Couple Launches antique guide

June 9, 2004 -- Couple Launches antique guide

Aaron Townsend's self taught computer skills and love of antiques have helped him and his wife, Karen Townsend, start a new Internet-based business.

Thier Antique Shopping Guide lists 25,000 antique stores across the country. Stores are listed by state and by city within the state.

"My grandma owned an antique shop for quite a long time and I always used to play there when I was little, so I really got hooked on antiques." Aaron said. He and Karen go antique hunting "all the time", he said.

Aaron has made a hobby of computers since he was a child and is largely self-taught, he said. He ran a bulletin board system in Midland before the internet was big. He got the idea for a major internet listing after he went online and found he had to search several websites for the information he wanted. He took business listings off the internet and from mailing lists he bought, designing the website, http://www.antiqueshoppingguide.com in six months.

I had to enter in all the shop names by hand," he said, "It was just a lot of typing."

Karen handles the mailings, including brochures that go to the antique shops.

The first listings went on the site for free; now he charges $12.00 a year for a basic listing. If a shop owner wants an upgrade -- a description of the shop, or a link to its e-mail an website -- fees increase.

Reach the business by e-mail at info@antiqueshoppingguide.com




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