 APRO: The Official Voice of the Rent to Own Industry
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Sitemap of APRO's RTOHQ.org Website:
APRO's RTOHQ Homepage APRO's RTOHQ.org website is the Official Voice of the Rent-to-Own Industry. Find RTO news, rent-to-own events and calendars, rent-to-own resources and rent-to-own industry information at RTOHQ.org. Contact APRO Contact the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations. Phone, fax, address and email contact information for APRO. Join APRO (Rental Dealers) Use this form to join APRO as a Rental Dealer. Join APRO (Vendors) Use this form to join APRO as a Rent-to-own Vendor. RTO Today Weekly e-Newsletter Use this form to sign up for RTO Today, APRO's weekly e-Newsletter for the Rent-to-own industry. APRO's Rent-to-Own Customer and Employee of the Year Entry Form Use this form to nominate someone for APRO's Rent-to-Own Customer of the Year or Employee of the Year Awards. APRO's Rent-to-Own Photo Gallery Browse through the photos from APRO and Rent-to-own events and happenings. About Rent-to-Own Rent-to-own game systems APRO and the rent-to-own industry are proud partners with the top rent-to-own game system dealers and manufacturers. Here are a few of the game system manufacturers that carry and distribute rent-to-own game systems: Gaming systems Microsoft: Xbox, Xbox 360 Sony: PSP, Playstation2 and PS One See all product categories.... Rent-to-own electronics APRO and the rent-to-own industry are proud partners with the top rent-to-own electronics dealers and manufacturers. Rent-to-own electronics comprise 21 percent of rent-to-own dealers' average inventory, according to the most recent studies. Around 18 percent of Independent rent-to-own dealers' inventory is rent-to-own electronics while public companies report electronics comprise ... Rent-to-own computers APRO and the rent-to-own industry are proud partners with the top rent-to-own computer dealers and manufacturers. Rent-to-own computers comprise nine percent of rent-to-own dealers' average inventory, according to the most recent studies. Around six percent of Independent rent-to-own dealers' inventory is rent-to-own computers while public companies report computers comprise ... Rent-to-own appliances APRO and the rent-to-own industry are proud partners with the top rent-to-own appliance dealers and manufacturers. Rent-to-own appliances comprise 20 percent of rent-to-own dealers' average inventory, according to the most recent studies. Around 19 percent of Independent rent-to-own dealers' inventory is rent-to-own appliances while public companies report appliances comprise ... Rent-to-own tips for consumers in tough economic times In tough economic times, rent-to-own can be a viable means for millions of American consumers to acquire appliances, furniture, electronics and computers, according to a recent article on MSNBC. Especially at a time when consumer credit is scarce and when existing credit lines are being cut, the rent to ... Rent-to-own Product Manuals Here are links to rent-to-own product manuals available online from some of APRO's vendor companies. If you are an APRO vendor and would like to make your online product manuals more accessible to your customers, please contact APRO by e-mail or by calling 800/204-2776, ext. 103, and your company's ... Rent-to-own Reports and Studies Survey of Rent-to-Own Customers published by the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Economics [This report is most beneficial to policy makers, news reporters, legal and legislative analysts] While there has been considerable debate concerning the rent-to-own industry over the past decade or more, there has been little independent systematic ... Rent-to-Own Organization and Company Websites APRO member rent-to-own companies abide by an APRO Code of Ethics and APRO Collection Practices to ensure the highest ethical conduct and customer satisfaction in American communities and the marketplace APRO Member Rent-to-own Company Websites Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership - Throughout America, find the location near you ... Rent-to-own franchise companies Here are most of the key players in the rent-to-own franchise industry. A complete profile of each company - including information on what franchisors are seeking in franchisees, as well as statistics and expected growth - is available both on this website and as a PDF by clicking on ... Rent-to-own franchising By Geoff Williams They can focus on their business and not have to worry about vendor or business relationships. We’ve already established those on their behalf,” says Larry Sutton, owner of Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires. “We also have a media buying service. We can take ... RTO: Rent-to-Own Changing With the Times Ownership is just an option The emphasis is on renting, not necessarily owning. While ownership is an option, industry research and statistics have consistently shown that over the past 20 years, three out of four rent-to-own customers—75 percent—return their products within four months. The choice is the ... The rent-to-own customer The rent-to-own transaction is the most flexible transaction in the marketplace today. The fact that customers can return a product at any time for any reason distinguishes itself as a unique and valuable transaction filling many niches. Consumers have choices. They can buy used merchandise, which many customers do ... Rent-to-Own: Cost vs. Value No long-term obligation. Terminate the agreement at any time for any reason. Never incur debt. Credit is never extended. Credit checks are never required. Flexible payment options: weekly, bi-weekly, monthly. Early-purchase options-offering significant price reductions. Re-instatement rights. If a customer has to return a product for any reason during ... Rent-to-own prices For years, critics of rent-to-own have targeted the industry’s prices as being the primary negative aspect of the business. What those critics fail to acknowledge is that rent-to-own doesn’t simply offer new, name-brand products. With every transaction, customers receive unparalleled service, flexibility of payments and no obligation ... Rent-to-Own Industry Overview What is rent-to-own? The $6.3-billion rent-to-own industry—or RTO— continues to improve its business, customer service and pricing becoming a viable consumer option in the American economy. The unique rent-to-own transaction sprang up in the 1960s in response to a growing consumer need for acquiring the use of ... What is APRO? Past Employee and Customer of the Year Recipients EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS: David Keen 2009 Rent-to-own Employee of the Year David Keen, employee development manager for Rent One, is APRO's 2009 Employee of the Year.Keen served four terms on the Mt. Vernon City Council -- home base for Rent One's 42 stores -- and two ... APRO 2009-2010 Committee Assignments The APRO Board of Directors is a talented team with committees headed by top-notch talent. But the association would like to expand committee participation beyond members of the board. APRO is urging participation from other association members to tackle industry issues on its various committees. Listed below, you'll find ... RTO Customer & Employee of the Year Annual Contest NOW LOOKING FOR APRO's 2010 Rent-to-own Employee and Customer of the Year! DEADLINE: June 10, 2010 Applications and Judging Criteria Below. APRO's Employee and Customer of the Year are those customers and employees who inspire, help or sacrifice for the betterment of their families and/or communities—just like the ... APRO's Rent-to-Own Collection Practices These collection guidelines were initiated by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations for its members and their businesses. Use this link to download a printable PDF of the Collection Practices that you may wish to display in your stores. APRO has also created a list of Code of Ethics ... Meet the staff of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations Bill Keese, Executive Director 800/204-2776, ext. 101 Bill oversees all operations of the association, manages the staff and resources and implements APRO board policy. If you've got a policy question– or any question about APRO– he's the person to contact. Email: bkeese@rtohq.org Tulisha Carson, Office Manager 800/204-2776, ext. ... APRO Vendor Advisory Committee The APRO Vendor Advisory Committee serves a critical function in addressing APRO suppliers’ needs and issues. The committee sets the direction and helps with many of the specifics of the convention and buying show, while providing an important link between vendors and dealers. Committee members serve staggered, two-year terms ... APRO's Board of Directors APRO is governed by a 17-member elected board of directors. Sixteen directors serve staggered two-year terms with eight directors elected each year. The 17th board member is from the vendor community and is elected by the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. All directors are elected at the annual convention. For ... Honoring the Rent-to-own Industry's Finest The APRO "Buddy" Awards are presented every year to those outstanding individuals and organizations that have raised the level of what can be done to better the industry for everyone. The recipients are named at the annual APRO Awards Banquet held during the association's Convention andTrade Show. APRO's ... APRO's Scholarship Foundation Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. M A L C O L M F O R B E S Congratulations to 2009 APRO Scholarship Award winner Robin Walker! Robin completed her semester with a "3.0 grade average or above" and ... RTO [Relief to Our] Employees Disaster Relief Fund In 2005, members of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations contributed more than $190,000 to help rent-to-own employees get back on their feet after the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The rent-to-own community helped 159 employees survive and recover from these natural disasters. Unfortunately, natural disasters ... Rent-to-own Industry Timeline Rent-to-own Industry 2000-Present June 2009 Policy Matters Ohio release their report "Paying More, Renting Debt: Why Rent-to-Own is a bad deal for Ohio consumers." The report generates some media activity and calls for the Ohio legislature to further regulate rent-to-own in Ohio. September 2008 President George Bush ... APRO's Rent-to-Own Code of Ethics These ethics guidelines were devised by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations for its members and their businesses. You may also download a printable PDF of the Code of Ethics that you may wish to display in your stores. APRO has also created a list of Collection Practices in ... Membership Benefits APRO saves you money! APRO Government Relations: Federal and State Legislative Protection Since 1993, there have been seven federal bills that would cripple the national rent-to-own industry pre-empting every state RTO law that protects the right for rent-to-own dealers to conduct business. In the past two Congressional sessions, U.... The Voice of Rent-to-Own The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the international voice for the rent-to-own industry founded in 1980. APRO is the nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, Internal Revenue Service, state legislatures, the courts, media and the public. The association offers a ... Rent-to-own Events APRO 2010 Convention and Trade Show - Exhibitor Information The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations—the national trade association for the rent-to-own industry—invites you to exhibit at its 2010 Convention and Trade Show, July 19-22 in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the largest, most prestigious gathering dedicated to the rent-to-own industry, one that benefits vendors as much as ... APRO 2009 Convention Recap Click here for a recap of the 2009 convention Click here to login to APRO E-Communities and download handouts from the 2009 convention seminars Click here to go to APRO 2010 Convention ... APRO 2009 Convention and Buying Show - Sponsors THANKS! APRO would like to thank the following companies for their generous sponsorships of the 2009 Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying show, August 30–September 2 Paris Resort, Las ... 