Dear Team,
Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! This will be our best year so far!
At the beginning of each year I think it's appropriate to review our Mission and Vision statement to insure that we live it every day. Our purpose is "To be the best in the world in whatever we do; because our family, customers, community and company deserves it." What does this mean? It means that when we wake up in the morning and cross that lease line, we can be the best for our customers and for all of the people we serve.
Our Core Values
Great Teams - show me a great team and I'll show you a bunch of people that get along, play well together and perform.
Excellence in Every Role - there's no such thing as an unimportant job. We need you and we need you to be the best you can every day.
Green & Clean - our stores should look "Grand Opening" ready every day. Parking lot striped, cleaned interiors, merchandise well...etc.
Open Culture of Trust and Accountability - the best cultures have the highest level of trust and accountability and can have the highest performing teams. Celebrate our Accomplishments - celebrate those accomplishments real time! All the best,
IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 13
John Thedford
Happy New Year 2023 2 73 Store Locations 3 Q4 Competition Winner 4 Webinar Training 4 Jewelry Training 5-6 Employee Spotlight 7-9 2023 President's Council 10 Q4 Winners Circle 11-12 Q4 Top Sales Associates 13-14 Promotions & New Hires 15 Crossword Puzzle Contest 15 Salvation Army Photos 16 In the News 17-18 Celebrations 19 Mission, Purpose & Values 20 President's Corner President's Corner
John Thedford, CEO
A luncheon was held to welcome and celebrate La Familia team members! 2023 is going to be an exciting year, and an amazing journey as we execute and implement plans to achieve our mission - to be the largest and most profitable chain of pawn stores in the world. We have added La Familia to our family and are at 73 stores. We welcome our new team members and cannot wait to see what this New Year brings for us all!
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Our
Headquarters
SMG Corporate Headquarters 2600
Drive Suite 116 Maitland, FL 32751 We are Moving! 2
Corporate
has moved to Maitland, Florida.
Lake Luciene
73 Store Locations 73 Store Locations
Simple Pawn - Florida
Simple Pawn 1, Kissimmee
Simple Pawn 2, St. Cloud
Simple Pawn 3, Pleasant Hill
Simple Pawn 4, New Smyrna Beach
La Familia - Florida
La Familia, Broward 1
La Familia, Haines City 1
La Familia, Haines City 2
La Familia, Haines City 3
La Familia, Kissimmee 1
La Familia, Kissimmee 2
La Familia, Kissimmee 4
La Familia - Puerto Rico
La Familia, Aguadilla
La Familia, Arecibo 1
La Familia, Bayamon 1
La Familia, Bayamon 2
La Familia, Carolina 1
La Familia, Carolina 2
Cashwiz - Caribbean
Cashwiz, Antigua
Cashwiz, Bahamas, Freeport Cashwiz, Bahamas, Nassau Cashwiz, Barbados, Bridgetown Cashwiz, Barbados, Oistins Cashwiz, Cayman Islands Cashwiz, Dominica
Cashwiz, Grenada Cashwiz, Jamaica, Kingston Cashwiz, Jamaica, Kingston 2 Cashwiz, Jamaica, Mandeville Cashwiz, Jamaica, May Pen Cashwiz, Montego Bay Cashwiz, Portmore
Cashwiz, St. Vincent Cashwiz, TCI, Downtown Cashwiz, TCI, Uptown
La Familia, Kissimmee 5
La Familia, Manatee
La Familia, Miami 1
La Familia, Miami 2
La Familia, Orlando 1
La Familia, Orlando 2
La Familia, Orlando 3
La Familia, Orlando 4
La Familia, Orlando 5
La Familia, Orlando 6
La Familia, Orlando 7
La Familia, Orlando 9
La Familia, Orlando 10
La Familia, Tampa 1
La Familia, Tampa 2
La Familia, Tampa 3
La Familia, Tampa 4
La Familia, Tampa 5
La Familia, Volusia 1
La Familia, West Palm 1
La Familia, Caguas 1
La Familia, Caguas T1
La Familia, Caguas T2
La Familia, Guaynabo 1
La Familia, Guayama 1
La Familia, Humacao 1
La Familia, Manati 1
La Familia, Mayaguez 1
La Familia, Ponce 1
La Familia, Ponce 2
La Familia, San Juan 1
La Familia, San Juan 2
La Familia, San Juan T1
La Familia, San Juan T2
La Familia, San Juan 5
La Familia, San Sebastian 1
La Familia, Vega Baja 1
La Familia, Yauco 1
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Q4 COMPETITION WINNER! Congratulations for winning the Q4 Competition and the Grand Prize Weekend Trip to Miami!! Congrats Oraine and Team May Pen!!! 4 WEBINAR SCHEDULE TEAM MAY PEN Jan2 TheCommunicationModel Jan9 Features&BenefitsJewelry Jan16 ProductKnowledge(Computers) Jan23 ProductKnowledge(CellPhones) Jan30 Productknowledge(CarAudio)
J E W E L R Y J E W E L R Y T R A I N I N G T R A I N I N G
Jewelry Packaging
Providing customers with attractive gift boxes and bags builds value for our brand and the jewelry we sell. Attractive packaging communicates to the customer that jewelry is special; it also enhances the customers experience when jewelry is given as a gift.
