THREE BALLS CHRONICLE
VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 2
April 2018
IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the President Chick-Fil-A Article
Letter from the General Manager
Upcoming Sales
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Top Performers in March
Loyalty Pawn’s Core Goals, Values and Visions
HR Corner
Crossword Puzzle
Word Search Answers
Guess What I Am? Answer Key
Team Loyalty, Thank you tremendously for all of the hard work and dedication for growing our Loyalty Pawn Culture. Remember to remind your our wonderful clients, family members and friends to vote for us on KCRA3 A-List for best pawn shop!
A Few Words from the President
Hello Team Loyalty,
Another month in the books, Thank You again for all the hard work and dedication to Loyalty Pawn. We had a great month and made some tremendous strides. The 401k plan is initiated and will be funded by the end of the first week in April. While this is a different retirement plan the what Capital City Loan & Jewelry had. This provides a larger benefit to each of you and I am grateful for all your hard work and efforts to be able to offer this benefit. You will see the benefits this month. If you are not currently eligible for the benefit when your time comes we will get you on the plan ASAP.
Even in the tax return month of March, when we see a massive drop in our loan balance, we saw relatively low loan drop 1%, that’s terrific! We can now focus our energy on loan bumps, layaway bumps and providing exceptional customer service and break new records in loan balance, layaway balance, redemption rates, and on and on. Go team! Wayne, Javier and myself will be traveling to South Carolina with a focus group from industry leaders throughout the nation and will be bringing back information that will help improve our procedures. We will be visiting Dicks Pawn in Myrtle Beach, they have a huge focus on retailing and sales. Check out their website ww.dickpawn.com and on Facebook at Dick’s Pawn Superstore. They have a tremendous team and are really looking to bring back many of their best practices to implement in the always evolving Loyalty Pawn.
Many of our team leaders will be working on completing the Applied Jewelry Professional online GIA course and once they have completed I will be getting their input and decide if it will bring value to each of our team members to complete this course and possibly see if Loyalty Pawn can assist many of you to become your own GG (graduate gemologist). Which I believe will bring tremendous value to each of you, to Loyalty Pawn and to all our clients. When we have the knowledge, we will have the power.
To wrap up my comments for this month’s Three Balls Chronicle, we are moving forward with our Roseville remodel and should have our Loyalty Luxe department opening sometime in May. Bid for painting the exterior and new store front signage are being approved as I write this letter. We will be working on the inside remodels starting with Broadway hopefully by the end of April. Exciting changes are coming to our entire Loyalty Pawn team and locations, Thank You again for patience, dedication and hard work.
Stan Lukowicz President and Owner
PS. Don’t forget about Sacramento A-List help us prove to the greater Sacramento area Loyalty is The Leader in Local Lending, tell your friends and family. Share our Facebook and Instagram posts!
Chick-Fil-A is Beating Every Competitor by Training Team Members to Say “Please” and “Thank You”!
Great Teams Study the Best!
The Secret to Chick-Fil-A’s success is as simple as saying “please” and “thank you.” The worlds “no problem” are never spoken at here because it is never a “problem” to serve the customers who sustain their (or our) business!
Chick-Fil-A, a well-known chicken chain, is statistically the most polite chain in the restaurant business according to a recent industry study. Employees at Chick-Fil-A were most likely of the 15 competitors surveyed to say “please” and “thank you” and smile at drive-thru customers. Their workers were also the most likely to have a “pleasant demeanor”
While small pleasantries are easy to dismiss, these little things have played a key role in setting ChickFil-A apart from the competition. In 2015, Chick-Fil-A generated more revenue per restaurant than any other fast food chain in the U.S. The chain’s average sales per restaurant reached nearly $4 million!
Industry analysts have said that customer service is key to Chick-Fil-A’s success. Superior customer drives higher sales per unit, contributing to the chain’s ability to generate greater revenue than chains such as KFC, Pizza Hut, etc.
Chick-Fil-A also invests more than other companies in training its employees.
When Chick-Fil-A has their first interview with a potential team member, they follow the “Core 4” discipline to see if that person would fit into the culture of their business. Here are four things that they look for in a candidate:
• Do they smile?
• Do they make eye contact?
• Do they speak enthusiastically?
• Do they stay connected and engaged?
If the potential new hire meets these key qualifications, then they may be considered for a position at Chick-Fil-A. They are also looking for people who are passionate and have a desire to serve others.
Chick-Fil-A is a great and successful business that uses these simple practices to grow their company and here at Loyalty Pawn we would like to move forward and replicate these practices so that we can become more successful in the future!
