2025 Winter Show Appications
Applications for 2025 One Of A Kind Winter Show are now available! For new applicants, be sure to review the below content in full before beginning your application.
Apply to Winter
Before you submit your application, you will want to have prepared the following:
- Your Participation Preferences. You are asked to submit your top 3 choices in order of preference, including booth size, and request to be included in any of our special sections.
- Your Business Name. What is your company name? Is your legal name the same as how your exhibiting name? Are you consistent across platforms? Ex. If your name has an "and" in it, do you always write out a-n-d, or do you sometimes use "&" or "+"? Make it consistent and conscious for your application.
- Samples. Be prepared to send in your product samples if you are required to do so.
- Supporting Materials. Other materials as laid out in the Application Checklist below.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Below are the materials you’ll need to submit—they help our jury get to know your business and how we can succeed together. Show off your personality and attention to detail!
We receive a high volume of applications, and the jury selects vendors based on category, production methods, product mix, and regional diversity. If you’re applying in a popular category like jewellery or apparel, be sure to make your brand and story stand out!
- BOOTH DESIGN
Include a photo, sketch, inspiration board or rendering of your booth display. Your design should include plans for signage, lighting, merchandising and the structure of your booth. Your plans should also consider how your booth will tell your brand story. Not Sure Where to Start? Visit our Best Booth Pinterest Boards or try the Booth Design Puzzle Teaser provided by Visual Merchandising Expert and a friend of the show, Ani Nersessian of VM ID, who can help you create your best booth design. NOTE: Using grids to hang and display your work is not permitted to maintain the show's professional look. - PHOTOS OF YOUR WORK (5-10 photos)
Submit 5-10 well-lit photos representing each type of work you want to sell at the show. We cannot stress the importance of good images, as they will be the jury's introduction to your work and may be used for marketing and PR opportunities if accepted to the show. - STUDIO PHOTO
Show us where you make the magic happen--whether it's your studio, a maker space, a commercial kitchen or a dining room table! This helps give the jury a sense of the scale of your production. - BIOGRAPHY
Tells us about yourself, your brand, what inspires you, your business goals, and your education/training (if applicable). - STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION OF YOUR PRODUCTION PROCESS(ES)
This is probably the most important document in your application package. Each item you wish to sell at the show must be made by you or your company and fit within our production criteria. Take care to walk us through your production process(es)--tell us how you design, where production takes place, how you are involved and when you are getting help. This information will not be shared with anyone outside of the jury. - PRICE LIST
This will help the jury understand your pricing and how it compares in the marketplace. Pricing and photos should be present for each type of item you list under Items You Would Like to Sell in the applications.
BOOTH SIZES, PRICING, & INTRODUCTORY BOOTH OPTIONS
Booth space includes 8’ high pipe and white drape and booth number signage. Due to the pipe-and-drape construction (1.5” diameter) of the booth, internal dimensions are slightly reduced (as noted below). Consider your actual booth size when making your booth display plans.
Full booth pricing coming soon.
* Prices for all booth spaces do not include applicable tax. Correct at the time of publishing.
INTRO BOOTH OPTIONS
RISING STARS (BY THE SQFT)
$120/SQ FT
This open-concept section is for first-time exhibitors with less than 5 years of professional experience in their art or craft. We supply the carpet, and you bring a freestanding structure and lighting to showcase your work. Request space by the square foot, so you get as little or as much as you need, with a minimum order of a 3' x 3' space.
ex. 3’ x 3’ = $1,080 4’ x 3’ = $1,440 5’ x 2’ = $1,200
- To see examples of past Rising Stars booths, visit www.pinterest.com/onmywaytoooak/rising-stars.
- To apply, submit a complete application with your preferred Rising Stars size(s) listed in the application.
- Open to first-time Winter exhibitors, in all categories except food.
BOOTH SHARE
STARTING AT $1,572.50 x 2
Share a 10’ x 10’ booth with a fellow artisan to help alleviate some of the challenges of your first shows, like costs, required stock, and booth sitting. Open to individual applicants applying with a partner.
- To see examples of past Booth Shares, visit www.pinterest.com/onmywaytoooak/booth-share.
- To apply, each participant must submit a complete online application, including a booth design that shows how you will share the 10’x10’ booth space.
- Applicants are eligible for a Booth Share at TWO Spring and TWO Winter Shows, before graduating to a full booth space.
OOAK ACTIVATION FUNDS
We are committed to investing in the future of craft, so our activation funds helps new artisans start to build their business with One Of A Kind. Eligible applicants can apply for funding directly through the Winter 2025 Show Application.
