Pawn Leaders

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Pawn Leaders Podcast. Today we have Greg Engstrom, who has been in the pawn business since 1986.  He is the president of the Indiana pawnbrokers association and recently put on the incredible Midwest pond conference that I attended and spoke at. He was also on the board of the NPA for 11 years, the winner of Pawn Broker of the year in 2016. He is also a pilot, a scuba diver, and a mountain climber.   [03:04] Prior to opening a pawn shop, Greg operated a jewelry business   [03:50] Greg got his license in ’85, but didn’t open the store because he and his business partner were not ready   [04:55] They later opened a bigger store, with more parking, in 1989, and continued to grow, until he chose to only operate 3 stores   [10:29] Greg got ordered to stay in a hospital because he was close to having a heart attack and doctors were able to catch it before it happened   [10:55] Things that were once important, aren’t important anymore. This helped them to scale down the amount of stre

Joey Coleman helps companies keep their customers. He’s an award-winning speaker and works with organizations around the world; from small startups to major brands. His wall street journal 2nd best-selling book Never Lose a Customer again offers strategies and tactics for turning 1-time purchases into repeat sales. Joey enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 sons. This year, Joey is the keynote speaker at the Pawn Expo in Vegas, but first, he joins us on the Pawn Leaders podcast to teach us how to retain customers.   [02:59] Joey will be doing a keynote at the Pawn Expo in the morning and a workshop in the afternoon   [04:23] Joey used to be a defense lawyer, starting as a son of a criminal defense lawyer to doing national security law, international law and working in the Whitehouse in the CIA   [05:44] “In order to succeed in all of those industries, you had to have a very keen and clear understanding of the human condition”   [07:50] “We spend so much time and effort building our businesses, and focusing

On this five minute Friday episode, I discuss the issues around keeping it real and sharing the ups and the downs. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

On today’s episode of Pawn Leaders, we speak to Jerry Whitehead. He is a 2nd generation Pawnbroker with over 45 years of experience in the industry. He was one of the founding principles of Uncle Joe’s Pawn, a family owned 12 store chain that was sold to Cash America in 1992. Jerry was the CEO of Dark Holidays in Austin, Texas. He grew that chain to more than 50 stores and sold that chain in 1997 to Cash America as well. He served as a director on several industry boards, including the National Pawnbrokers Association. He's also a leading mergers and acquisitions specialist who has bought and sold more than 250 stores in his career. Jerry started the Pawnshop Consulting Group in early 2000 and today has serviced hundreds of clients in more than 40 countries around the world and all across the USA.   [03:16] At 8 years old, Jerry’s father asked him to volunteer at the pawnshop, where he worked 40 to 50 hours per week.   [05:19] The first set of stores were sold to Cash America? “In mid-1992 Cash America approa

On this five minute Friday episode, I discuss the one mistake that will destroy your pawn business guaranteed! To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

On today’s episode of Pawn Leaders, we speak with Joe Apfelbaum, CEO of Ajax Union; a B2B digital marketing agency in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Business Strategist, Marketing expert and certified Google trainer, as well as the author of the book High Energy Secrets, where he   [10:20] How and when did you realize that you had to make a change in your life? “I started reading more books, bought a book called The Habit and I looked into personal development”   [10:55] The conscious and subconscious mind are different ways of thinking. The subconscious mind works 90% of the time   [13:09] “It’s not about self-control, it’s about rewiring your habits”   [14:12] “Every human being has the same 24 hours in the day. We all have time”   [19:40] People believe that if they drink a lot of water, it causes them to go to the bathroom very often and it’s perfectly normal.   [26:35] If you realize that you are not focused as an entrepreneur, it means you are losing electrolytes   [31:11] “The definition of stress is not

On this five minute Friday episode, I discuss finding the importance of practicing and sharpening your skills. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

Shawn Goans is the owner of Fort Scott Gun & Pawn and Fast Guy Stuff. He has a background in Sales and Aviation and made the dramatic switch to the pawn business after making the transition from customer to pawnbroker. Shawn shares his pawn business experience thus far on today’s episode of Pawn Leaders.     [00:49] Shawn’s pawn store is located in Fort Scott, Kansas   [01:02] He has been in Sales for the past 2 years and in the pawn business for 3 years   [01:12] Shawn went from customer to pawnshop owner      [02:29] 10% interest charged on a 30 day loan and a 90 day grace with a hold period of 30 days    [03:25] People travel to do business with him because of the low interest rate   [05:08] Shawn had to start from scratch with making a name for the business. He created a Facebook page and used word-of-mouth and giveaways to increase following   [07:02] His Facebook page has been removed multiple times due to his business being a gun shop   [08:36] Engaging posts are used as a strategy on Facebook   [1

On this five minute Friday episode, I discuss finding the gift. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

