On East Street in Bedminster, there’s a cluster of pawn brokers offering quick loans to customers against the value of their personal goods in what’s often dubbed “the world’s second oldest profession”.
Despite the dubious reputation that these businesses may have, Jack Woodman of Jack’s Cash, one of the few independent pawn brokers in the area, prides himself on doing things a bit differently. He runs his business with transparency and competitive pricing, which means he is increasingly offering a lifeline for other business owners in the area during the cost of living crisis.
With inflation at a 40-year high, energy bills soaring, and wages stagnant, it’s unsurprising that demand for pawnbroking services is currently at record levels.