2010 Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show APRO in Louisville... get ready for the ride! July 19-22 Louisville, Kentucky View APRO's Schedule of Events For the first time, the 2010 APRO Convention will be held in Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky. This vibrant and exciting city is within a day's drive of 50% of the ... Rental Advertising Excellence Contest APRO's 2010 RAE Awards Call for Entries! We're looking for the best Print, TV, Radio, Specialty, Web-based, Campaigns, Banners, Price Tags and Community Relations.If you think your company's advertising has what it takes, enter today! Download In-House Entry Form (To be used if advertisement was created by In-House ... APRO Rent-to-Own Events Overview APRO’s Annual Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show This annual event is the largest, most-prestigious event dedicated to the rent-to-own industry. More than just a trade show, the APRO Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show includes educational seminars offered by top speakers and RTO industry experts from across the country, ... State RTO Associations State Rental Dealer Association Presidents Alabama-Mississippi Rental Dealers Association Shannon Strunk, president Baber’s Inc. 2500 Amonett St. Pascagoula, MS 39567-2422 228/312-0350 Fax 228/312-0387 shannon@babers.com Alaska Rental Dealers Association Inactive Arizona Rental Dealers Association See Southwest Rental Dealers Association Arkansas Rental Dealers Association Scott Houchin, president FAN Sales & Leasing LLC 1600 Browns ... Rent-to-Own's State Economic Impact and Statutes APRO calculates the key economic indicators for each state according to APRO’s database and the annual industry survey conducted by statistical research firm Industry Insights. APRO has been the leader in defining the rent-to-own industry statistically for the past decade and continues to refine and build the rent-to-own ... State Rent-to-Own Association Resources The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations encourages all rental dealers to become involved in industry activity on the state level in addition to participation on the national level through APRO. State associations were crucial in developing the comprehensive network of positive state rent-to-own laws that govern how rental dealers ... RTO Legislative Activity States With Rent-to-Own Laws State Rent-to-Own Legislative History In 1984, Michigan lawmakers, rent-to-own industry owners and consumer groups agreed to balanced legislation that would foster rent-to-own industry security with specific rent-to-own consumer protections. Since then the mutual agreement of balanced legislation has successfully created 47 state rent-to-own laws. Ninety-five percent of the U.... Rent-to-own Consumer Tips In tough economic times, rent-to-own can be a viable means for millions of American consumers to acquire appliances, furniture, electronics and computers, according to a recent article on MSNBC. Especially at a time when consumer credit is scarce and when existing credit lines are being cut, the rent to ... APRO Congressional Grassroots Instructions If you have never met with an elected official then you may be intimidated by the process and politics of the U.S. Congress. But, in reality, the U.S. Congress is there to listen and help you. You will quickly find the political process to be easy and ... APRO's Political Action Committee APRO PAC supports candidates for political office who have demonstrated their support of the rent-to-own industry. Only qualified candidates for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are eligible to receive these funds. APRO PAC is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the rent-to-own ... Rent-to-Own Bill Co-sponsors The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act of 2009 by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and U.S. House of Representative William Lacy Clay has been introduced and assigned bill numbers S. 738 and H.R. 1744. The rent-to-own regulatory bill will require consumer pricing disclosures, advertising disclosures and reinstatement ... Independent Research on Rent-to-Own Rent-to-own agreements: Customer characteristics and contract outcomes By UMASS Finance Professor Dr. Michael H. Anderson and California Polytechnic State University Finance and Economics Professor Dr. Sanjiv Jaggia Published in the Journal of Economics and Business in January 2008. The rent-to-own (RTO) industry is popular among low income consumers in ... Rent-to-Own Legislative History Federal: Below is a summary of the major federal initiatives aimed at passage of a Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act: 2009-2010 | 111th Congress: H.R. 1744 by Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) and S. 738 (D-LA) by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have been referred to the Senate Banking Committee ... Rent-to-own vs Retail: A Profit Comparison The Truth about Rent-to-Own Profits Rent-to-own’s supposedly “exorbitant” profits have been a primary point of criticism from the industry’s detractors—but the numbers show that RTO profits are in alignment with a competitive industry and fair profits. This chart represents a sampling of public companies and ... Why the Rent-to-Own Industry is Seeking Federal Legislation Why federal rent-to-own legislation? Passage of a federal rent-to-own bill will benefit consumers, businesses and the American economy *****Download the full text of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act here. The Clay/Landrieu Bill Defines the Rent-to-own Transaction as a Lease The rent-to-own transaction provides millions of consumers with a ... The Rent-to-own Industry's Message to Congress Dear U.S. Congress, The logical first question you ask is why the rent-to-own industry isa Congressional issue. The simple answer is because of you – Congress. In 1993, 2006 and 2007, powerful members of Congress introduced federal legislation that would eliminate the rent-to-own industry in America. As a ... Welcome Legislators An Introduction to Rent-to-Own: We know your time is valuable and we appreciate visiting our site to learn more about the rent-to-own industry. On these pages, we hope you find it easy to locate the resources you need on the industry, its customers, the economic impact of rent-to-own—both ... APRO's Legislative Conference APRO’s 2010 Dave Egan Legislative Conference Another great success as more than 130 RTO dealers and vendors from across the country convened February 23-25, 2010 in Washington, D.C. to meet with their Congresspersons supporting H.R. 1744 and S. 738. Rep. William Lacy Clay and Sen. Mary ... Rent-to-own Legislative Activity and Resources A history of the rent-to-own industry's legislative efforts and its current strategies regarding state and federal legislation Seeking federal legislation The rent-to-own industry is an established part of the American economy. Since the industry’s inception in the 1960s and its rapid growth in the past 40 years, consumers, ... Rent-to-Own's State Economic Impact and Statutes APRO calculates the key economic indicators for each state according to APRO’s database and the annual industry survey conducted by statistical research firm Industry Insights. APRO has been the leader in defining the rent-to-own industry statistically for the past decade and continues to refine and build the rent-to-own ... RTO Education Resources APRO Rental Training Online Course Descriptions APRO’s Rental Training Online Virtual University was designed to provide basic, specialized training for store-level RTO employees. Each course takes an average of two to three hours to complete. Below is a summary of each course. Introduction to Rent-to-Own This course will introduce students to the rent-to-own industry ... APRO's Rent-to-Own Seminars The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations offers educational seminars designed for owners and employees at our annual convention. Take advantage of the valuable networking and educational opportunities by learning how to make yourself, your business and your industry better. APRO's annual Convention and Buying Show Each year, APRO's Convention ... Rent-to-Own Glossary of Terms Account: a term usually used to designate a customer who has a unit on rent or a rental agreement. Account number: the identification number given to each account and used as a reference for tracking the progress of the agreement. Account transfer: the reassignment of a rental agreement from ... Enter APRO's New Virtual University Experience the New APRO UNIVERSITY Your APRO staff has worked hard to deliver a new learning platform for APRO University. Enjoy APRO University's variety of new benefits: Improved course assignment function allows you to control what courses your employees receive. New payment options include credit card and eCheck, as ... RTO Advertising & Media Download APRO Logos and Graphics Below are links to download APRO’s logo for members’, vendors’ and advertisers’ needs. You can also download a version of the logo specifically for your Web site, letting visitors know you are an APRO member. Click here if you need a logo in a version other than the ... Product Focus and Advertising Deadlines In every issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine, a listing of who’s who in Rent-to-Own will be featured. These listings highlight rent-to-own industry product and service suppliers who support the industry in a variety of ways. January-February 2010: Who’s Who in Rent-to-Own Management Advertising space closing: January 4 ... Advertise with APRO: Expand Your Market RTOHQ: TheMagazine (Formerly Progressive Rentals magazine) The premier magazine serving the ever-changing rent-to-own industry RTOHQ: The Magazine (formerly APRO's