National Pawnbroker Magazine Spring 2012

The Cosmopolitan of Las VegasJuly 17-19, 2012

www.PawnExPo.Com

Official publication of the National Pawnbrokers Association SPriNg 2012

The pawn industry had an unprecedented year in 2011!

NPA_MAG_FEB2012.indd 2 2/14/12 4:52 PM

Spring 2012 | NatioNal PawNbrokers associatioN | 1

Early bird rEgistration Ends June 1, 2012. by registering now, you’ll save $250.

at this year’s event, the nPa is celebrating its 25th anniversary. in honor of this, we have in-vited Disney Institute, the professional division of the Walt disney Corporation, to present. built on the success that disney has experienced not just in the U.s. but worldwide, their speakers will teach you time-tested, best business prac-tices with a focus on real-life.

Just a few of their topics include:Creativity: How will your organization en-

sure a continuous flow of new ideas along with the innovative products and services necessary for success in today’s fast-moving economy?

People Management: an organization’s people–and the culture they create–provide the only true competitive advantage in the modern economy. are you receiving the return you ex-pect on your most important asset?

Brand Loyalty: you’re in the customer ser-vice business. With increasing access to infor-mation and alternative products, your customer is choosing where to do business based on the level of service they receive. How are you foster-ing brand loyalty?

in order to grow, you have to change, and disney’s speakers will give you the tools to make that happen.

disney’s presentation combined with our keynote speaker, Patricia stark from the nPa insider Video series, and our compliance work-shop, make for an incredible education line up. add to that the Expo and our diamond district, and you have an event worthy of a 25-year cel-ebration.

We had a great turnout for the nPa’s 2012 legislative Conference on March 8th. We focused our efforts at our meetings with our Congressional representatives on the federal charter and privacy issues. see our govern-ment relations Committee’s update in this issue of National Pawnbroker for more informa-tion.

in conjunction with our legislative Confer-ence, we launched rally Congress, a new web-based program that makes it easy for anyone to send a message to their legislators. Members and supporters sent over 252 messages to sup-port nPa legislative day efforts. and we’re just scratching the surface of what we can do with rally Congress.

thanks to each of you who went to the rally Congress website and sent an email. in several meetings, legislative staffers and members men-tioned the correspondence. Hitting them on sev-eral fronts at once gets our message noticed!

Prior to our trip to Washington, we used a member email blast and posts to Facebook, twitter, and our google group to alert people to log on and use our rally Congress site while nPa members were in Washington.

i am proud that nPa continues to grow in its use of new technologies to engage our membership and legislators.

You have to take five minutes and check out the rally Congress website. in three clicks, you can locate your representative and senators, review a letter supporting the pawn industry and send it. Easy! staff will be available at the nPa booth at Pawn Expo to provide hands on training for rally Congress.

you don’t have to be a member of nPa to use rally Congress! take the opportunity to share information about this program with non-member stores, relatives, customers, and friends. anyone can use it, and show his or her support of the pawn industry.

Creating more value for our members is the engine behind nPa’s efforts. but you are the driver, and without your involvement, all the technological advances in the world won’t help us move forward. stay informed and participate in our programs and volunteer efforts. reach out to your community and let them know how you provide value to your community.

And finally, go to Rally Congress and send a note to your Congressional representatives now!

did i already say that?

You have to take five minutes and check out the rally Congress website. in three clicks, you can locate your representative and Senators, review a letter supporting the pawn industry and send it. Easy!

Message froM the PresideNt

have you registered for Pawn expo 2012 yet?If not, It’s tIme!

kevin ProchaskanpA president

2 | NatioNal PawNbrokers associatioN | Spring 2012

table of contents Spring 2012

FEAturE ArtiClES

Win a Harley! 8this is your chance to lend your support to a good cause and be entered to win a Harley davidson Motorcycle.

nPA’s most Wanted 18do you know someone who didn’t renew their nPa membership for 2012?

#GUnVote 2012 44Join nssF’s voter-education registration effort.

CoVer storyPawn expo early registration ends July 1!Go to www.Pawnexpo.com and register now. A registration form and more information is also available on page 24.

national Pawnbroker is the official publication of the national Pawnbrokers Association (nPA), and is published quarterly. no part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of Dana meinecke, nPA executive Director. sale or distribution of any or all of the contents of this magazine is prohibited. All rights reserved. for more information on advertising or to obtain additional copies of national Pawnbroker, call 817-337-8830 or send an email to [email protected]. for membership information, email [email protected]. editor’s Note: This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the subject matter covered. It is provided and disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. © 2007-12 National Pawnbrokers Association: P.O. Box 508, Keller, TX 76244 • 817-337-8830 • www.nationalpawnbrokers.org

editor: Chris Pearcey, nPA Communications specialist, [email protected]; desigNer: Liza samala

in EvErY iSSuE

Letter from the President 1executive Director’s report 4Legislative Update 6member news

nPA PAC 9The Value of the Click 12new members 16new mentor Program 14membership meeting notice 20Pawn expo 2012 24

state Association Updates 34Human resources: exit Interviews 37Compliance 42Calendar of events 60Index of Advertisers 62

1844

8


First oF all, i’d likE to tHank tHE louisiana Pawnbrokers association and butch tinker for all of their hard work pulling together the dixie Conference. it was fun and informative, and i left feeling excited and energized.

nPa’s legislative day in March was very successful. this year we gave a boost to our efforts by implementing rally Congress, our online program that allows you to easily contact your senators or representative. Please take a minute to visit nationalPawnbrokers.org, and click on the rally Congress button. you’ll see how easy it is to use. then, be ready to use it when we issue the call to arms!

a Visit froM chiNanPa had the honor of hosting a delegation of pawnbrokers from China! they were eager to discuss the pawn industry in america and ask questions about everything from interest rates to government regulations.

the pawn industry has changed in China. in 1987, the government recreated the industry to provide alternative financing for business own-ers who want to expand but lack the funds. typ-ical collateral includes real estate, personal and company vehicles, and other high-dollar assets.

It is increasingly difficult to get a loan from a bank in China because of strict requirements and time-consuming procedures. the Chinese government feels that pawn is valuable channel for business owners to access loans in times of need.

PawN exPoPawn Expo 2012 is just around the corner, July 17th-19th. it will be held at the Cosmopolitan of las Vegas, and features the Disney Institute, one of the premier business development training companies in the world.

now for those of you who haven’t heard of this group, you may be asking, “What does

disney have to do with pawnbrokers?” in this case, everything! there will be six

sessions focusing on how to strengthen leadership skills, improve customer retention, deliver quality service, and much more. at the end, you will learn how to pull it all together. you will walk away with new tools and ideas for your business, giving you a new edge to succeed.

in conjunction with Pawn Expo, robert Frimet, CaMs will offer a detailed compliance certification workshop. This workshop will cover all matters relating to federal compliance with the U.s. Patriot act. Who should attend? anyone who operates a pawn store, purchases scrap metal or acts in the capacity of a money service business. Certificates will be presented to all attendees. space is limited!

Finally, we’ll have our Expo with 170 booths and our diamond district trading session. go to www.PawnExpo.com, for more information.

a New look for NatioNal PawNbrokerWithout a doubt, effective communication is important to our mission here at nPa.

our new Communications specialist, Chris Pearcey, is bringing her skill as a communication project manager and applying it to our print and electronic publications.

you’ll notice a new look for National Pawnbro-ker magazine! the interior of this month’s issue is fresh and more professional. it is cleaner and easier to read.

Chris plans to increase our editorial content, and keep it interesting and useful. With sources for articles that include our google group and our communications committee, you’ll see an increase in articles that you will want to read.

Finally, if you have ideas for articles, please send them her way: [email protected].

