Loyalty Pawn's Three Balls Chronicle Volume 7 Issue 5

THREE BALLS CHRONICLE

VOLUME 7 / ISSUE 5

May 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

Letter from the President

Letter from the General Manager

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!

We are almost halfway through 2024 and it has just gone by so fast. We have added some great new events that are happening at the Golden 1 Center, if you haven’t gotten a chance to go, it is such a great benefit that we offer and such a great time, so make sure to get those requests in! Thank you so much to everyone for all of their hard work and dedication that you guys put in everyday, we appreciate it!! Thank you!

President’s Letter

Hello Team Loyalty,

I do not have much to say this month as we are already aware that the loans are coming back. That is what is supposed to happen, so continue to qualify our clients and work on pushing the re-writes. This is a wonderful time of the year to push layaways for the holidays that can help increase your sales and the storewide goals. Keep up the excellent work and let us grow that loan balance to all new records!!

I have two exciting graduations this month. My middle daughter, Lilly, graduates from high school and will be attending the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in the fall and I am excited and proud of her. My youngest daughter London graduates from Eighth grade and she is extremely excited to start high school next year. Hug those loved ones of yours as they all grow up so fast. Thank You

Gratefully,

Stan Lukowicz

Letter from the General Manager

Greetings Everyone,

April flew by with an allergenic breeze! I don’t know about everyone else but the mixture between intermittent sun and rain through April was a challenge. Speaking of challenges, we will be heading into the soon-to-be summer months. We will be challenged with the consistent need to meet our clients’ needs. We anticipate the next couple of months to be loan growth months which will bring more prospects to our locations. We are averaging 7 new clients per store a day. This is great as it brings new opportunities including sales and layaways.

There is no better time than now to recognize our top sales performers for the month of April. In first place we have Dominic T. Second place was Norma B. and third place was Josh B. Dominic continues to hold the longest-running first place throughout the company. I know many are eager to fill the first-place spot so let’s keep the competition hungry and healthy.

This May will be the closing of an old chapter. In May of 2024 we will be releasing ourselves of our West Sacramento responsibilities. We have had many hands in the last couple of years help with the closing and transition of that location. I wanted to send a heartfelt thank you to those involved. While we look forward to moving on from our West Sac experience, we are looking forward to the new possibilities of new business ventures. This is both exciting and scary at the same time!

To conclude, we will stay persistent in our pursuit of future business opportunities that will include opportunities for our Loyalty Pawn family. We look forward to the challenges ahead as well as inviting growth.

Sincerely,

Wayne Silliman General Manager

“Many possibilities can be achieved on the other side of fear.” -unknown

Loyalty Pawn Family

Greetings, Loyalty family.

First things first, I'd like to say Happy Loyalty Day. Secondly, I would like to congratulate all the stores for hitting their 5% goal for the month of April. A special congratulations goes to Team El Camino, who surpassed their 20% goal for April. Good job, everybody! As you know, our loan balance is growing, so we are going to rely heavily on retail to cover our continuing growing loan balance. Historically, May has always been a growth month, but one of our slower months, so we have to accommodate for that. It certainly looks like our showrooms are filling back up in a positive way, so let's use our core values and be creative to move this product. If it can't be retailed at the store level, let's make sure we continue to feed eBay so we can turn it back into dollars so we can continue to grow that loan balance. This month, we are going to get to know the newest team member for the Floor Mall location, Khamia.

1. What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? Volunteering for youth basketball games

2. Where’s the next place on your travel bucket list and why? Bali Indonesia is next on my bucket list because I’ve been all around the world but haven’t had the chance to experience Bali in the summer.

3. What was your favorite age growing up? 21. I always thought getting older would be fun [Definitely not]

4. Do you have a favorite holiday? Why or why not? My favorite holiday is my birthday because that week is all about me and my birthday falls in summer, so I always have a great time.

