Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Re-Create the Oscars

The Oscars are coming! The Oscars are coming! For some, the yearly broadcast of the Oscar Academy Awards is a holiday of glamor, yearly retrospect through cinema and the sinful pleasure of fashion bashing a la Joan Rivers. Since 1929, the Academy has rated cinematography and all the contributors to the craft with their evening of awards. The films, directors and artists highlighted in these ceremonies come to reflect and shape society’s perception and experience of the world. Art has a way of doing that, and cinema is no exception. We can look back at Academy winners of years’ past and gain insight to the significance of literary allusion, memes, fashion, current events, social priorities and progress of technology.

We have an idea for a fun lesson of cinema history and appreciation - click on this link for a walk down the Oscar’s Legacy Lane and see the winners since the academy’s inception. Then come into Queen of PAWNS and find some of those winners in our DVD and Blu-ray collection. Take on the challenge of acquiring a particular year’s winners or highlighted winners over several years.*

Don’t have a Blu-ray or DVD player? Well, look no farther, we have what you need for a successful home re-creation of the Oscars at Queen of PAWNS. And we got the sugar to sweeten the deal. Until the end of the month, we are offering 25% off any DVD player AND one free DVD movie with your purchase. Purchase eight DVD movies for only $10 and any Blu-Ray movie for $5.**

Enjoy your night at the Oscars. Feel free to dress the part and have acceptance speeches ready. Oh, and because we just can’t resist...

“Here’s lookin at you, kid.”

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

*Inventory varies from store to store. Queen of PAWNS has no guarantee of title availability.

**All movies except for series or sets.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Home Remedies for Dirty Jewelry

There are dozens of creative home-made concoctions suggested online and recommended by good intended jewelry enthusiasts. Truth is, some of these household products could do more harm than good to your precious accessories. At Queen of Pawns, we use a very simple technique that has been proven safe for all metals and gems and leaves our jewelry showroom ready. After several inquiries about what kind of jewelry cleaners we use, we realize that we cannot keep this trick a secret any longer. So, this is how we do it...

What you will need:

Cooking pot

Water

Dishwashing soap

Stove top

Toothbrush

Towel or soft cloth

Hair dryer

Step 1. Place pot with water on the stove top. Set to high heat.

Step 2. Add just enough dish-soap to create a thin layer of bubbles.

Step 3. Remove pot from stove top after the water starts to boil.

Step 4. Once the pot is away from the stove top, add jewelry. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO ADD JEWELRY while pot is still on the heat source! (That would ruin your precious pieces.)

Step 5. Wait until the temperature is bearable for your hands, take a toothbrush, dip it in the warm water and brush away all grease and dirt from jewelry.

Step 6. Rinse your jewelry with fresh water, place it over a towel and blow dry with a hair-dryer. THIS IS THE SECRET TO HAVE IT SHINE LIKE NEW!!!

Other Important Notes

We have often seen it suggested that toothpaste be used to clean jewelry. Although this is an effective technique, it can also damage and scratch soft metal such as silver.

Vinegar also appears often in searches as a household item to clean jewelry. However, this is not suggested for pearls as vinegar dissolves calcium carbonate - which is what pearls are essentially made of. The rate of dissolution depends on the size of the pearl. Never soak a strand of pearls as this can cause the string to stretch.

For your gold items, protect them from discoloration by removing before entering hot tubs or any environment with the combination of chlorine and high heat.

Now That You Know Our Secret...

You can keep your jewelry always looking like it just came out of the showroom. Also, you are entitled to full bragging rights when someone compliments your shiny adornment from Queen of Pawns. Why? Because not only are you wearing a beautiful piece of fine jewelry but you were also smart enough to purchase from us! Why pay full price when you can get the same luxury second hand??

P.S. Don’t forget to pick out your Valentine’s Gift at one of our 5 locations. We have the perfect token of your affection from the glittery and shiny to the practical and electronic.

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Monday, February 4, 2013

Did You Know - February is “National Time Management Month” and “International Expect Success Month...?”

