THE STORY OF ABBOTT

A FABULOUS SALESMAN

Ben first came to Canada from England in 1949 with only a single product — his famous pie crimper, so popular that it sold out in one day at the CNE!

A fabulous salesman, Ben launched himself right into the giftware industry after this initial success. Originally a salesperson for the Nutbrown company, he decided to set out on his own when he moved to Canada.

In 1951, Ben and his wife Doris became proud parents to their first son, future Abbott president David Abbott.

DAVENPORT STREET

By 1960, Abbott of England had relocated to an industrial building located at 559 Davenport Street in Toronto. From this space, the company produced faux flowers, vases and urns, reflecting the early success of the business. The popularity of the florals was so vast that the vases and urns were created simply as an accompaniment to showcase the flowers.

By the mid-1960s, the collection had expanded to include figurines, tableware, serveware and religious artifacts, broadening both the offering and Abbott’s creative reach in the giftware industry.

In 1971, David Abbott started working as a salesperson for Abbott of England. By 1972, David and Lee had taken over the company after the passing of their visionary father —this transition was mentored by longtime employee Robert Possentini, also known as “The Legend”.

DAVID AND LEE

In 1980, Abbott of England entered an exciting new chapter with a move from Davenport Street to a larger home at 15 Gurney Crescent in Toronto. More than just a change of address, the move reflected a major evolution for the company as Abbott expanded beyond statuary and faux floral arrangements to embrace the growing global marketplace. With a new vision came a new motto: “We search the world for your business.”

Driven by a keen eye for emerging trends, David and Lee began travelling extensively through Europe, Asia, and beyond, discovering distinctive giftware and bringing fresh inspiration back to Canada. Their travels helped shape Abbott into the internationally inspired brand it is today, known for curated collections and unique design.

This era of growth also welcomed several important additions to the Abbott family, including Jennifer Boake, Pina Galloro, and Mike Henn. Jennifer and Pina are still part of the team today, while Mike recently retired after many years of contribution to the company’s success.

TRETHEWEY WAREHOUSE

In 2001 Abbott moved it’s showroom and warehouse to a beautiful, spacious new location on Trethewey Drive to accommodate growing success.

By this time, Abbott had become an award-winning industry leader for giftware and décor retailers throughout North America.

In response to changing times and consumer demand, Abbott's first e‑commerce website was launched in 2005. 

The new Trethewey location quickly became home to many Boss BBQs, festive Christmas parties, and memorable gatherings.

THE NEXT GENERATION & GOING DIGITAL

A fresh, newly redesigned website was launched in 2016 in response to a growing demand for a more sophisticated e‑commerce platform.

This website was redesigned in 2019 and again in 2023 to meet with growing demand and changing customer needs. 

As of 2011, the next generation of Abbott’s have joined the team: Freddy and Paul.

Looking ahead, the focus remains on thoughtful innovation and seamless customer service. With a strong foundation and a new generation at the helm, we envision the future to be dynamic, driven, and exciting.