As many of you know we have had a busy year trying to grow our company and I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the news of our acquisition of La Familia. In being consistent with our mission “to be the best in the world at whatever we do” in the 13 months since the acquisition of CashWiz and Simple Pawn, we now have added La Familia to our family and are at 73 stores. We welcome our new team members and cannot wait to see what the future brings for us all.
As we are deep into December and the end of the year, let’s finish it strong by offering excellent customer service to everyone who walks into our doors. WOW them with a greeting and see what you can do to assist them. When with a customer attempt to add on to sales, offer gift bags or cleaning on jewelry items, show up each day with enthusiasm and be ready to work. If there was ever a time to “Execute” this is the time!
As I reflect on all the hard work each of our team members has put into our company this year, I want to wish each of you a joyful holiday season.
Happy Holidays to all!
IN THIS ISSUE DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 12 Since 2009, Simple Management Group has provided corporate leadership to non-traditional financial & retail establishments throughout the Caribbean and United States.
The Presidents Corner The Presidents Corner Sales Competition 2 Employee Spotlight 3 Rankings 4-5 Great Teams 6 Webinar Training 7 Jewelry Training 8-9 Promotions 10 New Hires 11 Salvation Army 12 In the News 13-14 Celebrations 15 Corporate Team 16
John Thedford, CEO
FINAL ROUND! May Pen vs. Cayman SALES COMPETITION 2 PRIZES! Store managers of the winning stores of each round will receive as follows: Round 3 / Grand Champion - Weekend trip to Miami (Flights & Hotel) with $1,000 spending money! If the company hits Net Revenue budget for the month, prizes for each round will be doubled!
Tosheri Brathwaite
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Micheala Greene
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Tosheri started with the company 5 months ago and is a sales associate at Bridgetown, Barbados.
Tosheri's top 3 goals for the remainder of 2022 include, being employee of the month for December, to win the current Spiff for the iPhone 14, and to increase her option book by $50K.
The best advice Tosheri ever received, "If it is to be, it is up to me." Her greatest accomplishment in her career so far is being Employee of the Month for October 2022.
Interesting facts about Tosheri, she has a degree in Culinary Arts and enjoys trying new food spots on the island.
Micheala has been with the company for less than 6 months and is truly an asset to the team. She is a team member in Nassau, Bahamas and sets the standard when it comes to customer service. She brings a lot of energy to everything she does, practices sales & loan standards every day and is a great team player.
She enjoys meeting and mixing with new people hence, why she chose to work as a Sales Associate. She enjoys friendly competition and quite frequently wins the spiffs at the store.
She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration. Her future aspirations are graduating from college and hopefully moving up within this great company.
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4 RANKINGS TOP 10 STORES & MANAGERS IN NET REVENUE #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 Georgetown, Cayman Kerwin Boxill $146,653 Freeport, Bahamas Bernard Cooper $ 85,779 Kingston 1, Jamaica Samara Williams $ 61,758 Montego Bay, Jamaica Tannasha McNab $ 61,560 St. Cloud, Florida (SP2) Marilyn Vasquez $ 60,026 Kissimmee, Florida (SP1) Juan Marrero $ 59,133 Nassau, Bahamas Danielle Sturrup $ 59,041 Roseau, Dominica Greg Jules $ 57,356 St. John's, Antigua Zavier Joseph $ 51,729 May Pen, Jamaica Oraine Fagen $ 49,368 TOP 5 SALES ASSOCIATES #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 George Town, Cayman Sashana Wilson $ 36,756 George Town, Cayman Tania Brown $ 30,302 George Town, Cayman Ingrid Jones $ 29,024 Kissimmee, FL (SP1) Jessenia Rosado Morales $ 28,796 Montego Bay, Jamaica Yanique Spence $ 27,764
MANAGEMENT TRAINING
SMG 2-Day Strategic Management Awareness Training
Thank you to everyone who made the "2-Day Strategic Management Awareness Training" such a huge success! This management training had sessions to help stores run more effectively, efficiently, and in line with business strategies. Topics covered included, day-to-day operations, financials, marketing, merchandising, loan balance growth, retail sales, and customer experience. Attendees that completed the training in November are: Juan Marrero, Cargill Brown, Oraine Fagan, Joicelyn Henry, Kerwin Boxill, Samara Williams, Takisha Williams and Kimberley Walrond.
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GREAT TEAMS
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Team Barbados celebrating Independance Day
Team Dominica celebrating 10 years
Team Kingston, Jamaica
Team TCI Uptown
Team Portmore, Jamaica
Team Montego Bay, Jamaica
Team May Pen, Jamaica
Team Cayman
WEBINAR TRAINING
From the Management Corner,
With the Holidays here, it is a great opportunity for us to look at our business from a different set of eyes:
From the customer standpoint, are we priced correctly?
Are we merchandising properly with point of sale to help increase sales and offering bundle items?
Are we engaging every customer to help ensure we are meeting their needs? Do we look clean and presentable or “Grand Opening Ready”, with holiday merchandising and decorating?
From a second point of view, look at your store in terms of “safety”:
Are we setting up merchandising too high and blocking the view from the isles?