Welcome aboard, Chris!

executiVe director’s rePort

from louisiana to chinaALL In A montH!

What does Disney have to do with pawnbrokers?

dana Meinecke npA Executive Director


legislatiVe uPdate

legislative day 2012nPA members moVe oUr AGenDA forWArD

WHat WoUld tHis lEgislatiVE UP-date be without talking about our 8th annual legislative Conference?

March 7th and 8th, the nPa completed their annual march on Washington. over 100 appointments were made on Capital Hill, and 50 nPa members participated.

the conference kicked off on Wednesday evening with a fundraising event held in honor of Congresswoman shelley Capito, Chairman of the subcommittee on Financial institutions and Consumer Credit. Her key message to us? get to know your legislators now, and pay close attention to the new Consumer Financial Protection bureau (CFPb). and that we did!

the following day, we started with a break-fast fundraiser in honor of our good friend, the powerful chairman of the House Financial services Committee, Congressman spencer ba-chus. Congressman bachus also told us to pay close attention to the CFPb, and said it was an extremely powerful agency. it is vital that we make it clear to the CFPb how our product provides a much needed safety net for millions of americans thats keeps their households run-ning. Congressman bachus said that he sup-ports our industry, but can only do so much. if we don’t stay on top of things, others will, and they might not have our best interest in mind.

Prior to our departure to see our Congressional representatives, Cliff andrews provided an update and gave the attendees talking points for their meetings. our 2012 theme: Pawn is a unique product that helps everyday people attend to their obligations without the fear of a bad credit history and without the need for a good credit score.

noticeably absent this year was our fellow director, our mentor, and our dear friend ramona thompson. she lost her courageous battle with cancer and left us on March 10, 2012. ramona was an outspoken supporter of our efforts in Washington.

she continually spoke of the need for grass-roots legislative efforts, and believed that all poli-tics are local. she walked the walk and talked the talk! ramona was a leader in grassroots efforts before grassroots efforts were cool. she epito-mized the meaning of the words. she touched

the hearts and minds of anyone who came into contact with her. she will be forever missed but always remembered.

i know that there were many of you that didn’t get to make it this year, but i can assure you that you were well-represented. never fear, 2013 brings us new Congressional members and new opportunities to build relationships and tell our story.

on other fronts, the CFPb, electronic report-ing, customer privacy, and, of course, the Federal Charter H.r. 1909 legislation were hot topics in our meetings.

With regards to the CFPb, your governmental relations Committee (team grC) has been working diligently to make sure that, when the time comes to open discussions, we have a clear and unified message.

Electronic reporting and customer privacy go hand in hand. it is imperative that every nPa member pawnbroker be aware of state and local mandated electronic reporting legislation.

if you don’t do it, nobody else will. our position remains unchanged in that we do support the efficiencies provided by electronic transmission, but only when done in a responsible manner that protects and respects our customers’ and businesses’ privacy.

there has not been a lot of movement on H.r. 1909. However, it continues to be a topic you should discuss with your representatives in Washington.

i would be remiss if i failed to announce our new NPA Legislative liaison who offices in our headquarters in texas! Matthew Church joined team grC in december of last year. Mathew comes to us from austin, texas where he worked in the texas House Ways and Means Committee.

His duties are essential to our efforts in Washington and across the U.s. i don’t think anyone can imagine the volumes of information that we get daily. one of Matthew’s key respon-sibilities will be to sort, organize, and distribute this information to team grC, state presidents, and key grC personnel. He has already prov-en himself to be an asset to the team and we’re fortunate to have someone with his talent and enthusiasm. Welcome Matthew!

it is imperative that every npA member pawnbroker be aware of state and local mandated electronic reporting legislation.

larry Nuckols npA grC Chair

Legislative Update



support the NPa Pac and You Might win a harley!tHe nPA PoLItICAL ACtIon CommIttee (PAC) Is offerInG members A CHAnCe to WIn A HArLey DAVIDson motorCyCLe, AnD HeLP tHe AssoCIAtIon rAIse PAC fUnDs At tHe sAme tIme.

tHE 2005 HarlEy daVidson loW ridEr, WitH lEss than 3000 miles, is equipped with fuel injection and screaming performance kit and pipes. it’s being donated by larry and beverly nuckols of Pawn Management, san antonio, texas.

a maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. the drawing will be held at Pawn Expo in July 2012!

Please see the guidelines for PaC donations on page 9.your contributions to the nPa PaC will be used in accordance

with state and federal elections laws that fall under the prohibitions

and limitations of the Federal Election Campaign act.For more information or to purchase a ticket, contact Mathew

Church at [email protected] or 817-337-8830. the suggested donation is $100.

you may also complete and mail this form along with your payment to: nPa PaC, P.o. box 508, keller, texas 76244, or fax this form to 817-337-8875. When your payment is received, a ticket stub will be sent back to you. Personal checks can be made out to nPa PaC.

First Name: Last Name:

Street Address:

City/State/Zip:

Email Address: Phone Number:

Number of Harley Tickets x $100 = TOTAL

Payment type: Personal Check Personal Credit Card

Payments cannot be accepted from companies. Only personal contributions will be accepted.

Credit Card Type: Security Code on Back of Card:

Credit Card Number: Exp Date:

Billing First Name: Last Name:

Billing Street Address:

City/State/Zip:

Billing Email Address: Billing Phone Number:


guiDElinES For pAC DonAtionSYour contributions to the npA pAC will be used in accordance with state and federal elections laws, and they fall under the prohibitions and limitations of the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Your participation is voluntary and you may chose not to participate in the program without reprisal. please note the following:

•Federal law requires political action committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of each individual who contributes in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

•pAC contributions must be a personal check, money order, personal credit card or cash.

• individual contributions are limited to $5000 per year.

•Corporate contributions or contributions by foreign nationals are prohibited.

•pAC contributions are not tax deductible for federal tax purposes

• if cash is paid, no more than $100 may be accepted from any one • individual.

NPA Government Relations Committee Chairman, Larry Nuckols, (far right), poses with NPA newcomer Matthew Church and Lombard Financials Kathleen Owens in front of the United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C during the 2012 NPA Legislative Conference.

goVerNMeNt relatioNs

what is a Pac?by Matthew churchNPa goVerNMeNt relatioNs adMiNistrator

what is the NPa Political actioN coMMittee?the national Pawnbrokers association (nPa) Political action committee (PaC) provides financial support to elected officials who influence legislation affecting your business.

our PaC is voluntary and non-partisan, and encourages members to participate in the political process at all levels.

There are candidates and elected officials who are informed about our industry and qualified to hold public office. Combining resources through the PAC and supporting these individuals is one of the most effective ways to make our voice heard, and it is a convenient way for you to become involved in the political process.

whY are Pac coNtributioNs iMPortaNt?your PaC contribution allows nPa to combat legislation that could negatively affect the pawn industry. the PaC, combined with our government relations team, gives nPa the tools to support your industry’s political goals and growth strategies.

decisions made by state and federal legislators strongly affect nPa members and their families. They influence the way pawnbrokers conduct their business which directly determines the success of our industry. We need each of our members to contribute to the PaC so that we can work to protect and pass legislation that is positive for everyone.

don’t wait until there is a crisis! lay the foundation for action now. learn who your state and federal congressional leaders are and get to know

them, and contribute to the PaC so that we have the resources in place when we need them the most!

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W I N T E R 2 0 1 210 First Impression...Continued on Page 42

FEATURE AR TICLENew taxes will perhaps be the most jarring adjustment to the ACA mandates. The penalties for inadequate, costly, or lack of insurance are hefty, yearly, and not tax deductible. After 2014, any company employing 50 or more people full time must offer health coverage or it will be charged $2,000 per full-time employee, per year.

Businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees are not charged this tax. Employers who are penalized will not have to pay fees on the first 30 employees. Additionally, the employer will not be responsible for paying the $2,000 tax on employees who are in their first 90 days of employment.

Even a business of 50 or more full-time employees offering insurance can still be subject to staggering fines. If an employee is unable to afford the coverage available through his or her job, meaning the premium ranges from 9.5% to 9.8% more than of his or her household income, they may qualify for a “premium assistance tax credit.” If that is the case, the employer must pay either $3,000 for each credit recipient or $2,000 for each of the members of the company’s entire workforce, whichever is the lesser amount.

In terms of potential advantages coming out of ACA, smaller businesses may see the benefits of this law sooner than big businesses. Before ACA, over 70% of big-business employees had health insurance, approximately 20% more than employees in small businesses. According to the Commonwealth Fund in New York, the disparity between the larger and smaller companies’ health insurance costs will be reduced by numerous measures initiated by ACA.

From now until 2013, small businesses employing 16.6 million individuals nation-wide, will qualify for tax credits of up to $40 billion. In order to qualify for credits to assist with insurance premiums, small businesses must have “10 or fewer full-time employees for full credit and from 11 to 25 employees the credits may decline to 0%, pay employees an average annual wage of less than $50,000, offer all full-time employees coverage, and pay at least 50% of the premium.”

Another mandate under ACA tasks each state to set up an insurance exchange. These “marketplaces” are projected to provide a level playing field where companies can have access to high quality health insurance at a lower cost like larger companies.

Ideally, this would be a positive thing for a company like Conner Industries. But exchanges are limited to businesses with fewer than 100 employees until 2017. Companies like Conner Industries may not have their turn until it’s too late. Although the states have the power to develop an exchange

Continued, page 12


The NPA iPhone app is available in the iPhone App store


The npA iphone app is available in the iphone App Store


tHE nPa gEnEratEs rEVEnUE in Many Ways, and one includes your mouse clicks.

online advertising dollars are important to the nPa. When you explore the various websites and email blasts, you are helping the nPa continue to provide for the future of the industry.

the nationalpawnbrokers.org website has a strong pace of traffic, with over 10,000 visitors.

yes, each one of your clicks is counted, and each one gives our sponsors statistical evidence there is an engaged online community interested in the products and services they offer to the pawn industry.

iNforMatioN oVerloadthe nPa staff knows you are inundated with email, magazines and other forms of communications. We’re working to consolidate member communications to avoid information overload. We will continue to find new and innovative ways to broadcast industry news and updates across the varied platforms that our members prefer to use.

fiNd what You Needyou don’t have to wait for information to come to you! as a member of nPa, you have exclusive access to information in the members’ only section of our website.

Visit nationalpawnbrokers.org, click the Members only button (top right), log in and start exploring.

Do you want to save money? Go to the Members Only section of

our website and check out special members only discounts at Office Depot, Equitable Payments and the MyOSHA Store.

Got a question? You can ask an expert a question about the pawn industry

through the new NPA Insider Help Desk.

Want to keep current on pawn news? Visit the NPA online video

news channel.

Do you have the NPA Verified Seal on your website? If not, have

the person in charge of your website add the official NPA Verified Member Seal. This seal shows your customers that you are a NPA member in good

standing and that you adhere to the strict NPA Code of Ethics and Best Practices. It also gives them a portal to explore our website and increase our click-through rates.

Are you listed on PawnFyNdR.com? This website allows people to

find an NPA member pawn store anywhere in the U.S. and has been featured on Fox News.

MeMber News

The Value of the clickHoW A sImPLe CLICk strenGtHens yoUr InDUstry

if you’re too busy to read all of those emails, the npA posts great news and information on Facebook many times a week. “liKE uS” on Facebook for an easy way to stay in the loop

The NPA iPhone app is available in the iPhone App store



NPa announces New Mentor ProgramsHAre AnD LeArn

MeMber News

at nPa, WE bEliEVE it is iMPortant to ProVidE support and guidance to our pawnbroker members – especially those who are just beginning their foray into the pawn industry. to help in this endeavor, nPa has developed the nPa Mentor Program.

this new program offers novices the opportunity to learn about the industry’s best practices from seasoned professionals. Pawn mentors bring expertise and understanding while mentees learn to become more involved and a future leader.

Mentors and mentees who submitted applications in april have been paired up and will begin their year-long educational journey when they meet at Pawn Expo 2012 in July.

the mentor program was created to:• Help new pawnbroker members adjust to the profession• Foster future NPA leaders• Build knowledge for both the mentor and mentee in a variety of areas• Encourage an atmosphere of learning and creativity

• Connect people within NPA and broaden their networks• Create the opportunity for more involvement in the associationThe NPA Mentor Program is a membership benefit of NPA.

Mentors and mentees must be nPa members and able to attend pawn industry conferences, including Pawn Expo.

learn more about the nPa Mentor program and how you can participate, by sending an email to [email protected].

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” —benjamin disraeli

Is Work a Laughing Matter?

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 27

WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION

down-to-earth, family-style atmosphere of many pawn shops – but resist the urge to approach the boundaries of harassment for a laugh. It’s not worth it! You can achieve healthy humor that enriches and enhances your workplace without it. Stick with humor everyone can enjoy, support, relax with, goodhearted laughter that gives those great mental and physical perks!

So… what are some fairly safe “targets” for getting laughs?

• Yourself ! Your own flaws and quirks. Making lighthearted jokes about yourself puts people at ease and brings them closer to you. They can relate. Humility is charming!

• Situations you all face, i.e. new regulations, how busy it is, the industry, difficult customers you all deal with (with no customers present, of course!)

• Personal characteristics with low ego-involvement. Most of us are sensitive about appearance, but we’re less invested in other aspects of ourselves. For example, I don’t mind colleagues sharing laughter with me about my bad handwriting, my raucous laugh, or how grumpy I am when I get up at 5 a.m. for pilates and there’s no coffee going when I get there! They do it with affection for who I am, not with disdain or ridicule.

At WTN we’ve been using humor as a powerful training tool for 20+ years. We’ve learned that people are much more open to learn when we laugh together. Even the most resistant employees are engaged and enlightened once we get them to relax and laugh a little!

Let us help protect your business from conflict and lawsuits with our most popular program, “Workplace Harassment: the Real Deal”, available through your NPA compliance store.



pAWnbroKErSarizoNaNorth scottsdale loan Paradise Valley

califorNiasan francisco gold buyersan franciscosanta cruz Pawn llcsan Jose

floridaspeedy cash, Palatkaspeedy cash, orange Parkspeedy cashfernandina beachspeedy cash, Jacksonville

georgiabest Price Jewelers and More bufordPawnMart, AcworthPawnMart, belvedere, DecaturPawnMart, Chamblee, AtlantaPawnMartCherokee, AlpharettaPawnMart, ConyersPawnMartGolden title, JonesboroPawnMartJimmy Carter, norcrossPawnMart, JonesboroPawnMart, maconPawnMart, mariettaspeedy cash, Douglasspeedy cash, kingslandspeedy cash, Jesupspeedy cash, Waycrossspeedy cash, brunswick

keNtuckYdixie Pawn and gunCampbellsville

MichigaNgladwin trade and salesGladwin

MississiPPirings & strings, Columbus

New JerseYPawn usa, inc., trenton

oregoNa cut above Pawn, beavertonadamas/tigard Pawn 4 More Portland

keNtuckYdan’s discount Jewelrysomerset

south caroliNaa Perfect Pawn, Greenville

teNNesseeus Money shops, soddy Daisyus Money shops, Athensus Money shops, sweetwaterus Money shops, Dunlapus Money shops, rockwoodus Money shops, Dayton

texasall-star Pawn llc, fort WorthMontepio No 5 llcHorizon Cityswat’s loans, Lubbock

