ORANGE BEACH, AL – September 12, 2023 – The Dixie Pawnbrokers Association held its annual convention and tradeshow from September 4-6, 2023, at the Perdido Beach Resort. The event attracted a broad spectrum of pawnbrokers and vendors from across the nation who converged for unbeatable networking and learning experiences at the beautiful location on the water’s edge.
One of the earmarks of the Dixie Convention is a collaborative planning effort. This year’s event was chaired by Brian Smith, former NPA Board Member and past recipient of the Charles R. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, who said “Our personal lives prosper when we unselfishly help others and openly accept help.”
Although the event is hosted jointly by the Pawnbrokers Associations of Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Louisiana, pawnbrokers and vendors came from across the country. Several expressed their enthusiasm and offered positive feedback, including Jeff Wilhelm, a first-time attendee from North Carolina and new member of the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) Board of Directors, who said, “As a first-time attendee, I thought Dixie was first-rate. I would definitely attend again in the future.”
Rob Barnett, Vice President of the Tennessee Pawnbrokers Association and another member of the NPA’s Board of Directors, said “The Dixie Pawn Convention is all about business. Discovering best practices for your existing business, finding new revenue streams for your business, and learning how other pawnbrokers manage their business.”
Jackie Panetta of San Diego California, representing JAGi, one of the vendors at the event, stated, “I had an amazing time at the Dixie! I’m glad for the opportunity to get to talk with pawnbrokers and hear what their concerns are. The feedback we get at the shows is invaluable, and I’m always excited to get back to work to incorporate everything I’ve learned.”
Perry Lewin from Illinois, who also recently joined the NPA’s Board of Directors, was particularly impressed with the seminar content and the resort. He commented, “The quality of the seminars was paramount. The marketing seminar was full of common sense, and useful information. My takeaway is the amazing location and accommodations. Orange Beach and the Perdido Beach Resort were simply amazing: 5-star accommodations.”
Pawnshop Consulting Group Founder Jerry Whitehead of Texas, a long-serving industry veteran, said, “Having served in the industry for some 50 years, the Dixie show presents a real opportunity for attendees and vendors. It’s a great group of committed industry professionals.”
Highlighting the ambiance of the convention, Sam Shockett from California added, “Warm and friendly hospitality. Great social media seminar. Beautiful beach!”
Nick Fulton, who was named the NPA 2023 Pawnbroker of the Year and just stepped down as the President of the Mississippi Pawnbrokers Association, said “It’s a great opportunity to share our insights with someone who may never have been in a pawnshop. We learn about better ways to help our community, find extra income opportunities such as new products to sell and continue to improve the perception of the industry itself. I always seem to come back with the latest trend to help our business grow.”
Lisa Little, President of the Georgia Pawnbrokers Association and a member of NPA’s Board of Directors remarked, “Sharing positive news stories about pawn is critical. Attending these shows is valuable because I get a first glance at the amazing advances our industry partners (vendors) are making with pawnbroking in mind.”
Brian Smith, summed it up in this way, “When people with differing opinions all work together for a common goal, amazing things happen. In groups like this there are always big personalities and those personalities have strong opinions. When we put those on the back burner and work with a whole group and not just select individuals, the group prospers. Open minds open doors. The result was a great show—albeit there’s always room for improvement. It was so gratifying to hear several attendees say that this is one of the top two shows in the country.”
The Dixie Educational Conference & Trade Show is an annual gathering of pawnbrokers and is designed to hone their expertise, expand their knowledge, adapt to a changing industry, and grow their businesses. The 2024 show will be held a the same incredible venue, Perdido Beach Resort, September 2-4. More information is available at dixieconvention.com.
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