A love of collecting antiques led to the birth of a family business for the owners of Ibon Antiques. “We have always collected. Both sides of the family collected,” says Debra, who asked that her last name not be used for privacy reasons. She and her family opened at their current location near Strathcona High School in 2011, after a couple of years being downtown. “We were respectful of the concept of collecting and preserving memories and remembering history,” says Debra.“That led to us trying our hand at the store.”
Working in antiques and collectibles requires an ability to be flexible and a willingness to learn. “It’s never boring,” says Debra. “Collecting is not a static activity. If you’re going to stay with the times, they change, and if you don’t notice that … well, too bad, right? We recognize we have to do our best to keep abreast of what seems to be wanted by people.”