utahfamily Pawn, saint Georgefamily Pawn, Washington

ApprEntiCE pAWnbroKErSJamie boyceAppleton, WisconsinJamie smith, Dubuque, IowaJohn Thomasberwyn, Pennsylvania

intErnAtionAl pAWnbroKEr MEMbErScaNadaloanstar exchange ltdedmonton, Alberta

Mexicogrupo r intl #17, Queretarogrupo r intl #18, Queretarogrupo r intl #19, Queretarogrupo r intl #20, Queretarogrupo r intl #21, Queretaro

russiaNevskie lombardy, llcsaint Petersburg

plAtinuM inDuStrY pArtnErSJewel art incLos Angeles, Californiaubokia.comsan ramon, California

atM Network, inc.Hopkins, minnesotasparkling Jewelry, inc.new york, new york

inDuStrY pArtnErSPegasus Metals llcLos Angeles, CaliforniaThe Verma group, inc.Atlanta, GeorgiaN.e.r. inc.new york, new yorkamerings intl.new york, new yorkallied american underwritersCanonsburg, Pennsylvaniasouthern Precious Metals exchangeChattanooga, tennesseedaniel & co., Houston, texasgdesign llc., Houston, texaseastern lightingstafford, texas

New MeMbers

welcome NPa New Members

W I N T E R 2 0 1 216

FEATURE AR TICLE

PS: Well, we are going to address this at length during the keynote presentation at Pawn Expo 2012. In a general sense, the pawn industry continues to improve its image with the media and the general public through its business practices, store quality, service levels and professionalism. These elements need to be carried through into every aspect of the individual member’s pawn store. The goal will be to set the expectation high and meet that expectation when someone walks into the store—especially for the first time. If a potential customer has an incentive to explore the services of a local pawn store because of the positive information they are receiving via television or the media, the challenge is to deliver on the expectation set forth. This is “image follow through” and will be a successful way for each NPA member to really benefit from the good work the association has done on a national and regional level in the press and with lawmakers.

Look for Patricia Stark at Pawn Expo 2012 at the General Session and on the trade show floor at the NPA INSIDER booth. And don’t forget to check out the NPA INSIDER online at www.NationalPawnbrokers.org.


NPA Future Business LeadersSupport the future of our industry!



alabaMa earl’s Pawn & Jewelry, mobilelevy’s Jewelry & loan birminghamwade’s Jewelry & Pawntuscaloosa arkaNsasboll weevil Pawn & superstores, Hopecastle rental & Pawn #1 rogersJim’s Pawn shop, Jonesboro

arizoNaapache Pawn of Mesa, mesaa-active Pawn, Phoenixaztec Pawn & gold, Phoenixcarat smart, scottsdalecash box Pawn & Jewelry co. tucson

califorNiaMarket street Jewelry & loan riversideaaa Jewelry & loan, riversideall seasons Pawn inc/Pacoima Pawn centerPacoimaart’s Jewelry & loan, Whittiercar capital, orangechupal, dba long beach Pawn shop, Long beachdiamond Jewelry & loan #3santa mariadufree Pawn shop, el monte

el cajon Jewelry & loanel Cajonfairfield Pawn, fairfieldfashion exchangesan franciscofirestone Jewelry & loan montroseMission Jewelry & loanontarioroberto’s Jewelrynational CityThe estate Jewelry collection Palm Deserttrader stan, Jackson coloradoadvantage Pawn, Auroraalpha Pawn, englewoodloveland Pawn, LovelandNational Pawn, Denversharpy’s auto Pawn & sales Pueblo

coNNecticutbrass city Pawn, WaterburyPawn king inc., stratford

delawarecaP of kent county/cash advance Plus, Dover

NPa’s Most wantedeVery member Is An InteGrAL PArt of tHe nAtIonAL PAWnbrokers AssoCIAtIon’s sUCCess. yoUr feLLoW PAWn brokers’ PArtICIPAtIon ALLoW tHe nPA to keeP A WAtCHfUL eye on WAsHInGton AnD ProVIDe benefICIAL CommUnICAtIons AnD member serVICes.

We haven’t received 2012 renewals for the pawnbrokers listed here. Please contact Margie swoyer, director of Membership at [email protected] and renew today.

remember, there is strength in numbers!

“You can’t build a society purely on interests, you need a sense of belonging” - Valery giscard d’estaing

We must all hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately. ~benjamin franklin


MeMber News

floridaaa Pawn coin & JewelryHudsonalachua Pawn & JewelryAlachuaa better Jewelry store/bits & Pieces, north miami beachanything Pawn & auctionfort Walton beachbest Value Pawn, fort Piercecarbucks of ga, tampacarrollwood Pawnbrokers tampacash it in, bunnelld & P Pawn, fort Lauderdaleez cash PawnWest Palm beachfolmar gun & PawntallahasseeJax Jewelry & PawnJacksonvilleMoney brokers, HialeahPawn star, bradentonPublic Pawn & JewelryHollywoodsouth florida gun & Pawn LakelandThe kings Pawn of sw floridaVenice

georgiaValued services, Atlantaalcovy Jewelry & PawnCovingtonfirst choice Jewelry & PawnValdostagateway Jewelry & PawnAthensgold and silver PawnHinesvillei deal Jewelry & Pawn, roswellrMb Pawn/wellston Pawnfort Valley

southland Pawn & JewelryValdostaThe Platinum Pawn coCleveland

illiNoisrJ Jewelry & loan coGlendale Heightsaa classic/windy city Jewelers, evanstonNew York Jewelers & collateral, ChicagoNorth star Jewelry & loanWheeling

iNdiaNasurplus store & exchangeLafayette

kaNsasall state Pawn & JewelrytopekaMoney town Pawn shopWichita

louisiaNaamerican Pawn, baton rougePawn smart, Lafayette

Massachusettsliberty loan companyChelseaworld Pawn & loanspringfield

MarYlaNdsecurity loan & Jewelry company, baltimoreMaryland National Jewelry & loan, baltimore

MaiNeJ.r.’s discount & PawnsWatervilleJimi’s trading, Portland

MiNNesota14k Pawn, southgate

Missouridouble b Pawn, kirksvilleMetro Pawn, saint Louisozark Mountain Pawnforsythe

MississiPPifirst columbus, ColumbusMoneyman Pawn, Hattiesburg

North caroliNacarolina Pawn & gun shopCantondepot street Pawn, franklinfoothills Pawn shop, shelbyfriendship Jewelry & loanraleighPlaza west Jewelry & loanraleighrtc enterprises/chauncey’s Pawn, elizabeth City

North dakotaJay’s Pawn, mandan

Nebraska hastings Pawn shop, Hastings

New haMPshireMr i buy & sell everythingmanchester

New JerseYcrespo JewelryWest new yorkMerchant & associates, Union

New Yorkcash depot, new york

ohioPackrat’s Pawn, Defiance

oregoNa-1 hawk, Portlandcascade liquidators, sisterssouthern oregon loanmedfordworld Pawn exchangenorth bend

PeNNsYlVaNia woodland Money loan company, Philadelphiaedelman’s coin & stampJenkintown

south caroliNaamerican Pawn exchange ii taylorsfast cash Pawn shop of spartanburg, spartanburgMain street Pawn & gun, Dillonwoody’s Pawn shoporangeburg

texascedar hill Pawn, Cedar Hillclute Pawn & Jewelry, CluteMr Money freeport, freeportbill’s Pawn & Jewelrysan Antoniocoastal Pawn & JewelryAngletonfiesta Pawn shop, HoustonThe dirty 30/ bubba’s Pawn shop, Dallaswie Mac/bee county Pawn & Jewelry, beeville

VirgiNiasuperior Pawn & gunVirginia beachPawn solutions, Lynchburg

wiscoNsiN silk Purse trading PostGresham

no man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.

