Don't Panic, There Is Still Time

Gift giving is so much more fun when you add the thrill of the hunt and the victory of a bargain. Truth is, in the last few days left for holiday shopping, we’re running out of hunting time. Queen of PAWNS is a great place for fabulous last minute holiday presents and will get you gifting before you can say, 

“HO HO HO!” Here’s some ideas to get you started.

• For the fun-filled, quirky person on your list, nothing tops quirky better than a karaoke machine.

• For the kids and the whole family, a home video console will provide hours of fun, but also offers great brain activities for the young and not-so-young, alike. (See our previous posts, Why Would You Let Your Kids Play Video Games?? and Which Home Console Suits You Best? to help you make educated choices about this kind of purchase.)

• For the outdoor type, we have everything from grills, to bikes, to water sport equipment and fishing reels. 

• For the gadget lover, Queen of PAWNS is a haven. It’s a no brainer to shop for that type of person here. From iPods to tablets to computers, we have it all.

• For the big kid or the adult who refuses to grow up, remote control cars and airplanes never disappoint.  

• For the person always running ten minutes late, how about a luxury watch? We’ll even set it 10 minutes fast for you!

• For the do-it-yourselfer - power tools! And if your crafty one has all the tools they could  possibly want then how about a gold plated set of wrenches? Yeup, they exist and we often have them!

• And of course, jewelry is an all time favorite for those on the receiving end.

Shopping for loved ones at Queen of Pawns is a fun alternative to grumpy, crowded malls and the trap of over-priced, regular retail. We have your last minute gifts for everyone on your list, and maybe even something special for yourself. To add merriment, we are marking down selected items an additional 40% for the remainder of December.

While you're out, would you take a moment to drop off a new toy for our "Toys For All" toy drive and bring a smile to a child's face? Drop off locations are at our three east coast, South Florida stores. We will be accepting donations until January 5th for a community event scheduled January 11th.

See? There is still time to score gorgeous gifts for loved ones and to do something for the community. Happy Holidays!

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:

Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm

Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

It Feels Good to Be Helpful

You may have heard us say it before, and we’ll say it again; we at Queen of PAWNS love what we do. It is very fortunate that our passion can support a team of employees and their families while also providing needed goods and services to the community. When you love what you do, it shows - people can feel that and it can be the simplest things that makes a person’s day. Recently, we were having a normal day - customers were coming and going, buying from our great inventory or acquiring loans. Then, out of the blue we received a letter. It was from one of our customers that visited us on one of our normal days. Only, it wasn’t a normal day for them. This customer was in need of instant money and decided to come to one our pawn shops for help. They had never pawned before and was nervous about using pawn as a solution for their short term financial needs. In the letter, we were thanked for the kind and respectful manner in which we handled this customer during their visit. We were touched that something we did affected some one so much that they wrote us a letter. It made our day. Do you see how the circle of kindness and respect just goes round and round?

This letter reminded us how important it is to be kind - ALWAYS. Make it a habit in your day to be considerate and helpful, no matter what your state of mind or circumstance and you will see, choosing to think of others is an instant mood booster! It doesn’t require any grand gesture either. Things like holding the door for a stranger, letting someone go in line in front of you, helping a neighbor with yard work or unloading groceries, complimenting a parent on the abilities or behavior of their child, being polite on the road, writing a thank you letter and smiling at some one are all simple things that we can do to make the world a better place.

The holidays are a great opportunity and reminder to start including kindness in our daily practice. It is at this time of year that charitable organizations make it easier to be a part of spreading good cheer. This year, Queen of PAWNS is excited to announce our participation with Azteca America 48 and Mia 92.1 FM for a “Toys for All,” toy drive. Our three South Florida stores (two in West Palm Beach and one in Lake Worth) will be accepting new, unwrapped toys until January 5^th. Underprivileged children living in Belle Glade, Clewiston and Pahokee who may not have received any gifts during the holidays will be given the donated toys at a public event on January 11^th at the Civic Park of Clewiston, Florida. Also at the event will be food, refreshments, entertainment, clowns, music, face painting and other goodies. 

We encourage you to count your blessings, be kind to others and help us bring a smile to a child’s face by donating a new toy at one of our drop off locations.

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:

Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm

Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Snow-Free and Festive

Who says you need snow for it to feel like the holidays? Create your own merry and bright by filling your front yard with holiday cheer. No, not string lights, although great, but we’ve got a different idea. Show the world your festive spirit with DIY wooden holiday lawn ornaments! Queen of PAWNS is here to tell you how. 

From playful to devotional, lawn ornaments can vary in size, but often are at least 3 feet tall. If you are a condo dweller, you can do smaller figures for your porch or balcony. There is also the option of creating wooden cut-out wreaths or other hanging decorations of all sorts for your front door. You don’t need years of experience as a wood worker to make these decorations from paint and plywood. What you do need however is, the inspiration to take on a festive project and the tools to make it happen. 