A Letter from the General Manager
Team Loyalty,
Congratulations to the teams who met their store goals for the 1st qtr. In the first qtr, we have seen an improvement in our average loan per store! It is no surprise; the first qtr. of the year tends to bring the tax money in so let’s keep up the good work in offering our replacement loan program as well as our layaway program. We still have much to be proud of. The Roseville remodel is plugging away and soon we will have the complex exterior finished and painted. We look forward to the completion of the Roseville retail side in the first 2 weeks of May. In the very near future, Broadway’s exterior will be painted, and we will be getting the floors, slat wall and counter resurfaced. Much to do and great to be busy!
Given our Historical data, we are heading into a softer quarter when it comes to sales. We are taking advantage now the many different forums that exist for online sales. Some of your stores have found the tool, yard sale, jewelry and instrument forums that exist through Facebook! In addition to the offer up and craigslist outlets, let’s continue to make a presence with these online tools! As always, keep it competitive and fun!
I look forward to all the positive improvements and team culture!
Wayne Silliman General Manager
Be your best, do your best and succeed!
Upcoming Sales
Belated January, February, March Anniversaries
Zabi Iqbal February 21, 2009 9 years
Cody Lathe March 8, 2012 6 years
Alex Lebeau March 1o, 2012 6 years
Jonathon Galupe February 1, 2013 5 years
Justin Martinez January 15, 2014 4 years
Jason Wagner March 21, 2016 2 years
Jose Velazquez January 30, 2017 1 year
April Anniversaries
Mark Xiong April 2, 2011 7 years
We would also like to welcome our newest hire, Nathanial Corona to our Loyalty Pawn Team working at location #1 El Camino, as a Warehouse and Merchandising Specialist.
TOP PERFORMERS IN MARCH
1st Joseph Contreras (#1 ElCamino) Javier Becerra (#2 Florin Mall) Tito Molina (#1 El Camino)
2nd Marcos Barragan (#5 West Sac) Brittany Walker (#3 Roseville) David Palomares (#2 Florin Mall)
3rd Joshua Bonton (#4 Broadway) David Palomares (#2 Florin Mall) Jason Wagner (#2 Florin Mall)
4th Ricardo Molina (#1 El Camino) Jason Wagner (#2 Florin Mall) Zabi Iqbal (#2 Florin Mall)
5th Jason Wagner(#2 Florin Mall) Dylan Tinklenberg (#3 Roseville) Jon Galupe (#1 El Camino)
Loan/Buy/Layaway End of Month Balances
Sales in Dollars Productivity in Dollars Physical Deals Done in # of Transactions
Loan Balance Buys Balance Layaway Balance Loyalty Pawn #1 El Camino $1,099,364.00 $13,244.16 $57,945.57 Loyalty Pawn #2 Florin Mall $1,295,267.00 $19,266.24 $57,216.83 Loyalty Pawn #3 Roseville $891,690.00 $24,735.00 $31,663.03 Loyalty Pawn #4 Broadway $340,190.00 $6,539.70 $57,381.53 Loyalty Pawn #5 West Sacramento $339,412.00 $12,547.00 $33,457.14 Totals $3,965,923 $76,332.10 $237,664.10
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 HR Corner
APRIL FOOLS WORKPLACE PRANKS
April Fool’s Day is Sunday, April 1st this year, but I have seen employees use the whole month of April for cool and kind-spirited pranks. If that’s the case here at Loyalty, please read on.
Have you heard of the notorious sandwich thief?
If you haven’t, we’re referring to a viral thread of photos in which two employees engage in a humorous note war. One employee, known as Turkey and Swiss on Rye, demands the other, Sandwich Thief, give him his sandwich back.
Sandwich Thief refuses and even puts the poor sandwich up for ransom. However, one could say he bit off more than he could chew: HR gets involved, and we’re betting she wasn’t too happy with the sandwich burglar a.k.a. Francis.
Though it is funny, this is a good example of how office jokes can have consequences. And, naturally, this brings us to April Fools’ Day.
April Fools’ Day/Month is fun but there can be a fine line between fun and harmful, especially at each worksite/office.
Of course, laughing and getting along can be conducive to team building, eliminating stress, and boosting employee morale, but it’s important to make sure you don’t cross the line. If done wrong, jokes and pranks at work can lead to hurt feelings, injuries, and even *gasp* lawsuits.
To help you avoid these, here are some guideline of sorts for April Fools’ Day/Month worksite pranks. And no, I’m not kidding. These are genuine tips.
The DO’s & DON’T’s of April Fools’ Day Office Pranks
DON’T ignore Loyalty’s culture. This is important to consider. If your worksite is an environment where nobody jokes with one another ever, April Fools’ Day/Month pranking probably isn’t the best idea.
DON’T do physical jokes. It’s best to stay away from jokes that have the potential to harm a person. Even something small like putting superglue on a co-worker’s writing utensil could result in bodily harm. Don’t use weapons of any kind, even fake ones.