No, we’re not kidding...this is serious business, folks. Well, more serious to some than others. And we thought this would be a good time to mention ways for you to take the upcoming year by the horns and make it a great success. How? By better managing your time and getting organized, of course! Queen of Pawns has showrooms full of top choice electronic equipment to help expedite your tasks and realize your success.

With great deals on smart phones, tablets and computers Queen of Pawns makes it affordable to replace outdated electronics or improve upon your existing tool box of devices.* Now is the time to write that business plan, start the novel that’s been rolling around your head, make your presentations more portable or expand your reach to a wider audience with the assistance of clever equipment such as these.

Stop by any of our five stores in south and central florida and have a look at our great selection of iPhones, iPods, Samsung Galaxy, MacBook Pro and MacAir** at the lowest rates of the industry. Or find your most suitable iPhone, Blackberry, Android or PC for a fraction of the cost of new. Be smart, don’t pay full price, buy second hand.

For the manually inclined, organization may require equipment of a more rugged nature. All our locations have a fantastic selection of manual and power tools - again at bargain prices.

Participate in “National Time Management Month” and “International Expect Success Month,” and stock up your tool chest to build the project of your dreams. Whether your calculations are best configured on an LCD screen or with the simple brilliance of an abacus, Queen of Pawns has just the equipment you’ll need. And we’re serious about this month - Google it for yourself!

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

*Whenever discarding broken electronic equipment, please call your municipal waste services to determine the most responsible means of disposal.

**Depending on stock availability. You may want to call your nearest Queen of Pawns to check inventory.

Friday, January 25, 2013

SUPERBOWL XLVII - Kudos to the Host City, New Orleans!

In just a few days, football’s biggest game of the year comes to The Big Easy. From the town that brings us Zydeco, jambalaya, beignets, JazzFest and Mardi Gras, come January 30^th, it is certain that the same place will not disappoint and have every corner of the city glittery and swinging! To quote Mayor Mitch Landrieu, “New Orleans is the place to celebrate champions.”

Lucky are those who have the luxury to be there, live in the action of Super Bowl XLVII. Or are they the lucky ones? As fun as a Super Bowl vacation to Nola sounds, you will never get a close-up, slow motion, instant replay right in front of your eyes. At Queen of Pawns, we’re having our own glittery event, with rewards that far outlast a fleeting Super Bowl vacation.

Treat to yourself and your Super Bowl party attendees by replacing that outdated television with a flat screen from Queen of Pawns’ FLATSCREEN SUPER SALE! From January 26^th to Febuary 3^rd, get 35% off from our selection of plasma, LCD and LED televisions. Okay, maybe that doesn’t exactly replace the experience of a live Super Bowl game in New Orleans, but it sure is the next best thing!

All FlatScreens Are Not Alike

For those who are not familiar with the differences between the flatscreen televisions available today, here’s a quick cheat sheet to send you in the right direction...

Plasma

These TVs, are made by Panasonic, Samsung, and LG, range in size from 42 inches to roughly 65 inches. There are some larger models (notably Panasonic's 150-inch). Plasma screens light up small cells of gases (xenon and neon) between two plates of glass. Even though plasma’s are not nearly as bright as the other two, their light levels still create crisp images. They work well in dimly lit rooms (which is great for watching movies), offers high contrast ratios, saturated colors, and allows for wide viewing angles—meaning every seat in the house is a great one. According to Samsung’s website, plasma is ideal for watching sports or playing video games because it can track fast-moving images without motion blur.

Pros: Best black level & Contrast ratio, Best viewing angle

Con: Most energy consuming

LCD (also called CCFL LCD)

Electronics such as watches, alarm clocks, calculators, stereo systems and later computer screens have been using liquid crystal display or LCD technology since the early 1970’s. These crystals are responsive to temperature, allowing them to be in a liquid state. (This is why your laptop screen may act funny outside on a cold day or on a hot beach.) What is important to know when it comes to selecting a television that is right for you is how an LCD is illuminated. This type of television uses CCFL’s or cold cathode fluorescent lamps for backlighting. A CCFL is very much like the compact fluorescents only they are much smaller, run much cooler and have a rated lifetime of about 60,000 hours.