If you like to draw and have a basic engineering mind, you might want to tackle the design part of this process all by yourself. If you need patterns that have already been drawn out, accompanied by instructions for construction, they can be purchased in any woodworking specialty store on online. There are also several free options online for instructions and/or patterns. Here’s some ideas to get your creative juices flowing...

For projects that instruct without providing downloadable patterns, check out HGTV’s links for Lawn Reindeer and Rustic Nail-Head Christmas Trees.

If you are not comfortable drawing outlines for shapes yourself, find a picture of an image that you like, such as a Santa, angel, tree...anything, make an enlarged copy of it to any size you want your final piece to stand. Then, cut out the shapes and lay them on top of your plywood. Trace around the shapes with a pencil. Here is a link to a free pattern, complete with instructions of another reindeer - free reindeer pattern.

However you approach the pattern part of your lawn ornament project, once the design is drawn, you will need to cut the wood. Mostly what we have suggested so far would require 3/4” plywood. You can use whatever wood suits the size of your final figure best.  For delicate and smaller designs, 1/4” wood is more appropriate. To cut your wood, of course, will require a saw. For curves and smooth turns, you need to use a band saw, jig saw or scroll saw. Below is a brief description for each of those.

Bandsaws are good for smaller sizes of wood, so they wouldn’t work well on uncut plywood or kitchen counters. They cut smooth and quick with interchangeable blades that allow for different curvature. Wider blades are better for straight cuts. 

With jigsaws, you bring the tool to the work. They can be used to make straight or curved cuts. If making straight cuts, you may want to use a metal straight-edge or guide. 

Scroll saws are kind of like a very light duty bandsaw-jigsaw hybrid used to make intricate cuts. Its use is limited to thinner materials. Blades can be changed on scroll saws to work on metal, wood or plastic. 

Of course, all of these saws as well as other tools such as sanders and drills can be found at Queen of PAWNS*.

Finally, to show off your lawn figures at night - highlight them with outdoor grade spot lights or string lights.

Enjoy the creative process and let your merry shine bright!

*When looking for something specific, call the Queen of PAWNS nearest you to check inventory.


Queen of Pawns - South Florida
3380 south military trail
Lake Worth, Florida 33463
561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415
561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.
West Palm Beach, Florida 33417
561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida
5831 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Fl 32839
407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

A Day Like No Other

It’s not a national holiday, but some people plan for it all year. It’s a day not for the timid or weak, complete with a thrill of the hunt, racing hearts and sweating palms. While the rest of the world sleeps off their over indulgence of a Thanksgiving feast, those of us committed to beating full retail prices are out celebrating BLACK FRIDAY! And Queen of PAWNS is no exception. We will be opening the doors to all our locations at 5 am, November 29^th and we will remain open until 7 pm. Bring your gift list with you and get ready for some serious savings. Everything in the store will be marked 50% off regular price! No other day of the year will bring you more possibilities to purchase top quality items at such rock bottom prices. 

The day after Thanksgiving our friendly staff will be waiting for you to assist with your holiday shopping. Over the past year, our blog has provided several “cheat sheets,” to help you be better equipped and a more informed shopper for those higher ticket items. To make things a little easier we are including some useful links to these past entries.

If you are considering purchasing a television, be sure to read this first: SUPERBOWL XLVII - Kudos to the Host City, New Orleans!

This entry about watches and how they work will be helpful if you are considering any kind of watch: How Watches Tell Time.

Don’t even think about blindly shopping for gold. Before purchasing this precious metal for your precious someone, be sure to read our two part series: Don’t Be Fooled, Know Your Gold, Part I & Part II

Not all home video game consoles are created equally. In case you missed it, last month was dedicated to home gaming systems: Which Home Console Suits You Best.

Shopping help for home video games are found here: Simplify Your Search for the Perfect Home Video Game.

Of course, our staff is well informed and very helpful, so it is not necessary for you to be an expert in anything before making a wise purchase at QoP. We generated this list of useful links because want you to feel confident and empowered in your gift giving this season; we also know that there are certain types of shoppers who won’t even buy a toothbrush without doing extensive research. (We promise, we won’t mention any names!)

Come on by our biggest and most grand sales event of the entire year. How many ways can we say, “HUGE SAVINGS!”? Before you go anywhere else, shop at Queen of PAWNS for our BLACK FRIDAY Sales Event. Be the smartest gift giver amongst your friends and family. But before that, have a beautiful and abundant Happy Thanksgiving!

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:

Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm

Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Holiday Time Is Family Time

Queen of PAWNS is a second generation pawn business that has been family owned and operated since we opened in 1995. We believe in the importance of family and quality time spent together. As a culture, our lives can be so busy that many of us forget to make family time a part of our routine. Also common, job opportunities often take family members to different regions or states. Although there is no way to reclaim lost time, the holidays are the perfect opportunity to maximize on fun dates with your kith and kin.