~John donne

people may doubt what you say, but they always believe what you do.

~unknown

if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. ~henry ford


MeMber News

notice of npA Membership Meeting: July 17, 2012To All NPA Members:

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Membership Meeting of the Members of the National Pawnbrokers Association will be held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada on July 17, 2012 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. to elect Board of Directors for the ensuing year, to receive reports by the Officers and Chairpersons of Committees, and for the transaction of any other business that may be properly brought before it. Breakfast will be served.

Proxy voting is not permitted. The only individual entitled to vote is the one listed as the representative of the regular member on the membership roster of the Association.

Kathy Pierce SecretaryNational Pawnbrokers Association

NPA_MAG_FEB2012.indd 30 2/14/12 4:54 PM NPA_MAG_FEB2012 (deleted 4f3ae272-1fcd000-ab1336ae).indd 31 2/16/12 7:58 PM

Welcome Reception

Sponsored By

npA 25th Anniversary celebrationStep into a night of glitz and glamour. This year we are celebrating the25th Silver Anniversary of the National Pawnbrokers Association.

Come dressed in your Las Vegas best and enjoy the biggest and best party Pawn Expo has ever thrown!

This year’s Welcome Reception ends at 9:00pm, giving you plenty of time to paint the town red.

tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

NPA 25th Silver Anniversary www.PawnExpo.com

the cosmopolitan of las Vegas3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109

npA Room RAteCity Room/Terrace Studio single/double: $139.00Terrace Suite: $500.00

Reservations and Resort Services: 877-551-7772www.CosmopolitanLasVegas.comReservations must be made by June 22, 2012 to receive the NPA Rate

Annual membership meeting and AwardsKick off Pawn Expo 2012 the right way by joining fellow members for breakfast at the Annual Membership Meeting.

In addition to getting all of the updates on NPA, we will celebrate this year’s award and scholarship winners.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be the first to know who wins Pawnbroker of the Year and Industry Partner of the Year!

npA Booth Curious about how to use the members only area of the website, what member benefits are available to you, or what Team GRC is doing? Learn about these and much more at the NPA booth during the trade show. Visit us at booth 205 to meet NPA staff and key members of Team GRC such as our lobbyist and regulatory council. While you’re there, don’t forget to purchase your NPA logowear.

National Pawnbrokers Association


STATE NE WS

In other legislative news, OPA has presented legislators our suggested re-write of Ohio Revised Code 4728, the Precious Metals Dealers Act.

In short, the Act would be amended to create a level playing field between pawnbrokers and precious metals dealers (PMD). There will be equal licensing, reporting and holding periods for pawnbrokers and PMD. Most importantly, the legislation will require anyone who buys precious metals off the street to be licensed. While this may not put a stop to the plethora of unlicensed dealers, it will go a long way in giving law enforcement and regulatory agencies the power to put these individuals out of business.

As always, OPA will continue to keep you informed of the current goings on in the State.

Finally, as of this writing, a membership meeting and continuing education seminar is planned for April 22, 2012 in Columbus at the Quest Conference Center. This meeting will address some very important issues. Please mark your calendars. Your attendance is strongly encouraged.


largest city, currently has three independent operators, and the remaining stores are owned by the big three public companies.

ohiolou tansky, Presidentohio Pawnbrokers AssociationUncle ben’s Pawn shopCleveland, oH

by tHE tiME yoU rEad tHis, WE Will HaVE Had our 2012 annual membership meeting. i am hopeful ohio pawnbrokers were able to attend this meeting because we are under attack in the state of ohio.

While the past several years have been relatively problem free, recently we are experiencing much more aggressive, and unwarranted, action on the part of law enforcement and prosecutors.

We have received word of numerous incidents where police are ordering pawnbrokers to provide information in daily reports in excess of what is required by the ohio revised Code. in some

cases, police have intentionally been giving our members false information regarding their reporting requirements.

the ohio Pawnbrokers association (oPa) continues to support its members. While we cannot act as their legal representative, we do have legal counsel available to provide suggestions to help solve problems with law enforcement.

additionally, we will continue to communicate with law enforcement and educate them on the reporting requirements under ohio revised Code 4727.

Some law enforcement officials are insisting information in your daily reports be provided to third-party, private electronic reporting services such as leads online. our legal advisors have strongly suggested that you not use such services. it is our belief that doing so may be a violation of the federal gramm-leach-bliley act which addresses the dissemination of non-public information in a private financial transaction.

you do not need to provide this information in these reports. if you are directly contacted by law enforcement for any information on any transaction, either by phone or in person, by all means assist them in any way possible. However, you may be placing your business at risk by providing any additional information in your daily reports.

several county prosecutors around the state have insisted that pawnbrokers give allegedly stolen merchandise directly back to the victims, ignoring the pawnbroker’s rights under the ohio revised Code and protections under due process.

the oPa remains strongly opposed to these attempts to deny pawnbrokers their rights and protections. We are helping our members fight these attempts. However, this is where I need to remind each of you that you, as a pawnbroker and member of the oPa and national Pawnbrokers association, must join the fight. We cannot do it alone.

state News

(From page 34) STATE NE WS

Indiana, as well as many other states, has been a hotbed of activity, with new pawn shops opening and others being bought and sold.

Many industry associations have concerns about public companies buying member stores and then not supporting the association—they

just drop their membership. Indiana is feeling the pain. However, the Indiana

Pawnbrokers Association (IPA) is still maintaining over 50% of non-public operators as members.

In November of 2011, IPA sponsored a GIA Diamond Grading Class in Indianapolis, which sold out. Five diamond buyers were invited to buy from those bringing goods to sell. IPA will be sponsoring a class again in October or November of 2012.

This year the Midwest Pawn Convention will be held in Indianapolis, May 18th-20th. There will be an amazing roster of timely educational seminars and a variety of vendors. This event site is close to Indianapolis International Airport, and easily accessible from the many interstate highways that intersect Indianapolis.

The exhibit hall is sold out, and the attendee fee has been reduced another $20 again this year!

There are a number of legislative issues that the Ohio Pawnbrokers Association (OPA) is currently working on.

Senate Bill 262 was recently introduced as a re-write to certain sections of the Ohio Pawnbrokers Act (ORC 4727). This legislation was initiated by the large, multi-national, Texas-based payday loan corporation, Cash America. This was a response to earlier attempts to re-write 4727 and drastically impede competition through the legislative process.

In that earlier attempt, OPA successfully delivered our message that, as representatives of the pawn industry in Ohio, the proposed legislation was one company’s

attempt to put independents out of business and take over the

pawn industry within the state.

The new legislation will be much more difficult to fight. Cash America has pulled out all the stops and is doing everything they can to influence our legislators.

This is where you, as a member of OPA, needs to step in. We need every member, all your employees, your family, friends and neighbors to contact your elected officials to let them know you oppose SB262. Tell them this legislation is not supported by the industry and would create undue hardships on pawnbrokers across the state.

Please take the time to protect your industry.

INDIANA OHIO

Alta Diamonds, LLCWe buy and sell clarity enhanced diamonds.1.800.391.001262 W 47th Street, Ste 302Ph: 212-221-9808, Fax: 212-221-9800www.altadiamonds.net


... We are under attack in the State of ohio.

Press reLeAsesPlease send your company’s press releases to

chris Pearcey, [email protected]. we’d love to know what is going on!


tHE last tiME i Was singlE, i Was fortunate to have some maturity going for me. i realized that when things had to end, it was often within my power to end things well. on more than one occasion, i actually conducted personal “exit interviews” which created understanding and closure…but that’s another story for a different magazine!

the relationship between employer and em-ployee can be just as intense as a romance. there are a lot of big emotions involved: status, achieve-ment, security, etc. one opportunity for business owners to end things well is an exit interview.

exit iNterView faQ’sshould exit interviews be conducted with employees who were terminated?

