About the Founder
Why Purely
Why Purely
Ontario?
A note from Cieran English, on trading Liverpool for Toronto, and building a gifting company around the province that took him in.
Read the story
Last October, I moved from Liverpool, UK, to Toronto. At just 24, making the move on my own was a huge step, and naturally, I was nervous.
From the moment I arrived, I was blown away by the warmth and kindness of the people I met. Over my first few weeks, I explored Ontario, discovering local coffee shops, breweries and farmers' markets.
One afternoon, in a local coffee shop before starting my new corporate job, an idea came to me. After more than five years in corporate environments, I'd seen firsthand how important employee recognition and client appreciation are.
Yet I'd also seen how corporate gifting often becomes an afterthought. With so many competing priorities, businesses often end up sending rushed, generic gifts from large suppliers, despite big budgets each year.
"My goal was simple: help businesses celebrate their people with gifts filled exclusively with products from independent Ontario producers."
That's why I created Purely Ontario. Every basket is built the way I wished corporate gifting worked from day one: thoughtful, premium, and made entirely from what this province's small producers make best.
Signed
Cieran English
Founder, Purely Ontario