How to open a furniture trade account in Canada

A furniture trade account is a business account with a furniture supplier that gives you trade pricing below the retail price, plus tools for buying on behalf of customers or for resale. It is also called a trade program, a to-the-trade account or a wholesale account. Opening one usually takes a few minutes online, as long as you have a registered business.

Who can open a furniture trade account?

Any registered Canadian business that resells, specifies or furnishes with furniture can usually open a trade account. That includes:

• Independent furniture and homeware retailers
• Online stores and dropshippers
• Interior designers, decorators and architects
• Home stagers and property stylists
• Hotels, restaurants, cafés and short-term rental operators
• Builders and model-home designers

In Ontario, "Interior Designer" is a protected title for ARIDO members, but you don't need to be a member to open most trade accounts. Suppliers accept decorators and stagers too.

What do you need to apply?

You need proof that you are a business. Most Canadian suppliers ask for:

1. Business name and address, plus a website or portfolio if you have one.
2. Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency.
3. GST/HST number, so the supplier can show tax correctly and you can claim input tax credits.
4. PST, RST or QST number if you are in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Quebec and want to buy exempt for resale.
5. Professional membership (optional), such as ARIDO, IDC or DDA Canada.

See sales tax on trade furniture in Canada for how each number is used.

How long does approval take?

Approval times vary from instant to several days. Some suppliers review every application by hand before you see any prices; others show trade prices straight away and review the account afterwards.

At Artisan Furniture Canada, trade prices are visible as soon as you sign up, and the team reviews every new account within one business day.

What do you get with a trade account?

A trade account gives you a discount and the information to buy and resell confidently. At Artisan Furniture Canada that means:

• 25% off MSRP for trade accounts, including retailers, online stores and designers. Up to 50% off MSRP on bulk wholesale orders.
• No minimum order and no annual spend requirement.
• Free delivery to residential addresses in all 10 provinces from Brampton, Ontario.
• Product data: dimensions, spec sheets, CAD and SketchUp files, and images.
• Support: tickets routed to a named account manager, with a same-business-day reply.

Step by step: opening an account

1. Go to the trade sign-up page and enter your business details.
2. Add your GST/HST number (and PST, RST or QST number if it applies).
3. Browse trade prices in the portal immediately.
4. Your account is reviewed within one business day and assigned a named account manager.
5. Place your first order: one piece or a whole room set.

Shopping as a consumer instead

If you are furnishing your own home rather than buying for a business, you don't need a trade account. Shop the retail range at ArtisanFurniture.ca.