During this time of the “Great Recession”, a top notch recruitment manager is an invaluable asset to any company.
North Carolina’s National Pawn is no different. Seven years ago, they were fortunate to find just that in Kimberly Waldon. After 22 years working for a Fortune 500 company in Detroit, Kimberly was scouted by a headhunter in the pawn industry. He presented her with a very different career opportunity that she never saw coming.
National Pawn CEO Bob Moulton interviewed Kimberly soon thereafter, and just like that, the company gained an incredible new family member.
A family member who led the way to an impressively low year to date turnover rate of 29%
Kimberly is a highly energetic team player that loves to lead. She earned her undergraduate degree in merchandising from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. She has 2 Master’s degrees, one in international administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, and the other in divinity from Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Above and beyond her obvious love of learning is her love for her family. Her and husband Ronald Waldon Jr. have been married for 26 years. Ronald is a pastor at a local church and has been so for 13 years. Kim serves alongside Ronald in ministry when she is not crushing it at her day job. Kim and Ronald have a son together who will be graduating in the spring with his very own Master’s degree.
When Kimberly started working for National Pawn, her entire perspective of the pawn industry was turned upside down. She loved the fact that it was a family-owned company that truly cared about its employees and their customers. “It felt like a family”, and that is what really stuck out to her.
National Pawn has been in business for 33 years with 23 locations all over North Carolina. With right around 175 employees, Kimberly has her work cut out for her.
Kimberly’s enthusiastic and kind demeanor play a huge role in her success as a recruitment manager. Of course, it takes much more than that to be an industry leader in pawn. She says, “my ability to understand the business” has had a huge impact on her current role. She loves that she gets to “be the voice and face to attract talent”, and that she can “help change the perception of pawn”.
Kim is an incredible influencer who is making a huge impact.
Kim’s typical day consists of recruiting, acquiring, and interviewing talented individuals to fill open positions at National Pawn. But there is another part of her job that she does exceptionally well. Kim is incredible at retaining pawnshop employees! How does she do it? How does she drive such great turnover rates?
Kim says that, “telling the story about our culture” makes a huge difference. National Pawn is all about family, and their employees feel cared for. They are encouraged regularly and are even sent birthday cards in the mail. National Pawn also has a, “strong bonus program, which is not typical in the industry”. Kim’s employees feel valued and it’s paying off in a big way.
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pawnshop actually raised hourly wages across the board. This gave employees an even greater incentive to ride out tough times. National Pawn also offers a great work/life balance which is not common in retail. Every employee works 5 days and has 2 days off (including Sundays).
Kim Waldon loves people and loves the pawn industry. These, along with all her other incredible attributes make her a force to be reckoned with as a recruitment manager in the pawn industry. National Pawn is fortunate to have her on staff, and we are honored to have her on board at Pawnbroker Network.
Make sure to check out National Pawn at their website, www.nationalpawnshops.com. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