award-winning Progressive Rentals) is APRO’s bi-monthly magazine with an emphasis on larger issues facing its players in the rent-to-own industry. As the premier magazine serving this booming industry, advertising ... APRO Publications Media Tips Media Relations for the rent-to-own company Chapter I HOW PUBLICITY AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS How necessary is it for you to take the time and effort to prepare for potential media interviews? Just how much can the media affect your business in any case? The Damage of Negative Coverage Consider ... RTOHQ: The Magazine Archives Welcome to the RTOHQ: The Magazine (formerly Progressive Rentals Magazine) Archives. Here you can browse past magazines in full PDF format, or read through the articles on this site or download them for later. Archives are listed in reverse chronological order: 2010 RTOHQ: The Magazine Archives January - February ... Rental Viewpoint E-newsletter Archives Back issues of Rental Viewpoint—APRO’s former online newsletter—are available by clicking on the links below, listed in reverse chronological order. Note: some of the links within these archive documents have been removed. Use this link to sign up for RTO Today—APRO’s current weekly online ... Other APRO Rent-to-Own Publications APRO offers a wide variety of publications to help your rent-to-own business—some available to APRO members only at no charge. Many of these publications have been updated recently and reflect the marketing, advertising, legal and financial analysis specific to the rent-to-own industry. These reports were written by some ... RTOHQ: The Magazine A new chapter in rent-to-own communications has begun.RTOHQ: The Magazine is setting a new standard for the rent-to-own industry's printed communications. Its predecessor,Progressive Rentals, was the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning, four-color, bimonthly magazine providing news, industry trends, management techniques, details on upcoming events, APRO member ... Rent-to-own News TRIB Group gears up for annual convention; downloads available TRIB Group will turn up the heat at its annual convention and buy fair in two weeks, March 27- 31, when the rent to own industry's largest member-owned buying group kicks off five days of meetings, award ceremonies and spring buying. Hosted in Dallas, Texas at the beautiful Hilton ... PrimeTime! rebates up 20 percent Nationwide Marketing Group, the parent company of RentDirect Nationwide, announced that independent dealers cashed in on 20 percent more of instant rebate checks, over last year’s spring show, on products purchased at PrimeTime! held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last week. In 2009, an excess of ... Former Rentway CEO to head international business lender Opportunity International today announced the appointment of Bill Morgenstern as CEO, replacing Kadita "A.T." Tshibaka who has served as interim CEO since April 2009. Tshibaka will assist with the transition over the next month and return to his former role as a member of the Board ... Rent One silver anniversary is 'Rentastic' David Keen, employment development manager, and Mark Williams, VP of sales and marketing, at Rent One's silver anniversary managers meeting. Rent One this week celebrated its 25th anniversary at the company's annual business meeting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where more than 100 managers, their families and vendor partners turned ... ColorTyme announces $30K giveaway winners Thirty ColorTyme customers recently cashed in as names were drawn for the $30K Giveaway, and countless others won in-store prizes. Held in celebration of the company's 30th birthday, ColorTyme's $30K Giveaway gave customers a chance to win $1,000 along with instant prizes in local stores. Rent-to-own customers registered ... Bryce Jewelry introduces 'Bridal Plus' package Bryce Jewelry rings in the new decade with an innovative bridal program that is a marriage of service and success. The Bridal Plus package is the latest of Bryce’s creative marketing concepts designed to create a larger customer base with a lower investment. This compact program allows RTO ... DSI announces 2010 electronic expo dates DSI Systems' 2010 electronics expo tour will cover three states and again offer dealers their choice of four breakout sessions in addition to a general DSI presentation. Toshiba, Mitsubishi, LG, Sharp, Monster, DIRECTV, and more will conduct the breakout sessions for small groups on specific products. Dealers will be ... DSI Systems reduces rebate headaches for independent dealers DSI Systems understands the challenges to a dealer’s cash flow and profitability created by the complicated manufacturer consumer instant rebate programs that more and more manufacturers are utilizing to drive sales. In response to those challenges, DSI developed a rebate claim process in 2009 that allows dealers to ... Rent One rolls out Harley, new store for 25th anniversary bash Murray Beck, Trent Agin, Col. Chris Lawson, Larry Carrico and Mark Williams at Rent One's 2010 managers meeting. Rent One is celebrating its 25th anniversary today at the company's annual business meeting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where more than 100 managers, their families and vendor partners are expected. To ... Revamped APRO University in session APRO's revised online rent to own training program is live. The easier-to-use lower-cost APRO University online interface is currently offering APRO's original five training courses: Introduction to Rent-to-Own, Rental Delivery and Safety, Customer Satisfaction in Rent to Own, Communication in the Rent to Own Workplace and Account Management in ... D&H offers range of vendors for 2010 TRIB SHOW D&H has Grown its portfolio of offerings for the rent-to-own marketplace, covering items ranging from best-selling notebooks to small appliances, HDTVs and gaming equipment. D&H Distributing, the major North American computer products and consumer electronics distributor, announces it is offering an expanded line of manufacturers and products ... BrightHouse expands to Gaolgate Place BrightHouse, the U.K.'s leading rent to own chain, is continuing its expansion program with the opening of a new store in Gaolgate Place, Stafford. The new 3,400 sq ft store, which employs seven staff will have its Grand Opening on Saturday 6th March. To mark the ... ColorTyme manager inspires work through play Toby Littlejohn, ColorTyme championship belt winner. With the recent economic turndown leaving employee satisfaction at a record low, finding a cost-effective way to motivate the workforce can be a challenge. Fortunately, Jim Aldridge, manager of ColorTyme in Gaffney, South Carolina, discovered a creative approach to recognizing top performers that ... Aaron's 'Dream Machine' to honor Mitsubishi Aaron's named Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, its Vendor Partner of the Year for 2009 and will race a Mitsubishi-themed No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine in the company's honor. The racecar, driven by Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine driver David Reutimann, will make its on-track debut at ... Blockbuster adds pseudo RTO program Blockbuster Video said Tuesday it would change its fee policy after reporting a loss of $435 million in the fourth quarter, providing for a rent to own option by default option, according to UPI. The new policy changes a charge of $5 for a seven-day rental to a $5 ... Premier's Cuthbertson earns community service award Premier dealer William Cuthbertson. Clarksville Premier Rental-Purchase owner William Cuthbertson earned a special award for community service at the recent Premier Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. An integral and respected part of the Clarksville, Tennessee community, Premier has been providing furniture, appliances and electronics with both retail and rent-to-own ... RTO heavyweight makes retail inroads with "RAC Acceptance" program Keith Smith of Rent-A-Center, describes the RAC Acceptance program to single store retailer Mo Halawani of XOOM. Rent to Own and retail are not strange bedfellows. Rent to own literally rose from the ashes of a denied credit sale under the guidance of Ernie Talley in the 1960's. Many ... EPA Recognizes Nationwide with 2010 Excellence in Appliance Retailing Award NMG Executive Panel: Les Kirk, vice president, Ed Kelly, president and vice president Robert Weisner at a press conference Monday. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG) with a 2010 Excellence in Appliance Retailing Award for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas ... Rent-A-Center, Washington AG reach agreement, avoid trial on collections case Rent-A-Center and the Washington State Attorney General's office late last week, reached an agreement on a case that was headed to trial March 23. The Washington AG's Consumer Protection Division filed claims against Rent-A-Center in July 2009 asking King County Superior Court to declare Rent-A-Center's collection practices and rental ... ColorTyme named AllStar Franchise for 2010 ColorTyme, the nation’s oldest rent-to-own franchisor, was chosen from more than 800 companies as a top business opportunity in the 2010 AllBusiness Allstar Franchises ranking. Backed by analysis from parent company Dun & Bradstreet, AllBusiness.com’s ranking assesses the strengths of franchising companies based upon criteria including ... PrimeTime! goes live in Vegas Rental Dealers at RentDirect Nationwide PrimeTime! kickoff Sunday. Close to 3,000 retail and rent to own dealers packed the convention center at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Sunday night for the kickoff of Nationwide Marketing Group's (NMG) PrimeTime! conference and buying show. More than 3,300 are ... RentDirect Nationwide Show hits Vegas RentDirect Nationwide kicks off its PrimeTime! buying show and conference at MGM Grand in Las Vegas today where rent to own dealers from across the country will take part in unique educational and networking opportunities and peruse more than 150,000 square feet of exhibit space showcasing the latest ... APRO Legislative Conference wraps 'day on the Hill' with networking reception L to R: Bill French, N.C. Rep. Virginia Foxx, David Kraemer, James MacAlpine. APRO Legislative Conference attendees ended a full day of meetings with legislators at the event's annual networking reception and dinner Wednesday evening at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. ... APRO conference 'tie auction' raises $7,500 for scholarship fund Tie auction winners (l to r): Jeannie Mendell, Scott Brown, Larry Sutton, Jamie Thompson, Jeff Loeb, Larry Carrico, Joe Gazzo, Charles Smithgall, Mamie Harper. APRO Legislative Conference attendees loosened their ties after a full day of meetings with legislators at the event's annual networking reception and dinner Wednesday evening. ... Job creation is focus of RTO legislative message Missouri Congressman William Lacy Clay addresses a diverse group of RTO professionals at APRO's Legislative Conference Tuesday. Rent to own dealers, vendors and other industry professionals kicked off the first day of APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., united behind the message that rent to own legislation ... Industry memories rekindled in new RTOHQ: The Magazine Introduction by APRO Executive Director Bill Keese, “History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future.”