national pawnbrokers association 2011 annual report · pdf filenssf shot show in las vegas in...

For 25 years, the National

Pawnbrokers Association has

been working to support the

pawn industry through advocacy

and education.

This would never have been

possible if it were not for the

time, energy and financial

support of a dedicated group of

individuals whose vision and

leadership created the

foundation of the association.

Thank you!

National Pawnbrokers Association 2011 Annual Report Celebrating 25 Years!

Contents President's Letter ........................................................... 1

Past Presidents ............................................................... 1

Officers ........................................................................... 2

Board of Directors .......................................................... 2

Staff ................................................................................ 2

Government Relations .................................................... 3

Membership ................................................................... 5

Pawn Expo ...................................................................... 6

Community Involvement ................................................ 7

Communications and Publications ................................. 9

Public Relations and New Media .................................. 10

This document is available on the NPA website,

www.nationalpawnbrokers.org.

July 17, 2012

Page 1 2012 Annual Report

National Pawnbrokers Association

Founder

Miley O’Neal 1988

Past Presidents

Louis Seawright 1989-1991 Charles R. Jones 1991-1993 Bob Stogner 1993-1995 Pat Stovall 1995-1997 Paul Edge 1997-1999 Doin Loftis 1992-2001 Brian Smith 2001-2003 Ed Bean 2003-2005 Fran Bishop 2005-2007 Dave Adelman 2007-2009 Dave Crume 2009-2010

President’s Letter

I’d like to welcome each of you to Pawn Expo 2012 and a celebration of 25 years for NPA.

For our 25th Anniversary, NPA has raised the education bar by bringing Disney Institute to Pawn Expo. You’re going to leave here with more information than you’ll know what to do with, and you will be more energized and excited about your business than ever before.

Our Government Relations Committee (GRC) continues to be on the front lines at the Federal level monitoring issues that could affect our industry. NPA’s Team GRC allows you to focus on your business and know that our industry’s needs are being handled in Washington.

We’ve made the investment in our association, and now we are finally in a position to secure our mission and move forward with the resources to back us up.

The pawn industry can no longer ignore the benefits of learning how to function in the digital age. Your bottom line will benefit, as will your quality of life as you increase your stores’ use of technology.

NPA is committed to helping each of you do this.

Our success is possible because of the dedication and investment of time, energy and money of the founders and countless members along the way. Thank you!

I applaud each and everyone here for your commitment to the Association. It is your trust in us that keeps us focused. Get involved. Stay involved. Support the NPA so that we can continue to support our industry. Have a great year!

Kevin Prochaska NPA President

July 17, 2012

2012 Annual Report Page 2


Officers

Kevin Prochaska President Ben Levinson Vice President Robert Anderson Treasurer Kathy Pierce Secretary David Crume Immediate Past President

Board of Directors

Tim Collier, Little Rock, AR

Janis Feazelle, Lugoff, SC

Bruce Harris, Wichita, KS

Tom Howard, South Bend, IN

David Johns, Winter Park, FL

Roger Loder, Queretaro, Mexico

Kevin Macdonald, Jackson, MS

Craig McCall, Las Vegas, NV

Eric Modell, New York, NY

Bob Moulton, Durham, NC

Larry Nuckols, San Antonio, TX

Mona Prestigiacomo, Valley Station, KY

Craig Rabiner, Lima, OH

Steve Rogers, Warner Robins, GA

Jordan Tabach-Bank, Beverly Hills, CA

Diane Taylor, Reseda, CA

Chuck Williams, Warner Robins, GA

Staff

Dana Meinecke Executive Director

Margie Swoyer Director of Membership

Lindsay Wilson Director of Meetings and Events

Chris Pearcey Communications Specialist

Matthew Church Government Relations Administrator

Teresa Congleton Administrative Assistant

Consultants

Sarah Jane Hughes Regulatory Counsel

Cliff Andrews CapCity Advocates, LLC Lobbyist Emmett Murphy 3 CLiCk Media, LLC Public Relations and New Media

July 17, 2012



Government Relations

Our Government Relations Committee (Team GRC) continues to be on the front lines at the Federal level

monitoring issues that could affect the pawn industry. Our list of accomplishments continues to grow as

we delve deeper into the legislative world we live in. The challenges we face in the near future seem to

grow equally as fast.

