July 19-22, 2026 | Paris Las Vegas
Network, Collaborate, & Be Inspired
Presented By: Natalee Peppitt
Tuesday, July 21, 10:20am – 11:10am
Live selling is changing the way pawn shops move inventory. From Facebook Live to in-store streaming setups, real-time selling allows you to showcase products, engage buyers, and turn views into immediate sales. In this session, we’ll break down how pawn shops can use live selling strategically to reduce aged inventory, increase cash flow, and build a loyal online buying audience. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to improve your current approach, you’ll leave with practical tactics, tools, and a clear plan to implement live selling in your shop.
Presented By: Johnny Whiteside, John Bocker, Pierce Rainey, Chelsea Barnett
Tuesday, July 21, 10:20am – 11:10am
The firearms category presents both significant opportunity and heightened regulatory responsibility for pawn brokers. From evolving market demand and pricing cycles to complex federal, state, and local compliance requirements, today’s firearms environment demands informed, disciplined strategy. This session examines current market conditions, regulatory and risk-management considerations, and practical approaches to compliant buying, pricing, and inventory control. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate firearms into their overall business model while meeting compliance obligations, reducing risk, and protecting profitability.
Presented By: NPA Peer Group Leaders
Tuesday, July 21, 11:20am – 12:10am
For two years, NPA Peer Groups have brought together pawn professionals for honest, high-level conversations about what’s working — and what isn’t — in today’s market. This session brings Peer Group leaders together to share the most important takeaways, emerging trends, and practical strategies that have surfaced across multiple groups. Discover the operational shifts, leadership lessons, margin strategies, and industry insights that are shaping stronger, more resilient pawn businesses. If you want access to the collective intelligence of engaged operators, this is the session you won’t want to miss.
Presented by: Moris Adato
Tuesday, July 21, 11:20 am – 12:10 pm
Lab-grown diamonds have completely disrupted the natural diamond market, sending prices plummeting. The plus side? A renewed interest in colored stones. Learn to capitalize on the colored gemstones in your inventory, without needing to be a GIA Graduate Gemologist. We’ll discuss practical tips and tricks for pawnbrokers, industry best practices, marketing, and how to find the value hidden in the pile of colored gemstones you keep in the jar at the back of the vault.
Presented By: Rob Barnett, Adam and Beth Anundi
Tuesday, July 21, 2:30pm – 3:20pm
In every market, trust is built locally. For pawn shops, community engagement isn’t just goodwill — it’s a powerful strategy for reshaping perception and strengthening long-term credibility. This session explores how consistent, authentic involvement in your community can transform how your business is seen, known, and trusted. From partnerships and sponsorships to visible leadership and outreach, we’ll examine practical ways pawn shops can move beyond transactions and become recognized as respected community businesses. Attendees will leave with a clear framework and actionable ideas to elevate their brand through meaningful local engagement.
Presented By: Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns
Tuesday, July 21, 2:30pm – 3:20pm
AI is the hottest buzzword in business, which usually means two things: somebody’s trying to sell you something and half the conversation makes normal humans want to walk into the ocean.
Before you pawn off the whole topic as hype, hear us out.
In 50 minutes, we’ll appraise AI honestly, what it actually is (simpler than the hype suggests), what it isn’t (it’s not magic, and it’s not coming for your shop), and how pawn brokers are quietly using it right now to handle the Friday afternoon problems: writing listings, drafting policies, answering the same five customer questions, summarizing vendor contracts, and getting a second set of eyes on tricky items.
No “synergy-driven blockchain disruption.” or other buzz-word bingo. Just practical examples, live demos, and a few low-risk ways to start using AI on Monday morning: no loan required.
Whether you’re AI-curious, AI-cautious, or just trying to figure out what all the fuss is about, you’ll leave with:
A plain-English understanding of what AI actually does
Real examples of how pawn shops can use it today
Simple, free ways to test-drive it this week
A clear-eyed view of where AI delivers real value and where you, the expert behind the counter, still matter most
Think of it as a free appraisal of the most-hyped tool in business. No hype. No jargon. No robot uprising. Probably.
Presented By: Ed Best
Wednesday, July 22, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
The sneaker resale market has exploded — and pawn shops are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the demand. From limited drops and collectible releases to everyday resale brands, sneakers can become a strong revenue driver when sourced and priced correctly. This session explores how to evaluate authenticity, identify high-demand brands, avoid common buying mistakes, and market sneakers effectively in-store and online. Learn how to turn cultural hype into consistent profit while managing risk and maximizing margin. If you’re looking to tap into one of the fastest-growing resale categories, this session will give you a practical roadmap to get started.
Interactive Discussion
Wednesday, July 22, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Many pawn brokers are beginning to experiment with AI tools — but what’s actually working? This interactive, peer-driven session brings together pawn professionals who are testing AI inside their operations. We’ll have an open discussion about real experiments, small wins, lessons learned, and areas that still feel uncertain. This is not a technical deep dive — it’s a practical conversation about how shops like yours are exploring AI today. Come ready to share, ask questions, and learn alongside your peers as we figure this out together.
