This SMB Month, we're celebrating a core part of TikTok Canada's community: small businesses! TikTok continues to be a place where businesses of all sizes can thrive and forge meaningful connections, and we're so excited to bring the joy and discovery of the For You feed to life, with the TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up, Presented by TD, taking place in Toronto, at Union Station, from Nov 1 through to Dec 31, 2024.
As a launchpad for emerging and established brands alike, TikTok enables entrepreneurs to showcase their products authentically, without the need for polish or filters. Business owners can share stories from their workshops, boardrooms, storefronts and more, connecting with new audiences down the street and around the globe. In fact, 82% of consumers say they've discovered an SMB (small and medium-sized business) on TikTok before seeing them elsewhere (1).
TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up, Presented by TD
For the first time in Canada, TikTok is bringing the on-platform SMB discovery experience into a live space, offering consumers the unique opportunity to connect with local entrepreneurs and support a selection of small businesses in person. From November 1 to December 31, 2024, visit the TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up, Presented by TD, at Union Station and explore your favourite Canadian brands - or new favourites waiting to be discovered - all in one market!
If you want to visit the TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up, Presented by TD, here's what you need to know:
- From Nov 1 - Dec 31, 2024
- Open Monday to Saturday, 11am - 7pm ET
- At Toronto's Union Station, Lower Retail Level in Union Market
Here are some of the small businesses you'll see popping up through November and December:
- Celine Glow (@celineglow): Founded by Celine Guo, Sunday Glow offers personalized Asian skincare subscription box, offering expertly curated products tailored to individual skin needs for a monthly ritual of self-care and transformation. Since creating the brand in 2020, Celine has scaled it into a seven-figure business within just two years. On TikTok, Celine has built a vibrant community, sharing her journey and inspiring others along the way. Beyond skincare, she champions women’s empowerment, inspiring thousands worldwide to pursue their dreams, embrace inner beauty and cultivate lasting confidence.
- Dandylion (@dandylionworld): Carolyn Chen is the founder of Dandylion, a dog care brand inspired by her 13-year-old cockapoo's chronic skin issues. Dandylion is disrupting the dog grooming industry with innovative and cleaner dog grooming essentials. Her team has grown and moved from packing orders in her parents' basement to having her own office, now bringing in thousands of products at a time. On TikTok, Carolyn shares her journey, inspiring others to create opportunities and push for a better future for our animals.
- Our Haru (@ourharu.com): Chaewon Kim is a Toronto-based Korean artist and the founder of a unique pet store inspired by her muse, Haru. She curates aesthetic, modern and high-quality products from independent designers and small brands in South Korea, offering carefully selected items for both pets and their owners. On TikTok, Chaewon has gained widespread recognition in creative ways, showcasing her curated selections and building an engaging community around her passion for pets and design.
- Oven Theory (@oventheory_): Timothy Cho is the owner of Oven Theory, a Mississauga commissary kitchen bakery specializing in Asian-inspired cupcakes that are light, fluffy and not overly sweet. His creations focus on preserving the subtle sweetness characteristic of Asian baking, setting them apart from traditional, richer options. With a mission to create premium cupcakes perfect for sharing, he fosters opportunities for people to come together and celebrate life's many achievements. On TikTok, Timothy shares his baking expertise while encouraging his audience to get adventurous in the kitchen showcasing his new bold and delicious cupcake flavours.
- Street Brew Coffee (@cc.campbell): Caitlin Campbell is the co-founder of Street Brew Coffee, a social enterprise specialty coffee company that aims to connect with coffee lovers and help those experiencing homelessness in our city. In addition to making coffee, Caitlin also creates videos on TikTok teaching people to make coffee better and documenting her journey as a small business owner, proving how TikTok can fuel creativity, entrepreneurship and community impact.
Shoppers can visit the pop-up in person in Toronto, as well as in-app through the hashtag #SmallBizPopUp, where we will share exciting creator content, behind-the-scenes moments, real-time updates, highlights from on-site activities and more.
SmallBiz Talks Series
We're also excited to announce the SmallBiz Talks Series. This free, webinar-style series will offer registered entrepreneurs across Canada the chance to hear from inspiring business owners and advisors, and learn how to successfully leverage TikTok to grow their business and drive real-world results. Featuring insights from industry leaders and inspiring business owners, the series will explore effective strategies, key learnings, and more — providing tools to empower and educate SMB owners, to build a thriving community and maximize success on the platform.
"TikTok has emerged as the go-to platform for small businesses to be discovered, empowering them to share their products not only with Canadians, but with over a billion people around the world - driving real-world impact for businesses," notes Joshua Bloom, GM, Global Business Solutions, TikTok Canada. "That's why we're excited to be bringing to life the TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up, Presented by TD, where Torontonians will be able to check out these small businesses as they pass through Union Station. And as part of the program, we're proud to be offering free resources to entrepreneurs across the country to empower them and help them reach their goals."
'Tis the season to shop local and join TikTok in celebrating the thriving businesses on our platform. Don’t miss out - visit the TikTok SmallBiz Pop-Up at Union Station November 1 through the end of the year!
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- Source: TikTok Marketing Science EUI SMB Consumer Research 2022, conducted by InSites Consulting.