- Story by TessVan Straaten Photography by Don Denton

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When Ted Hancock and Shawn Richardson decided to team up to launch the Incredible Home brand, they never thought their relationship would be a topic for discussion.

香蕉视频直播淧eople assume we香蕉视频直播檙e a couple but I香蕉视频直播檝e actually said to Ted we should get buttons that say, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 not with him香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 not with her,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� Shawn jokes.

The pair, who have more than 70 years of industry experience between them, joined forces last July to grow Ted香蕉视频直播檚 successful company, Incredible Closets, into space solutions for every part of the home 香蕉视频直播� kitchens, entryways, living rooms, garage organizers and even wine rooms and custom-made doors.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檇 been looking to expand for several years because our clients have been asking us if we can do kitchens or vanities 香蕉视频直播� since it香蕉视频直播檚 similar to what we do,香蕉视频直播� Ted explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 sure exactly how we were going to do it but as Shawn and I started to talk, I realized collaborating would be the ideal situation.香蕉视频直播�

Shawn moved to Victoria from Calgary three years ago and worked with a prominent custom homebuilder. Her expertise is in design, space planning and custom millwork.

香蕉视频直播淚 was a partner in a custom home and renovation business, working in that beautiful, high-end, no-holds-barred Calgary market where I got to do some pretty amazing work with clients, but really learned custom millwork over a 10-year period,香蕉视频直播� Shawn says. 香蕉视频直播淲e had a master cabinetmaker who taught me everything I know.香蕉视频直播�

The dynamic duo met in 2017 at an industry event, and realized they both had a passion for offering top-notch customer service and had strengths that complemented each other. Ted香蕉视频直播檚 skills are in building things 香蕉视频直播� he grew up on a farm and started driving tractors at the age of 10, and building dog houses and other structures at 14.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you grow up as a farmer you learn to do pretty much anything, and from there, I combined farming with construction. So I have close to 60 years香蕉视频直播� experience building things and almost 40 years香蕉视频直播� industry experience,香蕉视频直播� Ted says.

Ted launched Incredible Closets in Calgary in 1982 香蕉视频直播� the first of its kinds in Western Canada. He moved the business to Victoria 11 years later, for lifestyle reasons and the opportunity to sail.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 very hard to do on the prairies,香蕉视频直播� quips Ted. 香蕉视频直播淭he business just grew from there, mostly from repeats and referrals, which is about 50 to 60 per cent of our business.香蕉视频直播�

For Shawn 香蕉视频直播� who counts a stint with the TV show Property Brothers as a career highlight 香蕉视频直播� design is in her DNA.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been decorating and designing my whole life,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淎s a teenager, I was the weird kid who had my pillows arranged just perfectly on the bed. It香蕉视频直播檚 something that香蕉视频直播檚 just in you.香蕉视频直播�

Together, they re-branded Incredible Closets to Incredible Home earlier this year and moved into a spectacular, new, purpose-built showroom in February.

香蕉视频直播淲hen this space became available, it was a no-brainer,香蕉视频直播� Ted says. 香蕉视频直播淭he space is perfect and it香蕉视频直播檚 a pebble香蕉视频直播檚 throw away from our previous showroom and offices.香蕉视频直播�

The pair admits there have been challenges in growing the business, but they say long-term employees have helped to make the transition easier.

香蕉视频直播淭here are always challenges, but like anything, it香蕉视频直播檚 how you approach the challenge,香蕉视频直播� Ted says. 香蕉视频直播淚s it something you can learn from? And if it香蕉视频直播檚 an obstacle you have to overcome, how do you get through it? Instead of saying we can香蕉视频直播檛 do it, we say 香蕉视频直播榟ow can we do it?香蕉视频直播� We香蕉视频直播檒l figure out a way.香蕉视频直播�

Their mantra is 香蕉视频直播渓isten carefully and answer creatively香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� and they say it香蕉视频直播檚 served them well. Shawn also tells staff to think of the money clients are spending as their own money, and to act accordingly.

香蕉视频直播淭he biggest mistakes I香蕉视频直播檝e made in life are whenever I haven香蕉视频直播檛 trusted my instincts,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淵ou have to listen to your inner voice and you have to be bold and say, 香蕉视频直播榠f this was my money on the line, what would I do? What would I choose?香蕉视频直播� I always think like that.香蕉视频直播�

For Ted, his biggest mistake was not being enough of a risk-taker when he was younger.

香蕉视频直播淣ow, as I get older, I香蕉视频直播檓 more of a risk-taker and it seems to work,香蕉视频直播� says the father of three and grandfather of three. 香蕉视频直播淵ou have to learn from your mistakes or you香蕉视频直播檒l never get them out of your head.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 always say to myself, 香蕉视频直播榥o guts, no glory,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� adds Shawn, who has an adult daughter. 香蕉视频直播淒on香蕉视频直播檛 compromise, do what you think is right, take the high road and it will serve you well. If you香蕉视频直播檙e passionate about something, just continue to push forward.香蕉视频直播�

And that香蕉视频直播檚 exactly what Shawn and Ted are doing 香蕉视频直播� despite being at an age when many of their peers are retiring.

香蕉视频直播淭his is my retirement plan,香蕉视频直播� jokes Ted. 香蕉视频直播淚 love what I do and when I thought about what I wanted to do when I retire, it was this. I still work a lot more than I probably should at this age, but it keeps my brain going and it keeps my body going.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭ed is really an inspiration for me because a lot of my friends are retired or starting to retire and I香蕉视频直播檓 venturing into this new business and I香蕉视频直播檓 in it for the long haul,香蕉视频直播� Shawn adds.

香蕉视频直播淚t does keep you young and I香蕉视频直播檓 excited about what we香蕉视频直播檙e going to do next.香蕉视频直播�

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