—Robert Penn Warren Knowing and understanding the ... RTO industry pros head to DC Rent to own industry professionals from across the country are making their way to APRO's 2010 Dave Egan Legislative Conference today at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. to kickoff the industry's legislative event of the year. More than 100 rent to own dealers, employees and vendors ... Teletrack and eBureau develop new specialty credit tools Teletrack, Inc., an industry-leading provider of credit risk solutions for non-traditional lenders, and eBureau, an innovative provider of real-time predictive scoring and information solutions, today introduced a suite of credit scoring and other predictive models that are to become core components of Teletrack’s risk management solution offerings. Teletrack ... RNR re-designed site includes social networking At the 2010 RNR Custom Wheel and Tire Franchise Meeting held January 18 – 21, in Tampa, FL, RNR, one of the largest custom wheel and tire stores in the world, launched its newly re-designed website. The site provides improved functionality and benefits to visitors and members, which include ... Missouri dealers gain marketing insights at annual meeting Marketing specialist Kelly McDonald with MRDA President John Cleek Jr. Around 85 Missouri Dealers representing some 20 different RTO companies kicked off the Missouri Rental Dealers Association annual meeting at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Columbia yesterday where they were treated to a birds eye view of marketing ... Tracking software nabs rent-to-own thief West Valley Police haven't arrested the thief just yet, but they know his name and information -- all because he looked himself up on Salt Lake County Jail's database, according to local news station Channel 5 KSL.com. West Valley EZ Rent-to-Own Assistant Store Manager Cody Flippin said was ... Brennan introduces negative RTO bill in PA State Rep. Joe Brennan, D-Lehigh/Northampton, recently introduced legislation that would further regulate Pennsylvania rent-to-own centers, according to a statement released by Brennan's office today. Pennsylvania is home to 257 rent-to-own stores that employ 1,542 employees. The bill, H.B. 2247, was referred to Consumer Affairs Feb. 9. "... APRO thanks legislative conference sponsors Rent-to-own industry professionals are gearing up for APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference next week Feb. 23-25 in Washington, D.C. The conference -- the single most important legislative event for rent to own dealers -- comes at a critical time when calls for industry regulation are still resounding on Capitol ... RAC Q4 2009 investor presentation available Rent-A-Center today released it's Q4 2009 investor presentation in pdf format. Download here.... Aaron's Q4: same store revenues up 5.2 percent Aaron's, the nations largest rent to own franchise and second largest RTO company, today announced revenues and earnings for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009. For the fourth quarter of 2009, revenues increased 10% to $446.3 million compared to $404.9 million for the fourth ... MRDA hosts annual meeting tomorrow Missouri Dealers kick off annual meeting tomorrow at 8:55 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites, Columbia, Missouri and will feature industry and legislative updates followed by the Missouri Rental Dealers Annual Business Meeting. MRDA President John Cleek Jr. expects around 100 attendees representing around 20 different RTO ... Reverend never 'tires' of preaching RTO gospel The Tampa Bay Business Journal recently featured "The Reverend of RTO”, Larry Sutton, and his now 10-year old company, RNR Custom Wheels and Tires as the subject of a piece titled, "A Rent-to-Own Keeps its Growth Rolling. The article follows Sutton from owner of Champion Rent-to-Own, a ... Teletrack integrates Transunion Credit info Teletrack, an industry-leading provider of credit and fraud risk solutions for non-traditional lenders, has added access to TransUnion credit information and scores to its specialty credit platform for non-traditional credit grantors. Integration with TransUnion allows Teletrack’s non-traditional consumer finance customers to access a single-source specialty credit platform with ... DATATrue 'connects' with kSoft and RTO Pro DATATrue is pleased to announce that it has successfully integrated its verification program with kSoft Corporation and RTO PRO. Key Points: DATATrue customers that also use kSoft or RTO Pro software can now access DATATrue automatically and when they enter a customer’s information on the kSoft or RTO ... RentDirect Nationwide PrimeTime! launches in two weeks RentDirect Nationwide is preparing for its PrimeTime! by Nationwide buying show and conference at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 28 – March 3. The show will cover over 150,000 square feet of exhibit space showcasing the latest products from leading manufacturers. Dealers attending the show ... Press takes fresh look at RTO in Ohio The rent to own industry and it's appeal in the current economy was the topic of choice for the Columbus-Dispatch this weekend and featured interviews with a number of rent to own dealers in the area. The mainstream daily newspaper with a Sunday circulation of more than 330,000, ... Protect-A-Bed opens UK office Protect-A-Bed, a leading provider of bedding protection products with a presence in 27 countries, today announced its acquisition of London-based Shine Capital Europe LTD which distributes Protect-A-Bed products across Europe. The acquisition creates a formal corporate presence for Protect-A-Bed in Europe. Simon Zamet, owner of Shine Capital Europe LTD, ... Countryside employees brave winter weather for annual meeting Countryside Rent-2-Own President Mike Tissot with Diane Smalley, manager of the company's store of the year in Hillsboro. It wasn’t the 8 inches of snow and high winds in the Ohio Valley that closed all 25 of Countryside Rentals’ RENT-2-OWN stores on Wednesday. In fact, all of that ... easygates opens two new stores Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announces the opening of two new easyhome franchise stores. The second store in Arkansas opened on February 6 at 2070 John Harden Drive in the Jacksonville Plaza shopping center in Jacksonville, Arkansas and the second store in Missouri will open on ... InForm offers $59 Easter holiday promo Easter offers another opportunity to get customers in stores. What better way than an “In-store promotional giveaway?” Year round promotions are great traffic builders and they create in-store excitement, repeat business and generate customer good will. Order your holiday promotion at least a month in advance, display it ... Ashley Furniture to open 300 new franchise stores Ashley Furniture hopes to open 300 new lower-cost franchise stores this year, according to a story in the Chicago Tribune. In the story, the Arcadia-based manufacturer says the stores will offer furniture at a single price -- for example, all sofas for $399, rugs for $99, or five-piece dining ... Credit card use down Credit card usage is slowing, according to a USA Today report. Revolving credit — largely made up of credit card debt — fell by nearly 20 percent in November, the largest drop on record, according to the Federal Reserve. The slowdown reflects less borrowing by consumers and tighter lending ... Kaye promoted to Benefit Marketing VP of sales David Kaye, new Benefit Marketing Solutions VP of sales and marketing. Benefit Marketing Solutions, Inc. (BMS), the recognized leader in membership programs for the rent-to-own industry and other retail markets, today announced the promotion of David L. Kaye to Vice President—Sales and Marketing. BMS is a subsidiary of ... DSI now features Panasonic Professional Displays DSI today announced Panasonic Professional Displays is now part of the company's product line. Panasonic Professional Displays are perfectly suited for the needs of our Dealers serving the commercial installation market. Panasonic Professional Displays are designed for the demands of the commercial environment, featuring extensive configuration options for a ... Follow APRO on Twitter and Facebook Keep up to date on all the latest rent-to-own industry news and announcements on APRO's Twitter and Facebook pages. Read previous Twitter posts here, then sign up and "follow" RTOHQ to receive regular updates via e-mail, smart phone application or text. You decide how you want to stay ... Aaron's donates solar-powered electric systems to Haiti relief efforts Aaron's today is donating two solar-powered electric systems valued at $100,000 in support of Haiti relief efforts through ACORP, Aaron's Community Outreach Program. Through ACORP, Aaron's associates have donated thousands of hours of associate time to community service projects in more than 1,700 cities across the U.... ColorTyme manager enters Boston Marathon for children's hospital On April 19, Providence ColorTyme Store Manager Albert Coelho will be running for more than his health; he will be making a difference for thousands of children. Coelho will participate in the Boston Marathon, a 26.2-mile foot race, to raise money for Children’s Hospital Boston. “I'm ... Serta offers national RTO comforter giveaway We are very excited to announce Serta’s 1st Quarter 2010 National Marketing Event. Never before has a Mattress Manufacturer offered an event like this that gives rent-to-own dealers the opportunity to capitalize on a nationally advertised event in the mattress category. Consumers who rent a Queen, Split Queen, ... APRO, Ashley hospitality suite a hit RTO dealers at the Ashley Hospitality Suite at World Market Center Las Vegas Tuesday. More than 30 rent-to-own professionals representing a dozen companies turned out Tuesday for the annual RTO reception at Las Vegas Winter Market hosted by the Association of Progressive Rental Organzations and sponsored by Ashley Furniture. ... Artists Guild of America: Real art by real artists Ron Munoz shows off some art samples at Las Vegas Market. For over 30 years the Artists Guild of America has been producing hand-painted art on canvas in company studios located in Los Angeles, California. Each painting begins with a blank canvas and is painted and signed by studio ... Progressive Furniture expands into hardwoods George Ramel, Mike France and Dan Kendrick of Progressive Furniture. Progressive Furniture, a 25-year old North Carolina Furniture Company, recently expanded its offerings by producing a line of hardwood products manufactured in the company's Mexico plant. Progressive is exhibiting it's hardwood furniture at the Winter Las Vegas Market this ... Coaster Fine Furniture RTO catalog