About Us
A pioneer in catalogue-
based retailing
At Consumers Distributing, our legacy traces back to a unique and innovative retail concept that gained popularity in the latter half of the 20th century.
Founded in 1957 in Canada, Consumers Distributing revolutionized the shopping experience by offering a catalogue-based approach. Customers could browse through items in a showroom and then place orders at a central checkout counter, pioneering a model that would later be recognized as “Internet shopping before the Internet.”
At its peak, Consumers Distributing operated 243 outlets in Canada and 217 in the United States. The company’s cost-effective alternative to traditional showroom displays, stocking merchandise in a warehouse, made it a preferred choice for savvy shoppers. Consumers Distributing’s innovative approach left a lasting impact on modern e-commerce, shaping the way online retail operates today.
Despite the evolution of technology and changing consumer preferences, Consumers Distributing remains committed to its founding principles. While the shopping experience has been revamped and modernized for today’s consumer, our dedication to offering a wide array of products, a seamless checkout process, and preferential pricing remains unchanged.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through history and innovation. We’re proud to continue serving you as Consumers Distributing, where the legacy of our past drives the innovation of our future.
