... and taking action!
If you want to change things, create something new, or be part of the solution, there's only one way to do it: take action. Of course, it’s important to reflect, analyze, and make a plan… But at some point, you’ll face a crucial decision: Do I go for it... or not? For us, becoming a manufacturer was a big leap into the unknown. But today, after taking that risk, we know it was the right decision.
Why buy local? An obvious choice.
Local manufacturers all share a deep commitment to quality. They also have a true passion for what they do—and that makes all the difference in the final product. At first glance, a locally made product and one made overseas may seem similar, but the real difference is in the details: carefully chosen materials, refined finishes, increased durability thanks to thoughtful design, and of course, the fact that it’s made by people right here.
Yes, there’s often a price difference, and it's true—local products may seem a bit more expensive at first. But if you’ve already chosen to buy local, you know that in the long run, it’s not really more costly. On the contrary, investing in local products means choosing quality over quantity. It’s a win-win—for you and for the whole community.
Every time you make the effort to choose something made here, you’re taking real action to support the local economy. And that’s what taking action is all about!
Why we became a manufacturer — the story behind it:
To be fully honest, ARICO didn’t start out as a manufacturer. Our first bean bags were made in China. But we quickly ran into multiple frustrations: endless delays, communication issues, lack of flexibility, and ongoing quality control problems. Most of all, we felt like we weren’t supporting the right people—those who actually shared our values.
From the start, our creativity was held back by this business model. We had so many innovative ideas to explore, but producing overseas meant ordering large quantities and waiting a long time before bringing any new concept to life. So in the midst of the 2021 pandemic, we made a bold move: we took back control and opened our own small workshop right here in Canada.
Being a manufacturer means being free...
Making our products locally gives us unmatched freedom—the freedom to create instantly, without middlemen, without unnecessary delays, and to respond quickly to last minute demand “which happens pretty often,” ;) Our ideas come to life before our eyes, with the quality and finish we care about. Where many choose the easy road by sourcing elsewhere, we prefer to reinvent our field and give ourselves the means to match our ambitions. On that note, stay tuned—we’ve got plenty of ideas and projects on the table. There’s no shortage of creativity at ARICO, and we’re just getting started!
Proud to be from here. Proud to make it here.
In recent years, there’s been a real shift toward buying local and supporting the Canadian economy—and we find that incredibly motivating! “It really proves that it was worth taking the leap, putting in the work, and trusting that our clients, companies, and public institutions would follow.” Manufacturing locally is more than a choice for us: it’s our way of taking action—by pushing ourselves to deliver better quality, creating jobs here at home, and above all, showing that success is possible while staying true to our values.
Thank you for choosing ARICO. Thank you for choosing local.
— The ARICO team
