SAGE on Delite: 27 Years of Sustainable, Canadian-Made Promotional Products

In January 2025, SAGE published a profile of Delite marking 27 years in the promotional products industry, based on a conversation with Catherine Yang. Read the original feature on the SAGE blog. Here is our own recap, with what each chapter means for the distributors we work with today.

We started as an importer

Delite did not begin as a supplier. The company first imported promotional products from China into Canada. Over time, people in the industry noticed the quality of what we brought in and encouraged us to supply distributors directly. That move turned Delite into the Markham, Ontario supplier we are today.

Reusable before it was mainstream

SAGE called Delite an early mover on eco-friendly products, and our timeline supports that. We launched our first stainless steel tumbler in 2008, when few suppliers offered one. In 2018 we added a stainless steel straw, and it became our best-selling product as businesses and consumers moved away from single-use plastic. Reusable drinkware and straws are still at the centre of our range.

Adapting during the pandemic

When COVID-19 stopped in-person events and emptied offices, we changed how we served clients. We began drop shipping gift sets directly to recipients' homes, so companies could still thank employees and customers while everyone was apart. We also leaned into Canadian-made products to support local businesses. Both services are still available: kitting, gift sets and drop shipping are a regular part of our work.

Canadian craftsmanship clients love

The feature named two favourites: pure Canadian maple syrup and Canadian black walnut cutting boards. Both make memorable corporate gifts, both tell a local story, and both look great with a logo, laser engraved on the wood or printed on the bottle label.

"Would I use this?"

SAGE also described how we choose products. Every candidate faces one simple question: would I use this? If the answer is no, it stays out of the catalogue. That keeps our range focused on items people actually use and keep, which is good for the brand on the product and for the environment.

Why distributors work with Delite

• In stock in Canada. Hundreds of items are stocked in Markham, with live inventory counts on this site.
• Decoration, kitting and drop shipping handled in-house.
• Canadian-made options such as maple syrup and black walnut boards.
• Live UPS shipping rates on product pages, and customer service Monday to Friday, 9 to 7 Eastern.

Thank you to SAGE for telling our story. The products from the feature, and a few related favourites, are listed below.