Henry Jones, the man behind Roadshow’s 400 Antiques Mall, has come a long way from his first job as an apprentice electrician at the North Staffordshire coal field in England. Born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent (The Potteries) in Staffordshire, the National Coal Board mines job was his first employment after leaving school at 15. It would be another 10 years before broadening his interests to antiques and collectibles. “With coming from Staffordshire and many of my family working in the pottery industry, I was always interested in pottery and china,” Henry says. “I found it interesting to pick up a piece of china and know where the factory was. I was very proud of this heritage. I was further introduced by flea markets, carboot sales and local auctions in Staffordshire.” The business end of antiques and collectibles didn’t kick in until the 1980s. “My first taste of the business was in England in the 1980s, buying and selling at carboot sales, antique fairs and shows. After returning to Canada, I became an antique dealer in the Cookstown, Ontario area. I also worked for local autioneers. “Our first business with my wife Jackie was the Cookstown Castle Antique Centre. Then, we purchased the Antique and Art centre on the main street in Cookstown. After this, we opened Roadshow Antiques at Highways 89 and the 400. Then, we relocated to the 400 Market site. We took over the trade centre at the back of that building and now we have 32,000 square feet, making it the largest antique mall in Canada.” Like most dealers, it’s the people who make the business interesting, says Henry. “What I really enjoy most about the business are the people involved – the various characters of dealers and customers. We have great personal contact with both dealers and customers and this is a very enjoyable part of life.” As favourite antiques stories go, Henry’s is a classic. “An elderly lady came into the Castle Antiques Centre just after we first opened with a pair of vases. She had been offered $100 for the pair. Would I be prepared to buy them for more money? “I said that I would not buy them from her, but I would sell them for her on consignment for $1,500 each. She nearly fell through the floor in shock. One week later, I sold the vases, for that price. They turned out to be William Moorcroft. She left a very happy lady. That is what this business is all about, making customers and dealers happy.” John Cosway The Wayback Times