Above Ground

What Above Ground does

Above Ground Art Supplies is a Toronto-based specialty retailer of art supplies and custom framing services, operating two physical stores in downtown Toronto (74 McCaul Street, near OCAD University and the Art Gallery of Ontario) and at 2868 Dundas St. W in The Junction, supplemented by a full e-commerce storefront shipping across Canada. The product catalogue spans the full spectrum of fine-art and craft materials — paints (acrylic, oil, watercolour, gouache, encaustic, tempera, and specialty), brushes, drawing supplies, canvas and panels, paper and boards, printmaking equipment, sculpture materials, studio furniture and equipment, framing supplies, drafting tools, adhesives, and kids/craft supplies — alongside the company's own house brands (Above Ground Premium Series and Studioworks).

The business generates revenue through unit-priced retail product sales and custom framing services at the downtown location. Distribution is omnichannel: physical retail plus direct-to-consumer e-commerce with free shipping thresholds on orders over $85 within Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec, and paid shipping elsewhere in Canada. The company does not use third-party resellers or distributors. Pricing ranges from sub-$5 consumables to over-$200 presentation books, serving both budget-conscious students/hobbyists and professional-grade buyers.

Go-to-market targets four horizontal customer segments — Professional Artists (primary), Students, Educators/Teachers (supported by a dedicated Educational Portal), and Hobbyists/Crafters — reached through in-store events, Zoom demos, email e-blasts, and an active presence across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Above Ground appears to be a privately held, founder/small-group-owned independent retailer with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or public-market presence.

Name

Above Ground

Legal name

Above Ground Art Supplies

Website

https://abovegroundartsupplies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Above Ground Art Supplies is a Toronto-based specialty retailer operating two physical stores and a Canada-wide e-commerce platform, selling fine-art and craft supplies plus custom framing services to professional artists, students, educators, and hobbyists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Supplies Retail

NAICS

Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (459410)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Art Materials Retail (Paint, Canvas, Drawing) (CRALACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

Keywords

• Art supplies retail
• Custom framing services
• Fine art materials
• Educational art supplies
• House brand paints

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Art Supplies: The company generates revenue primarily through the sale of art supplies including paints, brushes, canvases, paper, drawing materials, sculpting supplies, and studio equipment. Products are sold at various price points from budget-friendly options to professional-grade materials. The company also sells its own house brands (Above Ground Studioworks and Premium Series).
2. Custom Framing Services: Above Ground offers custom framing services at their 74 McCaul Street location, providing consultation and professional framing for artwork and photographs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Above Ground Art Supplies is a Toronto-based specialty retailer that sells fine art and craft supplies across thirteen product categories (paint, brushes, drawing, canvas and panels, paper and boards, printmaking, sculpture, studio equipment, presentation and storage, framing supplies, drafting and graphics, adhesives and cutting, kids and craft) through two physical stores in Toronto and an e-commerce site shipping across Canada. The company also offers custom framing services at its downtown location, two proprietary house brands (Above Ground Premium Series and Above Ground Studioworks), and an Educational Portal for teachers and schools.