NEW ARTISAN
Open to first-time applicants who have been practicing their craft for less than 5 years, this grant reduces booth fees by $1,000.
TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP
Open to first-time applicants coming from outside of Ontario, this grant is designed to assist with travel, shipping and accommodation expenses by reducing booth fees by $500.
THE DUUO BY CO-OPERATORS ACTIVATION FUND
Open to first-time applicants, this grant is intended to support costs such as insurance and other event-related expenses by offering a $350 reduction in booth fees.
ACTIVATION FUND NOTES
- You may apply for multiple activation funds, but can only receive one.
- Activation funds are limited in quantity, applicable only to regular booths (e.g. 5'x10', 10'x10'), and not guaranteed.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Exhibitors must provide lighting, furnishings, signage, POS equipment and more, and should budget for these expenses accordingly.
EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIERS
Electrical, a required service for each booth, can be ordered through the venue.
- Regular Booths: Starting at ~$260
- Rising Stars Section: Starting at ~$170
* Prices shown are based on advance order rates and do not include HST. The advance order deadline is approximately 21 days before the exhibitor move-in.
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIERS
Hard walls, lighting and other booth furnishings are available for rent, but you are also welcome to bring your own. Estimated costs for rentals include:
- Hard Walls: Starting at ~$694 (prices will vary by booth size)
- Lighting: Starting at ~$300 for ceiling-mounted lights
* Prices shown are based on advance order rates and do not include HST. The advance order deadline is approximately 21 days before the exhibitor move-in.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Parking Passes can be purchased for the venue at a discounted exhibitor rate, for specific days or the duration of the event.
- Insurance is required to participate in the event, and can be purchased through our official supplier or through your own plan.
- Additional onsite storage can be purchased for the duration of your participation in the show. Storage spaces are limited, many exhibitors find ways to build storage considerations into their own booths.
- Those who will be shipping materials to the show should account for a forklifting fee to have their product delivered to their booth space.
SPECIAL SECTIONS AT WINTER - Flavours, Original Art Gallery, 5/6 Days, Rising Stars
FLAVOURS
If your kitchen is your studio, then the Flavours section is for you! In this popular neighbourhood, customers find all of their favourite consumables like baked goods, jams, marinades, cocktail mixes and sweets.
- Open to applicants who make food or drink products.
- Please submit samples of each type of item you wish to sell for review by the jury. See instructions on how to submit samples below.
- In your application, you must also provide an outline of your sampling procedure at the show, should you choose to sample your products to our audience*.
- Only available for the entire 11-day duration of the show.
- Please be advised food products must be packaged for take-home consumption, ie. not sold or packaged in a way that encourages immediate consumption.
- Exhibitors from out of province who will be selling meat, dairy or fish will be required to submit their Safe Food for Canadians licence.
* Sampling procedures may be subject to change.
ORIGINAL ART GALLERY
This fantastic fine art space is the place to showcase your original art. Acrylics, oils, watercolours, hand-pulled prints, and sculptures attract collectors and gallery owners. If you are a visual artist, this is the place for you!
- Open to those applying for the Original Art category.
- Only available for the entire 11-day duration of the show.
- Artists participating in this section must have Gallery-style hard walls. You may bring your own or rent them through our show decorator.
- Exhibitors in this section showcase ONLY their original works. Reproductions, prints, or other merchandise are not permitted in this section.
5/6 DAYS SECTIONS
Ideal for artisans who are not ready to take on the whole 11-day show—due to production limitations, travel expenses, or first-time participation—this section allows you to participate in the first 5 or last 6 days of the show.
- As this is a separate section of the floorplan, exhibitors from any category are welcome but cannot be a part of another section (i.e. Flavours, Rising Stars, etc.).
- 5-Day exhibitors will exhibit November 27 - December 1 25, 2025, with all materials and move-out completed by 11:59 pm on Monday, December 1, 2025.
- 6-Day Exhibitors will exhibit from December 2 - 7, 2025. 6-Day section move-in starts Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 4 am; exhibitors must be ready for the show opening at 10 am on Tuesday, December 2.
RISING STARS
This open concept section highlights new craft stars on the rise, allowing them to request space by the square foot and show their work with a freestanding booth structure.
See Booth Sizing and Pricing for more information.
See Examples of past Rising Star Booths Here.
