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business elite canada
H
OCTOBER 2015
By Emily Innes
Produced byTom Cunningham
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W
ith high-end jewellery and knowledgeable staff, Premier Jewellery &
Loans has been striving to change misconceptions about the pawn
shop industry.
Business Elite Canada spoke with Martin Strasser, who co-owns Premier
with his father, Ernst, about the “thrill of hunting for a deal and passing on
some savings” and about the important role the business plays in their com-
munity.
Premier, located in Kelowna, B.C., opened in 1995 and its focus has been on
building a best-in-class, single site operation, rather than opening less devel-
oped franchised stores. Their operation currently has seven employees in-
cluding Martin and Ernst. The company’s focus from the beginning has been
about treating their clients with respect and dignity, which Strasser said is not
the way many of their competitors comport themselves. Their motto for their