DON’T be inappropriate. There is a time and place for pranks. A conference call with a client, for instance, is not the time nor place. Don’t use potty humor, sexual innuendos, or stink
bombs. Don’t do a prank that will interrupt an employee’s ability to do his/her job. Don’t permanently damage property.
DON’T joke at Loyalty’s expense. For some reason, companies like to create fake company news or press releases on April Fools’ Day. Don’t do this. You never know what clients or potential customers will believe the news, leading you to intense damage control and, possibly, legal consequences.
DON’T prank clients.
DON’T confuse a prank with harassment. It should go without saying that a prank should not single out any person or trait. Don’t use jokes or pranks that in any way mock an employee’s race, gender, etc. or are sexual in nature.
DO consider your audience. This is important. You want to make sure the “target” of your joke will “get it.” Choose a co-worker you know well, and you know will laugh.
DO think before you act.
DO have fun. We hope to have more “don’ts” than “dos” doesn’t make us seem like we’re against fun. We’re not. I just want to ensure you have a fun, safe, and lawsuit-free April Fools’ Month!
Loyalty Pawn HR Corner Cont.
APRIL HR Haiku Contest | Enter to win a $25 Visa Gift Card! To honor the creativity and ingenuity of our Three Balls Chronicle readers and in preparation for National Poetry Month in April, I challenge each of you an inaugural Employee Services-HR Haiku Contest I call it: HRaiku.
Think past Twitter's 140 characters and explore the 17 syllables Haikus usually don't rhyme. Haiku three sentence stanzas looks like this: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. Each HRaiku should touch on some aspect of Loyalty’s Vision, Mission, or Culture. Three winning entries will be published in the May 2018 issue of Three Balls Chronicles.
Have fun! Be inspired and enter to win $25 Visa card!! Submit your HRaiku(s) to: EmployeeServices@LoyaltyPawn.com Deadline to enter is April 20th.
Answers to March HR Trivia:
1. False. Men’s workstations are 20% messier than women’s
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False, however blue is the most common color
6. False, employees spend 50 minutes on average per day looking for lost files
We only had two entries: John Mark and Jose Velazquez
John got 4 out of six correct Jose got 5 out of six correct – Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! $25 Starbucks Gift Card is on its way! Check your email!
Loyalty Pawn Crossword Puzzle
ACROSS 1 What do we call our customers 4 We sell 8 What does AG stand for 10 A type of diamond cut 13 Loyalty Pawns oldest location 15 What is our newest location 16 How many kids does Wayne have 17 One of the stores values is 18 What store has the highest loan balance 19 Mays birthstone DOWN 2 Online commerce 3 Are you 5 A tool we use everyday 6 The think pawn brokers fear 7 Corporate 8 A yellow and black tool brand 9 What location has Tuesday night farmers markets 11 Effects pedal that also has the same name as a mustang 12 Silver coin that was minted between 1916 to 1945 and used to measure temperature 14 What is the owners name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Word Search Answer Key
A J F T W T E L C A M I N O E R M J Z Q E R Y H J U D R I D G G G D H D Q Q R W G L K X Q B N M E Q S J E A U E A V S G F R X F Q H D G A C C V K L J P W T B J G T D G H V T Z Z N T N Q C F Q B U C Q V G E W H E O H V J H Y A G B Y B Y V D E U V B N M Q T A Q W F P K F K N U Q P V Q G X P L K Y H G F Q S U M H K I K O D L L O Y A L T Y E O Q D V N M H R B W T D D G P S P J I H W C R W G I E L O Y B L W G O Y G K J G L O Y P G N G F Q H U Q R R A V K P A R U W D S G A I T R C H Q G W V H C W E R T Y U A P K I E D D E Z U G E F F H H Z B Y Y H B Q Y H Q W C Q N F G G R X Y R Q D B G J V N T T J V D T L Q W V P U H V T C T Q C B N F K X Q R G K W F L B D O C O U I B G V J E W E L R Y C A Q R L Q E G F M R B G H Q B Y B R E V N W S Q V S H P O S G B N M S W E S T S A C N E S B D E C A S H L W R T Y U I O F G G Y F W G X M W A N V R A E Q X K Z Q X V B M F Y V B D F H Z P Q H H Q Q L F L F F R H H R Q F Q Y T A G R G Y Y L G M C W O T K G H T E R E B N E Y O G E F D E G O L D W D G Y J F O L S O M G E R R Q D H F V Q H A B W E V Q G H Q G E O K H F D Q B U I C G F A R Q N V S Q Q R O S E V I L L E G H
Guess What I Am? Answer Key Guess what I am?
IM A FENDER TELECASTER
• I’m known as the guitar that conquered Country, Blues, Rock and punk
• I was introduced to the market in 1951
• I have been played by people such as (B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Merle Haggard)
• I was originally released as the broadcaster but was mocked and called a “boat paddle”
