler Men’s Lightweight Down Puffer Jacket ($105.89)
For more premium swag, like a leadership thank-you or a five-year work anniversary, the Whistler puffer is a packable down jacket with a water-repellent shell and zippered outer pockets. The insulation is a mix of 80% down and 20% feathers, so the jacket keeps people warm without much bulk, and it comes in sizes S to 3XL.
Winter accessories
Redwood Classics Whistler Hat & Ariel Mittens Set ($63.99)
The Whistler Hat & Ariel Mittens Set pairs a hat made from upcycled vintage wool sweaters with fleece mittens that have a wool heart sewn on. Both are made in Canada, and since the wool would otherwise have gone to a landfill, the set suits teams that care about sustainability. It also makes an easy holiday gift that ships from Canada.
Insulated drinkware
Grosche Yukon Insulated Travel Mug, 20oz ($25.19)
Grosche is a Certified B Corp based in Ontario, so its drinkware is an easy way to send something Canadian. The Yukon is a 20-ounce stainless steel travel mug with a slider lid, which suits coffee drinkers who commute in the cold, and it ships from Canada.
Grosche Kamloops Insulated Chug Lid Water Bottle, 24oz ($28.79)
For people who’d rather carry water than coffee, the Kamloops is a 24-ounce insulated bottle with a leak-proof chug lid, so it can go in a work bag without spilling. It also fits in a car cup holder and ships from Canada.
Cozy extras
Premium Sherpa Blanket ($27.69)
The Premium Sherpa Blanket pairs a smooth fleece front with a plush sherpa backing, so it’s warm without being heavy. It works well as a holiday gift or as the cozy item in a winter swag kit, especially for teams in the colder provinces.
Final Thoughts
If you’re sending corporate swag to Canada, start by asking where the swag will come from. When you can make or store it inside Canada, you avoid customs on those shipments. If something does need to cross the border, make sure your vendor handles duties before your employee receives the package.
From there, think about the rest of your program. If you only need one pop-up shop, you probably don’t need the same setup as a company hiring every month across Canada, the US, Europe, and India. And if employees need to choose sizes, redeem rewards, or receive anniversary gifts automatically, you’ll want to compare those features too.
If you need country-by-country advice, including Canada, you can also read our guide to sending holiday swag globally. If you’re comparing a few options for your Canadian team, you can talk them through with our team and see which of your swag items can stay inside Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Swag Platforms for Canada
What are the best swag shipping platforms in 2026?
For sending swag to Canada, the best swag shipping platforms in 2026 are PerkUp, SwagDrop, Ethical Swag, Fairware, and Merchloop, with PerkUp as the best overall.
If you also have employees outside Canada, PerkUp gives you the broadest international setup of the five. Teams can use it to deliver swag locally through warehouses and suppliers in the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, India, China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Dubai, and to send swag to more than 100 countries. For narrower needs, SwagDrop offers one-time pop-up shops in North America, Ethical Swag gives you sustainability ratings for its swag, Fairware works with nonprofits and universities, and Merchloop offers a free swag store plan for small teams.
How would PerkUp fulfill swag for a team in Canada and other countries?
PerkUp fulfills international programs through local distribution. Depending on the program, your swag is either produced locally in each country or produced centrally and bulk shipped to the warehouse closest to each team, like the Canadian warehouse for your employees in Canada. With central production, PerkUp or its partners act as the importer of record, so the import, duties, and customs are taken care of before the swag reaches that warehouse. Your recipients then get a local delivery, which is faster and costs less than shipping each package across borders.
Who provides cross-border gift services?
PerkUp provides cross-border gift services for companies sending swag internationally. For Canada, PerkUp can source your swag from Canadian suppliers, or bulk ship it into the country and deliver each order from its Canadian warehouse, with PerkUp or its partners acting as the importer of record. When an individual package does cross the border, PerkUp ships it DDP whenever possible, and on the rare order that doesn’t ship DDP, the PerkUp team handles customs and reimburses the charges.
What are the top corporate gift delivery services?
PerkUp is a corporate gift delivery service for companies sending gifts to employees and clients in Canada and other countries. You can send to more than 100 countries and choose from 175+ premium brands, including Patagonia, YETI, and Bose. If you don’t want to ship a physical gift, you can also choose from more than 5,000 digital gift cards. Canadian recipients see the value in Canadian dollars.
What platforms offer employee swag stores?
PerkUp, SwagDrop, Ethical Swag, Fairware, and Merchloop all give companies a way to run employee swag stores, but they work differently for Canada.
With PerkUp, you can show Canadian employees swag available in their country and prices in Canadian dollars. You can also offer On Demand and bulk swag in the same store, and if you allow it, employees can add their own credit card when they want something above the budget you gave them. SwagDrop sends its On Demand store orders from Pittsburgh. Ethical Swag and Fairware use stocked bulk inventory for their stores. With Merchloop, every store order is made On Demand and ships to Canada at a per-package rate.
What happens to my swag order if US-Canada tariffs change?
If you use PerkUp, your team doesn’t need to track every tariff change between the US and Canada. PerkUp absorbs tariff changes instead of passing them on to you. If customs charges something unexpectedly, our team reimburses the fee, and we can also use Canadian suppliers when local sourcing makes more sense.
What should finance and fintech teams look for when sending swag to Canada?
If you work in finance or fintech, start with security and spend controls. Your security team may ask for a SOC 2 report, and PerkUp is SOC 2 Type 2 certified. Your finance team can also set budgets by team or manager and use reporting by country, department, or team to see where the swag budget went. And if your legal or compliance team needs to approve the artwork before you produce anything, make sure you build that review into the timeline. Fintech companies, including Wise and Chainalysis, already use PerkUp for swag. If you need ideas for the industry, you can also read our swag ideas for fintech companies.