HR 1909

We are very concerned about HR1909 which would authorize a federal charter for large non-bank

providers of financial services. A federal charter would allow these large players a significant advantage

over non-charter businesses—anything from exemption from state oversight to favorable loan terms

and conditions. Not only would this be a bad deal for you, the independent pawnbroker, but it also

could result in a bad deal for consumers.

CFPB

We’ve been paying special attention to the formation and direction of the new Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau (CFPB). While the pawn industry remains low on the list of agenda items, we must

not become collateral damage for new regulations that are intended for other non-bank lenders. Team

GRC has been working diligently to make sure that, when the time comes to open discussions with the

CFPB, we have a clear and unified message.

NPA Legislative Day

On March 8, 2012 the NPA board of directors along with members from across the country flew to

Washington, DC for our annual legislative conference. Over 100 appointments were made on Capitol Hill

and two events were hosted for Members of Congress. We thank you for supporting this annual event.

Electronic Reporting Collaboration

In response to the overwhelming amount of information in regards to electronic reporting and the

issues that are a result of it, NPA continues to monitor all of the issues surrounding electronic reporting.

National reporting firms continue pushing their services on municipalities as a way to get revenue in the

form of ticket transaction fees, or “Pawn Tax”. Deterring crime is the excuse, but gaining revenue is the

goal. Electronic reporting, data security, and customer privacy are three separate, yet intertwined areas

of concern. The NPA has created a Google Map, featured on the home page of our website,

www.nationalpawnbrokers.org, featuring hot spots across the U.S. for electronic reporting and a link to

all state pawn laws. We continually monitor and update this map as new information becomes available.

Bankruptcy

New bankruptcy issues continue to rise from time to time. We made great strides in 2005 with the new

Bankruptcy Act, but whenever lengthy laws are in place, there is room for different interpretations.

Unless we defend our position and the intent of the law, we stand to lose valuable ground gained. Our

regulatory counsel has recently released a bankruptcy primer update. This is available in the Members

Only section of the NPA web site.

July 17, 2012



Government Relations

Rally Congress

The NPA website now features a new service to our members,

Rally Congress. NPA members, customers, friends, family and

colleagues have the ability to assist NPA at the grassroots level

by sending pre-drafted letters electronically with just a few clicks

of a mouse. In addition to call-to-action letters, we’ll be creating

informative and educational communication that allows you to

simply add your name and location, and the program will

forward the letter on your behalf.

2012 NPA PAC Disbursements

JEB Fund - Affiliate: Jeb Hensarling (R-Tx)

PETE PAC - Affiliate: Pete V. Domenici (R-NM)

Shelley Moore Capito for Congress – Affiliate: Shelley M. Capito (R-WV)

Defend America PAC - Affiliate: Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala)

Bachus for Congress – Affiliate: Spencer Bachus (R-Ala)

Growth and Prosperity PAC - Affiliate: Spencer Bachus (R-Ala)

Gary Miller for Congress – Affiliate: Gary Miller (R-CA)

Sherman for Congress – Affiliate: Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Berkley for Senate – Affiliate: Shelly Berkley (D-NV)

“It is the mark of a good

action that it appears

inevitable in retrospect.”

— Robert Louis Stevenson

July 17, 2012



Membership, July 2011-June2012

Total NPA membership currently stands at 1,780 and includes 1,555 renewing members from 2011

(88%). The additional 225 members represent new members from single stores, additional store

openings from current members and Industry Partners.

The NPA lost 67 stores in 2011 due to sales to publicly-held companies (Cash America, 38; EZ Corp, 29).

Another 47 stores have been sold this year (Cash America, 6; EZ Corp, 14; First Cash, 27).

Members are recruited by direct mail, email and phone calls. Sources of membership include the NPA

website, referrals from current members and direct mail lists. The NPA was also promoted at the annual

NSSF SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January 2012.

A membership survey was distributed in October 2011. The goal of the survey was to measure member

satisfaction with the association and its member benefits. Over 97% gave the NPA a satisfactory or

higher rating. The Legislative Conference, Pawn Expo convention and tradeshow, National Pawnbroker

magazine and NPA Member Forum were the top-ranked benefits of membership.

The NPA Mentor Program was introduced in April 2012. This educational program was designed to

match emerging leaders in the pawn industry with seasoned pawnbrokers for an educational and

productive experience. Four groups have been successfully matched for 2012.

