Do you know the Golds from truTV’s reality show Hardcore Pawn? Patriarch Les owns Detroit’s largest pawnshop and starred with niece Karen and kids Seth and Ashley. The fam filmed nine seasons over six years – until last year, when Ashley, known for her tough small-screen persona, split to focus on herself, her kids and a new online store, Pawn Chick Shopping.
“People thought of me very differently when I was on the show. I basically had to reinvent myself,” she says. “I knew that there was more being offered to me out there. Now I’m able to be there for my kids more, and I’m having fun.”
Gold, an Oakland County mom of two, ages 8 and 10, started working in her dad’s shop at age 7. Even then, she knew that she wanted to be a pawnbroker. So she studied at Michigan State University and the Gemological Institute of America, where she got her certification in diamonds.
“I always loved not knowing what was going to enter the pawn broking world or what was going to walk through the door that day.” Gold gets that same thrill when she hooks a customer up with new jewelry.
She opened her web shop about six months ago and carries a constantly changing inventory of some 500 new (not pawned or previously used) costume and real jewelry pieces, purses, bags and other accessories, plus specially engraved nameplates and rings for kids, teens, men, women and grandparents. She also worked with another designer to develop custom rings for moms.
“I wanted to be the one-stop-shop for everybody for jewelry,” she says.
Gold also keeps busy with her Friday podcast, pawnchickradio.com, where she interviews celebrities, and runs a journal-style blog that updates on Tuesdays. She’s currently training to run the upcoming Detroit Free Press marathon with the support of her family.
“Being a mom, that’s the most rewarding job of all. Whether I was the troop leader or PTO president, while working at the store, I’m always able to multitask – and be a mom.”
Pawn Chick Shopping
Gold’s online store stocks women’s hair accessories, necklaces, earrings, chains and bags and men’s bracelets, cufflinks, money clips and key chains, plus bracelets and rings. Inventory changes up to five times a week. Prices range $15-$3,000. Shop at pawnchickshopping.com and call 800-914-0248 for more info.
