Jerry Whitehead, Pawnshop Consulting Group, LLC
As a second generation Pawnbroker with close to 50 years in industry with a world wide client base, this session will focus on a variety of aspects of owning, managing, operating, and working Pawn Shops on a single store level, multi store level and more for starters. With a lifelong participation in the industry, Jerry can offer up a vast amount of knowledge about the industry itself. This would be any and all aspects of operations and more that participants would like to ask one of the only global Pawn and industry consultants today.
This session will be open dialogue with some initial direction as we begin, and will allow the attendees to ask and participate at any level they may choose. Very interactive, open, and up for whatever direction the participants may take the discussions. This gives the attendees an opportunity to ask real life questions about any aspect of the Pawn Operations they would like to inquire about and more. Pawnshop Consulting Group will share some amazing and fascinating stories about the industry and allow the participants to ask or learn any aspect of what we may have knowledge about. Should be very unique, and a real opportunity to ask and learn about real world pawn issues, concerns, skills, or basic knowledge and much more.
Michael Mack, Max Pawn Luxury
Are you in the Authentic Luxury Business? Are you looking to grow your loan balance and increase your sales? This session is for you!
Alan Nelson, PawnTrain
Plug and Play! Detailed workshop on how to measure your store’s performance. You will be provided with a metrics review of your location (s) or a follow up when you get home. Input your data, see your metrics, see how to improve.
Amanda Ellison, Chronotize
Come learn about the current state of this booming industry. Learn why you need to be looking out for opportunities to expand your activities in the pre-owned space!
Sean Makovsky, Marque Luxury
Sean Makovsky and Deanna Thompson will walk you through set-up to sale on how to be successful with luxury handbags in your store. With everyone jumping into the handbag resale market, we can teach you to set yourself apart. Learn what you should be paying at the counter, which one’s will sell that fastest, how to find the hottest styles and what you should expect to sell them for. We’ll also show you the correct way to market luxury and drive new traffic into your store. In addition to these topics, we will provide financials from five years of a successful pawn shop organization on the true financial impact this product line will have on your shop.
Anish Desai and Tiffany Bayley, Textmechat
Tiffany Bayley will reveal how she utilized Facebook Live as a tool to build and maintain her customer base, nearly tripling her revenue. She will discuss her formula for success including, the frequency key that she uses to unlock hidden revenue with existing clients, how this increased communication and helped develop true connections with clients virtually. Tiffany will present the basic tools needed to take your pawnshop’s revenue to new heights using the TextMeChat platform.
Steve Mack, Bravo
Omni-channel customers have a 30% higher lifetime value than those who shop in only one channel. Omni-channel businesses need less headcount to operate. These are just two of the many reasons to “get in the know” about omni-channel and improve the omni-experience for your customers and employees. Join long-time industry expert, omni-channel advocate and Bravo founder, Steve Mack, as he answers common questions about omni-channel: what is it, why does it matter, how can it help your business and how can pawnshop owners start executing Omni. This session is designed to provide pawnbrokers with relevant industry and consumer trends and actionable insights for how to grow a business without adding headcount, using omni-channel strategies. Steve will also share success stories using proprietary data from Bravo.
George Prout, Craft Lab Grown Diamonds
During the second half of 2021, American consumers suddenly embraced Lab, to the point that for all of the the Majors, as well as for many local Independents, Lab Grown Diamonds now represent over 50 percent of their engagement ring sales. We’ll discuss how Lab is disrupting the traditional retail jewelry business, and ways for you to profit from the disruption. We’ll also explain Lab pricing, and explore where it’s headed, from the standpoint of how to buy it, and how to sell it. We’ll also review the best machines for identifying it, so you’ll be able to continue to buy diamonds off the street with confidence.
LePrix/Entrupy
The demand for luxury is growing at an exponential rate, unfortunately as a consequence there is also a proliferation in the counterfeit goods trade. The cost of accepting fraudulent designer items can not only be damaging to your bottom line, it also can ruin your reputation. Entrupy and LePrix have paired up to share internal data about the luxury resale and counterfeit markets. This workshop will provide insights into what factors are driving the growth of the luxury category, what sorts of items you should be accepting/which ones to be extra cautious about and the benefits of protecting your business from fraudulent items with an authentication tool. Added bonus, don’t miss out on the opportunity to be entered to win a Louis Vuitton Neverfull!
Panelists: Tim Collier, Tim Collier, Brett Mastroianni, Morgan Jones, Kevin MacDonald
Many pawnbrokers are breaking the mold and getting creative by changing the way they do business. High-end art, high-end concierge pawn…and more.
While repeat customers might be your bread and butter, growth only comes from attracting new customers. So, how do you deliver the right marketing messages that reach the right customers in a noisy world? In this highly interactive and eye-opening session, Marketing and Customer Experience veteran David Avrin will show you how to craft the messages that dispel industry myths, communicate your true competitive advantages and attract first-time customers.
Want to know how a Pawnbroker Peer Group can benefit you? Join this session and grab a seat at the table with a PPG leader. Then test your pawn knowledge against other tables in a fast-paced pawn trivia quiz, followed by roundtable discussions. Which PPG table will emerge as this year’s Top Dog Peer Group? You will get a feel for how a trusted circle of your peers can lead to solutions for your business.
Jamie M. Hasty, SESCO
While so much remains challenging for businesses as they move forward in the ongoing pandemic, fundamental basics in organizational development and best human resource practices should be top priority for leaders.
This session will focus on the core of every organization: Nurturing the Culture. Participants will learn practical ways to implement consistent efforts toward ensuring that their valued employees remain top priority. This includes areas such employee engagement, transparent and frequent communication and a demonstrated commitment to your culture by leadership.
Next, the session will discuss how leaders can cultivate their business’ HR Policy and Practice: As businesses continue to operate, we must challenge our ongoing human resource practices in accordance with state/federal law, industry safety requirements and CDC guidelines. It is vital for owners to remain compliant with best practices and required guidelines, but more importantly, explore innovative ways to attract, retain and support our valued staff members.
A few areas we will review include updates to federal regulations, Company paid leave policies, flexible work schedules (including telework), performance management and general workforce development.
Panelists: Rachel Fitch, Natalee Fitch, Moris Adato, and Ken Huddleston
Social media’s currency is engagement, and there’s almost no beating live video that can get up to six times more interactions than regular videos on Facebook. Hear from Pawn Brokers that are using live selling on Facebook successfully and take the leap to go Live!
Panelists: Kerry Rainey (2019-2020), Tim Collier (2017-2019), Ben Levinson (2013-2015), Kevin Prochaska (2011-2013), David Crume (2009-2011), Fran Bishop (2005-2007), Brian Smith (2001-2003)
Moderated By: Boyd Naylor
Panelists: Rob Barnett, Chase Rainey, Jeremy Powell, Jason Wallace, and John Bocker
Moderated By: Johnny Whiteside
Back by popular demand, the Firearms Panel was the highest rated session of the conference last year. Hear experts discuss: staying compliant with pawned redemptions, rules and regulations you have to consider when selling firearms and considering your FFL with respect to liability for injuries resulting from a firearm or ammunition sold. Ask the panel any questions you might have about firearms in your pawn business.
Panelists: Beth and Adam Anundi, Chad Carter, Boyd Naylor, Bill Dawson
Moderated By: Lisa Little
More to come…
YOU get to choose the topics! What pawn issues are on your mind? We have left these sessions open to discuss topics that are the most meaningful to you. When you register, you will be able to provide your Hot Topic ideas. We will announce the chosen topics before Pawn Expo.