The best way to profit from Austerity Britain?

Pawnbrokers have enjoyed a lot of headlines in the past couple of years. But the game is up for them now, says Bengt Saelensminde. Here, he explains why - and tips what could be a far better way to play austerity in Britain.

I've spent most of the last five years outside the UK and I was a bit shocked on my return.

Strolling down the high street, I noticed something very strange had happened everything had slowed down. On one side of the street, a middle-aged man skulking out of a pawnbroker; and on the other, families milling around the various pound stores and discount shops.

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Bengt graduated from Reading University in 1994 and followed up with a master's degree in business economics.

 

He started stock market investing at the age of 13, and this eventually led to a job in the City of London in 1995. He started on a bond desk at Cantor Fitzgerald and ended up running a desk at stockbroker's Cazenove.

 

Bengt left the City in 2000 to start up his own import and beauty products business which he still runs today.