Category: Member Spotlight

The AML Gurus

Name of Company
The AML Gurus

How long have you been a pawnbroker?
since 1996

How long have you been a member of CAPA?
5 years

Why did you join CAPA?
To help provide Anti-money laundering resources to CAPA members. Having been an officer of the Oregon Pawnbrokers Assn from 1999-2015, I fully understand the importance of association membership; both for pawnbrokers AND vendors. We are ALL stakeholders

What do you enjoy most or you like most about being a member of CAPA?
Hands down the networking opportunities that exist whether it is online seminars or in person conferences, the dialogue and camaraderie is amazing!

What do you love most about being a pawnbroker?
Helping my customers was always the best part for me. I missed it so much after I sold my shop that I got back into business in a way that I could still provide help.

Who inspires you?
Yigal Adato

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose?
Yigal Adato. He tells it like it is. No sugar coating. He is not afraid to be vulnerable in his coaching. You know he has your best interests at heart.

What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
Not learned yesterday, but reinforced several times lately. “Some will, Some won’t, So what?” I can’t care more about a pawnbrokers business than they do so I have to let them struggle on their own if that is their choice. I will patiently wait for them to come around. Perhaps they will, and perhaps they won’t. But I choose not to let that get in the way of helping folks that actively want help and have their hand up.

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I am one of a select group (less than 10 people) that were born inside Yellowstone National Park. They have the equivalent of a clinic that treats broken bones and flu etc. They are certainly not equipped to birth children especially if they are 6 weeks early just so they can also be born on Labor Day.

Website

amlgurus.com

Perris Pawn & Hemet Pawn

Name of Pawn Shop
Perris Pawn & Hemet Pawn

How long have you been a pawnbroker?
18 years

How long have you been a member of CAPA?
18 years

Why did you join CAPA?
Early on, I joined CAPA for procedural guidance with the operation manual and the rate poster.  I began attending conventions and learned better practices, product techniques and how to avoid many costly mistakes.  I made some changes.  I became aware of laws and regulations that threaten my business.   I learned about legislation, advocacy, friends, Senate bill this and Assembly bill that.  I put my head down and focused on growing my business while CAPA lobbied for my interests in Sacramento and kept me updated of the changes.  The CAPA Google group was another benefit.  It allowed me to ask questions that were answered by fellow pawnbrokers in real-time and I found answers to questions I did not think to ask.  I attended more conventions and learned how to authenticate watches, diamonds, coins and handbags.  I learned techniques to increase sales and I learned about security, loss and insurance.  I made more changes.  Pawn 101 helped me avoid many legal pitfalls and diminish other liabilities.  Today I continue to depend on CAPA to guide me through the legal minefields, expand and safeguard my business, and I occasionally speak with the CAPA attorney for free.  

What do you enjoy most or you like most about being a member of CAPA?
Peace of mind.  Knowing that I have the latest information to run my stores correctly and I have the CAPA board, staff and members to lean on when I have questions or run into difficulties.

What do you love most about being a pawnbroker?
Having a successful business that is always interesting that provides a valuable service to so many clients.

Who inspires you?
Fellow pawnbrokers.  I am always learning from them.

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose?
The beauty of being a member of CAPA is that I now have several mentors, but Steve Jacobson was my first.  I had known Steve for several years through waterskiing and he was the first pawnbroker I had met.

What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
Customer relationship management platform integration.  Integrating calls, text messages and website into one database to facilitate efficient communication with and marketing to current clients and future clients.

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I started my working career as an electrical engineer and thought I would continue in that line of work until retirement.  I had never been in a pawnshop until I considered starting my own business.

Website
www.perrispawn.com

California Jewelry & Coin, Inc.

Name of Pawn Shop:
California Jewelry & Coin, Inc.

How long have you been a pawnbroker?
12 years

How long have you been a member of CAPA?
12 years

Why did you join CAPA?
CAPA had a great reputation of helping educate the people in our industry and my wife was a member already!
What do you enjoy most or you like most about being a member of CAPA? Knowing I am part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. I get information on law changes, etc, that I would otherwise most likely not know.

What do you love most about being a pawnbroker?
For the first time in my professional career, I am rewarded for being nice and helping people.

Who inspires you?
In the pawn industry, Sam Shocket, of course. Outside of that, in the rest of the world, people that do more than the least expected.

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose?
Sam Shocket. We all know we can turn to him to learn how to do things the right way. Anything else is just a shortcut that may be putting ourselves, or customers, at risk.

What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
I was surprised o find out how many people do not have a good AML program in place. To me, there is no reason to push the limits and jeopardize my livelihood to make 20 dollars. There are reasons there are rules and we should do our best to follow them, whether its convenient or inconvenient. The rules are the rules

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
I never had any inkling that I would be in this industry. I did it because I had no other options after the crash in 2008 and ended up doing something that I absolutely love every day.

Website
www.californiajewelrybuyers.com