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1 0-The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, October 2, 2001 - ~Mi~tg lm or ~fï j f -~ Norr is 1couple new on the auct.ion block By RICHARD VIVIAN The Champion Having worked at an auction company for 20Oyears, it was time for Jamie Norris to strike out on his own. That's why he and bis wife Fiona moved to Milton and started Nomrs Auction and Appraisal Service this summer. "We really like doing this ourselves. We like having control over what we're doing," Ms Nomrs told The Champion. "So far it's been a lot of fun ... and work." Mr. Norris was bitten by the auction bug early on in life. Virttally from binth, he escoeted his parents to nearly 15 auctions each week during the summer. At the age of six, he Ianded his firat job at an auction house - posing witb the sale items. Before long, be was helping with the set up and moving up the chain of command. 1I ran the auction facility, did auctioneering and appraisals for them in the last three or four years. 1 bad pretty much reacbed the top of where 1 could gd there," he explained, adding that hotb he and bis wife bave received their Canadian Personal Property Appraisals Group accreditation. The decision to re-locate from Kingston (Mr. Nomrs' hometown) to Milton was based partially on the local popularity of antiques, proximity to large markets and Ms Nonis' family ties. "If you're Iooking for somewhere to go, you choose somewhere you have ties. And we wanted somewbere the opportunities looked good," Ms Norris explained.. "Milton is right in the centre of a big antique area - Toronto right down to Waterloo." Auction bouses bave seen a significant shift ini their attendance in recent years, with dealers seeing more competition from indi- vidual collectors, the pair continued. Credit for that, they said, belongs to new-found media attention. "'The Antique Road Show' bas donc a lot for the antique indus- try in general. People cornte and they think they're going to find that $200,000 vase that only they are going to know the value of," Ms Norris said of the increase in personal collectors. Added Mr. Norris, "And magazines like 'Martha Stewart' have added to people's interest in decorative items around the bouse, p too." Another promotional tool the couple said tbey feel basn't been tapped by most companies is the in~ternet. Tbrougb their web site (www.norrisauction.conl), interested people can view photos of some of the major items on the auction block. "It's just a new way for people to know if an auction is worth their travel time," Ms Nomis said, adding that tome people travel hours for a chance to bid on items. "We've receive quite a bit ofPht yGAMPIN positive feedback tbrough our weh site."PhtbyGHAFIN The couple's first auction is scbeduled for Saturday at the Milton Jamie Norris, co-owner of Norris Auction and Appraisal Service, shows off auction items including a French oak car- Fair Grounds. tel <Ieft) of the 1860s and an American oak cabinet of 1885. 'j L ITO-THRIFTY! Take advaige of our FALLing 1 ~ fa price Rentai ratesg starting a4,1'.9. gocu r ~ l Il lU ÉA Ufal. 1 -800- minnr iTQ. I11Irww www.thrifty.com Thrifty features quality products of Daimie@rChysir and oCher fine cars. A ticense of Thrifty Rent-A-Car System hic. 88Otai;t.N ni 5 M iO 9 2M IlW s s85m73 e11 eM -