Pawnshops 101: MYTH vs. FACT

Here at Gems N' Loans we want to clear up some of the myths people have about Pawn shops. Pawn shops have been utilized by many different cultures all around the world throughout history, yet a lot of people do not know as much about pawnshops as they should. If you have never visited a pawn shop because of all the misconceptions you may have heard, we want to clarify some of the most common pawn shop myths:

MYTH: Pawning items can be complicated.
FACT: Gems N' Loans makes the process simple and convenient. Our friendly and educated staff can answer any of your pawn-related questions.

MYTH: Pawn Shops don’t offer good loans.
FACT: Gems N' Loans always work with our customers to provide the best loans possible for all quality items. Come see what we can do for you today!

MYTH: Pawn Shops only offer stolen goods.
FACT: Gems N' Loans work closely with local law enforcement to ensure that no inventory items are stolen.

MYTH: Pawn Shops Keep Most Items That Are Pawned.
FACT: Gems N' Loans will never sell your pawned item before you pay back your loan. We want to give you more than enough time to pay off your debt.

Have you heard any other myths about pawn shops? Find out the truth by contacting the experts here at Gems N' Loans. You can check out our website at www.gemsnloans.com or call us at any of our six locations.

Ever wondered what the three spheres outside a pawnshop symbolize?

The three sphere is a symbol attributed to the Medici family of Florence, Italy and owing to its symbolic meaning of Lombard.
Pawn shop banking originated under the name of Lombard banking and refers to the Italian province of Lombardy. The House of Lombard was a banking family in medieval London, England and this is what medieval Lombard merchants hung in front of their houses. Since the Medicis were so successful in the financial, banking, and moneylending industries, other families also adopted the symbol. The pawnbrokers’ symbol is three spheres suspended from a bar and it has been said that the golden spheres were originally three flat gold coins laid upon a sable field, but that they were converted into spheres to better attract attention. The three sphere symbol has also been attributed to the story of Nicholas giving a poor man’s three daughters each a bag of gold so they could get married. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of pawnbrokers.

Sapphire - September Stone of Month

Sapphires are often associated with loyalty, dignity and are a favorite gemstone for royalty. They are also a symbol of truth, sincerity, and faithfulness. That’s why it also makes a meaningful engagement ring. Maybe that’s why Prince Charles chose a sapphire engagement ring for Princess Diana.

Blue is the most popular, but they can be almost any color. Sapphire is the birthstone for September and belongs to the family of minerals known as corundum. They are traditional gifts for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.

The ancient Persians have an interesting legend about Sapphires. They thought that the Earth was settled on a giant sapphire and the sky reflects its color. Ancient Persians and Catholic Church considered Sapphire to be a holy stone and believed that blue color of sapphire represents heaven.

Here at Gems N’ Loans we take our gems seriously and Sapphire is no exception! Throughout the month of September we are offering 50% off the Stone of the Month, some exclusions may apply. Come in today and take a look at our selection. 

Sixteen Awesome Things About Being A Pawnbroker!

Customers count on Gems N’ Loans and Gems N’ Loans counts on you! Begin an exciting career in the pawn industry. Gems N’ Loans is committed to equal opportunity. We welcome your interest in our employment opportunities. Join the Gems N' Loans team, a happy place and positive atmosphere with a future! Apply today: http://gemsnloans.com/join-team/

1 Seeing really cool stuff around you all day long.
 
2 Never knowing what will walk through those doors at any minute.
 
3 Hearing the stories; oh the stories!
 
4 Being able to hold tens of thousands of dollars worth of diamonds in your hand.
 
5 Knowing that you are one sale away from an awesome day as long as the door is open.
 
6 Getting to be the first to see all the latest gadgets.
 
7 Hearing great gossip.
 
8 Never having a dull moment.
 
9 Feeling the trust people place in you.

10 Helping educate your customers.

11 Making someone’s day by stretching that pawn just another ten dollars.
 
12 Running into people you know (usually customers) on the street, in a restaurant,  while shopping, while pumping gas-all over town!
 
13 Thinking of all the folks that squeal with delight opening gifts that came from your store.
 
14 Helping young men pick out engagement rings when they are so terrified they can barely speak.
 
15 Getting wedding invitations, wedding pictures and thank you notes from your customers.
 
16 Working in one of the greatest professions ever invented and getting paid to do it.

Peridot - August Stone of Month

A new month brings a new Stone of the Month. The Stone of the Month for August is Peridot. Peridot is the official birthstone for the month of August. Legend says that peridot was one of the favorite gemstones of Cleopatra. The advantages of peridot are to attract love and calm anger while also soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions.

Here at Gems N’ Loans we take our gems seriously and peridot is no exception! Throughout the month of August we are offering 50% off the Stone of the Month, some exclusions may apply. Come in today and take a look at our selection.

What is The Pawnshop?

In the most simplistic terms, a Pawn Shop is a business that engages in collateral-based lending. Given this, it also sells items that have been left by borrowers and most Pawn Shops buy items outright for sale. The practice of collateral-based lending has been around since ancient times, but became a popular enterprise in Italy in the Middle Ages. In the beginning, pawning was practiced as an act of charity by the Franciscan Monks who lent money on tangible goods without charging interest. It has been reported that this enterprise was picked up on by the famous Italian banking family, the Medici's who then turned it into a for-profit business.

Pawn Shops have grown by leaps and bounds in the United States - especially in the last 5 years. We are very familiar with the famous Pawn Shop in Las Vegas depicted in the hit reality television show Pawn Stars. A Pawn Shop in Georgia is credited with the beginning one of the first online pawn shops and a Pawn Shop in Los Angeles recently helped police nab a burglary suspect by following the trail of stolen goods. And, if you're looking for a Pawn Shop in Florida you don't need to look far as the latest consensus shows Dade County Florida having more pawn shops than any other country due to the flailing economy. Pawn Shops are a fixture of the American business landscape and will surely continue to grow be so for centuries to come.

Ruby - July Stone of the Month

A new month brings a new Stone of the Month. The Stone of the Month for July is Ruby. Ruby is considered one of the four precious stones and is a red variety of the mineral Corundum. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Ruby is the birthstone for July and also a traditional gift for those celebrating 15th or 40th anniversaries.

Here at Gems N’ Loans we take our gems seriously and Ruby is no exception! Throughout the month of June we are offering 50% off the Stone of the Month, some exclusions may apply. Come in today and take a look at our selection.