According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, the median working-age couple has only saved $5,000 for retirement, and 70% of couples have less than $50,000 saved. Considering retirement can last 30 years or more, having a solid savings plan is crucial to everyone’s well-being and long-term happiness – both yours and your employees.
Growing up in the 80s and being around pawn shops my entire life, I was surrounded by the stigma that the pawn world was ruled by men, and women-owned shops were very rare. Also prevalent was the mentality that the shop will just run and grow by itself. Many of the stores I encountered in those days gave little to no effort in the way of growth strategizing, growth monitoring, or new idea implementation.
I've been in insurance for a long time, and have seen a good number of business owners and their employees sustain injuries—many very minor, some permanently life-altering, and a few unfortunately resulting in death. Most of these injuries could have been prevented, but there are circumstances that are 100% out of the control of any business owner. No matter the end result, the bottom line is that someone has suffered a work-related injury. So as a business owner and the person responsible for coverage in your shop, what's the first step?
The pawn industry is alive and well, full of bright and forward thinking professionals as well as seasoned veterans who have seen it all, or at least know someone who has. Even with that much collective experience, the unexpected can and does happen. For nearly three decades, UL&C (PawnInsurance.com) has been providing comprehensive insurance to pawnbrokers nationwide. Through the years, we have seen a trend of pawnbrokers and their agents attempting to reduce their cost of insurance by not securing enough coverage for their Business Personal Property (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) and Tenant Improvements and Betterments (covering alterations made to the the physical building).
"My name is Vernon Stading and I am the owner and founder of Devoted Business Development and we help pawn shops and jewelry stores make more money and be more profitable. I got into this business really kind of by accident, one of the fun stories I like to tell is that my background is actually in franchising.
As year-end approaches, business owners often get pulled in many directions. In the retail sector, this is when sales typically peak. This finds many business owners working more hours in their shops while spending the little free time remaining readying for the holidays and gathering together with family and friends. What can be forgotten in the midst of the season’s hustle and bustle is the critical task of business planning for the upcoming year. Even a small amount of planning in the following areas can provide your business with a roadmap for success.
Establishing relationships is one thing, but maintaining them is a business art form all its own. According to a study, repeat customers spend nearly 70% more on average than new clients. This is especially true in the hospitality and retail industries. Thus, it pays to continue strengthening these existing relationships, remembering to engage with your customers on a regular basis. Feel free to set up reminders in tune with a schedule that works for you, but quarterly check-ins are a solid rule of thumb for starters. What have you done to stay in contact with your customers?
PawnMaster can act as a database for you. You can easily reach your customers regularly through their text messaging platform.
