- 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.

害羞草研究所淧eople assume we害羞草研究所檙e a couple but I害羞草研究所檝e actually said to Ted we should get buttons that say, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 not with him害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 not with her,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Shawn jokes.

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

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 been looking to expand for several years because our clients have been asking us if we can do kitchens or vanities 害羞草研究所� since it害羞草研究所檚 similar to what we do,害羞草研究所� Ted explains. 害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� Shawn says. 害羞草研究所淲e had a master cabinetmaker who taught me everything I know.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 skills are in building things 害羞草研究所� he grew up on a farm and started driving tractors at the age of 10, and building dog houses and other structures at 14.

害羞草研究所淲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害羞草研究所� experience building things and almost 40 years害羞草研究所� industry experience,害羞草研究所� Ted says.

Ted launched Incredible Closets in Calgary in 1982 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 very hard to do on the prairies,害羞草研究所� quips Ted. 害羞草研究所淭he business just grew from there, mostly from repeats and referrals, which is about 50 to 60 per cent of our business.害羞草研究所�

For Shawn 害羞草研究所� who counts a stint with the TV show Property Brothers as a career highlight 害羞草研究所� design is in her DNA.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been decorating and designing my whole life,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淎s a teenager, I was the weird kid who had my pillows arranged just perfectly on the bed. It害羞草研究所檚 something that害羞草研究所檚 just in you.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲hen this space became available, it was a no-brainer,害羞草研究所� Ted says. 害羞草研究所淭he space is perfect and it害羞草研究所檚 a pebble害羞草研究所檚 throw away from our previous showroom and offices.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭here are always challenges, but like anything, it害羞草研究所檚 how you approach the challenge,害羞草研究所� Ted says. 害羞草研究所淚s it something you can learn from? And if it害羞草研究所檚 an obstacle you have to overcome, how do you get through it? Instead of saying we can害羞草研究所檛 do it, we say 害羞草研究所榟ow can we do it?害羞草研究所� We害羞草研究所檒l figure out a way.害羞草研究所�

Their mantra is 害羞草研究所渓isten carefully and answer creatively害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 and they say it害羞草研究所檚 served them well. Shawn also tells staff to think of the money clients are spending as their own money, and to act accordingly.

害羞草研究所淭he biggest mistakes I害羞草研究所檝e made in life are whenever I haven害羞草研究所檛 trusted my instincts,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淵ou have to listen to your inner voice and you have to be bold and say, 害羞草研究所榠f this was my money on the line, what would I do? What would I choose?害羞草研究所� I always think like that.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淣ow, as I get older, I害羞草研究所檓 more of a risk-taker and it seems to work,害羞草研究所� says the father of three and grandfather of three. 害羞草研究所淵ou have to learn from your mistakes or you害羞草研究所檒l never get them out of your head.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 always say to myself, 害羞草研究所榥o guts, no glory,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 adds Shawn, who has an adult daughter. 害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 compromise, do what you think is right, take the high road and it will serve you well. If you害羞草研究所檙e passionate about something, just continue to push forward.害羞草研究所�

And that害羞草研究所檚 exactly what Shawn and Ted are doing 害羞草研究所� despite being at an age when many of their peers are retiring.

害羞草研究所淭his is my retirement plan,害羞草研究所� jokes Ted. 害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭ed is really an inspiration for me because a lot of my friends are retired or starting to retire and I害羞草研究所檓 venturing into this new business and I害羞草研究所檓 in it for the long haul,害羞草研究所� Shawn adds.

害羞草研究所淚t does keep you young and I害羞草研究所檓 excited about what we害羞草研究所檙e going to do next.害羞草研究所�

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