Do we welcome everyone that comes into the store with hello?
Are we entering and leaving with a minimum of two people every day?
Are we asking for ID to hold for when we are showing merchandise over $500.00 in the jewelry case?
On credit card transactions does the name match the driver’s license?
These things will help us stay safe and maximize sales during the Holiday selling season. Ensure we talk to our team members daily to make these habitual tasks.
7 WEBINAR SCHEDULE December5 SafetyTips December12 ChristmasSpecial December19 OvercomingObjections December26 Features&Benefits(Jewelry)
Holiday Jewelry Display & Sales Tips
Have fun decorating your showcases for Christmas but remember the focus should still be on the jewelry. The showcases should be clean, neat and convey the Holiday spirit, while making sure the jewelry remains the center of attention.
Display jewelry boxes and gift bags with tissue paper so customers visualize the way they will present the jewelry. This also helps remind them of the happy gift giving event and puts them in the buying mood!
Create excitement by using the Magnetic Sign Holders to showcase specially priced items and use Bundle Pricing strategies to encourage add on sales using the silent salesperson technique.
JEWELRY TRAINING
Add-on Display Strategy
Group jewelry into collections such as matching bracelets, charms, necklaces, rings and earrings for add-on sales and stocking stuffers and use bundle pricing signs.
Add-on SALES TIP
Most people have a long list of people who need gifts Once the customer commits to buying the first piece, say, "OK, that's done...so who else is on your list?" Don't ask, "Are you looking to buy jewelry for anyone else on your list?" Just assume they are. People shop with a single purpose/person/gift in mind. Once a customer has decided to make a purchase, ask them:
Are there any other gift giving occasions coming up?
We have some great values right now; have you thought about treating yourself this year?
You can use our free layaway to get this matching item for your wife for Valentine's Day!
Since you are buying the engagement ring, might as well put the wedding bands on layaway!
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Jewelry Training in Session...
Antigua Training
Grenada Training
JEWELRY TRAINING
December Birthstones
All three December birthstones, Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon, come in various shades of blue. The word Turquoise dates back to the 13th century, drawing from the French expression pierre tourques, which referenced the “Turkish stone” brought to Europe from Turkey
From ancient Egyptians to Persians, Aztecs and Native Americans, kings, and warriors alike admired Turquoise for thousands of years It decorated everything from jewelry to ceremonial masks to weapons and bridles. Persians believed it offered protection by changing color to warn of pending doom. Native American Shamans used it in sacred ceremonies to commune with the spirit of the sky. Apache Indians believed that attaching turquoise to bows improved a hunter’s accuracy. The U.S. is the world’s largest turquoise supplier. Nevada, New Mexico, California, and Colorado have produced turquoise, but Arizona leads in production by value, as well as quality.
Tanzanite is the blue-purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one part of the world Named for its origin in Tanzania, tanzanite is only found on a few square miles of land in Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro and has quickly risen to popularity since its relatively recent discovery in 1967
The name Zircon likely comes from the Persian word zargun, meaning “gold-colored.” Others trace it to the Arabic zarkun, meaning “vermillion.” Being that it comes in a wide range of colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and brown both origins are possible. During the Middle Ages, people believed that zircon gemstones could induce sound sleep, ward off evil, and bring prosperity and wisdom. Australia leads the world in zircon mining, producing 37 percent of the world’s supply. Other sources include Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Cambodia, Canada, and the United States
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10 PROMOTIONS FROM OUR HR TEAM We are
to announce the promotion of
will
will
stores. PROMOTIONS
happy
Kerwin Boxill and Bernard Cooper to Area Manager in Training (AMIT)! Kerwin
oversee Cayman Island and the Montego Bay, Jamaica stores and Bernard will oversee both Bahama locations and Turks and Caicos. Both
continue as the store manager of their current
Bernard Cooper Area Manager in Training Freeport, Bahamas
Simple Pawn and CashWiz Word Search Contest First person to submit the accurate word search to Chyna Broderick at chyna@smg.inc. WINS a $25 store credit!
Kerwin Boxill Area Manager in Training Cayman Island
Congratulations to Abiann Gayle and Ebony Williams Stuart on their promotions to Lead Sales Associates!
Abiann Gayle Lead Sales Associate
Cayman Island
Ebony Williams Stuart Lead Sales Associate Freeport, Bahamas
11 NEW HIRES FROM OUR HR TEAM WELCOME TO THE TEAM! Say Hello to our new team members! The New Hire Packages have arrived! Managers can now order from Magic for new employees www.magicprintingservices.com
Sales
Nastassia Thomas
Associate The Springs K2, Jamaica
Kaheel Foster Sales Associate Mandeville, Jamaica
Keanna Drummond Sales Associate Oistins, Barbados
Tianna Cumberbatch Sales Associate Oistins, Barbados
Calinma McGowan
Sales Associate Kingston 1, Jamaica
Derek Stuart Manager in Training Freeport, Bahamas
Shirley Rivera Sales Associate Simple 1, Kissimmee FL
SALVATION ARMY GIVE-AWAYS & Red Kettle Challenge
Denise Horsford's husband was involved in a deadly car accident on August 3, 2021 which saw her losing her companion and the father of five of her children She, herself barely survived the effect of the accident as she had broken neck, legs and other injuries and had to spend months at the hospital. She is currently living with family member as she is unable to afford rent and other necessities. She is very appreciative to CashWiz Antigua for the assistance. Sometimes she finds it very hard to even provide snacks for the children to go to school. The Salvation Army selected the Horsford Family for the
Christina, a single mom of a 15 year old. Hurricane flooded their home they lost everything including bare necessities. We were able to give her a laptop for her son’s school work as well a Nintendo switch and a nice JBL Bluetooth speaker. She was very grateful to be able to give her son a great Christmas despite their recent loss.