5. What was the last thing you read? The last thing I read was the set of magic tree house books which are my favorite.

6. What was the last TV show you binge-watched? The last show I binged watched was Grey’s anatomy.

7. Are you into podcasts or do you only listen to music? I am into certain comedy podcasts but mostly music.

8. What's one thing that can instantly make your day better? One thing that can instantly make my day is my dog [kodak]

9. What’s one goal you have for this year personally and professionally? My personal goal this year is to travel to the last 3 places on my bucket list and my professional goal is to triple my sales before the end of the year.

10. Ideally, how would you spend your birthday? I would typically spend my birthday in a different country each year depending on the places on my bucket list.

11. What's your favorite board game? My favorite board game is Sorry.

12. What’s the best way the company can celebrate you and your team for success? To me the best way the company can celebrate me, and my team, is to keep acknowledging our successes and rewarding them with small gestures such as company dinners and coffee/donuts.

13. What causes are you passionate about? I’m super passionate about racial injustices and youth delinquency.

14. What’s an essential part of your daily routine? My skin routine is essential and walking my dog is essential parts of my day on top of work.

15. Who or what inspires you in your career? My mother inspires me in my career because she has been working since, she was 15 and hasn’t stopped. I’ve always admired how hard my mom worked for her kids. That’s what motivated me to get my first job at 16 and keep it steady for 4 years and be able to eventually work 2 jobs.

16. What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry? Some people are unaware that we do 4-month loans, and they are also unaware we do layaways.

17. What’s the career highlight you’re most proud of? My career highlight I’m most proud of would have to be becoming a supervisor at my old job after only working there for 3 months but due to my dedication I was able to move up quicker.

18. Do you believe in having a "five-year plan"? My 5-year plan consists of working for loyalty pawn for the next 5 years and dedicating my time to being fully equipped with everything there is to know about the pawn industry to then move up in the company.

19. What’s the best piece of advice a family member has given you? Nothing in this world is free so work hard to buy your own.

20. What is your definition of success? My definition of success would be being financially stable and being wealthy enough to take care of others while also being happy myself.

Security Awareness.

Security awareness is crucial in protecting ourselves and our business from scams and theft attempts. We have been actively discussing these issues and finding ways to stay one step ahead of those who try to deceive us.

I want to commend everyone for their dedication to communication, education, and collaboration in this matter. By working together, we have been able to prevent many potential security breaches. Let's continue to prioritize communication and remain vigilant in our efforts to stay safe.

I would like to draw your attention to the valuable resources provided by Jewelers Helping Jewelers Crime Alert. They have done an exceptional job of keeping us informed about the latest scams and providing educational materials. I strongly encourage you all to explore their page and take advantage of the tutorials and training they offer. These resources can equip us with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and handle suspicious situations effectively.

In addition to learning from external sources, we have also discussed suggestions to enhance security at our individual store levels. It is essential that we put these suggestions into practice and regularly engage in role-playing scenarios. By simulating various situations, we can ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities. This can be as simple as using hand signals or specific keywords to alert others when something seems suspicious.

Our commitment to security goes beyond protecting ourselves. It extends to the safety of our clients as well. By maintaining a high level of awareness and implementing preventive measures, we create a secure environment for everyone involved.

I want to express my gratitude for your dedication to security awareness. Let's continue to communicate, educate, and collaborate to keep ourselves and our clients safe. Together, we can stay one step ahead of those who seek to scam us.

Shop Talk Manager Updates

El Camino

Our Team Loyalty,

In April, Team Elco didn't just meet our goals, we soared past them. With our dedication to our plan and our motto of creativity, we achieved remarkable results. Our target of $70,000 seemed ambitious, but we smashed it, reaching an impressive $78,085.47. Congratulations to every member who played a role in this success, your hard work truly paid off.

As we reflect on our achievements, we're thrilled to announce that our layaway balance continues to climb, now standing proudly at $72,577.27, securing our position as number one in the company. But we're not stopping there. Our sights are set higher for May, with a new goal of $80,100.00. It's time to replenish our inventory and unleash our sales prowess once more. In particular, we're gearing up for the season ahead, focusing on gas-powered products like lawnmowers, trimmers, chainsaws, and more. While some may not yet be aboard the electric "go green" train, we're ready with eco-friendly options too.

