A message from the Founder and CEO
To our Valued Customers,
When I first arrived in Vancouver in 1971 after completing my engineering degree in England, I never imagined that a small family business would grow into what Busy Bee Tools has become today.
After emigrating from Kenya, my family ran a chain of dry cleaning stores across Vancouver, called Busy Bee Dry Cleaners. In 1976, my passion for machines and engineering led me to start something new, Busy Bee Tools. We began with metalworking machinery and before long, our customers asked for woodworking tools as well. We listened, and that spirit of listening and evolving has guided us ever since.
By 1985, we moved our head office to Toronto to support our growing customer base. Today, Busy Bee Tools proudly operates nine stores across Canada and serves millions more through our online store at BusyBeeTools.com. What began as a small venture has become a trusted Canadian source for woodworking and metalworking tools, still family-owned and operated nearly five decades later.
As we enter our 50th year in business, I feel immense gratitude to our customers and our staff, whose loyalty and trust have made this journey possible. Under the leadership of my son, Hanif, the next generation continues to invest in the future. From expanding our range of premium machinery and tools, to upgrading our website and systems, we continue to enhance our online presence and overall shopping experience for you, our valued customer.
This Winter Catalogue marks the beginning of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Inside, you’ll find special offers, exclusive new products, and limited-time savings designed to thank you for your ongoing support. And this is only the start as 2026 will be filled with more exciting promotions, events, and milestones as we celebrate 50 years of craftsmanship, quality, and Canadian innovation.
From my family to yours, thank you for being part of the Busy Bee story.
With sincere appreciation & gratitude,
Anil Balolia
Founder & CEO
The Journey
Key milestones that shaped Busy Bee Tools, from our first storefront to 50 years of serving makers across Canada.
1976 — The Beginning
Busy Bee Tools was founded in September 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a simple goal: provide reliable tools and machinery to serious makers. This foundation set the tone for decades of hands-on expertise and customer focus.
1978 — Reaching Customers Nationwide
Just two years in, Busy Bee Tools issued its first printed catalogue, allowing the company to reach customers well beyond its original storefront and establish itself as a trusted national supplier.
1983 — Building a Brand Identity
To further define its product offering, Busy Bee Tools officially registered the Craftex brand—short for Craft Excellence. This milestone marked the beginning of proprietary product development and long-term brand equity.
1984 — Expansion to Central Canada
As demand grew, the head office was relocated to Concord, Ontario, alongside the opening of the company’s second branch. This move positioned Busy Bee Tools closer to Canada’s largest markets and enabled faster national growth.
2000 — Entering the Digital Era
Recognizing the shift in how customers shop, Busy Bee Tools began selling online at busybeetools.com, making its full product lineup accessible to customers across the country.
2005 — A National Footprint
By 2005, Busy Bee Tools had grown to nine branches, including the opening of its Edmonton, Alberta location. That same year, the head office moved into a custom-built facility, supporting expanding operations and logistics.
2010 — Purpose-Built Retail Growth
The Ottawa store was relocated to a custom-built location, reflecting a broader strategy of investing in modern, high-functioning retail spaces designed for demonstrations, training, and customer experience.
2012 — Innovation with the Craftex CX Series
Building on the success of the Craftex brand, Busy Bee Tools launched the Craftex CX Series, delivering higher-performance machinery aimed at serious hobbyists and professional users.
2022 — Scaling for the Future
To support continued growth, Busy Bee Tools expanded its headquarters by over 20,000 square feet, significantly increasing warehousing, operations, and support capacity.
2023 — A Premium Evolution
Busy Bee Tools introduced a premium line of machinery under the Busy Bee Tools namesake, representing decades of product knowledge, customer feedback, and in-house expertise brought together in one flagship offering.
2026 — Celebrating 50 Years of Busy Bee Tools
In 2026, we’re marking a major milestone—50 years of serving makers across Canada. To celebrate, we’re bringing out unbeatable pricing on President’s Specials, featuring some of our strongest offers of the year. This is our way of saying thank you for five decades of trust, loyalty, and craftsmanship.