Scott Wintrip is the author of High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant, named the must-read book by SHRM’s HR Magazine. Over the past 19 years, Scott has led the Wintrip Consulting Group, a global consultancy that has helped more than 22,000 organizations build talent-rich companies that have eliminated their hiring delays forever. For five consecutive years, Staffing Industry Analysts, a Crain Communications company, awarded Scott a place on the “Staffing 100,” a list of the world’s 100 most influential leaders. He’s also a member of the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Staffing 100 Hall of Fame.     [02:13] Scott studied Music in college   [03:02] He was unaware that putting people in jobs was an industry   [04:04] Scott realized that apart from employment agencies, he had to serve companies      [05:22] Making history repeat itself is the best strategy Scott would share with people     [05:52] Recurring patterns make better hires   [06:29] “70% of hiring

Todays Episode I recap what I took away from the Midwest Convention. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

A 3rd generation pawnbroker, Jordan is the CEO and owner of Beverly Loan Company, an upscale pawnshop specializing in discreet collateral loans against fine jewelry, watches, artwork and memorabilia. This pawnshop caters to socialites, business people and celebrities who require collateral loans against their prized possessions, in a confidential office building. In 2013, Jordan founded New York Loan Company, and most recently, purchased Chicago Loan Company. Jordan is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Loyola Law School, a member of the State Bar of California and sits on the Board of Directors of the National Pawnbrokers Association.   [01:46] Jordan’s grandfather started the business in 1938, who later gave his mother the business. When his mother passed on, Jordan decided to take up the mantle.   [05:25] Beverly Loan Company charges a standard of 4% a month   [06:04] Most of the items pawned includes jewelry, fine watches and artwork, especially at the New York location      [07:33] What’s been

Todays Episode I touch on creating a plan to win. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

Antoine Dupont, CEO of Katapult Marketing, was born in Paris and has spent the last five years studying Marketing while creating hundreds of videos for his clients. Katapult Marketing is an internet marketing company that manages the web presence for business owners. The company creates videos and websites that generate leads and increases credibility. Antoine’s clients have seen a 3 to 5 times increase in social media engagement, while others have seen a 37% increase in sales because of their video marketing strategies. We see how integrating video marketing in the pawn business can reap great rewards in today's episode of Pawn Leaders.     [02:07] Approximately five years ago, Antoine was introduced to doing video marketing by one of his employees   [03:59] “As a Marketer, what you’re trying to do is to put your client’s brand or your brand in front of people’s eyes. What are they looking at? Are they looking at billboards? Are they listening to radios? Are they watching television? What are they looking at

Todays Episode I touch on extreme clarity and what that means to you both personally and professionally. To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group. Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session today at pawnleaders.com

Scot Keller joins us on today's episode of Pawn Leaders. Scot was born in Philadelphia and then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where his father was a professional poker player. He attended high school in Las Vegas and went to Arizona State University. Scot later moved to Lake Cormorant to help his family run Keller's Pawn.     [01:52] Scot encourages small pawnshop owners to go to conventions to meet with veterans in the business   [02:51] “For the amount of money you get charged, especially at the smaller conventions, it’s worth every dime.”   [03:14] Scot recounts in his younger days, the strategy he would use to get products at the flea market cheaper than usual     [06:30] Mississippi is lenient with the regulations. They charge 25%, holds for 2 months and allowed to hold buys for 2 weeks if they do automatic computer transfers to police and 3 weeks if uploading or faxing pawn tickets to the police   [07:44] Based on the zip code of the Keller’s Pawn, there are 2,200 people with a median income of $45,000 an

Russ Perry joins us on today’s episode of Pawn Leaders. Russ is the founder of Design Pickle – the #1 unlimited and flat-rate graphic design service in the world. Design Pickle was launched in 2015 and has achieved unprecedented success. Russ is also the author of the Sober Entrepreneur, a book that speaks about his journey from rock-bottom and his commitment to sobriety. He is a certified trainer with Wake Up Warrior and enjoys traveling with his wife and 3 daughters.   [02:44] Russ looked at where he could provide value where there’s a gap in the market   [03:33] Design Pickle is 1 price, with two (2) plans; $370 and $995 plan   [05:23] Being able to take the designing off business owners’ plate so they can focus on the operations of the business makes Design Pickle amazing   [06:09] “The worst part as a business owner is when you’re not being proactive with your marketing and communication because you think it’s too expensive…it’s too much work”     [07:19] Becoming an entrepreneur means that you have to b

To continue the discussion join the Pawn Leaders Facebook Group

Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder and CEO of Entrupy and co-inventor of Entrupy’s patented technology, earned a degree in Journalism while designing and developing video games for Raptor Entertainment. He embarked on a career across a variety of roles including Sales, Business Development, Marketing, PR and filmmaking while working for software giants; Intuit and Microsoft. Entrupy was established in 2012 with co-founders, with a mission of using scalable technologies to enable trust and commerce to combat counterfeits. Entrupy launched in 2016 as an instant authentication service for high valued goods for the resale market. In 1 year, Entrupy has authenticated over 14 million dollars’ worth of inventory for its customers.   [02:08] Entrupy aims to build trust in transactions   [03:21] “Over time, we realized together that, as an industry and across commerce and across trading in the world, there’s a huge problem with counterfeits and that problem pervades almost every single industry.”   [05:48] The co-founders