When showcasing jewelry make sure to display some in boxes and bags; this strategy motivates more people to buy the jewelry item since they can imagine giving the beautifully wrapped package to their loved one.
GregWeiss DirectorofJewelryOperations
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JANUARY BIRTHSTONE - GARNET
Garnets are most often red but also comes in a wide range of beautiful colors, including orange, yellow, purple, vibrant green and color change varieties. The name “garnet” originates from the Latin word “granatus”, meaning “pomegranate,” due to the similar red color.
Garnets have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. This gemstone was popular with the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and of the clergy and nobility of the Middle Ages. Signet rings in ancient Rome featuring garnet were used to stamp the wax that secured important documents. Some believe the garnet birthstone brings the wearer good health, wealth, and happiness. This gemstone was used as a talisman for protection both by warriors going into battle and those who wanted to ward off pestilence and plague.
The African continent supplies much of the world’s garnet, with garnet also found in Southern California, Myanmar, Brazil, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, as well as other countries. While traditional red Garnet is generally good for everyday wear, it is not as hard and durable as ruby, sapphire, diamond and should be worn with care.
Engagement & Wedding Band
Add-on Sales strategy
These are the Top 5 Days to Get Engaged, according to WeddingWire…
#1 Valentine’s Day
#2 New Year’s Day
#3 Christmas Day
#4 Christmas Eve #5 Fourth of July (US Independence Day)
Knowing this can help you take advantage of one of the most common missed opportunities when selling engagement rings. When buying an engagement ring, most customers are focused on the engagement ring and are not thinking ahead about the wedding bands.
Most salespeople assume that their customer will come back to buy the wedding bands when they are ready; but most often they end up buying bands while visiting some random store in the future. Rather than rely on chance, be proactive at the time of the engagement ring sale and get the customer to put the wedding bands on layaway, guaranteeing a future sale while making their wedding planning easier and less stressful. During your engagement ring presentation, make sure to ask when the wedding date is. Then after they decide on an engagement ring to buy or put on layaway, say something like…“You have a lot of things on the list to plan for your wedding over the next several months, why don’t we look at some wedding bands now, and you can use our free layaway so you have one more thing taken care of for the wedding.”
Provide world class service and intentionally focus on adding on wedding band layaways this Valentine’s engagement season. Your customers will love this extra level of customer service, and you will have a guaranteed future wedding band sale; everyone is a winner!
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Shavet Stone
Senior Sales Associate
Cashwiz
May Pen
The best advice I have ever received here is, "Failure is not the opposite of success: it's part of the process. "
My greatest accomplishment which I've achieved in my career thus far is being the Top SA in store May Pen for year 2022 and promotion to Senior SA. Something that my coworker would be surprised to know about me...I am a certified Hotel Manager and I enjoy discovering new places and restaurants. A bit more about me...I enjoy spending quality time with my newborn princess, she's my life, new love, my world, she's literally my everything. Nothing else matters.
My Top 3 Goals for the Year: 1. 2. 3.
Continue to do the best at whatever I do because my family, friends, customers and company deserve it. Meeting my PRM through the year. Push to be #1 in every area.
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Carlos Bustamante
Assistant Manager
Simple Pawn 2
Carlos has been in the industry for 9 years with four of those years with the Simple 2 Team in St. Cloud, Florida.
Carlos is always happy and brings energy to work every day. Carlos enjoys basketball and something that people don't know about Carlos is that he plays the saxophone.
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Abiann
. Sales Associate. week.
She has accomplished all three goals and continues to excel in her role. She is a team player and has extraordinary customer service skills. The best advise she has ever received continues to be, "Never give up as you will be surprised how far you can go!"
A bit more about Abby...she loves to cook.