released As an import distributor of fine home furnishings across all major residential categories, Coaster offers one of the largest selections of continually-warehoused merchandise from seven warehouses strategically located across the country. And with Coaster's new 2010 "Rental Catalog", ordering just became that much easier. Download catalog here. Coaster's ... New Majik RTO opens in Huntingdon, PA Huntingdon Mayor Dee Dee Brown, center left, helps cut the ribbon on the new Majik Rentals store in her city. Lancaster-based Majik Rentals and Sales officially opened its fifth rent to own location in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania yesterday. The stores ribbon cutting ceremony was highlighted by a $4,000 contribution ... SLR International debuts at Vegas Market this week Joe Savovic, founder of SLR International. SLR International, leather motion furniture specialist, debuts this week at the Winter Las Vegas Market in Building A, space 1054. SLR International was founded in early 2008 by RTO industry veteran, Joe Savovic. "It gives me great personal pleasure to once again ... Rent-A-Center reports Q4 2009 Results Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest rent-to-own operator, today announced revenues and earnings for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Fourth Quarter 2009 Results: Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 were $672.9 million, a decrease of $26.9 million from total revenues of $699.8 ... High Touch, RAC donate 40 computers to Kansas community organizations Rent-to-own software leader High Touch, today announced it is joining efforts with long-time business partner Rent-A-Center to donate 20 IBM computers each to Breakthrough and Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. The donation is being organized by High Touch, Inc., a 25-year-old Wichita technology solutions company. “Breakthrough and Girl ... Inspector General warns TARP may not prevent another financial crisis The 2008 economic crises prompted unique opportunities for rent-to-own to promote its positive contribution to consumers. The over extension of credit was one of the driving issues of the financial collapse leaving rent-to-own's credit-free transaction a more viable consumer option for many. The twice initiated Troubled Asset Relief Program ... Las Vegas Market opens today This week’s Winter Las Vegas Market, runs today through Feb. 5 presenting retailers, rent-to-own dealers and design professionals new tools, resources and business strategies to not only survive, but to thrive in a challenging home furnishings industry in 2010. APRO will host a Hospitality Suite from 5-6:30 p.... Twin-Star customer appreciation night a hit LtoR: Scott Hancock of Buddy's ,Gidget Meaut and Craig Meau of Twin Star. Twin-Star International, manufacturer of ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces and Tresanti Media and Wine Cabinets Sunday, hosted it's third annual customer appreciation event at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas on the eve of The Winter Las ... Las Vegas Market: There's an app for that Consistent with its out-of the-box innovative leadership, World Market Center Las Vegas, is launching a free, downloadable application to enhance the experience of those attending Winter Las Vegas Market, Feb. 1 – 5. The first-of-its-kind interactive smartphone application designed specifically for the home furnishings industry provides attendees with quick ... Rent-A-Center names Robert Brockman senior vice president of HR Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest rent-to-own operator, today announced the appointment of Robert Brockman to senior vice president of human resources. Reporting to Mitch Fadel, president and chief operating officer, Brockman succeeds Mel McCall, who retired in December. Brockman's duties will include oversight of traditional human-resources responsibilities such as store ... Waterbury ColorTyme remembers recent shooting victim ColorTyme’s Steve Dwyer never met John Frazier, but the teen’s tragic death in Waterbury, Connecticut, prompted a local rent-to-own franchise owner to get involved. Taking to heart the company’s motto, “People Helping People”, Dwyer is collecting donations at ColorTyme in Frazier’s name and will ... Rent to own part of new consumer diet As the recession continues, Americans are saving more, spending less, and rethinking middle-class living, according to a recent article by U.S. News and World Report. Rent to own is mentioned as a part of the "rental rebound" section of the article as a timely alternative as the ... Joe Urena dies Joe Urena Joe Urena passed away in Redlands, California on January 26. Urena was an associate of Marie May and was in sales for Rental Dealer News and Rentex in the 1990s and had many friends in the rent-to-own industry. All services will be held at Todd Memorial Chapel ... Restonic gives bedding a new lease on rental life When it comes to re-renting bedroom sets, mattresses regularly prove more problematic than profitable. With staining, transportation wear, cleaning costs and bug issues, rent to own dealers typically get seven to eight months -- about two an a half turns -- of life at best from a traditional mattress. ... APRO Vendors: Booth rate deadline Feb. 1 Booth rates for APRO's Annual Convention and Trade Show will increase February 1st. The show is 70% sold out so don't delay. View your invitation to exhibit here. APRO's 2010 Convention and Trade Show will celebrate the association's 30th anniversary in Louisville, Kentucky, July 19th - 22nd. To view ... Troy Aikman is new Rent-A-Center spokesman New RAC Spokesman Troy Aikman. Rent-A-Center revealed today that Troy Aikman is the company’s new celebrity spokesperson. The well-known sports broadcaster, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, three-time Super Bowl champion and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be featured extensively in Rent-A-Center’s marketing efforts starting ... Consumer confidence climbs in January Consumer confidence in the overall economy rose in January to the highest level in seven months, according to the latest figures released today from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET (www.cnet.com). The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) rose to 172.9 this month, an increase ... Past APRO President joins Silko Radio APRO Past President Glenn Davis. APRO past president Glenn Davis announced this week he is currently working as a Silko Radio Sales Representative. Davis will continue to head up the rental sales division of King Koil Mattresses. Davis was president of APRO in 1985 and served as secretary for ... Whirlpool provides online consumer tool for Cash for Appliances program Whirlpool Corporation continues its legacy of leadership in energy efficiency with the launch of an easy-to-use rebate finder tool on three of its brand Web sites – Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid brands. As a manufacturer and marketer of more than 300 ENERGY STAR qualified major appliances in the U.... Premier Companies convene in Orlando The Premier Companies Annual 2010 Convention kicks off today at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida Jan. 25-28. Premier attendees kick off the event with a round of golf beginning today at noon at a Greg Norman-designed world-class course located directly on the hotel grounds. Throughout the ... BrightHouse opens new store in Gravesend BrightHouse the UK's leading rent to own chain, specialising in the sale of home electronics, domestic appliances and household furniture, is continuing its expansion programme with the opening of a new store in the Thamesgate centre in Gravesend. The 2,500 sq ft store, which employs seven staff will ... High Touch, RSSS join forces for modernized POS software Citing client needs, technology advancements and rent-to-own industry shifts, High Touch announced today a high-speed initiative to develop and implement a new single modernized system. The initiative, a joint effort between High Touch and its subsidiary RSSS, will be accompanied by organic change at both organizations, said Wayne Chambers, ... Baber's expands Rent-N-Roll store reach Cynthia Baber-Strunk and Shannon Strunk of Baber’s today expanded their RNR Franchise with the purchase of two Rent-n-Roll stores in Gulfport, Mississippi and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The stores were purchased from industry veteran Wayne Sutton. The new locations bring the number of stores Baber’s operates to 59 ... PrimeTime! vendor listings now available Updated Vendor Listing and Show Floor Maps are now available for the upcoming Nationwide RentDirect Show at MGM Las Vegas Feb. 28-March 3. See vendors here. PrimeTime! by Nationwide Marketing Group (NMG), the largest buying show for independent rental dealers, is expecting a solid attendance at their upcoming event ... TRIB Group annual convention hosts closing event at Cowboy's Stadium TRIB Group’s annual Convention and Buy Fair, co-located with Brand Source is set for March 27-31, 2010. Hosted in Dallas, Texas at the Hilton Anatole, TRIB Group hosts a 5-day event open to all its members and approved vendors. The convention includes membership meetings, over 11 hours of ... DATATrue auto payment tool lowers returns, cuts costs Recessionary factors continue to draw new customers to the rent-to-own transaction while at the same time it is creating new challenges for traditional RTO customers. Information verification specialist DATATrue's automated EFT/ACH payment program is one that can help customers stay on top of their regular payments, circumvent returns and ... TARA 2010 Convention date set The Texas Association of Rental Agencies today released the convention dates for TARA's 27th Annual Convention & Southwest Buying Show. The event will be held Oct. 10-11, 2010 at the Hotel InterContinental-Dallas. For more details visit TARA's homepage at http://www.taraontheweb.com/ or contact Scott Pospisil, Executive Director Texas ... RNR honors franchisee of the year, company best at annual awards banquet RNR Franchisee of Year: RNR of Virginia. (L to R) Jeff Loeb, Larry Sutton, Ron Russell and Richard Rose. RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires Wednesday, named RNR of Virginia its franchisee of the year at the company's annual awards banquet honoring high performing stores, managers and franchisees. RNR ... Briley sells three stores to Aaron's corporate Robert Briley West Texas Aaron's franchisee Robert Briley, today reported he has finalized the sale of three of his Aaron's Sales and Lease franchise stores to Aaron's corporate. Briley told RTO Today he sold his Mineral Wells, Eastland and Sweetwater stores to Aaron's corporate. He also sold the buildings ... Business to Business names Aaron's "Company of the Year" Atlanta's Business to Business recently named Aaron's, Inc. its 2010 "Company of the Year" as part of the magazine's annual achievement awards selections, which recognize the extraordinary accomplishments and contributions of Atlanta's great business leaders and companies. Ambassador Andrew Young will present the award to Aaron's at an ... ColorTyme names Hughes 2009 franchisee of the year Gary and Jutta Hughes of the Hughes Group win ColorTyme's "Franchisee of the Year" Award winners. ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom at right. ColorTyme franchise owners Gary and Jutta Hughes of the Hughes Group, took home the company's top honor for the fifth time Tuesday, when they were received ... RNR 2010: Cultural shift drives after-market wheel demand The RNR Custom Wheels and Performance tires kicked off it's annual franchisee meeting beginning with a golf tournament Monday and continuing with a welcome reception sponsored by American Tire Distributors and Benefit Marketing Solutions. A general session commenced today at the Hilton Westshore in Tampa, Florida, that included a ... 46 states in legislative session for 2010 The beginning of the year means the beginning of state legislative sessions. All businesses need to take note when legislators are in session as the many bills introduced could have consequences to your business and employees. It is estimated that more than 125,000 bills will be introduced in ... Shaw is ColorTyme top manager L to R: Franchise owners Gary Hughes and Peter Landretti, Double Diamond Manager Mark Shaw and ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom. Mark Shaw took home ColorTyme's top store manager honor for the sixth year in a row Monday, at the company's annual 2010 convention at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, ... APRO Scholarship Winner is a grade above the rest Robin Walker. Click to watch video of 2009 APRO Scholarship Winner. Robin Walker made the grades. Literally. As a the 2009 APRO Scholarship recipient, Walker must complete the semester with a 3.0 grade point average or better to receive the full amount of $2000 APRO scholarship. Walker completed ... Rent-A-Center assists Texas crisis center With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring initiative, the FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center will be able to better serve local families and individuals in crisis. Rent-A-Center is donating eight HP computers and additional support for the center. Founded in 1977, FamilyTime’s mission is to provide ... Aaron's Q4 conference call Feb. 16 Aaron’s, Inc. will hold a live conference call at 5 p.m. (EST) Feb. 16, to discuss the company's fourth quarter 2009 earnings results. Aaron's Chairman Charlie Loudermilk, President/CEO Robin Loudermilk, COO Ken Butler, and Executive Vice President/CFO Gil Danielson will provide opening remarks and participate in a ... Credit bureaus mine more personal data as credit card regs tighten Beginning in February, personal income—as estimated by the three credit bureaus—may be used to help determine new credit card approvals, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move marks a new era of tightened lending and increased regulations on consumer credit. As a result, more consumers could ... Rent-A-Center live Q4 conference call February 2 Rent-A-Center will hold a conference call to discuss the company's fourth quarter 2009 earnings results at 10:45 a.m. (ET) Feb. 2. Read more.... Aaron's "Mini" giveaway makes one "Big" surprise Cynthia Norlin (left) receives the keys to her new Mini Cooper. Aaron's today announced that Cynthia Norlin of Glendale, Arizona, is the grand prize winner of a brand new 2010 Mini Cooper in the Aaron's Mini Cooper Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, a co-promotion with Hewlett Packard (HP) that ran from ... RNR 2010 Franchisee Meeting Preview RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires -- the country's largest custom wheel and tire rental chain -- hosts its sixth annual franchisee meeting at the Hilton Westshore in Tampa, Florida Jan. 18-21. Around 100 franchisees, managers and vendors are expected at the RNR Meeting which will kick off with ... Inform lauches new Web site InForm Print & Promotions, a company with over 30 years in the rent to own industry, today announced the debut of the company's re-designed website www.shopinform.com. "The web has become a much more effective tool for us to communicate with and display products for our customers ... Legislative Conference Hotel Deadline Approaching: Make reservations today! The hotel deadline for APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference is in 10 days. Have you made your hotel reservation? Reserve your room now by calling the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel at 202/484-1000 and request the APRO room rate of $249 single/double. Early conference registration is critical for congressional meeting coordination and ... BrightHouse 2009 holiday revenue up 21% BrightHouse, the UK’s largest rent-to-own company, today announced a 21 percent revenue increase in its trading update for the 13 weeks to 24 December 2009. Trading performance in the period has shown continued revenue growth from both new and existing stores. Highlights: Revenue up 21% to £50.... RTO vet Lowe joins FAN Sales & Leasing as Executive VP Sam Lowe, new executive vice president for FAN Sales and Leasing. Sam Lowe, a 20-year plus veteran of the rental purchase industry, officially takes the helm today as executive vice president of Furniture and Appliances Now (FAN) Sales & Leasing. He will be responsible for all operational activities including ... RAC boardmember Roberts elected to chair North Texas health care system Texas Health Resources’ board of trustees recently elected two high-profile North Texas business executives — Leonard H. Roberts and Kerney Laday Sr. — to serve two-year terms on setting the strategic direction for the largest health care system in North Texas, according to the Dallas Business Journal. Roberts, who ... Aaron's to celebrate BCS National Championship Winner Aaron's is already a winner when it comes to this year's BCS National Championship football game between the University of Alabama and the University of Texas. As a corporate sponsor of both universities' athletic programs, Aaron's is guaranteed a victory no matter which team wins tonight's game and will ... Personal, professional growth highlight ColorTyme 2010 Convention ColorTyme kicks off it's 2010 annual convention in just under two weeks at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas Jan. 18-20, where the rent-to-own industry's oldest rent-to-own franchisor will rally the troops for a week of networking, training, inspiration and good old fashioned fun. Already over 250 rent-to-own franchisees, ... CE to grow in 2010, according to CEA forecast The consumer electronics (CE) industry will generate more than $165 billion in U.S. shipment revenues this year, a slight increase from 2009, according to the semi-annual industry forecast released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced the forecast in his opening ... Whirlpool account managers achieve certified green professional designations from NAHB Whirlpool Corporation recently announced that Sue Reed, senior account manager Florida Contract Sales, and Mark Peterson, senior account manager Southern States Contract Sales, have earned Certified Green Professional (CGP) designations from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The CGP distinction recognizes Reed and Peterson as building industry professionals ... DBL Distributing combined with new CE division Ingram Micro Inc., the world's largest technology distributor, today announced it will begin transitioning DBL Distributing into a formal division known as the Ingram Micro Consumer Electronics Division. Founded upon the same product line card, expert people and high quality service, the new Ingram Micro Consumer Electronics Division will ... Specialty Electronics Nationwide announces partnership with CEDIA Specialty Electronics Nationwide (SEN) the buying group, today unveiled details of its educational partnership with the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). SEN announced that CEDIA is co-sponsoring two free instructional seminars at the SENationwide PrimeTime! and CashBack Now! event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, February ... LG unveils HDTVs with 'Skype' capability LG Electronics and Skype today announced that LG’s 2010 HDTVs with NetCast Entertainment Access will feature embedded Skype software allowing Skype users to make voice and high-definition video calls directly from their family room without a PC. Skype on the new LG HDTVs will be demonstrated this week ... APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference Hotel Registration Deadline: Jan. 22 The hotel deadline for APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference is January 22. Reserve your room today by calling the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel at 202/484-1000 and request the APRO room rate of $249 single/double. Early conference registration is critical for congressional meeting coordination and event planning throughout the conference. Please take ... BrightHouse partners for child protection in UK Leo McKee, BrightHouse CEO (far left) with Giles Pegram, Director of Fundraising NSPCC (far right). BrightHouse, the UK's largest rent-to-own company, today announced a new partnership with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) -- a national charity focused on ending child abuse. Brighthouse will ... Premier opens new Memphis store Premier Rental-Purchase dealers Chuck Botts and Bart Stamper have teamed up with former Aaron’s regional manager Fred Reed to open the newest Premier store in Memphis. They celebrated their opening in a big way with over 200 agreements in their first weeks in business. “We came in ... LG introduces first mobile DTV in U.S. Newly-certified to comply with mobile digital television (DTV) technology now being deployed by American broadcasters, LG Electronics is introducing the industry’s first portable, battery-operated mobile DTV in the United States, designed to receive new rugged over-the-air signals being transmitted by local broadcasters. With hundreds of stations expected to ... Synnex corporation announces agreement to acquire video game distributor SYNNEX Corporation, a leading business process services company, announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the North American assets of Jack of All Games, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. The acquisition of Jack of All Games provides SYNNEX ... National TV Sales donates 10,000 lbs of food to needy Missouri families When Lebanon, Missouri-based National TV Sales and Rental owner Kathy Windsor read what a heavy toll the economy was taking on a local holiday food drive, the wheels began to turn. She "got the Rolodex to workin", started making phone calls to wholesale grocers and in a matter ... New RTOHQ: The Magazine focuses on the 'states of rent-to-own' Introduction by APRO Executive Director Bill Keese, This issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine focuses on how state rental dealer associations contribute to the general health of the rent-to-own