The Enterprise-Journal’s Home for the Holidays local shopping campaign is running through Christmas. Each day the newspaper will feature a participating merchant.
Southwern Cash & Pawn’s Joey Slipher said running a pawn shop is unlike any other business.
“If you’re a car dealership, you’re pretty much selling cars all day. If you’re a grocery store, the business revolves around food,” Slipher said. “We pretty much have to know everything about everything. We have to have an expert in everything because we are loaning money on everything and we’re having to sell those items.”
The business is in its 26th years of operation. Southern Cash & Pawn is located at 224 State St. in McComb and was begun in October 1987 by Frank Slipher, who died three years ago.
Today, the store is operated by Frank’s widow, Nell Slipher, and grandson, Joey.
Southern Cash & Pawn buys and sells new and used electronics, musical instruments, guns, tools, sporting goods and jewelry and loans money for items of value.
“The hot items today are always your iPads, big and flat-screen televisions and of course, firearms,” Joey Slipher said. “We’ve had some shortage of ammo, but that was mainly because people were scared and were buying up what we had. We’re getting as many shipments as ever before, but people are buying it up and scared there is going to be a shortage.”
Slipher said ammunition for the .22-caliber rifle is especially difficult to keep in stock.
“That’s because everybody’s grandpaw has got a .22-caliber long rifle,” he said.
Slipher said the business had a successful 2012 and continues to thrive.
“I can’t pinpoint any one thing as to why the business did so well, but I never would have thought this year would be as good as 2012,” Slipher said.
He said a big part of the store’s success is the know-ledgeable staff, which has kept up with new technology as it has become available.
Manager Kevin McCullough has been with the business for 21 years, while assistant managers Brian Wilson and Jenna McKenzie have each been with the business for seven. Joe Coon is a five-year employee. Full-time employees also include Ivy Breithaupt and Cindy Brister. Alyssa Hughes joined the staff two years ago and is part-time.
“This is a very complex business,” Slipher said. “I’ve grown up with it from when I was a teenager. I know this new technology like the young kids do. We pay (the staff) very well to keep them here.”
Slipher said repeat business is important.
“Not only did I grow up in this business, but we’ve gotten to see second- and third- generations who do business here,” he said. “They realize this is a smart place to shop because we’ve got the good deals. We had people who came in as kids with their fathers. Now the kids are grown up and shop here.”
Southern Cash & Pawn has a 60-day layaway plan, with 20 percent due up front. December, Slipher said, brings good deals.
“The most attractive deal we have right now is a Nintendo Wii going for just $29,” he said. “The hookups and controller goes with it. We’ve got loads of Xboxes and PlayStation3s going at great prices with a high selection of games to go with all of them.”
As far as firearms are concerned, Slipher said the business carries all kinds of accessory items, such as magazines, scopes and holsters to fit every gun.
And jewelry is always plentiful at the shop.
“We have a huge selection of jewelry. We have a large amount of gold and silver at discounted prices because our prices are based on scrap value and not on retail prices,” Slipher said.
He said the business also has a good selection of musical instruments — guitars, trumpets and clarinets — and all the accessories to go along with them.
Business hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Call 684-1653.
