5 Ways Pawn Shops Help Anyone Starting a Collection

Collecting is a hobby that can be both enjoyable and have several practical purposes. It allows you to collect things that you're passionate about, of course, but it also builds organizational skills, teaches how to do research, and hopefully provides an appreciating asset for your portfolio.

And if you want to get into collecting — of any number of different items — a pawn shop can be a great place to begin. Here are a few ways it'll help the novice collector.

1. Decide What You Want to Collect

Sometimes, the hardest part of starting a collection is deciding what you want to collect. Today's collectors have more choices than ever before due to the wide availability of just about everything, both in person and through the internet. So you may need help figuring out what you want to focus on.

Pawn shops offer a huge amount of choice for every personality and interest. You might peruse your local shops and see whether you're drawn to anything from musical instruments to antiques to timepieces to firearms. And if you do have an idea how you want to start, the inventory at pawn shops can help you narrow down your focus as well so it's more manageable.

2. Find Good Beginner Deals

When your collection is in its early stages, you're likely on a budget. This means that the most expensive or rarest items shouldn't be your concern right now. Instead, you want good sources of lower- and middle-range items to form the basis of future trades.

This is a price range that pawn shops often work with and can offer a good inventory. Because most sellers of items aren't professionals or even collectors, you're more likely to get a good deal than working with specific marketplaces.

3. Sell Unwanted Items

A new collector needs to not only buy starter items but also to sell them as needed. One common problem for collectors is that they begin with too wide a focus.

If you want to collect jewelry, for instance, you might initially buy anything that you find beautiful or that has an interesting history. But you soon discover that your interests are organically narrowing to cover only Art Deco jewelry. So what will you do with the pieces that now don't fit your collection? Your local pawn shop is a convenient place to sell.

4. Find Unique Pieces

Because pawn shops trade in many types of goods that have value, you can often find more unique items there than at many other retail settings. Jewelry collectors value one-of-a-kind pieces and vintage items, and a pawn shop is one of the most likely places to have bought handmade or unique jewelry in your local community. Along with estate sales, local pawn shops may be your best bet for anything not run-of-the-mill.

5. Fund Your Collection

Most established collectors will tell you that collecting can become an expensive hobby. How do you plan to pay for it? Once again, pawn shops can help out. Unlike niche collecting sites or trade shows, pawn shops deal in many other goods that you can buy or sell for cash. So your old sports equipment, unused electronic gadgets, or vintage video games can fund your new collection of baseball cards or coins.

Where to Learn More

Pawn shops are a great resource for the new collector in many fields. Start planning your entry into the hobby world by touring the inventory at 2 J's Pawn & Gun today. We offer a range of continuously updating inventory perfect for any interest. Visit in person or online to learn more.