Never allow money to be an excuse from enjoying quality entertainment. Just as we at QoP believe in never paying full retail price on the items you need and want, we equally know of some terrific low cost or free events and activities in the same regions as our stores. Here’s some links to a few great activity calendars:

For those of you on the east coast, near our West Palm Beach locations, a couple reliable listings include: West Palm Beach’s Calendar of Events and WPB City Calendar. Scroll through the listings on those sites and see what suits your family best. Also, the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach is  always hosting fantastic & free family friendly activities, classes and events. Their website is www.WPBPL.com.

In the Kissimmee/Orlando region, we like to check in with these sites on occasion: Kissimmee Events & Experience Kissimmee. A couple other cool things happening that we want to mention is the Osceola Fall Art Festival and the “Now Snowing in Orlando” attraction at Celebration Town Center.

And if you find you are in need of any items for your holiday gathering preparations, such as televisions, barbecue grills, microwaves, movies, DVD/BluRay players or gifts, you know who to call. 

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Dear Santa

Today through November 13^th is officially, Dear Santa Letter Week. We wish we were clever enough to make this up, but it’s true. Even though is may still seem a little early, this IS the week to write your letters to Santa. After all, he does have quite a long list, especially with the ever growing population. So, it is a good idea to get your letters out now - particularly if you hope for a response. 

Writing letters to Santa is a great activity to kick off preparations for the holidays. It’s fun, educational and gives you a sneak peek as to what the kids are hoping to find under the tree this year. Know that when we say, “kids,” we are not excluding the adult-kids either. 

Queen of PAWNS has complied a list of some very convincing ways to communicate with Santa. Don’t ever doubt that the jolly ole Saint Nick is communication savvy. Email, postal mail, telephone and video - Santa can receive letters and respond back many ways. Here’s some suggestions for emails, postal addresses and how to get responses from Santa Claus himself.

We experimented with several avenues to email Santa and here’s what we liked the most:

At EmailSanta.com, you fill out a few fields to get an immediate response on your screen. The auto-responder for this site is outstanding and detailed. Another site we like requires you to register an account. This is great for parental control. However, the auto-responder for a response from Santa isn’t quite as clever. Compare for yourself, go to NorthPole.com.

One way to send postal mail to Santa is to address your letter to: 

Santa Claus

North Pole, Alaska

There is no guarantee that a letter or any response will come back when mailing to that address. If you do want a response from Santa, one very affordable way, which will only cost postage is to have you or someone you know write the letter. Then follow the instructions to participate in the “Letters From Santa” program, sponsored by the United States Post Office.

If you want something a little fancier, for a fee you can design your response at Santa’s Official North Pole Mail . Similar, but a little more affordable and just as much fun is a telegram from Santa. Go to Telegram From Santa.

Once you have your little (or big) kids write their letters, make a copy of their wish list. Then come to Queen of PAWNS and see what is in store to make Christmas wishes come true. Remember, we have our free layaway plan and most especially, be sure to come to our Black Friday sales event, when our doors open at 5 am for the most spectacular savings of the entire year!

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Royal Layaway Until Christmas

Santa’s elves got nothing on us. Queen of PAWNS spins our own Christmas magic months before the holidays are on most people’s minds. Our workshops are always open and stocked with fantastic gifts for all boys and girls, young and old alike. Yes, QoP realizes that the Turkey hasn’t even landed and we’re already talking about Christmas, but we have an important message that is becoming more and more time sensitive with each passing day.

The holidays can be a very stressful time for many of us. Work often becomes more hectic, holiday parties and family gatherings can be demanding - and then there’s the gift list. With the average household budget getting tighter and tighter, it can be quite a challenge to reward every good boy and girl on your list with gifts worthy of their packaging. We at Queen of PAWNS cannot control most of these stress factors, but what we can do is help you budget for beautiful gifts that will dazzle and show just how much you care about your family and friends.

Aside from huge savings daily on top shelf items, we also offer a free layaway plan especially designed for Christmas to help you prepare up to SIX MONTHS in advance for your holiday gift giving. If you find that perfect item, but don’t have enough cash that day to purchase, it can still be yours to give! All you need to do is once you picked out your item, put down a 10% deposit* of the current price and before you know it, your item is paid off! (Layaway policy listed below.) Of course, at this point, the holidays are less than 60 days away, that is why we are in your ear NOW.  

Another great opportunity to take advantage of even steeper discounts will be our Black Friday sales event, of course the day after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for more details!

*LAYAWAY POLICY:

Deposits are non-refundable.

10% minimum deposit at time of purchase.

Layaways must be paid off and picked up no more than 60 days after date of initial deposit. 

Layaway terms are extendable only in writing.

Once a layaway term expires, deposit will be forfeited and items will be put back on sales floor.

There are no extra layaway or service charges.

Layaways are non-cancelable and non-refundable.

Layaway articles are removed from the sales floor.

Queen of Pawns - South Florida

3380 south military trail

Lake Worth, Florida 33463

561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail

West Palm Beach, Florida 33415

561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.

West Palm Beach, Florida 33417

561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

5831 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Fl 32839

407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34741

407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM