Loyalty Pawn's Three Balls Chronicle Volume 7 Issue 4

THREE BALLS CHRONICLE

VOLUME 7 / ISSUE 4 April 2024

Loyalty Pawn Family

SecurityAwareness

Store Manager Updates

Golden 1 Center Events

Monthly Sales

Monthly Birthstone Guide

Monthly Birthdays and Anniversaries and New Hires

Loyalty Pawn’s Core Goals, Values and Visions

Employee Services Corner

Team Loyalty!

Happy April! We have added some great new events, so make sure to get those requests in! The first, second and third place winners for the March Madness Bracket are listed below. Thank you to everyone who participated in the bracket competition!! We will get the prizes distributed soon.

1st place – Dominic Tognolini

2nd place – Lauren Lukowicz

3rd place – Justin Martinez

Thanks!!

President’s Letter

Hello Team Loyalty,

First quarter is done, tax season is over. We had a successful first quarter with strong pawn service numbers, we did shrink in our loan balance but that is to be expected. We have in the past pre covid dropped between 10-20 percent of the entire loan balance. This year we shrunk in our loan balance 5-7%. That is a good thing the seasons are getting back to normal which allows us to set proper projections and goals moving forward. Since Covid it was all speculation. Our sales were also relatively strong, in 2022 first quarter sales were the last Covid money quarter, we were down from there about 15 percent, 2023 was down almost 20% in sales. That means we did more in 2024 than in 2023 by about $20,000 which is a small number, but it is a step in the right direction. Our pawn service charges had significant growth which is to be expected as our loan balance had robust growth in most of 2023. Keep up the excellent work. With all the revenue numbers looking like they are headed in the right direction our expenses have been increasing and will continue to increase (as all of ours in business and our personal life) due to the inflationary period we are in, we are keeping an eye on those numbers also.

I hope everyone enjoyed the March Madness. I know I did as this was my first time ever playing brackets. Thank you for a strong first quarter and hope everyone has a great second quarter both at home and at Loyalty Pawn.

Gratefully,

Stan Lukowicz

Letter from the General Manager

Greetings Everyone,

Spring is here already! It appears the beginning of the year was just yesterday and here; we are at the end of quarter one. Well, much to talk about regarding the business for March and the whole quarter. This March, we missed the minimum sales goal for each location excluding Florin. Florin was able to beat their sales goal by 20%. Unfortunately, El Camino missed their goal by 24%, Broadway 18% and Roseville by only 1%. Great Hustle Florin!

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the top performers for the month and quarter. For March, Dominic T. got first place in sales followed by Ah X. in second place and Danni R. in third place. Congratulations on your sales success. The top 3 for productivity were Dominic T. got first place, David p. in second place and Danni R. third place. Thank you for your continued hard work!

The top sales performers for the first quarter were Dominic T. in first place, Norma B. in second place and Ah X. in third place. The top 3 for productivity for the first quarter were Dominic T, second place was David P. and third place was Norma B. Please feel free to congratulate these team members for their continued perseverance and hard work.

Since the first quarter flew by so quickly, we have noticed an increase in redemptions and card payments in comparison to business last year. The first quarter of 2024 indicates that the tax season was stronger than the previous two years and customer spending and confidence has risen. We have noticed the shrink in our loan balances that has tripled this year compared to the first quarter of last year. We are optimistic about how long this will last; however, we plan on store loan growth in the next couple of months. Until then, please continue to showcase our items and remind our clients of our phenomenal layaway program.

Sincerely,

Wayne Silliman

General Manager

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” -Albert

Einstein

Loyalty Pawn Family

Greetings, Loyalty family.

