Luxury soft toy brand Jellycat says it is opening its first-ever shop-in-shop in Canada, officially launching October 3 at Bergo Designs in Toronto’s iconic Distillery Historic District.
The brand-new 400-square-foot space will debut with 170 product SKUs including Jellycat’s Halloween collection, featuring spooky-yet-sweet characters perfect for the season, alongside the brand’s beloved core assortment of whimsical super-soft favourites. Fans will be able to explore Jellycat’s imaginative world in a permanent retail home for the very first time in Canada.
“And the magic doesn’t stop there: as the festive season approaches, Jellycat’s highly anticipated Christmas collection will arrive in-store, just in time to make holiday gifting even more joyful,” said the company.
“Known for its curated selection of innovative design objects and unique finds, Bergo Designs in The Distillery District has long been a must-visit Toronto destination. Now, with the arrival of Jellycat, visitors can enjoy a playful new world of charm, creativity, and cuddly companions – whatever the season.”
“As an independently owned small business, we’re so excited to offer Jellycat fans an incredible assortment of Jellycat, the largest in Canada!” said Robyn Berman, owner of Bergo Designs. “For almost 20 years, Bergo Designs has become known as the ‘go to’ store for unique, well-made, design forward gifts, so collaborating with Jellycat feels like a perfect match.”
The new Jellycat space will feature the brand’s most loved classics alongside the latest seasonal collections, making it a must-visit destination for gifting, collecting, and discovering the unexpected joy Jellycat is known for worldwide.
Canadian owned and operated Bergo Designs is a 10,000 square foot gallery of industrial design, featuring creations of local and internationally recognized designers, architects and artists. Opened in 2006 by accredited Interior Designer Berman, Bergo Designs reflects how form and creativity meet every day function. Located at 28 Tank House Lane in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, the store offers distinctive lifestyle items, gifts, contemporary jewellery and watches.
“Bergo has been a proud Jellycat partner since 2014. What started with just a few items, has grown into the largest assortment in Canada. My love of design and giftware made Jellycat a natural fit for us. At Bergo, our philosophy has always been about bringing joy through playful, beautifully crafted design, which aligns perfectly with Jellycat’s mission of sharing joy. Jellycat is more than a toy; it’s a luxury brand with something for everyone, and that’s what Bergo is about too, curating gifts that everyone will love,” said Berman.
“It’s my view that independent retailers succeed by building genuine, long-term relationships with the brands they believe in. We can move faster, be more creative, have more flexibility and build communities in ways big box stores struggle with. With Jellycat, we invested early, showcased the brand consistently, and proved Toronto has a passionate customer base. I believe global brands recognize when small businesses put in that kind of care and commitment. It builds trust. This trust opens the door to partnerships like this one, with Jellycat.”
She said Bergo is a truly unique, pedestrian-only destination in the historic Distillery District.
“As a major retailer and anchor of Toronto’s famous Distillery Winter Village — formerly known as the Toronto Christmas Market — we are perfectly positioned for the holiday season. Developments like this are exactly what our guests are looking for, and we always strive to showcase the best assortments throughout the holidays. Bringing the largest and most coveted Jellycat collection to Toronto as a shop-in-shop is a first for the city and country, and in our opinion, it raises the bar for independent retail showing how small, curated destinations can create excitement, attract visitors, and redefine what the city’s retail landscape can offer,” explained Berman.
“As an interior designer, I’ve always believed that design should be both functional and beautiful. After working in exhibit, residential and commercial design, I realized that opening my own shop had always been a dream that was inspired in part by my family, who owned a retail store. In 2006, I opened Bergo Designs with the goal of creating a space where people could discover unique, well-designed items that bring joy to everyday life, a dream come true. Over the years, we’ve carefully curated a collection that reflects this philosophy, focusing on quality, creativity, and thoughtful design. For me, it’s always been about more than selling products; it’s about sharing a vision of design that makes life a little brighter and more inspired.”
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