- 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.

B次元官网网址淧eople assume weB次元官网网址檙e a couple but IB次元官网网址檝e actually said to Ted we should get buttons that say, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not with himB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 not with her,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Shawn jokes.

The pair, who have more than 70 years of industry experience between them, joined forces last July to grow TedB次元官网网址檚 successful company, Incredible Closets, into space solutions for every part of the home B次元官网网址� kitchens, entryways, living rooms, garage organizers and even wine rooms and custom-made doors.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 been looking to expand for several years because our clients have been asking us if we can do kitchens or vanities B次元官网网址� since itB次元官网网址檚 similar to what we do,B次元官网网址� Ted explains. B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 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.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淚 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,B次元官网网址� Shawn says. B次元官网网址淲e had a master cabinetmaker who taught me everything I know.B次元官网网址�

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. TedB次元官网网址檚 skills are in building things B次元官网网址� he grew up on a farm and started driving tractors at the age of 10, and building dog houses and other structures at 14.

B次元官网网址淲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 yearsB次元官网网址� experience building things and almost 40 yearsB次元官网网址� industry experience,B次元官网网址� Ted says.

Ted launched Incredible Closets in Calgary in 1982 B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 very hard to do on the prairies,B次元官网网址� quips Ted. B次元官网网址淭he business just grew from there, mostly from repeats and referrals, which is about 50 to 60 per cent of our business.B次元官网网址�

For Shawn B次元官网网址� who counts a stint with the TV show Property Brothers as a career highlight B次元官网网址� design is in her DNA.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been decorating and designing my whole life,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淎s a teenager, I was the weird kid who had my pillows arranged just perfectly on the bed. ItB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 just in you.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淲hen this space became available, it was a no-brainer,B次元官网网址� Ted says. B次元官网网址淭he space is perfect and itB次元官网网址檚 a pebbleB次元官网网址檚 throw away from our previous showroom and offices.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淭here are always challenges, but like anything, itB次元官网网址檚 how you approach the challenge,B次元官网网址� Ted says. B次元官网网址淚s it something you can learn from? And if itB次元官网网址檚 an obstacle you have to overcome, how do you get through it? Instead of saying we canB次元官网网址檛 do it, we say B次元官网网址榟ow can we do it?B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檒l figure out a way.B次元官网网址�

Their mantra is B次元官网网址渓isten carefully and answer creativelyB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� and they say itB次元官网网址檚 served them well. Shawn also tells staff to think of the money clients are spending as their own money, and to act accordingly.

B次元官网网址淭he biggest mistakes IB次元官网网址檝e made in life are whenever I havenB次元官网网址檛 trusted my instincts,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淵ou have to listen to your inner voice and you have to be bold and say, B次元官网网址榠f this was my money on the line, what would I do? What would I choose?B次元官网网址� I always think like that.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淣ow, as I get older, IB次元官网网址檓 more of a risk-taker and it seems to work,B次元官网网址� says the father of three and grandfather of three. B次元官网网址淵ou have to learn from your mistakes or youB次元官网网址檒l never get them out of your head.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 always say to myself, B次元官网网址榥o guts, no glory,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� adds Shawn, who has an adult daughter. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 compromise, do what you think is right, take the high road and it will serve you well. If youB次元官网网址檙e passionate about something, just continue to push forward.B次元官网网址�

And thatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what Shawn and Ted are doing B次元官网网址� despite being at an age when many of their peers are retiring.

B次元官网网址淭his is my retirement plan,B次元官网网址� jokes Ted. B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭ed is really an inspiration for me because a lot of my friends are retired or starting to retire and IB次元官网网址檓 venturing into this new business and IB次元官网网址檓 in it for the long haul,B次元官网网址� Shawn adds.

B次元官网网址淚t does keep you young and IB次元官网网址檓 excited about what weB次元官网网址檙e going to do next.B次元官网网址�

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