As in any operation, we’re always trying to maximize our performance. We began looking into employing “Think Tanks” (paid groups based on a specific income/demographic/age/gender criteria). Instead, we tapped our greatest resource, our staff.
Data Age Office Virtual Tour
This virtual tour takes you through the Data Age corporate office located in Clearwater Florida. Here you will see all of our departments including support, development and even fulfillment are located under one roof. PawnMaster, Buy/Sell Plus, CheckMaster and all of our other products are created and supported in our headquarters. Our open office space encourages collaboration, helping us deliver the best quality software products available. Sit in on a development meeting, help us prepare a computer system for delivery and take a class in Data Age University, our on-site training center. Come on in and take a tour.
Client Corner: Shift Marketing Strategy for 2014
La Estrella, a pawnshop located on the beautiful most southern Caribbean island of Aruba, has noticed the impact in the shift from the traditional (info based) marketing outlets of newspapers, yellow pages and radio to a more interactive, social media and digital marketing strategies.
Stamp Prices Go Up
Stamp prices are increasing 3 cents to 49 cents today. This is a 6.5 percent jump. Even with this increase The US Postal Service is expected to continue to face a financial short fall. The USPS provides an important service, especially to rural areas. Because of their locations, using a for profit delivery service often isn’t cost effective. The USPS is mandated by law to delivery anywhere in the US for the same price. This means the cost of maintaining post offices in these rural areas is passed onto the main public in the form of higher stamp costs. Because of new technologies like email and text messaging, fewer and fewer people are using the postal service. With fewer people using the USPS and their costs continuing to grow, it’s unlikely we will see a decrease in stamp prices anytime soon.
Did You Know? – Text Alerts for Managers
Many of our customers use the text message module to notify their customers of payments due and forfeits as well as for marketing blasts. This helps build customer loyalty and can give you a competitive edge over your competition.
Client Corner: The Multi-Store Pawnshop Solution
We began the transition from our old software to PawnMaster ten years ago. Currently we have 15 stores on our central server. We were quick to move our corporate stores onto PawnMaster. Our franchises were given notice of the transition. They were hesitant to give up the old software as they knew how to use it and liked the simplicity. It is human nature to resist change. They were not given an option. We stressed the importance of consistency with chain stores and the professional service of this new software.
Did You Know? – Searching by First Name
Pawnshops are personal businesses. Recognizing a customer and knowing their name when they walk in can mean a lot to them and goes a long way to building customer loyalty. It can be easy to remember someone’s first name after one or two conversations, but remembering their last name can be more difficult.
Website Wednesday: Adding a Google Map to your website
Welcome to a new PawnMaster blog feature, Website Wednesday. We will be discussing some simple ways to improve the functionality of your website, increasing the visitors to both your website and your shop.
Did You Know? Using the Scanshell ID Scanner
May of our customers use the Scanshell ID scanner because it’s fast, easy and integrates directly with PawnMaster. One problem some clients have experienced is the scanner will sometimes slide on their counters. Over time this can damage the USB cable attached to the scanner, causing it to fray and eventually stop working.
The Pawn Shop
You have the idea. Maybe you have the experience. Maybe you watched “Pawn Stars” one too many times. You find a building, you start to envision the layout, the merchandise, the tons of money that you will make.