SHARE-WORTHY STORIES FROM YOUR INDUSTRY
Sharing a positive news story about pawnbroking is an easy step you can take to help positively impact the perception of pawn. Want to learn more about getting media hits for YOUR pawnshop? Reach out to your NPA Staff!
US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT: AS CASES OF COVID-19 spread across the nation in the spring, Bob Moulton decided it was best to close his business, National Pawn, to walk-in sales. Although pawnshops were deemed essential in North Carolina and could remain open, Moulton didn’t want to risk the health of customers or employees at his 19 locations…
ABC 10 NEWS SAN DIEGO Adato says their most commonly pawned item is jewelry. “Jewelry in itself is something to wear and to look good, but it’s a commodity,” he says. “It’s gold, silver, or diamonds. If things go wrong, this is how you get out of trouble.”
COURIER NEWS: GUN AND PAWN SHOPS DOING WELL “We have done protocols the state has put in place and social distancing. As far as taking stuff in, there hasn’t been a huge increase in that area, but everybody has been buying stuff. Most people are getting their stuff and taking it home. Guns have been a big increase, and ammo has been crazy. It is harder to get. Gun companies were caught off guard, and they are dealing with COVID as well. The world is changing.”
IN THE NEWS:
Stories chosen for your review by your GRC team
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin testified before House Lawmakers Tuesday, Sept. 1st. NPA Lobbyist, Cliff Andrews, covered this hearing and adds that Secretary Mnuchin pitched the idea that Congress should do a standalone PPP bill to address the unspent $130 billion and target the money to those businesses hit hardest by the pandemic which should be measured by a decrease in revenues or profits.
Also, when asked about forgiveness by Rep.’s Velazquez and Luetkemeyer, Mnuchin said the SBA is currently accepting forgiveness applications and loans $2 million and over should be audited while there is a need to “strike the right balance” for smaller loans. He added that he believes most small loans should be forgiven but did not comment on thresholds.
Cliff provides this link to an article covering key points from the hearing.
FROM FHFA.COM: The Federal Housing Finance Agency and Federal Housing Administration are extending relief for homeowners and renters due to the pandemic crisis to December 31, 2020.
FROM CNET: The Trump Administration issued an order on September 1st barring the evictions of most renters through the end of the year. The Center for Disease Control cited the order was needed to stop the spread of the coronavirus by renters being evicted and ending up in shelters.
FFLS, Please see the attached notification for a streamlined way to reset your NICS E-Check password and/or your NICS E-Check Challenge Questions. Download this important resource at our website by clicking HERE.
FROM THE IRS: On Friday, August 28, 2020 the Internal Revenue Service issued guidance implementing the Presidential memorandum allowing employers to defer withholding and payment of the employee’s portion of the Social Security tax if wages are below a certain amount. This applies to wages paid during the period September 1 thru December 31, 2020.
FROM FORBES.COM: The President’s memorandum is a short deferral of the payroll tax and not an elimination. It would leave employers liable for repaying it in early 2021 and less take-home-pay for employees in the new year.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
All times are listed in eastern
NEW: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 AT 2pm GUNS ARE THE NEW GOLD with Jeff Tesch — we’ll talk with pawnbrokers alongside an industry expert about ways to deal with the current high demand sales environment and lack of inventory in the channel.
Just what has happened in the firearms industry this year? How can I source product in this environment? Where are the used guns? What will the future look like? You’ll hear the answers to these and other questions in this interactive session!
NOTE: This session will be held LIVE from the Dixie Convention and Trade Show during lunch. That’s 1pm local central time for those attending the show, stop by the Guns.com booth.
SEPTEMBER 7-9: DIXIE PAWNBROKER CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW—The event is hosted jointly by the Pawnbrokers Associations of Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Louisiana.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 5pm: HOLIDAY MARKETING ROUNDTABLE—Everyone’s a panelist for this exciting conversation! The fourth quarter 2020 will be unlike any that we’ve experienced. We’ll brainstorm ways to convince and convert customers during this unusual holiday season. Bring YOUR best marketing ideas to share!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 at 4pm: BRANDING LIKE A BOSS With Lauren Kaminsky Goldman–creating a brand that authentically and effectively communicates value is one of the best ways to grow your business. We’ll learn what makes an iconic brand and how you can get started building or growing yours.
NEW: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 AT 5pm: LUXURY IN THE TIME OF COVID—Hear from renowned expert Deanna Thompson about ways you can grow your luxury handbag business in the time of Covid!
What works, what doesn’t, how to pivot and drive those customers into your stores!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 at 5pm: STATE ASSOCIATION CALL–connect with your state peers while learning what’s happening in state associations all over the country.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 at 4PM: FACEBOOK’S MARKETING TOOLS—in this webinar, we’ll be joined by two marketing experts who will explore the expanding list of small business tools on Facebook and Instagram.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 AT 5PM: EMAIL MARKETING FOR PAWNBROKERS with Kathleen Owen and Michael Cohen—open and conversion rates for email marketing consistently out-perform social media. Why then is it such a frequently overlooked marketing tactic for pawnbrokers? In this webinar, attendees will hear from those who have successfully implemented email marketing for their pawnshops.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13TH AT 3PM: COMMUNITY RELATIONS: DOING WELL WHILE DOING GOOD with Mike Willingham and others—pawnbrokers will share ways that their relationships with charitable organizations have helped them build a better business and community.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26TH AT 4PM: MAXIMIZING THE HOLIDAYS with David Skibinski—pawnbrokers will share ways that their relationships with charitable organizations have helped them build a better business and community.