The CanadianSME Small Business Show 2025

The CanadianSME Small Business Show 2025 attracts entrepreneurs, small business owners, industry leaders, and innovators. This annual event has become a hub for networking, learning, and collaboration among professionals from various fields. Here, attendees have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, forge new connections, and discover the latest trends shaping the business landscape.

Leaders, Owners, CEOs, and Directors: A significant portion of attendees are business leaders, owners, CEOs, and directors who are actively involved in strategic decision-making within their companies. These individuals are often seeking high-level insights and networking opportunities to help them scale their businesses. According to one of the sources, 52% of the attendees fall under this category

Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Senior Managers: A significant proportion of attendees also occupy senior leadership roles, including presidents, vice presidents, and senior managers. These individuals may possess an interest in both overarching strategic initiatives and specific operational enhancements pertinent to their organizations.

Finance and Human Resources Managers: These professionals are charged with overseeing the financial stability and human resource functions within their organizations. They participate in the exhibition to acquire knowledge regarding financial management, employee development, and advancements in human resource technology.

IT Decision-Makers: IT professionals and decision-makers attend the show to understand the latest technological advancements and how they can be implemented to improve business operations. Given the show’s focus on digital transformation, their attendance is very relevant.

Business Consultants: Consultants looking to expand their knowledge and network with potential clients and partners also attend the show. They are interested in the latest business strategies, tools, and technologies to serve their clients better.

Small Enterprises Employing Fewer than 500 Individuals: A significant proportion of participants, amounting to 76.2% of the total attendee demographic, comprises small enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. This statistic underscores a robust commitment to empowering small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Startups: Startups also form a notable segment, accounting for 9.5% of attendees. They are typically interested in gaining valuable knowledge to grow their businesses.

Medium Businesses: Medium-sized businesses make up 6.9% of the attendees. These businesses may have unique needs, often focused on leveraging digital technology to reach new markets or scale effectively.

Public Sector: A small segment of attendees (4.8%) comes from the public sector, which could include government agencies or other public institutions.

The show draws attendees from a variety of industries, reflecting the broad reach of the digital transformation topic. The following industries have notable representation:

Retail: 20.2% of attendees come from the retail sector. This group includes both traditional brick-and-mortar retailers and e-commerce businesses that are looking for ways to thrive in a digital-first economy.

Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector accounts for 17% of the attendees. They may be interested in how technology and automation can improve their operations and maintain a competitive edge.

Technology: Companies and service providers in the technology sector account for 15.2% of the attendees. These entities are keenly interested in exploring innovative approaches to enhancing their business growth and harnessing technology for a competitive advantage.

Professional Services: Professional service firms constitute 10.1% of attendees. These entities may be interested in exploring methods to leverage emerging technologies in order to enhance their service offerings and attract new clientele.

Government: 6.1% of attendees represent various levels of government. They may attend to gather information on best practices for their organizations or to connect with private sector partners to help meet their mandates.

Finance: 5.1% of attendees work in the finance industry. They are interested in the latest financial technologies and strategies for their business.

Healthcare: 5.1% of attendees are from the healthcare sector. They are seeking to understand how technology can enhance patient care and improve operational efficiency.

Other Industries: The event attracts attendees from various sectors, including Health and Wellness (5%), Distribution/Logistics (4%), Food and Beverage (4%), and Construction (4%), along with a miscellaneous “Others” category accounting for 5%.

The Small Business Show 2025 is a national event with a significant presence from various Canadian regions.

Ontario accounts for 59.4% of attendees, expected due to the show's location in Toronto.

Quebec: Quebec represents 14.9% of attendees.

British Columbia: Attendees from British Columbia make up 8.9% of the total

Alberta: Alberta accounts for 7.9% of the attendees.

Manitoba: Manitoba has 5% of the attendee representation.

Other Regions: A combined 38.4% of attendees are from other regions in Canada, including Northern Canada, Saskatchewan, and Atlantic Canada.

The attendees come to the show with a variety of goals and motivations:

Embracing Digital Transformation: Attendees are keen to understand how to embrace digital transformation and innovation to grow their businesses. They want to learn about implementing new strategies, technologies and best practices.

Learning from Top Leaders: Attendees are interested in hearing from Canada’s top business leaders and entrepreneurs. They seek inspiration and practical advice from successful individuals and companies.

Leveraging Technology: Attendees are primarily motivated by learning how to use technology to improve their business operations. They are interested in digital tools and strategies such as e-commerce, AI, data-driven decision-making, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Enhancing Operational Efficiency: Participants also attend the exhibition to acquire knowledge on optimizing their operations, conserving time, and remaining informed about advancements in AI-driven technologies.

Networking and Collaboration: Attendees are looking for opportunities to network with peers and grow their businesses to new heights by connecting with other business owners, industry experts, and potential partners.

In summary, the Small Business Show 2025 draws a diverse assemblage of business owners, leaders, managers, and professionals from a multitude of industries and regions, all unified by their interest in digital transformation and growth. The event offers invaluable insights and networking opportunities aimed at facilitating the success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital age.