"Let's go" - the history of a post-Soviet pawnshop in St. Petersburg and its chairman

Abstract

Das Arbeitspapier über die Geschichte der Pfand- bzw. Leihhäuser in St. Petersburg ist Bestandteil eines durch die Volkswagen-Stiftung finanzierten Projekts über die Rolle der Leihhäuser für die Lebensstrategien einkommensschwacher Haushalte im gegenwärtigen Rußland. Die Studie beschreibt Entstehung, Organisationsstruktur und Funktionsweise der größten Gesellschaft in St. Petersburg mit einem Marktanteil von ca. 35 bis 50 Prozent. Die Ausführungen stützten sich weitgehend auf Gespräche mit dem Geschäftsführer des Unternehmens, einem ehemaligen Offizier der Roten Armee. Der Slogan der Firma "Let's go" spielt auf die Analogie zwischen einem Raketenstart und einer Unternehmensgründung an. (ICA)

"This detailed history of a pawnshop company and its chairman in Saint Petersburg (Russia) is part of a research project titled 'The role of pawnshops in the life strategies of low-income households', financed by the Volkswagen-Foundation. The researched institution named Ob'jedinionnyj Lombard (United Lombard) is a successful pawnshop company in Saint Petersburg covering a market share of somewhere between 35% and 50%. In addition to pawnbroking it runs a buy-and-sell shop named Ob'jedinonnyj Torgovyj Dom (United Trading House) and has ambitions to expand its business abroad. In addition to its own pawnshop service, the firm offers franchising to other pawnshops in Russia and developed particular computer programs for this business. The chairman of this firm, Nikolaj Bobrov, a former military officer, and his associates in the firm's management are entrepreneurs of modern type, who took the chance of liberation of the Russian economy. However, the management has to always reflect upon the politicoeconomic conditions in Russia in their decision-making. These make business a risky venture and set narrow limits to future planning. To have a lobby for their interest, Bobrov and colleagues engendered the Interregional Pawnbrokers Association in Russia. The elected president of this association is - Nikolai Bobrov." (author's abstract)