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Antigua Cashwiz Horsford Family selected by the Salvation Army for the $500 Shopping Spree Simple Pawn Recipient selected by the Salvation Army for the $500 Shopping Spree The True Meaning of Giving Back Thank you to all the volunteers for Ringing the Bell to raise much needed funds for the Salvation Army This a great Kettle Season! This
with
of quarters!
$500 shopping spree.
gentleman comes everyday
rolls
IN THE NEWS
The Annual Christmas Dinner and Treat
Hosted by Cashwiz Jamaica for Kids at Windsor Lodge Children's Home
Cashwiz Jamaica hosted the Annual Christmas Dinner and Treat for the children at the Salvation Army run Windsor Lodge Children’s home in Mandeville, Jamaica. They had team members from Mandeville, Portmore, Kingston 1 and Kingston 2 (Springs). Mandeville (Lavern Osbourne, Jaheim Holness & Kaheel Foster), Portmore (Roshelle Sherwood & Renee East), Kingston 1 (Samara Williams & Natalia Thomas), Springs (Nyoka Blake, Nastassia Thomas & Aldronie Desdunes), Cargill Brown, Lazanna McNab & Chyna Broderick.
Cashwiz Jamaica Partners with Miss. Montego Bay Foundation
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Cashwiz Jamaica partnered with the Miss Montego Bay Foundation to host the Annual Miss Montego Bay Pageant, in attendance were Yanique Spence, Lazanna and Tannasha McNab.
14 IN THE NEWS Holiday Store Decoration Contest Winners! Thank you for competing in the Holiday Store Decoration Contest! Everyone did an amazing job showing off their creative side! Congrats to the best decorated stores! 1st Place $750, 2nd Place $500 and 3rd Place $250. 2nd Place Oistins, Barbados 3rd Place KIssimmee, FL (S2) Pinktober Pandora Winner! Congrats to Toni, the Pinktober Pandora Winner!! Shopping for Wedding Rings Shirley engaging customers...they found their perfect wedding set! Customer Appreciation Customer Raffle Winner! This customer just won a free watch! First Customer of the day! The first customer of the day unwrapping the case full of surprise deals!
CELEBRATIONS
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4
4
11
2
Rheba Cummings
Years Ricardo Maldonado
Years Ethline Wilner
Years Kamel Whyte 5 Years Jampsley Phanor 1 Year Juan Marrero 1 Year Wilmar Mazo 1 Year Je'Vaughn Lockhart 3 Years Samantha Miller 6 Years Sashana Wilson 1 Year Abiann Gayle 1 Year Chehara Thompson 1 Year Jesse Hamilton
Years Tania Brown 1 Year
Gregory Wilson Dec. 1 Emilio Diaz Dec. 3
Cassinque Oliver Dec. 5 Danielle Grant Dec. 7 Zola Joseph Dec. 12
Jhonell Jennings Dec. 13 Paula Valdez-Lightbourne Dec. 15
Oraine Fagan Dec. 17 Alison Verni Dec. 18 Rafael Sanchez Dec. 20 Saneka Duncan Dec. 23 Yves Florvil Dec. 26 John Redinger Dec. 28 Sashana Wilson Dec. 28
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Franklyn Allen Dec. 29 Ricardo Maldonado Dec. 30
John Thedford - Chief Executive Office Gethin Huckle - Chief Financial Officer Joe Genovese - Chief Operations Officer Rosa Wedge - VP of Operations Keith Sexton - Director, Corporate Development Jennifer Kanistras - Director, Corporate Administration Greg Weiss - Director, Jewelry Operations Samantha Miller - Human Resources Generalist Chyna Broderick - Sr. Recruitment Coordinator Alison Verni - Controller Nanci Wynn - Accountant Leslie Matthews - Payroll Accountant Debbie Smith - Bookkeeper Jackie Garcia - Training Coordinator Julie Walker - Executive Assistant Corporate Office Address 625 Main Street, Suite 27 Windermere, Florida 34789 Tel: (321) 424-5919 OUR MISSON To be the largest and most profitable chain of pawn stores in the world. OUR PURPOSE Best at whatever we do; because our family, customers, community & company derserve it. CORE VALUES Great Teams Excellence in Every Role Green and Clean Open Culture of Trust and Accountability Celebrate Our Accomplishments Your Corporate Support Team 16