• Exit interviews are generally only appropriate for employees who are leaving voluntarily.• Terminated employees often have hard feelings towards the company. they may offer some choice words that make them feel better, but are not likely to offer the constructive feedback you’re seeking.

why conduct an exit interview? • You can uncover and address potential problems, such as harassment, discrimination and workplace violence, before they turn into lawsuits.• Feedback on the positives and negatives of your workplace, if acted upon, can help you attract and retain the best employees.• It’s a chance to create a positive bond with departing employees who may return someday, be able to refer your company, become employed by a customer, or become a customer themselves. a departing employee should be viewed as a business asset.• It’s a way to learn about the employee’s future plans: Where do they plan to work? in what capacity? What are the pay and benefits?

• It’s a way to remind the employee of their obligations, i.e., the confidentiality of your information and other restrictive covenants.

who should conduct the interview?• For larger companies, the human resources (Hr) department should conduct exit interviews. if you don’t have a formal Hr department, either the owner or a manager other than the employee’s immediate supervisor should handle the interview.• In a very small company, you might want to provide the employee with a simple exit interview survey, and ask them to complete it and mail it back to you.

when is the best time to conduct the interview? a day or two before the employee’s last day. Employees are more likely to be forthcoming and candid toward the end of their employment, when they are less fearful about honest feedback getting back to their manager.

what should i ask? Here are some useful exit interview questions to choose from:

• Why have you decided to leave?• Would you work for our company again?• Would you recommend our company to friends or family?• What did you enjoy/dislike about your job?• What improvements would you suggest for your job/working conditions/ management support?• What do you think it takes to succeed at this company?• Could we have done anything to prevent your decision?• What could we have done to make the company a better place to work?• How would you rate the supervision at our company?

www.workplacetrainingnetwork.com619-794-2718kit@workplacetrainingnetwork.com

huMaN resources

exit interviews:enDInG tHInGs WeLL

by kit goldMaNPresident, workplace training Network (wtN), a Partner of the NPa compliance store


• How would you rate communications and feedback at our company?• Did you have everything you needed to do a good job?• Do you plan to continue working?• If so, where? In what job?• What are your duties and responsibilities in your new position?• What are your compensation and benefits in your new position?• What are they offering that we aren’t?• While you were here, were you treated with respect?• Would you consider returning to work for us?

is there any information i must act upon?• If information is disclosed in an exit interview which suggests potential harassment, ethical violations, or unlawful activity, it must be immediately reported to the appropriate person in management. the company must investigate possible illegalities, and if found to exist, take immediate, appropriate action. • Under these circumstances, it is wise to consult with an HR or legal professional.

exit interviews can help you to do the following: • Prevent lawsuits • Attract and retain the best employees • Make peace with disgruntled employees who might otherwise leave with vengeful intentions

believe it or not, employees generally see exit interviews as a sign of a positive workplace culture. it’s viewed as caring and compassionate and shows that the company is mature enough to listen to criticism.

huMaN resources

For pawnbrokers who deal with so many regulation and compliance issues day in and day out, Hr demands can seem overwhelming, and they often get swept under the rug.

now there is a solution for you! turn to 24HourHr, available in your npA Compliance Store. it is your one-stop resource for Hr-related workplace information with access 24/7! Visit npa.theoshastore.com/60-day-special and enjoy 60 days access to this amazing online Hr tool for the npA member exclusive price of only $9.99! Kit goldman and Wtn partner, Memo Mendez, presented a seminar on Harassment/Discrimination/Wrongful termination at the 2011 npA pawn Expo. © 2012 all rights reserved.


state association updatesWHAt’s GoInG on ACross tHe CoUntry

North caroliNabob Moulton, Presidentnorth Carolina Pawnbrokers Association national Jewelry & Pawn, Inc.Durham, nC

tHE nortH Carolina PaWnbrokErs assoCiation continues to work with the north Carolina Criminal Justice information network (CJin) to give input concerning a potential statewide database for second-hand goods’ dealers. We have been well received by CJin and their members

there is a need for some type of common reporting system that not only includes pawn records, but also those from the rapidly expanding gold buyer and second-hand dealer industries. our two main goals are the following:

• Protection of our customers’ financial privacy • Equal interpretation and reporting under the law for all dealers in second-hand goods. as a side note, there appears to be a potential new player in the

pawn data collection business. a company called american law Enforcement network made a presentation at a CJin meeting and expressed interest in pawn data collection. if you have any information on this company, please contact me at 919-286-3333 or [email protected].

illiNoisdavid i. schoeneman, PresidentIllinois Pawnbrokers Associationshane’s - The Pawn shop Inc. Chicago Heights, IL

tHE illinois PaWnbrokErs assoCiation (iPa) had a record turnout of 85 pawnbrokers at our semiannual meet-ing February 26th. We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their support.

We had great updates on melee and metal, and we received information on the new pawn ticket wording required by insurance regulations. our state regulators updated us on their intended legislative initiatives and gave their perspective of the state of the industry in illinois.

the iPa continues to grow. the election of new faces to the board of directors bodes well for our future.

We are all eager for the Midwest Pawnbrokers Convention. go to midwestpawnconvention.org for additional information. the legislative session is in full swing at the moment, so we’ll have to wait for a few months to see what the future holds.

Finally, don’t forget to apply for your manager’s license if you are other than a one-person owner/operator shop.

louisiaNabutch tinkerbig A Pawn shopLake Charles, LA

tHE dixiE EdUCational ConFErEnCE and tradE show was a great success in March. We had great speakers and over 50 vendors selling and buying on the trade show floor. The louisiana crew did a fantastic job!

the regional shows continue to grow in popularity and are a great build up to the greatest Pawn show on Earth—nPa’s Pawn Expo 2012.

on the legislative front, we have been fortunate in Mississippi this year. We were able to kill the typical negative bills that were introduced. Many times these bills are introduced at the request of a legislator’s constituent and the legislator isn’t aware that the particular request is already a part of our state law.

We met with the banking committees on both sides of the floor, and their biggest question was what we thought about the pawn tV shows. through our lobbying and grassroots efforts, we have been successful in building great relationships over the years and allowing us to continue to tell our story.

i look forward to seeing everyone in las Vegas in July for the nPa’s 25th anniversary and Pawn Expo 2012!

iNdiaNagreg engstrom, PresidentIndiana Pawnbrokers AssociationAmeripawnValparaiso, In

Many MUniCiPalitiEs in indiana HaVE ExPEri-enced problems with cash-for-gold stores and various other gold buyers that don’t report to police. Many of these entities don’t even keep accurate records. these issues are leading to new ordinances that catch pawnbrokers in their wide net, causing difficulties for those who need access to pawn loans.

in Hammond, one of the state’s most heavily populated cities, all gold transactions must be by check. after years of educating the public that pawnbrokers are different from payday lenders, now we are associated with the gold buying operations, which still do not have any statewide regulation.

The pawnbroker’s license becomes more difficult to obtain as the state again ratchets up the pawnbroking statutes. the growth of the number of independent pawnbrokers in indiana is not keeping pace with many neighboring states.

as in many other areas of the country, the public pawn operators are acquiring stores at a breakneck pace, which is changing the landscape of pawnbroking in indiana. indianapolis, the state’s

state News

(Continued on page 40)


coMPliaNce

regulations That affect You!stAy InformeD AboUt ComPLIAnCe reQUIrements

by robert friMet, PresideNtrMf consulting group, inc.

as a ProgrEssiVE PaWnbrokEr (you are aren’t you?) who is attending Pawn Expo 2012 in las Vegas, you’ll need to avoid the gaming tables for just a short time and plan to attend this very important compliance seminar.

