Pawn Shops, Used Merchandise, and Thrift Stores

Comprehensive market research reports provide in-depth industry analysis and five-year forecasts, with special focus on the underlying structure and external forces and relationships that affect industries and their performance. Report contents include:

NPA | Issuu, Inc.
National Pawnbroker Magazine
https://nationalpawnbrokers.org / digital-archive

Quarterly journal features news and information for independent pawnbrokers, with topics covered in the magazine including industry news, business strategies and solutions, member spotlights, human resources and employment, compliance requirements, legislative activities, technology updates, and trade shows, events, and conferences. Current and archived digital editions are available free online.

Used Merchandise Stores
http://www.firstresearch.com

First Research profiles cover key aspects of an industry's size, scope, and operations and include a five-year growth forecast. Profile contents include:

National Pawnbrokers Association
Information resources available from this trade association include:

Pawn Industry Statistics / State Laws
https://nationalpawnbrokers.org/statistics / state-laws
Introductory sections provide a summary overview of the industry, with topics covered including size in terms of number of establishments, business ownership, loan terms and characteristics, customer demographics, pawnbroker licensing and examination, federal statutes and regulations, and links to state laws and licensing and regulatory authorities by state. All information can be viewed free online.

Tips For Opening A Pawn Shop
https://nationalpawnbrokers.org/
Start-up guide covers the various aspects of starting and operating a pawn shop, with topics covered in the guide including initial investment, required tools and equipment, choosing a location in a target market, regulatory and reporting requirements, financing the business, insuring against losses, store security, storage considerations, and finding the right employees. Publication is available free online.

NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals
Information resources available from this trade association include:

Statistics & Trends / Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.narts.org/statistics / faqs
Introductory sections provide an overview of the resale and consignment shop industries, with topics covered including resale industry size and growth, fastest growing market segments, reasons for the growing popularity of resale, key factors that can spell success or failure for resale shop owners, and consumer perceptions of resale and how they affect its future. All information is available free online.

Guide to Opening A Resale Shop
https://www.narts.org/
Step-by-step handbook provides practical advice on starting and operating a resale shop, with topics covered in the guide including choosing a location, creating an image, designing the store layout and displays, obtaining and pricing merchandise for resale, setting policies and fees, courting customers, marketing the business, and dealing with suppliers. Detailed table of contents is available free online.

Marketdata Enterprises, Inc.
U.S. Pawn Shops
https://www.marketdataenterprises.com/

Comprehensive study provides an in-depth analysis of the pawnshop industry, with topics addressed in the report including nature of the business, customer demographics, factors driving demand, state and federal regulation, industry size, growth, and forecasts, census survey data and operating ratios, major competitor profiles, and additional reference sources. Table of contents is available free online.

Industry Financial Ratios
Pawnshops and Used Merchandise Stores
https://www.bizminer.com  Search for "522298.02" and "453310"

Five-year financial statement analysis includes income statements, balance sheets, and key financial ratios, with data available by sales size range on a national, state, and metro area level.

NARTS: The Association of Resale Professionals
Operating Survey
http://www.narts.org/

Financial benchmarking survey lets users compare their shop's performance with other resale shops, with data broken out by type of operation (e.g., for profit, not for profit), sales mix (e.g., mostly ladies', mostly children's, mostly furniture, variety), sales volume per store, total square feet space per store, number of years in business, and major geographic region. Table of contents is available free online.

PayScale, Inc.
Compensation resources available from this organization include:

Pawnshop
https://www.payscale.com/
Free online service provides salary, bonus, and hourly wage data for job positions in this sector such as district manager, store manager, assistant store manager, pawnbroker, and sales associate, with companies for which salary or hourly wage rate data is provided including Pawn America Minnesota, L.L.C., Cash America International, Inc., FirstCash, Inc., EZCORP, Inc., and EZPAWN Holdings, Inc.

Used Merchandise / Thrift Store
https://www.payscale.com/
Free online service provides salary, bonus, and hourly wage data for job positions in this sector such as retail store manager, assistant store manager, sales associate, and retail cashier, with employers for which salary or wage data is provided including America's Thrift Stores, Inc., Value Village Stores, Inc., Savers, LLC, Goodwill Industries, Inc., Society Of St. Vincent De Paul, and The Salvation Army.

Pawn Shops / Used Merchandise Stores
https://valuationresources.com/

Comprehensive reference guide provides market-based valuation multiples for small businesses that provide short-term consumer loans secured by personal property and/or sell used merchandise such as apparel, electronics, musical instruments, jewelry, furniture, appliances, antiques, and collectibles.