The Business of Pawn Stores in SA – How they’ve had to innovate to survive.

Loading player...
GUEST – Peter Forshaw - Chief Financial Officer for Cash Converters Southern Africa.
In South Africa, pawning goods as a way to secure loans can be traced back to colonial times. Pawn shops that offered loans against jewellery, watches, tools and other comparatively small personal items of value existed in colonial Cape Town, and in other smaller cities and towns.
In modern times, pawnbroking has evolved from just lending against smaller physical assets such as gold and jewellery to accepting increasingly specialised forms of security. These days there are lenders that will accept business invoices that are awaiting payment, commercial property and high-value assets such as luxury vehicles as collateral on a loan.
12 Aug 2024 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Inside Alexforbes FY26: Strong Cash, Strong Capital, Strong Growth

Alexforbes delivered a resilient FY26 performance, with AuM and administration up 22% to R733 billion, a steady dividend, and 91% of revenue anchored in South Africa. CEO Dawie de Villiers breaks down solvency strength, client behaviour, digital transformation, and where the group sees growth in FY27 across retirement, healthcare and…
12 Jun 6AM 19 min

Pets as Family: Inside SA’s R10.4bn Pet Economy Boom

South Africa’s pet sector is booming — now worth R10.4bn and growing at nearly 16%. Trade Intelligence’s Andrea Slabber and Petshop Science’s Trevor Paxton unpack the emotional drivers behind pet spending, the tension between premiumisation and affordability, the rise of specialist pet retail, and what pet baskets reveal about middle‑class…
12 Jun 6AM 18 min

IP as a Business Asset: Protect, Commercialise and Enforce

Intellectual property is no longer a legal afterthought — it’s a commercial asset. RNMS Inc. founder Rachel Sikwane explains how trademarks, copyright, patents and trade secrets drive competitive advantage; the biggest mistakes businesses make; how to commercialise IP for revenue; and why African market expansion demands proactive IP protection.
11 Jun 2PM 14 min

SPAR’s New Leadership on Stabilizing the Business as HEPS Falls 53.9%

SPAR Group CEO Reeza Isaacs discusses the retailer’s interim results, with revenue up 3.6% but operating profit down sharply due to KZN distribution challenges, Black Friday overspend, and higher debtor costs. He outlines the group's turnaround priorities—from commercial transformation to retailer loyalty, debt reduction, and restoring margins—and what a “materially…
10 Jun 4PM 15 min

South Africans Pivot to PHEVs: What a 430% Surge Means for the Market

Cars.co.za Chief Product & Innovation Officer Alan Quinn unpacks the dramatic 430% year‑on‑year surge in plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) sales in Q1 2026. He explains what’s driving the shift—from fuel price pain to range‑anxiety relief—and what it means for dealers, resale values, and charging infrastructure. A practical guide for consumers choosing…
10 Jun 4PM 16 min