Antique West Issue: November 2004: Volume 3, Issue 32 Page 6

"THE SCENE "
Promoters expand antiques horizon in Arizona (Title of Article)
Yuma, Ariz. - Arizona Antique Shows, run by Wanda and Bob Jones, has really taken off in the few years since the couple began promoting the firm in 2002.However, the couple does have some help with the 19 annual shows they now promote. "There are six of us in this adventure including Bob, myself, Gramma, Bradley, James and Meghan, " said Wanda. "Our goal and journey was to bring Arizona back into the show circuit as a serious contender in the country".
Because they were both antique dealers long before becoming show promoters, Wanda said they have a slight edge over their competition."I believe it helps we are antique dealers ourselves and have worked shows around the state of Arizona as well as California, Colorado and New Mexico since 1988," said Wanda. "we have the best of all worlds knowing what the dealer, buyer and collector portion of ourselves think and feel."
More than 150 booths, including an appraisal booth, will be present at the couple's Phoenix Fairgrounds Antique Market Nov. 20-21 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. The appraisal booth will feature members of the Valley of the Sun Antique Dealers Association and verbal appraisals conducted at $5 per item will benefit the East Valley Chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
"We try hard to give something back to our communities," said Wanda. We use several nonprofit charities to contribute the proceeds of the appraisal booths including St. Mary's Food Bank and NAMI. We are always giving to the Phoenix Rescue Mission or Kid's Café, which provides food for the homeless children. We are also an ongoing supporter of the Child Haven Nursery Crisis Center."
The Phoenix Fairgrounds Antique Market will also be held the weekends of Dec. 11-12, and Jan314-16 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Harpist Angel Simmons, of Firestar, will provide live entertainment during the January show.
"Dealers are coming in from literally all over the country for this huge show," said Wanda. They have been buying all summer traveling all the way to Europe and Canada for their treasures. The same show in January 2004 brought 180 booths, three buildings and more than 4,300 people through the gate."
Another event in January to look forward to is the Yuma Antique Show & Sale on the weekend of Jan. 8-9 at the Yuma Convention Center. One of the highlights of this show will be a silent auction with proceeds benefiting Yuma's Historical Society.
According to Wanda, the couple works hard to create a festive show every time with different themes at each one, along with special events including appraisal booths, silent auctions, workshops, free wine tasting, live entertainment, door prizes or gift certificates.
"Everyone loves to come to the shows," said Wanda. "You know the saying if we build it, they will come. Our pledge to the antique community is we will continue to expand our already aggressive advertising campaign every season. We have broadened our horizons into cable, local television and several antique publications, along with out of state show programs and newspapers throughout the country."
Wanda can also be seen regularly on the television program Your Life A to Z on KTVK Channel 3 where she discusses buying, selling and trading antiques.

Contact: (602) 717-7337
http://www.azantiqueshow.com/