CATEGORY CONSIDERATIONS - FLAVOURS, PAPER, PERSONAL CARE, CANDLES, ART PRINTS
FLAVOURS/FOOD + DRINK
- Please submit samples of each type of item you wish to sell for review by the jury.
- Samples must be submitted in the form they will be sold to the consumer.
- Samples will not be returned. Exhibitors from out of province who will be selling meat, dairy or fish will be required to submit their Safe Food for Canadians licence.
PAPER, PERSONAL CARE + CANDLES
- All paper/stationery and scented products (soap, candles, etc) must be submitted for review in their finished form.
- Samples should include at least one of each type of product that will be sold, but do not need to include all variations (ie scents, colours) that will be available.
- Samples will not be returned.
- Personal care makers should have, but do not need to provide, health compliance certificates appropriate to your chosen industry.
ARTS
- Artists wishing to sell reproductions must submit images of their prints/reproductions, in their finished and packaged forms, within their application photos.
- Prints should also be listed in the "What You Would Like to Sell at the Show" portion of the application form.
SUBMIT YOUR SAMPLES
Samples are required for the following product categories:
- Food/Flavours. Please submit samples of each type of item you wish to sell for review by the jury. Samples must be submitted in the form they will be sold to the consumer. Exhibitors from out of province who will be selling meat, dairy, or fish are required to submit their Safe Food for Canadians Licence.
- Paper, Personal Care, Candles. All paper (stationery) and scented products (soap, candles, etc.) must be submitted for review in their finished form. Submissions should include at least one of each type of product that will be sold but does not need to include all variations that will be available. Samples will not be returned.
Please send samples of each type of item you intend to sell at the show to the following:
One Of A Kind Show
20 Eglinton Ave West, Suite 1200
Toronto, ON
M4R 1K8
ATTN: Application Samples
NOTE: Samples sent for review will not be returned. Samples should be received within one week of your application submission. If you drop your samples off in person, please do so only during business hours. If your samples require special handling (such as refrigeration), please get in touch with us at apply@oneofakindshow.com for delivery arrangements.
Questions about what to submit in your application package or what samples need to be included? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at apply@oneofakindshow.com.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT OTHER ATTRIBUTES GIVE MY APPLICATION THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS?
Your application will be reviewed by our selection committee who will jury it on a variety of criteria—including the quality, uniqueness and saleability of your products, a great booth display, and maintaining a good balance of categories and a good representation of provinces in the show.
Beyond that, we look for work that is cohesive, innovative and unique to the marketplace and is presented in clean and well-styled application photos. We also love to see your personality shine through your application, so don’t be afraid to give us the details on how you came to your current path and what makes you and your products unique.
And as a note to applicants in some of our more popular categories—like jewelry, scarves and body care—be sure to highlight the aspects that differentiate yourself and your work from others within your category. The volume of applications we receive in these categories makes it absolutely impossible for us to accept all of the qualified applications we receive, so standing out is of the utmost importance.
AS A NEW APPLICANT, DO I HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING IN?
Yes, we’re always eager to feature the work of new artists; typically about 15-25% of the show is new artisans.
DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT 10 IMAGES WITH MY APPLICATION?
You can send in as many images as you need to represent your work. If you have more or less than 10 images, that is perfectly fine. Just be sure that your application photos cover all the items you have listed in the “Items You Would Like to Sell at the Show” portion of the application.
We often use application photos in our social media promotions, so make sure to send well-presented and styled images to increase your chances of inclusion.
CAN I APPLY FOR ACTIVATION FUNDS?
Yes, new artisans can apply for funding directly through the Winter 2025 Show Application. You may apply for multiple activation funds, but can only receive one.
NOTE: Activation funds are limited in quantity, applicable only to regular booths (e.g. 5'x10', 10'x10'), and not guaranteed.
WHEN TO EXPECT NEXT?
May 12: Application deadline to be considered for our first round of Jurying.
Early-to-mid June: Applicants should expect to hear back on the status of their application.
- After May 12, we’ll continue accepting applications until the show sells out. The Selection Committee meets bi-weekly, and applicants can typically expect a response 2–3 weeks after applying.
- We strongly encourage early submissions to maximize your chances of being accepted.
June - July:
- Contracts and invoices will go out, including information on confirmed booth size.
- Your first payment to secure your participation will be due upon acceptance into the show.
NOTE:
- All applicants will be contacted via email or phone call with a jurying response.
- Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not accepted.
Have more specific questions about the Winter Show?
We created this Winter Show FAQ for our exhibitor community that might be helpful to you!
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