industry and provide vital information and networking opportunities to its members so that they can better operate and manage their companies ... InForm introduces new 'Tax Preparation' postcard Let customers know about your company's new tax preparation service with Inform's new effective and inexpensive "Tax Preparation" postcard mailing. InForm recently added a new addition to it’s line of stock postcards. The full color 4 X 6 "Tax Preparation" postcard is available with full color ... Register and make hotel reservations for APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference Register today for APRO’s 2010 Dave Egan Legislative Conference set forFebruary 23-25 in Washington, D.C., at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. Make your hotel reservations by calling 202/484-1000 and request the APRO room rate of $249 single/double. After 17 years of representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.... Entrepreneur ranks RNR Custom Wheels and Tires #1 in category Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 ranks RNR Custom Wheels & Tires -- the country's largest custom wheel and tire rental franchise -- tops in the Miscellaneous Auto Products category for 2009. RNR's #1 ranking appears in the January 2010 issue. Larry Sutton, RNR president and longtime member of the ... New Live Oak Rent-A-Center donates to local charities Rent-A-Center District Manager Kris Wolfe, Winona Edwards, Love, Inc. executive director and Rent-A-Center Manager Jeff Jones. Rent-A-Center Manager Jeff Jones is pleased to offer Live Oak and the surrounding communities a new option when it comes to acquiring ownership of high-quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. “From bedroom ... Brothers Moody open Premier Rental-Purchase store in Tuscaloosa. Brothers Chad and Jeffery Moody opened their second Premier Rental-Purchase store recently – this one in Tuscaloosa, Al. It was always part of the plan to open another store since they debuted in Columbus, Miss. in mid 2008, but according to Jeffery, it just happened faster than they had ... Rent-2-Own stores spread charity around Ohio Everyone at Countryside Rent-2-Own expected a big number. But this year, that number was 43 percent larger than what company president Mike Tissot expected. And when he’s surprised, it's bound to be big. For several years, Bainbridge, Ohio-based Countryside Rent-2-Own stores have selected a week in December during ... 'Cash for Appliances' money begins flowing to states The U.S. Department Of Energy last week began releasing some $300 million promised to states as part of the federal government's Appliance Stimulus Rebate effort, aimed at spurring sagging appliance sales and promoting the use of more energy efficient appliances. Similar to the "cash for clunkers" program, ... Oklahoma dealer seeks county commissioner post Jim Rogers, 50, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma is running for district 3 county commissioner of Sequoyah County. The position is now held by Mike Huff who defeated Rogers by 13 votes in 2006 and has indicated he will seek a second term. "We have an abundance of potential here,... BlackBox GPS encourages 'going green' initiative BlackBox GPSis committed to implementing 'green'initiatives and recognizes its GPS fleet monitoring solutionsproductsforthe RTO industry helpimplement environmentally sustainable practices too. "We recognize that with each seemingly small stepeach business leadertakes toward environmental sustainability," said Robin Standlee, CEO at Blackbox GPS, "together weare making asignificant positive impact ... RTO makes appearance on Christmas retail survey Rent-to-own this weekend, made its first appearance on an annual holiday survey that targets retail shopping habits in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The annual study carried out each weekend in December by consumer research expert Britt Beemer, CEO of America's Research Group (ARG), and UBS Global Equity ... Most RTOs not covered by GLB privacy regs Ed Winn III, APRO legal counsel. Most Rent-to-own industry dealers are not covered by the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act, which took effect in 2001, for two primary reasons according to APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III. The first reason is that rental purchase dealers, as a rule, "operate, maintain, or ... November retail sales fuel recovery hopes Retail sales in November breathed life into forecasts of an economy on the mend, rising more than expected in November, boosting hopes that consumer spending will support the fragile economic recovery, according to the AP. The government's report came as a surprise to the nation's retailers who have been ... Rent-A-Center pitches in for Missouri homeless shelter With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring initiative, City Union Mission in Kansas City will be able to better serve local poverty stricken and homeless men, women and children. Rent-A-Center is donating: 10 computer monitors, washer, dryer, 42” monitor, Blu-ray Home theater system, chair/twin sleeper, laptop computer ... Rent-A-Center furnishes homes for New Orleans "Katrina" families A mere four years ago, New Orleans, and indeed much of the Gulf Coast, was crushed in the maw of Hurricane Katrina. Today, five families are returning to New Orleans to rebuilt homes furnished by Rent-A-Center through its Random Acts of Caring initiative. Rebuilt by the St. Bernard Project ... Retail customer satisfaction tanks A new study released today by The SALT & Pepper Group finds that retailers’ customer service leaves much to be desired. In fact the new study pegs service at only 48.2 out of 100. The new stats show a marked discrepancy between the relatively low customer service ratings ... National TV Sales honors outstanding employees Award winners at the National TV Sales and Rental Christmas party this weekend. National TV Sales and Rental this Saturday held its annual employee Christmas party and awards banquet at Andy's 417 in Lebanon, Missouri where 12 of the company's top employees were honored. Taking home the top honor ... RTO Pro Software launches new Web site RTO Pro Software, the rent to own industry's leading Windows-based management system serving over 900 RTO locations, announces the debut of the company's re-designed website www.rtopro.com. "With the addition of so many new RTO Locations over the past several months, the time was right to update ... Rent-A-Center promotes new planning and development Sr. VP Joel Mussat, new Sr. Vice President of Strategic Planning and Development. Rent-A-Center today announced the promotion of Joel Mussat to Sr. Vice President – Strategic Planning and Development. His new expanded responsibilities will include business development – new business, acquisitions and program management – in addition to his current ... Weekend sales foretell bleak holiday retail season, study asserts Britt Beemer, CEO of America's Research Group A new Christmas Retail Survey released today by America's Research Group (ARG) and UBS Global Equity Research reveals that sales are weaker this year than in 2008 contrary to some forecasts of an improved holiday shopping season. Of those consumers not shopping, ... RTO supporter former U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins dies at 82 Former Sen. Paula Hawkins U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins, the sponsor of the original rent-to-own bill in 1982 and first female U.S. senator from Florida, died last week at Florida Hospital South in Orlando. Though included as part of a larger piece of bank legislation, the RTO bill ... Study: Word of mouth guides electronics, apparel purchases Retailers will spend millions of dollars on advertising this holiday season, but many shoppers won’t commit to buying some gifts until hearing from people just like them that it’s worth it. According to a Retail Advertising and Marketing Association survey conducted by BIGresearch, word of mouth remains ... Third easyhome opens in Oklahoma Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announces the opening of a new easyhome franchise store. The store will open on December 5, 2009 at 916 W. Shawnee in the River City Plaza Shopping Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma. “We are thrilled to bring the easyhome concept to ... Aaron's associates help company 'go green' Aaron's next week will further propel its new 'Going Green Initiative' by picking the best entries from 100's of conservation minded ideas submitted by company associates. The generator of the selected idea, or ideas -- if more than one is deemed doable by COO Ken Butler -- wins $100. ... Economic recovery gaining traction The economic recovery gained momentum in late fall as shoppers spent more and factories bumped up production. That assessment by the Federal Reserve Wednesday marked its most positive view on the economy since it toppled into recession two years ago. The Fed's new nationwide assessment found that conditions have ... RTO Conventions abound in January Three of rent-to-own's biggest franchise companies -- ColorTyme, RNR Custom Wheels and Tires and Premier -- will ring in the new year with annual conventions and business meetings in January. The run of events begins with the ColorTyme 2010 National Convention at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas Jan. ... RNR teams up with Toys for Tots RNR Custom Wheels & Tires teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve over the last few weeks to help thousands of underprivileged Florida children have a brighter holiday season with the Toys for Tots collection program which continues through December 19. RNR is in the gift giving ... D&H rewards program unveiled D&H Distributing today invites its RTO store owner and dealer customers to participate in the D&H Incentives program, a rewards plan in which dealers gain points toward merchandise available at the D&H online Incentives “mall.” Enrolled dealers earn one point for every $10 of ... Whirlpool named "Vendor of the Year" by Bath and Kitchen Buying Group Whirlpool was recently recognized with the “Vendor of the Year” award from the Bath & Kitchen Buying Group (BKBG) at its annual Fall Conference in Dallas, Texas. “This award recognizes Whirlpool Corporation for a job well done,” said Eddie Schukar, vice president of vendor relations. “... Rent-A-Center presents at investor conference tomorrow Rent-A-Center will present at the Raymond James Boston Fall Investors Conference in Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, December 3. The company will begin its presentation at 2:30 pm ET that day. Interested parties may listen to the presentation on the company’s Investor Services site at http://investor.rentacenter.com. Raymond ... Registration open for APRO's 2010 Legislative Conference Registration is now open for APRO’s 2010 Dave Egan Legislative Conference set forFebruary 23-25 in Washington, D.C., at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. Attendees should request the APRO room rate of $249/night single/double 