With a fresh month ahead of us, our team is filled with anticipation and eagerness. Let's tackle May with the same ambition and determination that propelled us to success in April. Together, there's no limit to what we can achieve. Remember "Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers".

Cheers to a new month, Tony Mora

Roseville

Hello Team Loyalty,

The Broadway store location has achieved a remarkable feat, surpassing our five percent sales goal with flying colors. This accomplishment fills us with excitement and confidence as we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Mother's Day sales. With our exceptional team's dedication and strategic initiatives, we're poised to capitalize on this significant opportunity and further elevate our performance. Moreover, amidst this success, our loan growth continues unabated, signaling sustained momentum and promising prospects for the Broadway store's future. Together, we celebrate these achievements and remain committed to exceeding expectations in every endeavor.

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,

Congratulations to Team El Camino for surpassing the 20% sales goal! Great job! And a shoutout to the other location for hitting over 5% of their sales goal. Although Team Florin fell a little short, the effort was commendable. We were only $4.1k shy of our 20% sales goal, with a target of $68.9k, and we ended with $64.7k. We are not going to let that happen again in May.

I would like to introduce our newest team member, Mia Lane. She joined us on April 22 and has been learning and progressing every day. She quickly grasped our code and is now learning to do counter deal. If you haven't already, please reach out and introduce yourself to Mia.

Team Florin is experiencing rapid growth, with a loan balance of $1.8 million. We are closing in on the window to hit $1.9 million. One of our strategies that has been working well in sales is posting our inventory on social media. I encourage everyone to do the same if you haven't already. This helps drive sales and increase our visibility.

For the month of May, we have set a sales goal with a 5% increase target of $72.8k and a 20% increase target of $83.2k. I strongly believe that we can achieve these goals by utilizing our layaway binder and continuing to list our inventory on social media. Our layaway balance currently stands at $71k, and we are aiming to end the month with $100k.

This month, we are introducing Loyalty Month to celebrate customer appreciation. We will be offering a 20% discount, so let's take full advantage of this sale and drive more customers to our store.

In conclusion, remember that "Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus." Let's bring our energy and focus to achieve our goals this month.

Let's Go Loyalty!

Mark Xiong

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!

Chayanne

Hozier (2 Tickers Left)

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Fuerza Regida

Weezer

April Sales Flyer

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

May Birthdays

Javier Becerra May 1st

Ricardo Molina May 11th

Paul Molina May 14th

May Anniversaries

Orry McCracken 5 years

April New Hires

We would like to welcome out most recent new hire to the Loyalty Pawn family. Khamia Lane to the Florin Team! Welcome Khamia!

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

MAY…

May” is likely named after the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Alternatively, the name might have come from the Latin maiores, “elders”.

By the time May rolls around we’ve had about enough of the rain and finicky weather and are losing patience in our wait for summer. There aren’t many holidays in May either.

MAY CALENDAR OF NATIONAL EVENTS

• May 1 is May Day. Mark the return of spring by bringing in branches of forsythia, lilacs, or other flowering shrubs from your region. May Day is also “Lei Day” in Hawaii. Leis are garlands or wreaths that are often made with native Hawaiian flowers such as plumeria. Nowadays, they are given as a symbol of greeting, farewell, affection, celebration, or honor, in the spirit of aloha.

• May 5 is Cinco de Mayo (“The Fifth of May”). This day celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. Discover Mexican American recipes and ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

• May 12 is Mother’s Day don’t forget! Do you have something planned to show appreciation for your mother?

• May 28 is Armed Forces Day, which honors those who serve in all branches of the United States military.

• May 22 is National Maritime Day. Created in commemoration of the first transoceanic voyage via steamboat (completed by the U.S.S. Savannah in 1819), this holiday recognizes the efforts of the U.S. merchant marine during both war and peace.

• May 20 is Victoria Day in Canada. This holiday celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819. The holiday is observed on the penultimate Monday in May.