“Why me?” you ask. Well, as a pawnbroker, you’re subject to a bevy of regulations enforced by at least three regulators, if not more based on your activity.

as you know, pawn is a trade or business, and as such, your company is subject to internal revenue service (irs), title 26/Form 8300 requirements.

Many pawnbrokers are also defined as dealers in precious metals. knowledge of the requirements for such transactions and how they affect your business are keys to surviving an irs audit and having a successful future!

Expanded rules require an anti-money laun-dering program, ongoing training, internal mon-itoring, and independent reviews. all of these have been somewhat foreign to pawn stores in

previous years. stiff penalties may apply if a pawnbroker doesn’t follow the rules—and igno-rance of the law is not considered an excuse.

in addition to expanded precious metals rules, pawnbrokers must be aware of Office of Foreign assets Control/specially designated nationals (oFaC/sdn) requirements and have a mechanism in place that is able to ensure that your customer is good-to-go from a regulatory stand point. The fines for failure to comply, and thus doing business with the wrong person, can devastate a business.

Finally, there are red flag rules in place that are issued by the Federal trade Commission (FtC). these rules require a company to have a compliance manual in place with policies and procedures to protect customers from identity theft. these policies and procedures must include information on how data is shared, stored and destroyed. Under the FtC rules, companies must provide internal annual reviews, and outline and address any deficiencies.

Just when you thought you’d had enough, if you’re a check casher or deal with services such as wire transfers, money orders or pre- paid debit cards, you’re also required to have special procedures in place, e.g., an anti-money laundering program, with training, reviews and monitoring.

topics covered at this seminar will include:• Compliance for pawn • Compliance for dealers in precious metals• OFAC/SDN compliance • Red Flags compliance• Money Service Business compliance

think of this seminar as an all-you-need-to-know buffet in las Vegas, without the calories!

you must be an nPa member in good standing to attend this training. A certificate of training will be issued, and the training is free of charge. space is limited, however, so secure your seat!

robert frimet is the President of rmf Consulting Group, Inc and is a Certified Anti money Laundering specialist (CAms). He has served the pawn, check cashing, payday, title loan, and other industries since 1991. nationally, mr. frimet offers compliance programs and independent reviews; federal/state examination audit assistance; and payday/check cashing turnkeys. He can be reached at (702) 596-8370 (Pst), [email protected] or through www.checkconsultants.com.

If you don’t know the answer to these questions, it’s time for a compliance tune up:Are your staff aware of the differences between a designated reporting transaction and a related transaction?

What are the thresholds for filing?How and when do you notify your customer about a form 8300 filing?What does suspicious activity have to do with a pawn transaction? And more …


tHink oF yoUr briCk-and-Mortar and WEbsitE businesses as more than pawn shops, as more than stores. think of them as a center for voter registration and education.

Join Nssf’s Voter-education, registration effortbeCome PArt of tHIs WebsIte, soCIAL meDIA CAmPAIGn

by gleNN saPir, Nssf director, editorial services, and bill brassard, director, communications


the votes of target shooters, hunters and gun owners can make a huge impact in the United states’ 2012 elections. to assist eligible voters with registering and with evaluating candidates’ posi-tions on firearms freedoms issues, the national shooting sports Founda-tion® (nssF®) has launched gun-Vote, a voter-education website at nssf.org/gunvote.

to reach the most voters possible with this educational effort, nssF®, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, is encouraging twitter users to tag their election-related tweets with #gunvote and keep track of related issues on nssF’s Facebook page. you can do this, and you can encourage your customers, friends and family to do the same.

the gun vote website provides links to voter-registration information for all 50 states and a guide to the political races in voters’ districts. the latest polls and a selection of news articles are on the website, giving readers the perspective of journalists and others who are following and commenting on the campaigns.

How else can you become involved and help protect your rights as a federal firearms licensed retailer?

Make sure eligible citizens register to vote in the 2012 election. Educate them and discuss choices with them. Help them under-stand the importance of voting to protect America’s firearms free-doms.

The final step, of course, is going to the polls and, when necessary, helping others to get to the polls.

this may sound like a tall order, but there is even more that you can do. on your website, post the button seen here—#gUnVotE: don’t risk your rights—as a link to nssF’s gun-vote website. you can learn more, and get the graphic for your website at nssf.org/gunvote.

With so many Americans becoming first-time gun owners recently, voter-education efforts are particularly important for the 2012 election. Having exercised their second amendment right for the first time, new gun owners are acutely aware that the freedom to own and use firearms must be protected, giving them a powerful and perhaps new reason to go to the polls.

“It’s great to see that so many individuals have become firearm owners and are enjoying the shooting sports, but these freedoms require constant support from elected officials at the state and federal levels,” said nssF President and CEo steve sanetti. “Votes on legislation and appointments to the courts have profound effects on our firearms freedoms.”

Two landmark Supreme Court decisions reaffirming the indi-

vidual right to own firearms—the Heller and Mcdonald cases—were decided by 5-to-4 votes producing a slim, one-vote majority, sanetti points out. the next presi-dent might be in a position to appoint new justices to the supreme Court—lifetime

appointments—in the case of retirements or deaths.in the 2010 congressional

election, some 46.2 percent of women and 45 percent of men 18

and over reported voting according to the U.s. Census bureau. gun owners tend

to be more active at the polls than this average, but there is a lot of room for improvement.

“More gun owners need to vote,” said sanetti. “it’s critical that they do, and that they consider closely what candidates are saying, or not saying, about our firearms freedoms.”

Learn more at nssf.org/gunvote.

feature article

HoW iMportAnt iS A SinglE votE?too many eligible people don’t bother to register or to vote because they just don’t think their one vote matters. Following are some examples of how one vote made a difference:

• in 1955 the mayor’s race in Huron, ohio, was decided by one vote.

• in 1959, mayors of rose Creek and odin, Minnesota, were elected by one vote each.

• in 1994, the u.S. House of representatives enacted a law banning specific classes of arms deemed as “assault weapons.” it proved to be not only restrictive legislation, but also counterproductive in reducing crime. its margin of passage was one vote. today, many of the modern sporting rifles banned by that legislation, which long ago sunsetted, are among the most popular firearms purchased by Americans.

The Pawn Shop Bible



Payment in FullWithin 24 Hours!!

FEATURE AR TICLE

as they see fit, they are not required to set premiums at a certain amount. One purpose of the exchange is to provide individuals, and small businesses participating in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), leverage when shopping for health insurance.

The success or failure of the exchanges depends on participation. Insurance carriers are not required to participate in an Exchange. The fewer enrollments, the less power members will have when negotiating with participating insurance carriers.

The Affordable Care Act is hotly contested by many businesses both big and small, as well as those like Conner Industries who fall somewhere in the middle. As of the writing of this article, federal courts are debating whether the individual mandate requiring health insurance is constitutional. If it isn’t, where does that leave us? Will the exchange program be implemented anyway? If your state has one, will it last? What if you are already in one?

It may seem nearly impossible to cut through the jargon and rhetoric we have come to expect around any piece of

legislation and this article is far from comprehensive. With all of the pending judicial rulings on many parts of the law, even this information may have changed by the time you reach the end of this sentence.

You may have already begun to notice the effects of ACA. Some effects will not be evident for some time. The timeline for ACA’s mandates stretches to 2014, and some will not be fully enforced until 2016.

The NPA will continue to keep you up to date. It is critical for us to examine the facts in order to determine how ACA will affect our companies, our employees, and ourselves.

Whether it is an issue surrounding yourself, your family, or your business, the bottom line is money. What can be afforded, what must be sacrificed, what amount, if any, will remain at the end of the day?