New membership trends for 2012 include:

83 new single store members

98 new stores added to multi-store operations

32 new Industry Partners

There was a notable increase in membership for several states including GA, IA, IN, KY, TN, UT, and WV.

July 17, 2012



Pawn Expo 2011

June 14-16 the NPA held Pawn Expo 2011 in Las

Vegas, NV at Caesars Palace Hotel and Resort.

Attendees were then treated to a keynote speech

from Bill Rancic, season one winner of Donald

Trump’s “The Apprentice.” Rancic’s enthusiastic,

motivating talk addressed the keys to being a

successful entrepreneur in a fast-paced world that is

constantly evolving.

Former New York Times journalist and author Gary

Rivlin attended and published an accompanying

article in Newsweek. Guided by Emmett Murphy of 3

CliCk Media, NPA’s PR firm, Rivlin received firsthand

experience of the pawn industry. He determined, “It’s a Hot Time to Be a Pawnbroker.”

2011 Annual Awards

The 2011 NPA Pawnbroker of the Year was presented to Bob Moulton, CEO of National Pawn & Jewelry

in Raleigh, NC. Moulton is a member of the NPA Board of Directors and the President of the North

Carolina Pawnbrokers Association. Bob has demonstrated an uncompromising dedication to enhancing

the image of the industry by supporting philanthropic and legislative initiatives.

Fran Bishop and Dave Adelman, two of the association’s most distinguished and long-serving board

members retired from the board of directors in 2011. Each was presented with the Charles R. Jones

Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given on rare occasions to leaders who exemplify a long-term

commitment to the industry.

Fran Bishop of Dollar Pawn, Inc., Haleyville, AL, is an NPA Past President and most recently served as the

Government Relations Committee Chairwoman. Fran has been a pioneer in forging new and strong

relationships between the pawn industry and federal lawmakers. She was instrumental in guiding the

pawn industry through the largest Federal financial reform legislation in U.S. history.

Dave Adelman of Jerry’s Pawn Shop, Inc. Atlanta, GA, has served on the Board of Directors for over 21

years and is a shining example of how one person can make an enormous impact through charity and

advocacy. Dave is also a Past President and has helped raise thousands of dollars in donations and

musical instruments for needy children, veterans and soldiers injured in the line of duty.

Union Life & Casualty was presented the 2011 NPA Industry Partner award. The company stepped

forward to show their support of the pawn industry in 1993 when they joined the NPA as an Industry

Partner and convention exhibitor, and have continued to support the NPA ever since that time.

July 17, 2012



Community Involvement

Bringing the Gift of Music to Combat-Wounded Veterans

Musical Instrument Gift Day

Having worked with disabled veterans’ hospitals in previous years, Musical Instrument Gift Day choose to work with Wings for Warriors to provide hundreds of new and gently used musical instruments to aid combat-wounded veterans in music therapy and recovery.

Together, Gift Day and Wings for Warriors secured three veterans facilities around the country as donation centers: Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX; the Navel Medical Center San Diego, CA; and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

This year, NPA members were given three convenient options. They could donate their own instruments, drop ship new instruments or make cash donations to Wings for Warriors.

NPA members came together and donated over 300 instruments, exceeding the needs of each facility.

Musical Instrument Gift Day, which in past years was celebrated on December 6th to correspond with National Pawnbrokers Day, was moved up to September 21, 2011. The logistics were coordinated and clearance was secured for donation ceremonies to be held at all three veterans facilities on that day.

Thanks to our coordinators who stepped up and received donation shipments and personally transported them to the ceremonies. They each gave their time and energy to make sure the donation ceremonies went off without a hitch: Cathy Gish, Money Mart Pawn, San Antonio, TX: Michael Cohen, Top Dollar Pawnbrokers, Oxen Hill, MD; Jeff Bernhard and Dwight Kelly of Palace Pawnbrokers, San Diego, CA; and Anthony Ameen, Wings for Warriors, San Diego, CA.

July 17, 2012



Community Involvement

2012 Scholarship Programs

Future Business Leaders

Since 2003, the Future Business Leaders Scholarship Program (FBL) has presented $106,000 in scholarships from generous donations provided by our membership.

The scholarship fund is for the children of pawnbrokers and their customers, and for children of slain police officers. The purposes of the fund are to provide a membership benefit for NPA members and to develop a more positive relationship with our communities and the customers we serve. There are 6 winners of $1,000 scholarships this year.