• May 27 is Memorial Day a poignant reminder of the tenacity of life. It’s tradition to raise the flag on this day…

✓ On June 22, 1942, Congress passed a joint resolution, later amended on December 22, 1942, that encompassed what has come to be known as the U.S. Flag Code. Perhaps the most important guideline involves how citizens should behave around the Stars and Stripes: The flag of the United States is the emblem of our identity as a sovereign nation, which the United States of America has been for more than 200 years. The flag is a symbol of respect, honor, and patriotism. It may be displayed on any day of the year according to the following guidelines: ✓ The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement. The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open, but it may be displayed at night if illuminated to produce a patriotic effect. For details on how to display, hoist and lower the flag, visit: https://www.almanac.com/usflag-etiquette-rules-and-guidelines

Not Safe for Work:

Topics of Conversation to Avoid

While state and federal laws protect employees engaging in conversational topics regarding ways to improve their lives at work, such as wages, benefits, working conditions, safety, security (to name a few) without fear of employer reprisal, however, our modern work culture is much less formal than it used to be. However, professionalism in the workplace is still the number one behavioral characteristic expectation.

In this issue of Three Ball’s Chronicles, I feel it necessary to cover some of the most common inappropriate conversation topics at your worksites within Loyalty Pawn and explain the reasons why they can backfire and/or hurt your Loyalty Pawn career.

It is common knowledge that you shouldn’t discuss politics, religion, or your sex life at work. And while it’s also common knowledge that sexual and bullying harassment are most definitely unacceptable topics, there are other less obvious topics you should stay away from while at work especially if the topics of conversation have nothing to do with your wages, benefits, hours, and/or working conditions.

We’re all looking for ways to be top producers at Loyalty Pawn and improve our positions in the workplace, however, the best career advice of all is from the experts who help us understand what not to do and what not to say. It is tempting to simply let it all hang out at work where we feel safe and comfortable. And, you don’t want to be compared to a repressed android with no personality, right? You want to be real with each other. Understood and rightly so.

Many of you spend a lot of time at your assigned worksites to the extent it may even be more time than you spend at home. When you spend time with coworkers more than your friends and family, it becomes super easy to get too relaxed and dare I say even complacent at times and it’s easy to forget that you’re at work where production, policies and procedures and professionalism are expected and moreover, required behaviors. Many of you make close and personal friendship relationships outside of work as a result. We’re human. The personal connection with others is comforting and for many, it can be equally frustrating. Here are a few the most popular topics that all employees should avoid engaging in while at work without violating your right to freedom of speech and protected communication activities:

1. Religion. Whether you’re a committed Atheist or devout Muslim, that is YOUR business. Discussing your particular subscription to religious beliefs have potential for small talk fodder. Conversation with co-workers about your religion while on duty may come across as overbearing. Worse yet is making offhanded derogatory comments about different faiths which can be gravely insulting to someone who overhears you.

Example: “I recently converted from Catholicism to Kabbalah. It’s so much better than Christianity or Muslim.” It is best to avoid this not safe for work talk altogether since the topic has absolutely nothing to do with the work you perform whether at Loyalty Pawn or for another employer.

2. Jokes at anyone’s expense. This is also known as punching down on someone which is on par with gossiping about your coworkers. Sure, it might be funny or make YOU feel good, but chances are it will be overheard and all of a sudden, you’ve really stepped into it and perhaps hurt someone’s feeling whether intentional or unintentional.

Example: “Hanging out with So-and-So is about as fun as having a root canal. Naaaah, I’m only joking, Dude. Don’t get all upset about it!” This is really dangerous territory. A sarcastic joke could be interpreted the way you didn’t intend and all of a sudden, you’re in the middle of an HR dispute for inappropriate behavior. Trust me when I say, you don’t want to be in this kind of HR convo. Best to stay away altogether. That said, remember, you don’t have to like who you work with, nor do you have to even like your manager. If you have a concern about behavior from co-workers or managers, bring it to a more appropriate level. Call HR for support and communication problem solving.

3. Physical Appearance. If you’ve recently reached a weight goal and you’re feeling celebratory, that is fantastic! Good for you! However, don’t mention it at work though and don’t start talking about diets around the breakroom. Also don’t make comments about people’s weight as no one needs to hear your opinions about it.