The question now is whether the ACA’s proposed benefits to individuals will outweigh the cost to the businesses. And unfortunately, like Mr. Payne, we may be in for a rude awakening, and some tough choices ahead.


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To register for this program, go the Members Only section of the National Pawnbrokers website and click on Office Depot. For information on the Office Supply program, please contact Angela Hughey at [email protected]. For Copy & Print Services, please contact Lisa Bustamante at [email protected] or 817-304-3275.

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STATE NE WS

Indiana, as well as many other states, has been a hotbed of activity, with new pawn shops opening and others being bought and sold.

Many industry associations have concerns about public companies buying member stores and then not supporting the association—they

just drop their membership. Indiana is feeling the pain. However, the Indiana

Pawnbrokers Association (IPA) is still maintaining over 50% of non-public operators as members.

In November of 2011, IPA sponsored a GIA Diamond Grading Class in Indianapolis, which sold out. Five diamond buyers were invited to buy from those bringing goods to sell. IPA will be sponsoring a class again in October or November of 2012.

This year the Midwest Pawn Convention will be held in Indianapolis, May 18th-20th. There will be an amazing roster of timely educational seminars and a variety of vendors. This event site is close to Indianapolis International Airport, and easily accessible from the many interstate highways that intersect Indianapolis.

The exhibit hall is sold out, and the attendee fee has been reduced another $20 again this year!

There are a number of legislative issues that the Ohio Pawnbrokers Association (OPA) is currently working on.

Senate Bill 262 was recently introduced as a re-write to certain sections of the Ohio Pawnbrokers Act (ORC 4727). This legislation was initiated by the large, multi-national, Texas-based payday loan corporation, Cash America. This was a response to earlier attempts to re-write 4727 and drastically impede competition through the legislative process.

In that earlier attempt, OPA successfully delivered our message that, as representatives of the pawn industry in Ohio, the proposed legislation was one company’s

attempt to put independents out of business and take over the

pawn industry within the state.

The new legislation will be much more difficult to fight. Cash America has pulled out all the stops and is doing everything they can to influence our legislators.

This is where you, as a member of OPA, needs to step in. We need every member, all your employees, your family, friends and neighbors to contact your elected officials to let them know you oppose SB262. Tell them this legislation is not supported by the industry and would create undue hardships on pawnbrokers across the state.

Please take the time to protect your industry.

INDIANA OHIO

Alta Diamonds, LLCWe buy and sell clarity enhanced diamonds.1.800.391.001262 W 47th Street, Ste 302Ph: 212-221-9808, Fax: 212-221-9800www.altadiamonds.net


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Key Rally Congress features include:

• Taking part in NPA calls to action

• Discovering the names of your state and Federal representatives

• Sending your state and Federal representatives an email or fax; or you can click to call them

• Spreading the word with integrated social networks like Twitter and Facebook

Strengthening the NPA message to lawmakers is pivotal to our success. Rally Congress will be instrumental for our legislative agenda, but it will only be successful with your support. Our first call to action is a general “I support the pawn industry” message. We’re asking you to immediately take action on this petition and ask your friends, family and customers to do so as well.

Go to Act.NationalPawnbrokers.org

and get started today!

FEATURE AR TICLE



The Legislative session in Mississippi kicks off this month, and we will be scanning for bills that might affect us. Our longtime Banking Commissioner, John Allison, retired recently. He was a friend of the Mississippi pawn industry. He will be succeeded, at least for the time being, by Deputy Commissioner Theresa Brady, who has also worked with us for many years.

The Dixie Trade Show and Educational Conference is just around the corner: March 17-19, 2012. It will be at held at the Double Tree Hotel in New Orleans. Butch Tinker, President of the Louisiana Pawnbrokers

Association and Kathy Pickerell, Secretary of the Association, have been working hard for several months getting ready. It’s going to be the biggest and best regional show we’ve had.

If any of you would like to attend, or have any questions, text Butch at 337-249-9045 or contact Kathy at [email protected]. I’m also available at 601-212-2444. The hotel is right in the Historic French Quarter, and there is plenty to do in the Big Easy, so bring the family!

We will be having two additional continuing education (CE) classes that will occur after The Dixie. We are working now to settle the dates and speaker(s) and will be sending out the information soon

We are also putting together online courses this year for those who may be opening new stores in Mississippi.

What a great time to be a pawnbroker, and I hope everyone has a great year in 2012!

STATE NE WS

MISSISSIPPI

Continued, page 51


W I N T E R 2 0 1 216

FEATURE AR TICLE

PS: Well, we are going to address this at length during the keynote presentation at Pawn Expo 2012. In a general sense, the pawn industry continues to improve its image with the media and the general public through its business practices, store quality, service levels and professionalism. These elements need to be carried through into every aspect of the individual member’s pawn store. The goal will be to set the expectation high and meet that expectation when someone walks into the store—especially for the first time. If a potential customer has an incentive to explore the services of a local pawn store because of the positive information they are receiving via television or the media, the challenge is to deliver on the expectation set forth. This is “image follow through” and will be a successful way for each NPA member to really benefit from the good work the association has done on a national and regional level in the press and with lawmakers.

Look for Patricia Stark at Pawn Expo 2012 at the General Session and on the trade show floor at the NPA INSIDER booth. And don’t forget to check out the NPA INSIDER online at www.NationalPawnbrokers.org.



caleNdar of eVeNts

2012 MiDWESt pAWnbroKErS ConvEntionMaY 18-20, 2012Wyndham Hotel, Indianapolis, InContact: ron stempkowski, [email protected](219) 261-3173www.midwestpawnconvention.org

05/12

npA pAWn Expo 2012JulY 17-19, 2012The Cosmopolitan of Las VegasContact: Lindsay Wilson, [email protected](817) 337-8830 www.Pawnexpo.com

07/12

tExAS ASSoCiAtion oF pAWnbroKErS ConvEntion october 13-14, 2012embassy suites outdoor World, Grapevine, tX Contact: Peggy roden, [email protected](972) 506-0203www.texaspawnbrokers.com

CAliForniA pAWnbroKErS ASSoCiAtion 56tH AnnuAl ConvEntion AnD ExpoSitionoctober 19-21, 2012Hilton san Diego resort & spaContact: kim Andosca, [email protected](209) 786-5115www.CaliforniaPawnbrokers.org

10/12

SoutHEAStErn rEgionAl pAWnbroKErS trADESHoW & ConvEntionNoVeMber 9-11, 2012Westin Atlanta Perimeter north, Atlanta, GAContact: ben Levinson, [email protected]

11/12

We have all recovered from the holiday festivities, and now it is back to work.

Our Illinois legislative season is around the corner. There are a few bills related to our industry in the process, so we will be watching them closely.

The semi-annual meeting will be held at noon on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.

You have heard about the annual trip to Capitol

Hill to lobby for our industry. Don’t pass up the opportunity to join us. It is one of the most basic and amazing parts of our form of

government—making your voice heard by your legislators. This is your chance to participate.

This year Indianapolis, Indiana will host the Midwest Pawnbrokers Convention. From the cocktail party on Friday evening May 18, 2012, through the closing state meetings on Sunday, May 20, 2012, commerce, seminars, and the free

exchange of ideas about our businesses will abound. I look forward to seeing you there.

Let’s keep the Medici Cup in Illinois for another year.

ILLINOIS

STATE NE WS

Continued, page 52

NPA_MAG_FEB2012.indd 51 2/14/12 4:54 PMThe NPA iPhone app is available in the iPhone App store



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The nPA does not specifically endorse any entity and makes no representations, warranties or guarantees, and assumes no responsibility for, the products or services provided by these entities. The nPA expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising from the use or the performance of the products or services provided by these entities

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National Pawnbroker Magazine Spring 2012

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Transcript of National Pawnbroker Magazine Spring 2012