Arielle Baker, Fairmont, WV Sponsor: Westside Pawn, TN

Nicholas Owens, Sylacauga, AL Sponsor: Sylacauga Pawn, Sylacauga, AL

Kelsie Holden, Niles, MI Sponsor: Worldwide Jewelry & Pawn, South Bend, IN

Paige Matheson, Goodwater, AL Sponsor: Sylacauga Pawn Shop

Ethan Beckner, Tennessee, IL Sponsor: Pawn Plus, Macomb, IL

Wesley Strong, Sylacauga, AL Sponsor: Sylacauga, AL

In addition to the above scholarship recipients, FBL also contributed two $1,000 scholarships to the In Memory of Sgt. Tim Chapin Memorial Scholarship Fund. In 2011, Sgt. Chapin came to the scene of a robbery in progress at NPA member, US Money Shops, Chattanooga, TN. During the course of the robbery, Sgt. Chapin was shot and killed. This scholarship serves as a tribute to the men and women who serve and protect the public.

C.O.P.S.

The NPA has been a supporter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) since the beginning of our scholarship program. We are honored to present two $1,000 scholarships to the organization. The winners from that organization will be announced later in National Pawnbroker magazine.

Since 1994, C.O.P.S. has given $981,241 in scholarships to 291 survivors of fallen officers who do not receive tuition-free education as a state death benefit. Additionally, C.O.P.S. provides scholarships to survivors who may no longer meet their state’ eligibility for assistance. These scholarships would not have been possible without support from organizations like the National Pawnbrokers Association.

July 17, 2012



Communications and Publications

The NPA continues to work diligently to improve member

communications and offer multiple ways for members to stay

informed and involved.

National Pawnbroker magazine, the quarterly magazine, has been

reformatted to look more clean and modern. The publication

continues to provide an important marketing tool for pawn industry

vendors while at the same time increasing and improving content.

NPA Insider is the NPA’s monthly e-newsletter, and it debuted in August of 2011. The publication

focuses on keeping members informed about their benefits, breaking association news and upcoming

events. The NPA Insider e-newsletter is co-branded with the NPA Insider video series, produced by 3

CLiCk media. Both the open and click through rates for the e-newsletter continue to exceed industry

averages.

The NPA Google forum continues to allow members to ask

questions and get answers from fellow pawnbrokers. Topics include

items such as human resources, data management, vendor

recommendations, inventory management and more.

The NPA iPhone app and pawn store locator, PawnFyNdR.com,

continues to be a popular member, and non-member, interface.

The app provides further distribution of the latest pawn news,

access to key information from the NPA website, feeds of NPA and

Pawn Shops Today blog posts, Facebook feeds, and more. Members

and customers can also contact NPA directly from the app.

Finally, the NPA Weekly NewsBrief

e-newsletter brings the top pawn

related news stories to member

inboxes each Tuesday. The NewsBrief contains news stories gathered by

editors familiar with the pawn industry from over 14,500 hand-picked,

editorially ranked sources, covering 150 countries and 35 languages. This

publication has become so popular, we will be launching a second weekly

issue starting July 19, 2012!

July 17, 2012



Public Relations and New Media

3 CLiCk Media, NPA’s public relations firm, has been busy

working hard with the NPA leadership to further build

internal membership communications PR standpoint.

Various online tools that NPA and 3 CLiCk have developed

over the past few years are moving our goals forward.

The NPA Members Only area of the website has been

enhanced with the help of 3 CLiCk Media. This area allows

members to access the valuable information and member benefits that the association offers.

This past December was an unprecedented month for NPA external communications. The media had

great interest in the upswing in holiday shopping and pawning at pawn stores. Through the combined

efforts of NPA and 3 CLiCk Media, the pawn industry was carried in national publications such as The

New York Times, Forbes and USA Today, as well as multiple regional publications.

As the migration from traditional media platforms to online platforms grows, NPA is experiencing similar

growth in its website traffic. The new media effort has supported over 54,000 visitors to NPA related

websites since October 2011 and is showing continual growth in traffic on all sites.

3 CLiCk Media produced and launched the NPA Insider video channel. NPA Insider has covered such hot-

button topics as H.R. 1909, eBay and consumer data reporting. In addition, 3 CLiCk worked with the NPA

Government Relations Committee (Team GRC) to build and launch Rally Congress. This grassroots web

app has supported 5,987 visitors and generated over 1,200 letters to elected officials.

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