SaskPromo.com, a locally owned company under the same umbrella as the Moose Jaw Express, hosted its inaugural trade show on Sept. 30 at the Cosmo Senior Centre.
The event brought together local business owners and suppliers for a showcase of promotional products and branded apparel, while also offering attendees a chance to tour the SaskPromo office and showroom at 468 High Street West. The High Street location doubles as the newsroom for the Express, linking the printing, signage, embroidery, and branding services of one arm of the business with the publishing of another.
While the Moose Jaw Express tells the stories of the community, its sister company SaskPromo.com helps local businesses share their own through signage, apparel, and branding.
That goal was reflected at the inaugural trade show, where eight suppliers set up displays to highlight products and answer questions. About 125 business representatives attended, giving vendors the chance to connect directly with local companies and hear what they were looking for.
Tracy Turner, a Winnipeg-based supplier representative with PCNA (Promotional Consultants North America), was one of these vendors.
“It was great; they had a really great turnout. The clients were very engaged and looking for specific things, which is what we like to see,” she said.
Turner, who represents multiple product lines with factories based in Toronto, Pittsburgh and Augusta, said having a central venue to display samples was especially valuable for clients.
“Having people see the different products and see what types of decoration options can go on them is very valuable, and to see this many people in one room is a big deal for them,” she said. A few guests, she said, admitted to feeling overwhelmed at how many options are available locally.
Turner added that opportunities like this are rare in southern Saskatchewan.
“This is the only (currently available trade show of its kind) in Moose Jaw,” she said, noting that she’s packing up for the next closest show in Brandon, Man., the following day.
Turner’s feedback was echoed by another vendor, Kim Goodman, who represents ADNART, a leading drinkware line, and Catalyst Group, the original distributors of Champion sportswear in Canada.
“I thought the day went really well. There were lots of people here … most of (those who were invited) did arrive, and that was terrific. Everybody was pleased with the products they saw here,” he said.
Goodman pointed to the opportunity to connect with SaskPromo.com staff as a highlight.
“Rick (McKeown) was a great host. His wife (Cathy McKeown), Kevin (Ogle), and the whole gang at SaskPromo are excellent people to deal with and we’re certainly happy that we were invited,” he said, adding that he plans to return for future SaskPromo trade shows.
Rick McKeown, the show’s key organizer and a promotional salesperson with SaskPromo.com, said the inaugural trade show went according to plan.
“This facility worked out perfectly,” he said about the Cosmo Centre. “We don’t have a showroom large enough to display everything, so this event was a way to give back to our customers by letting them see the latest products in both clothing and promotions. They could walk through, take a look, and then it’s our job to follow up and see how we can help further.”
Based on vendor feedback, the show is set to return in September 2026.
“I think the day was awesome,” McKeown said, noting that attendance met expectations for a first show. “I’ve talked to Rob (Ritchie) already and it looks like we’re going to do it again. We’ll make it bigger and better next year.”
The SaskPromo.com showroom is permanently located at 468 High Street West and can be viewed during regular business hours. For more information, call 306-694-1322 or visit SaskPromo.com.
The Cosmo Centre, located at 235 Third Avenue Northeast, is available for event bookings by calling 306-692-6072.
Aaron Walker
Reporter
Moose Jaw Express