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Gayle Senior Sales Associate Cashwiz Cayman
2023 PRESIDENTS COUNCIL
Ricky Acosta
La Familia, Tampa Area Manager
Eric DeAnda
La Familia, Tampa Area Manager
Jackie Garcia Training Coordinator
Jessie Rosado
Simple Pawn 1, Kissimmee, FL
Evelyn Martinez
La Familia, Kissimmee 4
Blanca Perez
La Familia, Miami 1
Joicelyn Henry
Cashwiz, Grenada
Erica Diaz Lopez
La Familia, San Juan, PR 3
Ricardo Rosado
La Familia, Ponce 1
Takisha Williams
Cashwiz, TCI, Uptown
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RANK NAME STORE STORE NAME SALES % 1 Joshuany Ocampo WP1 La Familia $240,088 5% 2 Alexis Areizaga OR9 La Familia $193,624 5% 3 Jose Pagan OR7 La Familia $164,822 5% 4 Abiann Gayle CAY CashWiz $154,230 5% 5 Karla Torres Miranda OR7 La Familia $148,292 5% 6 Mike Desamours OR2 La Familia $143,040 5% 7 Jessie Rosado SP1 Simple Pawn 1 $136,371 5% 8 Jeniffer Izquierdo OR6 La Familia $135,409 5% 9 Zoraima Blanco KM1 La Familia $128,649 5% 10 Robert Cintron Ayala KM2 La Familia $125,599 5% 11 2022 Q4 WINNERS CIRCLE 2022 Q4 WINNERS CIRCLE Sales & Lending Executives Sales & Lending Executives
RANK NAME STORE STORE NAME SALES % 11 Paul Padilla Soto BY1 La Familia $118,822 4% 12 Yisel Diaz TP3 La Familia $117,956 4% 13 Letty Cofrancesco MI2 La Familia $115,529 4% 14 Wilmar Mazo SP2 Simple Pawn 2 $115,495 4% 15 Francisco Droz TP2 La Familia $114,496 4% 16 Samira Friha Torrealba OR2 La Familia $114,159 4% 17 Leonel Oriz-Tamayo CA2 La Familia $114,125 4% 18 Ricard Rivera Oreellano CGT2 La Familia $113,283 4% 19 Luis Fernandez HC1 La Familia $113,155 4% 20 Shirley Rodriguez OR6 La Familia $112,053 4% 11 2022 Q4 WINNERS CIRCLE 2022 Q4 WINNERS CIRCLE Sales & Lending Professionals Sales & Lending Professionals
RANK NAME STORE STORE NAME SALES 1 Joshuany Ocamp WP1 La Familia $240,008 2 Chanelly Estrada MI1 La Familia $198,793 3 Estafania Rivera MI1 La Familia $195,659 4 Alexis Areizago OR9 La Familia $193,624 5 Jessica Andino MI1 La Familia $165,786 6 Jose Pagan OR7 La Familia $164,822 7 Abainn Gayle CAY CashWiz $154,230 8 Karla Torres Miranda OR7 La Familia $148,292 9 Heidy Mena-Zamora MI1 La Familia $146,482 10 Mike Desamours OR2 La Familia $143,040 12 2022 Q4 Top 20 Sales Associates 2022 Q4 Top 20 Sales Associates
RANK NAME STORE STORE NAME SALES 11 Jessie Rosado SP1 Simple Pawn 1 $136,371 12 Jeniffer Izquierdo OR6 La Familia $135,409 13 Zoraima Blanco KM1 La Familia $128,649 14 Robert Cintron KM2 La Familia $125,599 15 Paul Padilla BY1 La Familia $118,822 16 Yisel Diaz TP3 La Familia $117,956 17 Letty Cofrancesco MI2 La Familia $115,529 18 Wilmar Mazo SP2 Simple Pawn 2 $115,495 19 Francisco Droz TP2 La Familia $114,496 20 Samira Fraiha Torrealba OR2 La Familia $114,159 13 2022 Q4 Top 20 Sales Associates 2022 Q4 Top 20 Sales Associates
14 Joseph Henrich S4 Nicholas Kestler OR2 Kristopher Diaz Lopez SJ2 Tracy-Ann Manyan Kingston 1 Ramon Azpurua Martinez MN1 John Raemisch OR1 Lyliette Rivera OR3 Azure Russell Freeport Eric Santos Ruiz AR1 Polette Torres Recruiter Dalisse Vasquez VS1 Jewelry Trainer Legal currency CEO Circle of the sale Qualifying the customer Exchange for money Simple Management Group Across Weekly Webinar CFO Core Values Get instant Cash Down 1 4 6 7 8 9 10 12 2 3 5 11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 CROSSWORD PUZZLE CONTEST first person to submit the accurate crossword puzzle to Chyna Broderic at chyna@smg.inc WINS a $25 store credit! HEW HIRES PROMOTIONS & NEW HIRES PROMOTIONS We are happy to announce the promotion of Joe Genovese and Rosa Wedge! Joe has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Rosa has been promoted to VP of Operations
The Salvation Army Volunteers
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Thanks to your hard work we had an incredible Kettle Season!
John Thedford is a proud partner of the Salvation Army and serves on the Advisory Board This year team members, families and friends volunteered "Ringing the Bell" for the Red Kettle Challenge to raise much needed support for those in need! Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and making this the most successful Kettle Season ever!
