Although most of the retail industry is struggling, there is one group of stores that is doing well, pawn shops.

At Ozark's Pawn Shop on South Bend's west side, the owner says sales have been strong the past few months. Many customers are pawning items instead of buying or selling them to get some quick cash.

They say gold is by far the best seller getting the most value right now. The store takes everything from instruments, to jewelry, to X-Box games.

“Everything from tools with people cleaning out their garages... to a few minutes I took in an air-conditioner and it’s the middle of winter. People are in need of money and we are going to give them money to help them get by,” says Rudy Vegh from Ozark’s Pawn Shop.

At Goodwill sales have increased the past few months. The store has a 50-percent off sale every other Saturday to help people in need.