A-Z Insurance | Checked October 25, 2026 | For Ontario retailers
Before a busy selling period, compare the stock you expect to hold with the insurance you actually have. Extra boxes may arrive before the extra sales do. This is a practical planning guide, not a new insurer rule or a prediction about premiums.
Start with the highest stock level
TruShield’s retail guidance notes that increasing inventory may call for a property-coverage adjustment. [3] Prepare your expected stock value at the busiest point, not just today’s balance. Ask your broker which valuation basis the policy uses before comparing your figures with its limits; a retail selling price and a supplier invoice are not interchangeable figures.
Our suggested worksheet has five entries: the goods, their expected maximum value, where they will be held, when they arrive, and when stock should return to normal. Attach supporting purchase orders or inventory reports through an agreed secure channel, rather than placing confidential records in a general website form.
Ask whether a seasonal increase actually applies
Aviva Canada’s public retail overview lists a seasonal stock increase feature. [1] That product example does not establish an automatic increase for your policy. Ask your broker to identify the relevant wording, eligible dates, applicable stock or contents limit, percentage or dollar cap, and any conditions. If no suitable feature applies, discuss an amendment before the higher stock level arrives. A request alone does not change coverage.
List every storage and sales location
TruShield warns that a storefront policy may not cover inventory at a pop-up shop, and that keeping business stock at home does not make a home policy sufficient. [2] Tell your broker about overflow storage, a temporary market stall, a third-party warehouse and goods in transit. Ask which are already included and which need separate arrangements; do not assume the main store’s limit follows every box.
Keep the stock questions specific
- What valuation basis applies to unsold stock, and what evidence should we keep?
- Does stock share a contents limit with fixtures and equipment?
- Are any special limits, deductibles or conditions relevant to our goods?
- If products need refrigeration, what protection applies to spoilage or equipment failure?
- What written confirmation or endorsement shows the agreed dates, locations and limits?
These are discussion prompts, not a claim that all retailers have the same terms. TruShield identifies spoilage and equipment-breakdown protection as coverage areas to consider; actual triggers and exclusions must be checked. [3]
Bring A-Z Insurance your peak-stock worksheet and existing policy details. We can help review the questions before the busy period. This general information is not a coverage, savings or claims guarantee. Availability, limits, exclusions and settlement depend on the issued policy and the facts of a loss.
Related services
Public sources
Sources checked October 25, 2026. Listed dates belong to sources, not this article’s publication.
- Aviva Canada: Retail Insurance (Undated product overview; checked 2026-10-25)
- TruShield: What insurance coverages do I need for my retail business? (2025-01-30)
- TruShield: The importance of customizing your retail insurance to fit your business (2024-07-30)