16 IN THE NEWS
South Florida Christmas Dinner: Henry Norena, Joe Genovese, Blanca Perez, Eloy Estrada, Erick Espinal and Jihad Saadeh
Team Dominica Christmas Dinner
Team Antigua Christmas Dinner
A big thank you to all our teams this Christmas! We love celebrating our accomplishments!
Team OR10 Christmas Event
Team MoBay Christmas Dinner
17 IN THE NEWS
Team Simple Pawn 2 Team OR10
Jamaica Christmas Dinner & Awards
Team OR1 Christmas Event
Team Dominica Christmas Event
Jamaica Christmas Dinner & Awards
18 IN THE NEWS
Cookout Celebration at Simple Pawn 2 Chef Keith making it a great staff appreciation event!
Greg Jules donating a Christmas gift to a customer in need
Ugly Sweater Contest at Simple Pawn!
Dionne at OIstins, Barbados Store donating food to a customer for Christmas
Santa and Grinch left the building!
Team Montego Bay ready for customers!
Rheba collecting her gift certificate for winning the crossword competition
January Celebrations January Celebrations
BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES
Zoraima Blanko KM1 Jan 1
Greg Jules Dominica Jan 1
Jennifer Luis TCI, DT Jan 1
Samuel Santos Ramon HC2 Jan 5
Calinma McGowan Kingston 1 Jan 6
Jhensy Acevedo HC2 Jan 7
Yashira Reyes Alverio HU1 Jan 8
Katherine Ortiz HC2 Jan 8
Jose Reyes Sanchez GY1 Jan 8
Samira Fraiha Torrealba OR2 Jan 8
Edgardo Jimenez-Peraza CGT2 Jan 9
Justin Lafleur OR3 Jan 10
John Thedford CEO Jan 10
Marilyn Vasquez Simple 2 Jan 10
Chervon Joseph Antigua Jan 11
Henry Norena Regional Jan 11
Daniel Rivera-Cruz SJT2 Jan 12
Danielle Sturrup Nassau Jan 13
Jacqueline Anaya GA1 Jan 15
Gissel Olan Beltran AG1 Jan 15
Adrian Dias Rodriguez WP1 Jan 19
Juan Hernandez OR1 Jan 20
Alexsandra Aquino BY2 Jan 21
Michael Agosto Jauridez HU1 Jan 24
Neikesha Shambre Fuller TP2 Jan 24
Nestor Heredia OR7 Jan 26
Otto Irizarry Alvarado PO2 Jan 30
Edwin Ayala OR2 Jan 30
Jose Duarte OR3 Jan 31
Egnis Santana SJ1 Jan 31
Sherly Burgos Navarro FJ1 Jan 31
Nancy Wynn Corp Jan 1 7 yr
Michael Agosto Jauridez HU1 Jan 2 10 yr
Juan Hernandez OR1 Jan 3 1 yr Angel Medina HC1 Jan 3 1 yr
Vanessa Ambuslery Portmore Jan 4 2 yr
Coralys Jusino SJ3 Jan 4 1 yr Evelyn Martinez KM4 Jan 5 8 yr Deborah Ann Smith Corp Jan 5 13 yr Andrine Brown Kingston Jan 6 3 yr
Jose Joaquin Domingo TP1 Jan 6 3 yr Shakira Scott Kingston Jan 6 3 yr Karina Numez-De Vargas PO1 Jan 7 9 yr Javier Perez-Alvarez Reg Jan 7 9 yr Sheila Cedeno Calderon BY1 Jan 8 4 yr Michelle Soto Lois HC1 Jan 10 6 yr Heydi Mena-Zamora MI1 Jan 10 8 yr Joe Genovese Corp Jan 11 1 yr Nelson Batista-Quiles Reg Jan 11 13 yr
Edwin Lopez KM5 Jan 13 3 yr Marta Santiago KM4 Jan 13 3 yr Ricky Acosta TP2 Jan 17 1 yr Marinelly Rivera SJ2 Jan 17 1 yr
Jessie Rosado Moreles Simple 1 Jan 17 1 yr
Alexsandra Aquino BY2 Jan 18 13 yr Daniel Gonzalez-Rodriguez BY1 Jan 18 13 yr Sheila Pagen BY2 Jan 20 1 yr
Ebony Williams-Stuart Freeport Jan 22 5 yr
Philippa Major Nassau Jan 23 11 yr Jackie Garcia Corp Jan 24 1 yr
Yadaika Morales OR5 Jan 24 1 yr Jennifer Kanistras Corp Jan 25 1 yr Henry Norena Reg Jan 25 2 yr Blanca Perez MI1 Jan 25 13 yr
Josue Santiago Guerrero Simple 3 Jan 27 1 yr Antoine Fontaine Dominica Jan 30 6 yr
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Corporate Office Address: 2600 Lake Lucein Dr., Suite 116 Maitland, Florida 32751 Tel: (407) 478-7296 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 20