Presented by: P2M.ai
Speaker: Or Barak
Monday, July 20, 9:00am – 9:50am
Most pawnbrokers view their business through the lens of retail and transactions. However, the most successful operations function like specialized financial institutions. This session will move beyond the “buy-low, sell-high” mentality and dive into the sophisticated financial metrics that drive true wealth in the pawn industry. Attendees will learn how to analyze their inventory as a portfolio, calculate the hidden costs of capital, and use leverage to scale their operations safely and profitably.
Presented by: Tiger Wireless / Pawn Tiger
Speaker: Steve Cooper
Monday, July 20, 9:00am – 9:50am
Have you tried buying phones, only to get stuck with a brick? Been burned before? We’ll show you how to reopen this lucrative revenue stream and NEVER LOSE AGAIN. In this session, we pull back the curtain on the wireless industry and show you how the pros evaluate, authenticate, and price cell phones and electronics so every deal protects your margin and your shop.
You’ll learn the verification steps that separate profitable transactions from costly mistakes, how to spot the red flags before money changes hands, and how to price with the same data the big players use. Whether you’re new to taking phones or you’ve been doing it for years, you’ll leave with practical tactics you can use the moment you’re back behind the counter.
No fluff, no hard sell — just real-world best practices that guarantee the only bricks you get stuck with now are gold and silver.
Presented by: Bluestone Trading
Speaker: Richie Grampp
Monday, July 20, 9:00am – 9:50am
Ritchie Grampp, CEO of Bluestone Trading, will provide essential jewelry industry updates and insights necessary for elevating your pawnshop. Gain knowledge on the latest market trends directly from an expert in this engaging 45 minute presentation. The discussion will cover current market pricing, lab-grown diamonds, and the resurgence of natural diamonds. We’ll also take the conversation global; addressing tariffs, other diamond markets, and how they impact the jewelry & pawn industry here in the U.S.A. During uncertain times, it is vital to have open communication and be well informed with market conditions.
Presented by: Stallcup Group, Inc., Exit-Strategy Consultant
Speaker: Steve Stallcup
Monday, July 20, 10:10am – 11:00am
We’ll dive deep into the tools and techniques used to balance the scales of negotiation for pawn shop owners. We’ll expose the incredible amount of misinformation in this industry regarding mergers and acquisitions. The session will help prepare you in the most important transaction of your life.
Presented by: GIA®
Speaker: Michele Mejia
Monday, July 20, 10:10am – 11:00am
This session equips pawnbrokers with strategies to confidently assess jewelry at the counter. You’ll learn practical techniques for evaluating mounted pieces – Even when information is limited. 1. Confidently evaluate mounted jewelry, even with limited information. 2. Recognize risks like hidden damage, repairs or alterations. 3. Improve clarity, color, and metal testing practices. 4. Apply consistent processes to reduce risk and protect your investments.
Presented by: The Watch Register
Speaker: Oliver Horner
Monday, July 20, 10:10am – 11:00am
This session will provide an overview of the major trends in luxury watch crime and the international nature of the market, along with recent case studies involving successful recovery efforts. It will also explore practical steps pawnbrokers can take to help protect their businesses from unknowingly transacting on problematic watches, as well as the services and resources available to support due diligence and combat this growing issue.
Presented by: Box Brokers Group
Speaker: Larry Johnson
Monday, July 20, 11:20am – 12:10pm
In this high-impact session, Larry Johnson breaks down the 10 most common (and costly) mistakes pawn shops make in their jewelry departments and more importantly, how to fix them. Drawing on years of experience consulting with pawn shops and jewelry stores worldwide, Larry shares proven strategies to increase sales, improve presentation, and elevate perceived value so customers are willing to spend more. From display layout and lighting to pricing psychology and merchandising techniques, this session is packed with practical, easy-to-implement solutions you can apply immediately. As the author of The Complete Guide to Effective Jewelry Display, Larry delivers real-world insights that help transform underperforming jewelry departments into powerful revenue drivers.
Presented by: Pawn One Trading
Speaker: Rohan Jain
Monday, July 20, 11:20am – 12:10pm
Lab grown diamonds have begun to take over jewelry sales across the country, yet they remain often unexplored by pawn shops. In this session, we will go over how lab grown diamonds have actually given pawn shops an advantage of retail jewelers and why now is the perfect time to start growing your selection of lab grown jewelry at your stores.
Presented by: Pawnshop Consulting Group LLC
Speaker: Jerry Whitehead
Monday, July 20, 1:10pm – 2:00pm
This will be a deep dive into the Key Performance Indicators relavant to all pawnshops, and an indepth examination of what those benchmarks are, what they mean, and how to affectuate real change in them to fully optimize any operation that has the resources and is paying attention. Coming from a global pawn consultant with a lifetime of expertise in the Industry.
Presented by: Bravo Store Systems
Speaker: Tally Mack
Monday, July 20, 1:10pm – 2:00pm
You’ve been hearing a lot about AI. Maybe it feels exciting. Maybe it feels overwhelming. Maybe both. Either way, it’s coming for this industry whether you’re ready or not. And the pawnbrokers who understand what’s actually happening right now are going to have a serious advantage over the ones who wait and see. This session is for operators who want straight answers. Not buzzwords. Not hype. Real talk about what AI, automation, and data mean for a pawnshop, explained in plain language by people who have spent their careers in this business. Here’s what most technology conversations miss: the future of your store isn’t just about which app you download or which AI tool goes viral next month. It’s about the foundation underneath all of it. The data your store has been collecting, transaction by transaction, customer by customer, item by item, for years. That data is about to become one of the most valuable things you own, and most pawnbrokers have no idea. We’ll talk about what AI can actually do in a pawn store today, not someday. We’ll talk about what robots in retail really look like when they’re designed around the way this business actually works, handling routine tasks so your staff can stay focused on the customer standing in front of them. And we’ll talk about how to think about technology decisions you’re making now so you don’t end up locked into something that holds you back two years from now. If you’ve ever felt like the technology conversation was moving too fast and leaving your store behind, this session is for you. Walk in curious. Walk out with a clear picture of where pawn is headed and exactly what you need to do about it.
Presented by: JM Insurance Agency Partners
Speaker: Russ Rohlicek
Monday, July 20, 1:10pm – 2:00pm
The pawn industry is changing. From shifting crime patterns and organized retail theft to evolving regulations, technology, and consumer expectations, today’s pawn shop owners face a landscape that looks very different from the one previous generations navigated.
Whether you’re preparing to take over a family business, are in a leadership role, or are planning for succession in the future, understanding these changes is critical to long-term success.
In this session, we will explore emerging crime trends impacting pawn operations, how risk exposures have evolved over the past decade, and what the next generation of owners should be aware of as they transition from inheriting a business to leading one. Attendees will gain practical insights into operational challenges, changing ownership dynamics, and strategies for protecting and growing their businesses in an increasingly complex environment.
Join us for an informative discussion designed to help pawn professionals better understand today’s risks, and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Presented by: Armslist.com
Speaker: Jonathan Gibbon
Monday, July 20, 2:20pm – 3:10pm
Firearms businesses face challenges unique to our industry, and the social media companies, banks, and even SMS and email providers don’t apply the rules evenly. You might be 100% good to go with multiple companies one day, and more than one decide to drop you the next day with no notice or explanation. It’s a challenging landscape and we are here to help you navigate it. There are many firearms marketplaces, we will compare and contrast which ones help you make sales to out of store (usually out of state) customers, and which ones will by contrast, bring most of them to your front door.
Presented by: United Precious Metal Refining, Inc. (UPMR)
Speaker: Rafael Amador
Monday, July 20, 2:20pm – 3:10pm
During the first part of this informative session, we will take a look at recent events that impacted the refining industry. From the silver refining halt to limitations on gold refining – we’ll look at how the industry was impacted and ways to protect your business in the event something like this happens again. We will then take a deep dive into gold and silver testing methods, a key component to every pawnshop that deals in precious metals. Together we will test gold and silver samples and develop a plan or SOP (standard operating procedure) to ensure you are properly testing every piece that comes into your shop. Proper testing can avoid very costly mistakes, especially at a gold market above $4,000 per troy ounce.
Presented by: NSSF – National Shooting Sports Foundation
Speaker: Wally Nelson
Monday, July 20, 2:20pm – 3:10pm
The presentation will review three of NSSF’s Real Solutions including how NSSF helps retailers make well informed decisions to deter and prevent firearms thefts; helps retailers learn to detect and prevent straw purchases; and encourages brave conversations at FFLs, and safe firearms storage at home, to save lives. Participants will be aware of three NSSF initiatives: The Operations Secure Store Security Assessment and Risk Analysis, Don’t Lie for the Other Guy, and Suicide Prevention.
Presented by: Summitt Gun Auctions
Speaker: Matt Sellers
Monday, July 20, 3:30pm – 4:20pm
For many pawn shops, firearms represent high-value inventory – but when those items remain in showcases too long, they can also become one of the largest sources of operational drag and liability exposure. This session will focus on how firearm-specific auctions can serve as a strategic exit channel that reduces prolonged possession risk, lowers exposure tied to theft, storage, compliance, and documentation issues, and accelerates the conversion of stale firearms into immediate cash flow. Attendees will learn how faster inventory turnover through auction can improve balance sheet performance, free up showcase space for fresh loans and retail inventory, and reduce the hidden costs associated with long-held firearms. The presentation will also explore how nationwide bidder demand often creates stronger outcomes for specialty, collectible, estate, and difficult-to-price firearms while simultaneously shortening hold times. Designed specifically for pawnbrokers, this session provides practical frameworks for deciding when firearms should remain in-store versus when they should be transitioned into an auction cycle to improve both safety and profitability.