HOUSTON -- The pawn industry is a booming business in the economic downturn, and both buyers and sellers are a new mix of clientèle, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

Amy Pritchett walked into Wright's Pawn Shop in southwest Houston with some gold bracelets and a necklace her grandmother gave her. Although it is hard to part with the gifts, Pritchett said tough times call for tough choices.

"I'm a single mother, so I'm doing my best to take care of my daughter," said Pritchett. "You have to make the choice between having money now or holding on to something monetary."

Pritchett is not alone. Each piece at Wright's Pawn Shop tells a similar story.

Pamela Wright owns the store with her husband and showed KPRC a $7,000 diamond jewelery set.

"The young woman sold it to keep her mortgage and keep her family in tact," said Wright.

She then pointed to a Louis Vuitton purse that looked nearly brand new.

"This Louis Vuitton handbag was from a woman who invested with Bernie Madoff and was in the fallout of all the investment situations," said Wright.

Lately, the Wrights said they're seeing a new type of customer, including women and the elderly.

They said several people tell stories of paying off their mortgage, their payrolls, and making ends meet.

In the store's 17 years, the owners have never seen this much business.

It isn't just pawns and loans that are up. Sales are also up 30 percent since this time last year.

They said the quality and quantity of their inventory are increasing as people attempt to get rid of items that aren't necessities.

But making the decision to leave beloved items is never easy.

"It's a tough one," said Pritchett. "It takes a couple of days to really finally walk through the door and say, 'I'm gonna give this away now,' but when you have to do it, you have to do it."