ABOUT US
Who We Are
At the heart of everything we do is an independent family business that aims to provide excellent service to our customers with the widest selection of high-quality Canadian-made furniture and craftsmanship you won’t find anywhere else. The first Smitty’s store was opened in 1949, and since then, Smitty’s has been committed to providing Canadians with fine furnishings for their homes. To this day, Smitty’s founding family still plays an active role in our operations. Smitty’s takes pride in being a trusted Canadian furniture retailer serving areas of Southern Ontario.
Our History
In 1899 our Founder, Edward (Ed) Schmidt, was born to William and Wilhelmina Schmidt, of Bentinck Township near Hanover, Ontario. William's parents had emigrated from Germany in the 1860s attracted by the wealth of farmland and hardwood bushes in the Hanover area. Hanover, by the 1920s became known as the furniture capital of Canada, counting the Knechtel Furniture Company and Sklar-Peppler as local manufacturers. Edward, or "Smitty" as he was known, became Head Finisher at the Peppler Furniture Company in the 1920's. In the mid-1930's, Edward started Smitty's Piano Sales. After World War II, Ed and his sons began building a retail store which would become Smitty's Shopping Centre.
1949
Smitty’s Shopping Centre began in 1949 by selling large appliances, hardware and groceries. In 1951 an addition was built to house various furnishings, organs and pianos. In 1955, Smitty’s phased out their grocery selection to make way for more furniture, drapes and televisions.
1963
In 1963, the business had expanded to a 13,000 square foot showroom and warehouse in the south end of Hanover.
1971
In 1971, the business grew yet again and Smitty’s expanded to a 25,000 square foot showroom which remains today. For decades customers would travel long distances to visit Smitty’s of Hanover as it gained a wide reputation for service, quality, and selection.
1985
In 1985, Smitty’s realized the need for Canadian-made furniture closer to the golden horseshoe and opened a location in Cambridge. The location has since moved to Kitchener to be able to better showcase their incredible selection of Canadian furniture. Smitty’s takes pride in being a trusted Canadian furniture retailer serving a wide range of areas in Southern Ontario for over 70 years.
Our Team
Over the years, our team of staff has grown to 50 people across two locations. We hire caring staff that work to provide excellent service to every client. Our team is like family, and we treat them as such. Many have been with us for multiple decades of service. We train each employee to uphold the standards of Smitty’s and they take pride in connecting with customers and provide them with exceptional expertise while providing a friendly customer experience.
Our Community
Smitty’s is dedicated to giving back to the community that has provided us with a place to grow. Through various initiatives, our team engages with the community and gives back. Smitty’s is proud to have donated to food banks, mental health initiatives, women’s crisis services and hospitals. We’re also extremely proud to have been able to provide fabric to make personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Smitty’s has been a major contributor to different fundraising initiatives and is proud to get involved with different charities within our communities. Giving back to the community is something that our founding family, the Schmidts, were passionate about and we’re proud to carry on the legacy of charitable giving to various fundraising initiatives.
Why Shop With Us
Personalized ServiceWhat sets Smitty’s apart is the level of customer service our staff continuously works to provide. We are a family business and have enjoyed serving loyal customers for decades, often throughout generations. Our sales team aims to create a comfortable experience and is excited to share their expertise to find a solution that works for you.
Unbeatable Selection
Our selection of Canadian-made products is unmatched. With brands like Bermex, Brentwood, Decor-Rest, Durham Furniture, Future Fine Furniture, Kingsdown, Leathercraft, Palliser, Serta, you can rest assured you are supporting the local industry.
Smitty's Rewards
We work hard to ensure you’ll want to shop with us again. Our in-store rewards program makes it even more rewarding to come back.
How it works:
- All merchandise purchased from us over $500 earns credits toward future purchases.
- Maximum redeemable value is 50% of the next purchase.
- Credits will expire if membership is inactive for 2 years.
- Credit cannot be combined with other discount programs.
- Credit applies to merchandise only. Protection plans, financing fees, delivery and taxes are excluded.
- Credit includes HST which will be applied as payment on future purchases.
- No fees or obligations.
- Easy set up.
Ask your sales consultant for details.
Surrounding Areas
We proudly serve the areas of Kitchener, Hanover, Cambridge, Waterloo, Guelph, Port Elgin, Walkerton, Kincardine, and Owen Sound in Ontario.