Product overview

Above Ground Art Supplies is a Toronto-based art supply retailer operating as a traditional e-commerce platform and physical stores. The product portfolio consists of a comprehensive range of art supplies organized into distinct categories: Paint (including Acrylic, Oil, Watercolour, Gouache, and specialty paints), Brushes (for Oil & Acrylic, Watercolour, and specialty applications), Drawing Supplies (Charcoal, Coloured Pencils, Pastels, Pens & Markers), Canvas & Panels, Paper & Boards, Printmaking equipment, Sculpture materials, Studio Equipment (Easels, Drafting Tables, Lamps), Presentation & Storage solutions, Framing Supplies, Drafting & Graphics tools, Adhesives & Cutting supplies, and Kids & Craft materials. The company carries its own house brands including the Above Ground Premium Series (Artists' Acrylic paints, Watercolour Books, Brushes) positioned for quality at accessible prices. Additional services include Custom Framing at the Downtown Toronto location and Gift Cards. The store also features third-party brands such as Winsor & Newton, M. Graham, Fabriano, Faber-Castell, Liquitex, and Itoya for specialized storage and presentation products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paint A retail product category offering fine art paints from leading industry brands, alongside the company's own house brand Above Ground Premium Series. Sold to hobbyists, students, and professional artists through the two Toronto stores and the e-commerce site.
• Brushes A retail product category offering brushes for painting and fine art applications, including the company's own house brand Above Ground Premium Series. Available in-store and online.
• Drawing Supplies A retail product category offering pencils, charcoal, markers, and other drawing media for artists and students. Sold in-store and online with Canada-wide shipping.
• Canvas & Panels A retail product category offering stretched canvases, canvas panels, and painting surfaces from brands such as Ampersand and Jack Richeson. Available in-store and online.
• Paper & Boards A retail product category offering fine art papers, sketchbooks, and boards for drawing, painting, and printmaking, including brands such as Canson and Strathmore. Sold in-store and online.
• Printmaking A retail product category offering printmaking supplies including inks, blocks, presses, and tools from brands such as Speedball. Available in-store and online.
• Sculpture A retail product category offering materials and tools for sculpture, including modeling, carving, and three-dimensional art-making. Available in-store and online.
• Studio Equipment A retail product category offering easels, lighting, drying racks, and other studio furnishings and equipment for working artists. Sold in-store and online.
• Presentation & Storage A retail product category offering portfolios, print sleeves, storage boxes, and presentation materials for artists and photographers. Available in-store and online.
• Framing Supplies A retail product category offering frame mouldings, mat boards, glazing, and other framing materials sold to both DIY customers and framing professionals. Available in-store and online.
• Drafting & Graphics A retail product category offering drafting tables, technical drawing tools, and graphics materials for designers, architects, and illustrators. Available in-store and online.
• Adhesives & Cutting A retail product category offering glues, tapes, cutting mats, blades, and related tools for art and craft applications. Available in-store and online.
• Kids & Craft A retail product category offering craft kits, kids' art supplies, and beginner-friendly materials for younger artists and classroom use. Available in-store and online.
• Above Ground Premium Series A house brand of paint and art supplies developed and sold exclusively by Above Ground Art Supplies, spanning multiple categories (paint, brushes, and related mediums). Targeted at consumers seeking a quality house-brand alternative to third-party labels.
• Above Ground Studioworks A house brand of art supplies developed and sold exclusively by Above Ground Art Supplies, complementary to the Premium Series.
• Custom Framing A bespoke framing service offered at the downtown Toronto location (74 McCaul Street), providing customers with custom-sized framing, matting, and finishing for artwork, photographs, prints, and memorabilia. Service is delivered in-store with direct consultation.
• Gift Cards Retail gift cards redeemable at Above Ground Art Supplies stores and online, available for purchase in fixed denominations.
• Educational Portal A dedicated online portal for teachers and schools that provides curriculum-aligned art supply resources and a structured channel for classroom purchasing. Targeted at educators and school art programs.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Amazon: Massive e-commerce platform with deep art supplies assortment (including its own Amazon Basics lines). Competes most directly with Above Ground's online channel on selection, pricing, and shipping speed.
• Michaels: North America's largest arts and crafts retailer with a national store footprint and full e-commerce. Overlaps with Above Ground across craft, framing, and basic fine-art categories at significantly larger scale.
• Indigo Books & Music: Canada's largest book and lifestyle retailer with stationery, notebooks, paper, and some art supply offerings. Adjacent overlap with Above Ground's stationery, paper, and kids' craft categories, particularly for gift and casual customers.
• Hobby Lobby: US-based large-scale arts and crafts retailer with thousands of stores. Comparable to Above Ground across craft, framing, and basic fine-art categories, though operates in a different geography (US only).

Direct peers

• Curry's Art Store: Ontario-based specialty art supply chain with multiple stores. Direct competitor operating in the same regional market with comparable fine art and craft assortment and similar institutional/educator customer mix.
• Blick Art Materials (Dick Blick): One of North America's largest art supply specialty retailers with a strong e-commerce platform and broad assortment across fine art and craft categories. Directly comparable on product mix, customer segments, and multi-channel model.
• Opus Art Supplies: Western Canada-based specialty art supply chain with stores and full e-commerce. Direct peer as a Canadian art-focused multi-channel retailer with comparable product breadth and professional artist positioning.
• DeSerres: Canada's largest specialty art supplies chain with stores across multiple provinces. Directly comparable to Above Ground as a multi-location Canadian art supply retailer serving artists, students, and hobbyists with similar product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AboveGroundTo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4wTmC_dikfLcP-NFp7dqeQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AboveGroundTO
• Instagraminstagram.com/aboveground.to
• Pinterestpinterest.com/AboveGroundTO

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Above Ground