Example: “Wow, you’ve lost a lot of weight and your acne is totally gone! You look great!” This might be intended as a compliment, but to the person hearing it, may be tantamount to saying they were totally unacceptably overweight before and now they’re totally acceptable. It’s a value judgement about someone’s worth as a person based exclusively on their appearance.

4. Personal Life Status/Braggadocious. Asking someone about their relationship status, probing for lots of details about their relationship, whether they're happy with their partner, discussing what you like about their appearance, talking about sex in general, making sexual jokes, sharing details about your sex life. These are NOT SAFE FOR WORK topics. Keep these kinds of conversations private. At work, anything that makes your co-workers see too much of your non-work, unprofessional side can get you into hot water territory quickly while at work.

While on duty or on a break, your colleagues may only want to engage with your respectable, professional facade. Hearing certain things about your personal life is TMI…too much information. These are just a few topics that stand out the most and while not all topics of conversation are a “no-go” in the workplace, what types of conversations should be allowed and considered safe for work? Good topics might include generalized interests with your coworkers such as:

What is your favorite part of the job?

What is your secret sauce to generating more daily/weekly sales?

What books should I be ready to help me be a better SLA? What advice to you have for someone new to the Pawn industry?

Steering clear from conversations regarding personal lives while at work may seem limiting and restrictive, but by maintaining work related conversations instead, everyone can relate and focus on productivity and professionalism. Networking with your co-workers is a great way to increase your visibility at the store as well as the industry itself. Identifying leaders and co-workers you respect and admire can help you learn and be more productive.

Rule of Not Safe for Work Topics Thumb. The worksite is not the bar, the gym, the personal connection social club, let alone www.loyaltypawn.match.com →Rather it is a place to earn while you learn as an ongoing make ends- meet activity.

Remember!! You can and should ask questions. Seek to clarify and discuss relevant work related topics while also considering different perspectives. Conversations in the workplace allow employees to learn new things about their colleagues and share ideas to improve productivity and performance. Typically, people respond well to engaging speakers who keep an audience's attention and encourage them to listen and interact. Learning how to be a more engaging conversationalist at work can help you communicate your ideas more effectively and establish professional/working relationships with your team of colleagues and keep you out of hot-water conversation HR territory

Next Month…we’ll discuss dating in the workplace and examine how it can stifle productivity, lead to harassment allegations as well as how it creates the proverbial ethical slippery slope for all parties involved. If you have additional questions or need support, Loyalty Pawn Employee Services (HR) is only a phone call, text, or email away. Until then, keep conversations at work, healthy, productive and work-related. ~Dmae

LOVE PEOPLE? COOK THEM TASTY

FOOD! May Recipe. Pie, Pie, Me Oh My!

Strawberry Rhubarb Chaat. Chaat is no single dish or recipe; it encompasses a range of snacks with a riot of textures and flavors. Here, tart rhubarb plays off the sweetness of strawberries; puffed chickpea cereal (boondi)delivers that essential crunch.

How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Chaat - so scrummy! https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/strawberry-rhubarb-chaat

401K-Loyalty Pawn Retirement $avings Program

Are you saving for retirement? Why not start today?

Once you have completed 12 months of service with Loyalty Pawn, you’re eligible to participate and start putting away those pretax (or post tax Roth) dollars into your very own 401k account. To enroll, send me an email and I’ll help you get started. Plus who doesn’t want to receive a 3% employer match each payroll cycle? Contact Employee Services at employeeservices@loyaltypawn.com

Start saving for retirement’s tomorrow, today! When it comes to 401(k) plans, it's your money. But your boss and the government make the rules. Need more 401k investment info and advice? Contact our Investment Advisor, John Malhotra.

John S. Malhotra - Financial Services Representative CA Insurance License # 0K09207 1478 Stone Point Drive, Suite 390 Roseville, CA 95661 d (916) 607-9754 | f (844) 2958527

e malhotra.john@principal.com w www.principal.com

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