Pros: Most affordable of all three, Better energy efficiency than plasma

Con: Picture quality lost if viewed other than directly in front of screen

LED

All television manufacturers make LED televisions. LED TVs are actually LCD TVs, they just use LEDs (or light emitting diodes) as their light source, instead of the traditional CCFLs. This technology offers the brightest television you can buy - so you might want to consider the size of the room, how far away seating will be and if most of your television viewing is done during the day or night.

Pros: Most energy efficient, Better energy contrast ratio and black level than CCFL

Con: Picture quality lost if viewed other than directly in front of screen

Whether you’re at the 50 yard line for the big game or in front of your top quality flatscreen from Queen of Pawns, we wish you a happy Super Bowl Sunday!

P.S. Don’t forget...Valentine’s Day is just two weeks away. Find that perfect gift now - if not something from our great selection of jewelry and luxury watches, perhaps a flatscreen television at 35% off regular price?

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Planning Ahead : Layaway for Valentine's Day and Insights to Great Gift Ideas

Some of us have heard it said before that Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for redemption after a botched winter holiday gift giving season. Whether you were a successful Santa this past December or did a complete belly flop, now is the time to start planning and stay a few steps ahead of Cupid. Queen of Pawns is in your court and ready to help you keep spending costs down and the “wow” factor up this Valentine’s Day.

Based on consumer research, jewelry, roses, dinners, chocolates and cards top the charts in consumer spending for February’s sweetheart holiday. When it comes to the shiny gifts of gold and diamonds, you will get much more bling for your investment at one of our locations than if you went to a jewelry store. That’s because at Queen of Pawns, we sell our jewelry by the weight. At Queen of PAWNS low-cost, real gold and diamonds are not only a super mega gift, they are also a great opportunity of investment.

Not only do we have contemporary 10, 14 and 18 karat gold jewelry and all sizes of real diamonds at unbeatable prices, but if you are looking for something even more special than the rest consider a real Rolex, Cartier, Chopard or Vacheron Constantin luxury watch for him and for her.

If jewelry isn’t your speed, there are plenty of other fantastic gifts to express your affections. Electronic gadgets are great for him or her. Some ideas include iPods, smart phones and cameras. Or for a playful surprise, wrap up a home theater and a microphone and program the equipment to play “your song” as your Valentine opens their gift. If your sweetie is musically inclined, Queen of Pawns also has a great selection of instruments that are sure to impress.

Why are we mentioning Valentine’s Day a whole month in advance, you ask? Even though most shoppers wait until five days before the holiday to purchase their gifts, we thought we would give you some foresight so you can take advantage of our free layaway plan! There’s no additional fee and all you need to do is pick out your gift and pay a 10% deposit of the item. Pay off the balance within two months and the item is yours to take.

Don’t let Cupid sneak up on you this year, with a little bit of planning and smart shopping you won’t need the mischievous cherub’s arrow. With Queen of PAWNS, you’ll be sure to make your mark.

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 South Military Trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Happy New Year from Queen of PAWNS!

We at Queen of Pawns are very excited about 2013! As of today, we are rolling out our new social media program with an updated website, a blog, more activity on Facebook and Ebay, a new presence on Twitter and soon to come is our channel on YouTube.

You are encouraged to take advantage of Queen of Pawn’s New Year’s Social Media Presence. Learn new tips on how to optimize your pawning experience, stay updated on freshly available merchandise, sales events and deals. Use the social media platforms to ask questions, make suggestions, keep us informed as to how we can serve you better or just to say hello.

Be sure to like us on Facebook (Queen of Pawns) and follow us on Twitter (Queen_of_PAWNS) to join in on the conversation.

Up next week - Planning Ahead : Don’t Let Cupid Sneak Up on You. Come in to any one of our locations and place your Valentine’s gift on layaway today!