PTBOSpotlight: Avant-Garden Shop

Welcome to PTBOSpotlight! Every Friday, this segment showcases a business or organization in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the organization and the work they do for our community.

This week, we are featuring the Avant-Garden Shop. First opened in 2002 on George Street by Brenda Ibey and a business partner, the business relocated to Sherbrooke Street in 2006. Ibey assumed full ownership in 2007.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Located at 165 Sherbrooke St. in Peterborough, the shop specializes in gardening, birding and Canadian-made gifts.

“We sell gardening tools, outdoor wall décor as well as bird feeders, bird food and pole systems,” said Ibey. “Over the years, we have gathered a large collection of beautiful works from various local and Canadian artists. These items include quirky garden art, cards, wind chimes, soaps, coasters, pewter, concrete sculptures and a large selection of wall art.”

Ibey says she prides her shop on keeping a majority of items Canadian in her store.

“Products come from just about every province: Ontario, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. In addition, some items come from the USA and others are fair trade,” she explained. “Canadian-made, fair trade and an eye to high quality are what make the Avant-Garden Shop a very popular gift shop in the region.”

Avant-Garden Shop has won several awards over the years including Wild Bird Store of the Year in 2021, Best Retail Business (non-chain) by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards in 201 and Ibey was named Business Woman of the Year by the Chamber in 2022 to name a few.

Ibey credits her dedication to her customers from herself and her staff to ensure they get the best shopping experience possible.

“Customers are number one. We go out of our way to help customers. The store is set up to make it easy and comfortable to shop and browse the many items available,” she explained. “We feel it’s important to share the story of the artists. They work hard and deserve recognition”

Ibey is always seeking out new products for the store to keep the product line fresh for customers. Building a relationship with every one helps in connecting them with what their needs and wants could be.

“We have become very well acquainted with our customers. We have celebrated relationships, births, weddings and also mourned with customers after losses,” she said. “We have become friends with many of their customers and have developed lasting friendships. The Avant-Garden Shop aims to please and the customers can see and feel that.”

To learn more about Avant-Garden Shop, find it online:

Website: www.avantgardenshop.com
Instagram:
@avantgardenshop
Facebook: Avant-Garden Shop

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