From Billboards to Hidden Gems

What began as a simple way to make some extra money quickly transformed into a passion for the hunt. There’s a certain thrill in digging through a dusty box at a garage sale or sifting through racks at an estate sale, knowing a hidden gem could be just a few inches away. This journey isn't just about finding items; it's about seeing the potential in things others have overlooked and giving them a new life.

For nearly four decades, I was in the billboard business. My colleagues, who found "Ignacio" a bit tricky to pronounce, simply started calling me "Iggster"—and the name stuck. Fast forward to my retirement in my early 70s, and my wife and I decided to turn a long-time hobby into a business.

I've been active on eBay since 2004, but it wasn't until I retired that I decided to take it seriously. I named our online store SHOPIGGSTER26, a name that's part of my personal history and now, the heart of our new professional life. My wife and I are a true team, spending our weekends sourcing for treasure and staying busy with the business all week long. In the not-so-distant future, we'll be expanding with a variety of new things through Referral Marketing.

This blog is a window into that life. My plan is to share our adventures with you—the good times and the not-so-good ones. I want to talk about the discipline and hard work it takes to run a reselling and online business, the valuable lessons we learn, and all the fun that happens in between.