First things first, congratulations to Florin for hitting the 20% goal! Great job, Team Florin! As for some of the other stores, we have a lot of work to do. We need to become creative and utilize all the resources available to us in order to hit our goals and revenue numbers. We discuss this topic almost every week, and the key to success is right there in front of us. There's no need to reinvent the wheel. One of our successful strategies is calling back our clients who have layaway binders. By utilizing e-commerce platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist, we can effectively move our products. It's important to mention our layaway services and educate our clients about renewal prices compared to redemption prices. Many people are unaware that we offer renewals, so it's crucial to coach them during our presentations. Currently, service charges are looking very good, and loan balances are decreasing. This serves as a quick reminder to always inform customers about their renewal price and highlight the benefits of our layaway services. Additionally, gold prices are at a high point, making it a good tactic to sell gold and encourage clients to invest while prices are skyrocketing. Our retail gold prices have not changed, so it's a compelling selling strategy to convince customers to purchase gold or silver. Another important reminder is to always keep an eye on our security awareness page. It contains valuable information to help us stay vigilant and informed about potential scams and people of interest. It's crucial for us to be one step ahead of these criminals and protect our business interests. Lastly, this month we have the opportunity to get to know Jonathan Sinatra, an SLA from the El Camino location.

1. Who is your hero and why? Superman, he is the strongest being on earth and yet he still has weaknesses.

2. What is your favorite family vacation? Going to the jellybean factory when I was younger. Was always a good time spending it with my grandma and grandpa.

3. What did you want to be when you were small? I wanted to be able to test video games. I always had a fascination with them.

4. What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play? I love to watch play and watch people play World of warcraft.Always been into that game sense I was a kid.

5. What would you sing at karaoke night? Something from my high school days.

6. Have you ever had a nickname? What is it? I have had many nicknames involving my name John Jonny.

7. Would you rather win the lottery or work at the perfect job?And why? I would love to win the lottery, Working is good but being able to just be happy and invest money making money passively is where it is at.

8. Who would you want to be stranded with on a deserted island? No one they might try to eat me.

9. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? 2016 got to save Harambe.

10.How would your friends describe you? Someone who is awkward and says weird things.

11.What is the worst gift you have ever received? It would have to be movie tickets to a movie theater that isn’t even close to me.

12.What are some of your hobbies? Magic the gathering, Video games, eating.

13.If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have? Flying then I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere.

14.What would you do if you won the lottery? I would by myself an island with the fastest internet.

15.What is the tallest building you have been to the top of? I fear heights, so I don’t do tall buildings.

16.What is your favorite holiday and why? I do not celebrate holidays. Not really my thing.

17.What is your favorite sports team? The one that is winning.

18.What is one of your favorite movies? Scott pilgrim vs the world

19.What three items would you take with you on a deserted island? Roster, chicken, knife.

20.What was your favorite subject in school? History.

21.What is the most unusual things you’ve ever eaten? I am a really picky eater so nothing too weird.

22.Do you collect anything? Magic cards, statues, comic books, video games.

23.What three things do you think of the most each day? Eating, sleeping, and being home.

24.On a scale from 1-10 how funny would you say you are? 6 and that is because I am awkward.

25.Where do you see yourself in 6 months? Hopefully thriving in the place a work making the money I need to support my life and family.

Security Awareness

We want to bring to your attention a series of credit card theft incidents that have occurred in Northern California, including our own store (ours was prevented). We are sharing this information to raise awareness and help prevent further incidents from happening. Please be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect your business and customers.

Description of the Suspect:

- Gender: Female

- Appearance: White, slender build, blonde hair

- Tattoos: Located on the right side of her chest

- Known Aliases: Katie Hill, Ashley Fink

Modus Operandi:

The suspect targets jewelry stores and pawn shops, specifically seeking high-value items like gold chains. She employs a specific strategy to deceive store owners and employees. Here are the common patterns observed in her activities:

1. Initial Interaction:

- The suspect expresses interest in men's gold chains or bracelets and asks to see them.

- When provided with the price, she immediately agrees to purchase the item.

2. Engagement Rings:

- The suspect inquires about the engagement ring section and asks whether the diamonds are lab-grown or natural.

- She requests to see a diamond ring and again responds positively to the price.

3. Payment Method:

- The suspect attempts to pay using Apple Pay.

- If Apple Pay is not accepted, she asks if the card number can be manually entered.

- It is important to note that this is a fraudulent activity, and manual entry of card numbers should never be allowed.

Accomplice:

The suspect is often accompanied by a tall, medium-built African American male. They work together to deceive and distract store employees.

Preventive Measures:

To protect your store and customers from such incidents, we recommend implementing the following measures:

1. Employee Training:

- Educate your staff about common scams and fraudulent activities.

- Teach them to verify payment methods and identify suspicious behavior.

2. Increase Security:

- Install security cameras inside and outside your store.

- Improve door buzzer systems and always exercise caution when allowing entry.

3. Jewelers Helping Jewelers:

- Join the "Jewelers Helping Jewelers Crime Alert" program.

- This initiative aims to share information about suspicious individuals and incidents within the jewelry industry.

- Consider creating a "Wall of Shame" in the back of your store to display photos or descriptions of known suspects.

4. Stay Informed:

- Regularly check local crime alerts and law enforcement bulletins for updates on criminal activities in your area.

- Share information with other jewelers and participate in community crime prevention groups.

Our Experience:

We were fortunate to have avoided falling victim to this individual due to the keen observation of our manager, Justin. He recognized the suspect from the "Pawn Brokers Helping Pawn Brokers Crime Alert" page on Facebook and took immediate action to protect our store and assets.

Let's work together to ensure the safety and security of our businesses. If you have any information regarding these incidents or the suspect, please contact the local authorities. Stay alert, stay safe!

Shop Talk Manager Updates

El Camino

Our Team Loyalty,

March Madness has drawn to a close, and as we transition into the second quarter, the dedication of Loyalty Pawn to delivering the best customer service and unbeatable deals remains superb. Reflecting on our performance in March, Team El Camino showed great momentum but fell short in the final stretch, securing the third spot with sales totaling $54,206.43. While third place for us is unsettling, we're not settling for anything less than excellence.

Now, as we embark on April, our sights are set higher with a target of $70,000 in sales. It's time for Team El Camino to regenerate our efforts and push ourselves further. Alongside our sales objectives, we're also aiming to surpass Florin with a milestone of 1,500 positive reviews. Strengthening our reputation and fostering customer satisfaction remain paramount!

With the arrival of spring, it's also the season for cleaning and tackling allergies for those who have them. As we spruce up our store and stock up on inventory, we're also focusing on increasing layaway balances to meet our targets. Despite the absence of major holidays this month, we're determined to make April a standout month for Loyalty Pawn.

Let's channel our energy and determination into achieving our goals, leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of success. Together, we can make April a month of triumph for Team El Camino. Let's get to work!

Cheers, Tony Mora

Roseville

Hello Team Loyalty,

As we step into the second quarter of the year, we're fueled with energy and determination to conquer new heights. Last month was a tight race landing us in the runner-up spot for sales. While we came so close to hitting our sales goal, it's only inspired us to push harder and reach even greater heights this month. A special shoutout is in order for one of our remarkable team members, Dom. Dom has consistently demonstrated excellence in sales, securing his position as a leader in driving our success. We're thrilled to announce that Dom has taken on the awesome role of Sales Coach for our Roseville team. His dedication to the growth and success of our team members is truly commendable, and we're confident that under his guidance, we'll soar to new heights together. Let's channel Dom's spirit of dedication and commitment. Let's rally together, support one another, and strive towards our collective goal. With Dom leading the charge and each one of us giving our best, there's no doubt that we'll surpass our sales goal. Together, we're unstoppable!

Justin Martinez

Broadway

Hello Team,

The atmosphere in our team is brimming with joy and enthusiasm as we diligently work together to maintain the store's cleanliness and ensure smooth operations. With a shared commitment to excellence, we tackle inventory issues promptly, efficiently fixing and managing stock to meet customer demands. As we glance ahead to the upcoming summer months, there's a palpable sense of anticipation among us, eager to serve our customers with the finest products and services while embracing the vibrant energy that summer brings. Our cohesive teamwork and dedication set the stage for a successful season ahead, filled with optimism and satisfaction in our collective achievements.

John Mark

Florin Mall

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I wanted to update you on the sales performance in Florin for the month of March. Our sales goal was set at $74.5k, and I'm thrilled to announce that we exceeded it by selling a total of $76.1k. This is a great achievement, with approximately 13% of our sales coming from our layaway pickups.

As we begin a new quarter, Team Florin has set a sales goal of $70k for the month of April. To break it down, we aim to achieve $2350 in sales each day. Additionally, we are striving to reach a layaway balance of $110k by the end of April.

To ensure we meet our sales target, we will be focusing on listing our inventory on social media. This will help increase our visibility and attract more customers. We will also be conducting spring cleaning in our warehouse and showroom, ensuring that our products are displayed in an organized and appealing manner.

Let's continue to push ourselves and work together to achieve our sales goals.

"TODAY I WILL DO WHAT OTHERS WON'T, SO TOMORROW I CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT OTHERS CAN'T." Jerry Rice

Mark Xiong

Top Performers in March

1st Dominic Tognolini (Roseville #3) Dominic Tognolini (Roseville #3) Ah Xiong (Florin #2)

2nd Ah Xiong (Florin #2) David Palomares (Florin #2) David Palomares (Florin #2)

3rd Danni Robinson (Roseville #3) Danni Robinson (Roseville #3) Danni Robinson (Roseville #3)

4th Norma Bobadilla (El Camino #1) Ah Xiong (Florin #2) Dominic Tognolini (Roseville #3)

5th Matthew Stevens (Roseville #3) Norma Bobadilla (El Camino #1) Stephanie Alfaro (Florin #2)

March End of Month Balances

Golden 1 Center Upcoming Events

Below is the list of events that are posted as of right now and we will be adding events to this list each month as they get posted! The events in green are available and the events in red have already been spoken for. If you would like to request tickets send your ticket request forms to lauren.l@loyaltypawn.com so that I can get your requests in and if you need a request form email lauren.l@loyaltypawn.com and I can send you a copy or you can ask your supervisor! With the Golden 1 Center opening back up there is a limited number of tickets available, so for every event you are only allowed to request and receive 4 tickets per event!

Monthly Birthstone Guide

This will help educate you about some of the more popular semi and precious stones we come across and it will also help you close some more sales. The idea is to educate you on each month’s birthstone as you can arrange your cases properly and make suggestions to our clients that may be browsing or even looking for a gift. Let’s think outside the box when utilizing this information.

JANUARY – Garnet

MARCH – Aquamarine

MAY – Emerald

JULY – Ruby

SEPTEMBER – Sapphire

NOVEMBER – Citrine & Topaz

FEBRUARY Amethyst

APRIL – Diamond

JUNE –Pearl & Alexandrite

AUGUST – Peridot

OCTOBER – Opal & Tourmaline

DECEMBER – Topaz & Turquoise

Anniversaries, Birthdays and New Hires

April Birthdays

Paul Molina April 15th

April Anniversaries

Ali Ghasemi-Neri 1 year

Najah Islam 2 years

Mark Xiong 13 years

March New Hires

We don’t have any new hires this month.

Loyalty Pawn’s Goals, Values, and Visions

“The Leader in Local Lending”

Company Wide Goals

• To Offer Immediate Relief with a Short-Term Loan.

• To Develop, Recruit and Inspire an Elite Work Force, Driven by Loyal Business Practices.

• To Provide the Highest Standard of Quality, Commitment and Value to Every Customer in Our Loyalty Pawn Family!

Core Values

• Loyalty

• Dedication

• Creativity

Company Vision

• Loyal People Committed to Everyday Satisfaction

Loyalty Pawn Employee Services Corner

April cold with dripping rain Willows and lilacs brings again, The whistle of returning birds, And trumpet-lowing of the herds. –Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)

APRIL…MORE THAN JUST THE 4TH MONTH OF THE CALENDAR YEAR!

Aprilisthefourthmonthoftheyearandisknownforitsbeautifulspringweather,bloomingflowers,andEaster celebrations. However, there is much more to this month than meets the eye. In fact, there are plenty of interesting and surprising things that make April unique.

April is National Poetry Month in the United States, established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. It aims to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry, with events and activities held throughout the month. National Poetry Month has become a global celebration of the art of poetry in April each year.

National Poetry Month- April!!

Who started it?

National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April, was introduced in 1996 and is organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.

A Well-Worn Story

By Dorothy Parker 01/13/2023

In April, in April, My one love came along, And I ran the slope of my high hill To follow a thread of song.

His eyes were hard as porphyry With looking on cruel lands; His voice went slipping over me Like terrible silver hands.

Together we trod the secret lane And walked the muttering town. I wore my heart like a wet, red stain On the breast of a velvet gown.

In April, in April, My love went whistling by, And I stumbled here to my high hill Along the way of a lie.

Now what should I do in this place

But sit and count the chimes, And splash cold water on my face And spoil a page with rhymes?

DID YOU KNOW?

• April was the second month in an early Roman calendar but became the fourth when the ancient Romans started using January as the first month.

• April is named for the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

• The name for the month of April originally came for Aprilis which means to open.

• Small animals that hibernate usually coming out of their burrows in April. The birds fly back northward and settle down to have their families. The bees and butterflies begin to gather nectar from the first flowers of the season.

• In some parts of the world, it is planting time, while in other parts, it is the harvest season.

• April is Humor Month, so laugh it up!

• The birthstone for April is the diamond.

• The zodiac signs are Aries (March 21 – April 19) and Taurus (April 20-May 20).

• The birth flowers for the month of April are the sweet pea and the daisy.

• America’s first astronauts were announced by NASA on April 9, 1959.

• The first Webster Dictionary was copyrighted by Noah Webster on April 14, 1828.

• The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.

• The Revolutionary War in America began on April 19, 1775.

• The United States Library of Congress was established April 24, 1800.

• Our first President George Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789.

Special Days in April:

• April 22 is Earth Day.

• April 28th is Arbor Day is a day for planting trees, and it is observed on various April days.

• The Jewish festival of Pescah, or Passover, is celebrated early in April.

April Astronomy

The Pink Moon

The pink moon, otherwise known as the first full moon of the spring, will rise April 23. Named for the moss pink wildflower that sprouts this time of year, the moon won't appear as pink to our eyes here on Earth. But that won't make it any less spectacular to witness.

Venture outside on the night on April 23rd to catch a glimpse of April’s full Pink Moon. This full Moon actually reaches peak illumination at 7:49 PM Eastern Time which means that it will be at its peak on the night.

Why Is It Called the Pink Moon?

The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon.

April Recipe. Cream of Fiddleheads Soup

Early spring means fiddleheads. These are the ostrich fern’s young fronds. If you can’t find fiddleheads, try this soup with sliced fresh asparagus, but we urge you to try to hunt down these delightful tender plants of spring if you can.

Fiddleheads are the tender, tightly furled fronts of the Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). They’re named for resembling the ornamental ends of fiddles and other stringed instruments.

You can harvest fiddleheads for free if you know where to find them. These edible ferns grow prolifically in wild and wet areas near water throughout New England and eastern parts of Canada. Also, you can often find fiddleheads at local farmers’ markets and health food stores, but this short-lived delicacy can be pricey.

https://www.almanac.com/recipe/cream-fiddleheads-soup

401K-Loyalty Pawn Retirement $avings Program

Are you saving for retirement? Why not start today?

If you have completed 12 months of service with Loyalty Pawn, you’re eligibleto participateand start putting awaythosepretax(orpost taxRoth) dollars into your very own 401k account.

To enroll, send me an email and I’ll help you get started.

Contact Employee Services at employeeservices@loyaltypawn.com

Start saving for retirement’s tomorrow, today!

Shout Out→Thank you to my subscription to the Old Farmer’s Almanac for inspirational quotes and content for LP’s Three Ball’s Chronicle each month.

If you need HR, Payroll, Benefits, or Family support, Loyalty Pawn’s Employee Services is only a phone call, text message, or email away, on demand, anytime!

916-752-2255 employeeservices@loyaltypawn.com