202/484-1000. After 17 years of representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, APRO's ... Highest pending home sales since March 2006 October pending homes sales rose for the ninth straight month and hit their highest levels since March 2006, according to data released today by the National Association of Realtors. October pending home sales were up 3.7 percent in October, compared to September, and up 32 percent versus October ... Two RNR stores sold to Rent-A-Tire Two Georgia Rent-N-Roll Custom Wheel and Tire stores will officially become Rent-A-Tire stores at midnight as the details of the sale are finalized. RNR Franchisee Mike Gilner of H2H Enterprises -- said the sale of the two RNR stores -- in Macon and Columbus -- will better allow him ... ColorTyme store helps feed local families at Thanksgiving On Tuesday, the ColorTyme store in Waterbury partnered with the Youth Service System (YSS) to provide local families with meals, including frozen turkeys, for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The YSS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the overall well being of children, youth and families. “The Waterbury ... Confidence in consumer electronics soars Consumer confidence in consumer electronics reached the highest level in the history of the CEA-CNET Index, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) reached 93.5, the highest level of the index since tracking began ... Registration Opens for PrimeTime! Buying Show and Conference Nationwide Marketing Group announced today that online registration (www.nationwideprimetime.com) is now open for their upcoming PrimeTime! buying show and conference at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 28 – March 3, 2010. “The retail market and consumer profile has changed dramatically over ... Rent-A-Center opens 43rd Oklahoma store, contributes $2K in community grants Rent-A-Center Manager David Testerman is pleased to offer Tahlequah and the surrounding communities a new option when it comes to acquiring ownership of high-quality furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. “From bedroom sets to washers and dryers, we’re going to help people find what they need and a ... Second easyhome opens in Wichita Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC, announces the opening of the second Wichita easyhome store. The store will open at 407 E. Pawnee (Pawnee and Broadway) on November 21, 2009. Mr. Gates stated: “This will be our second easyhome store in Wichita, KS and the 27th ... Rent-A-Center donations benefit MPowering Kids and the Littig House Community Center Rent-A-Center representatives make donation to local programs. Rent-A-Center helped brighten the day for area youth and their families who participate in programs provided by MPowering Kids and the Littig House Community Center in New York. Representatives from Rent-A-Center stores from the area delivered eight new computers and a $1,... Rent-A-Center outfits substance abuse headquarters in Long Island Rent-A-Center staff present contribution to Long Island non-profit. Representatives from Rent-A-Center stores in Suffolk County delivered and assembled $6,000 in electronics and furniture to the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) for the organization’s new office in Suffolk County (Ronkonkoma) which will now serve ... DKD job training program to help 'wire' southern Illinois The Congressman Danny K. Davis Job Training Program -- based in Chicago -- and The Digital Development Corporation, this week announced a collaboration with four technology companies and three southern Illinois towns to implement a three tier project that would create jobs, deploy broadband Internet and train community residents ... Premier 2010 annual convention set for Orlando, January 25-27 The Premier Companies announced its 2010 Annual Dealer Convention will be in Orlando, Fla. from January 25-27 at the JW Marriott Grand Lakes. With the theme of “Celebrating Excellence,” Premier’s Executive Team is making plans for a “bigger than ever” event, with expected attendance to ... Senate health care bill introduced Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Wednesday unveiled his party's proposal for overhauling the health care system, outlining legislation Democrats say would cover most of the uninsured while reducing the federal budget deficit. The impact the proposed legislation would have on small businesses differs from the House ... Whirlpool issues global sustainability report Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, today announced the release of the company’s first global, comprehensive sustainability report. The report provides an overview of the company’s efforts to make a sustainable difference in the world. The company also produces an annual ... RAC names Feiler new VP of development Trey Feiler, Rent-A-Center's new vice president of development. Rent-A-Center today announced the appointment of Trey Feiler to vice president of development. Reporting to Dave West, executive vice president of operational services, Feiler is charged with administration of the Company’s real estate, construction and facilities departments. “In his ... Study: Holiday shoppers will use cash, debit cards, less credit It’s the year for a little more green and a little less plastic, according to NRF’s 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions survey. Conducted by BIGresearch, the study found one-fourth (24.9%) of holiday shoppers will pay for gifts this year with cash, a 9.1 percent ... DAC Products announce point of sale counter system DAC Products, a leading manufacturer of retail merchandising fixtures, today announced it has developed a system to give RTO stores an easy, customizable, upscale, and cost effective cash wrap option. DAC's new modular point of sale counters allow unlimited possibilities in configuring a layout for your unique space. “... Auto sales drive positive retail numbers; furniture, appliance sales down Retail sales rose more than expected in October, pushed largely by a marked rebound in auto sales. However, take out the influence of car purchases and the numbers are far less promising. Sales fell at many other retail stores as consumer spending continues to remain reserved, raising questions about ... Aaron's awards grand prize in national contest Aaron's Inc. recently surprised Ruth Usher, the grand prize winner of Aaron's National Lucky Dog Day Sweepstakes in Perry, Georgia with a houseful of furniture, name-brand appliances and electronics valued at $14,000. Watch the video here http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/shopaarons/41191/ "Aaron's strongly believes in giving back to our ... DATATrue assigns full time RTO training head Katherine Rowse DATATrue recently announced the addition of a corporate trainer dedicated specifically to the RTO industry. Katherine Rowse has been assigned to the RTO training division in support of the much needed demand for new employee training on the DATATrue product line and interpretation of response packages. It ... BrightHouse reaches 190 stores BrightHouse store 190 in Consett. BrightHouse, the UK's leading and largest rent-to-own retailer this week opened its 190th store in Consett, County Durham. "Consett is our thirteenth new store opening since the beginning of our current financial year in April.," Leo McKee, BrightHouse CEO said. "It ... Consumer protection, financial stability at core of sweeping Dodd bill Sen. Chris Dodd Tuesday introduced a wide-ranging financial-regulatory-overhaul measure, seeking more ambitious changes in some areas than envisioned by the White House or proposed by the House of Representatives. Dodd's discussion draft, running more than 1,100 pages, proposes financial reform legislation that would fundamentally change the country's financial ... Sutton honored by charitable mission Pastor Craig Altman with RNR founder Larry Sutton. Pastor Craig Altman of Grace Family Church in Tampa recently presented RNR Custom Wheels and Tires owner Larry Sutton a plaque in recognition and appreciation for providing his Rent-N-Roll location as a site to feed the Tampa Bay homeless and others ... Speese honored for lifetime of entrepreneurship Mark Speese Mark Speese, chairman and CEO of Rent-A-Center, will receive the Murphy Award on Friday at the BDO Seidman LLP Leadership Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The luncheon benefits the University of North Texas Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship and the award is given to an individual ... Healthcare reform and the RTO impact The U.S. House late Saturday, narrowly passed a $1-trillion health-reform package that includes compulsory insurance, tax hikes for the wealthy and a clause to prevent insurers from rejecting customers with pre-existing conditions. Despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's and President Barack Obama's optimism, the bill -- the Affordable Health ... Rent One sponsored "Fitnessgram" making an impact in southern Illinois Larry Carrico presents "Fitnessgram" participants with gold thank you coins. Students at the Mt. Vernon District 80 schools are making the most of a program grant to improve their physical fitness and health. Since the beginning of the school year, second and third grade classes have been utilizing ... Brighthouse booms in recession Brighthouse, the rent -to-own retailer is booming as recession-hit families on low incomes line up to purchase flat screens and living room sets. The UK's largest RTO company, which has 188 shops, said its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization jumped by 23.7 per cent to £... New easyhome store to open in Oklahoma City Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates today announced a new franchise store is opening on Southwest 59th Street in the Walker Center Shopping Center in Oklahoma City tomorrow. “We are elated to introduce this new market to the easyhome concept," Gates said. "Tim Green, our ... Fast Track Services offers APRO member exclusive Fast Track Services, an Arlington, Texas-based print, marketing and promotional service provider, is offering a DIY direct mail tool custom designed for the rent-to-own industry which is currently available only to APRO member companies. The RTO portal allows rent-to-owns to design and customize a variety of postcard mailers, select ... BlackBoxGPS hires operation manager BlackBoxGPS today announced the appointment of Bradford Hamilton to head operations. In light of continued growth of the GPS monitoring service for fleet vehicles and to keep up with growing demand, especially in the delivery vehicle fleet markets, BlackBoxGPS announces the appointment of Bradford Hamilton to head operations. Hamilton ... Jobless rate worst since early 80's The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October, surpassing 10 percent for the first time since 1983. The Labor Department said Friday that the jobless rate rose from 9.8 percent in September. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the ... Premier dealers open second Maine store Jim Ratner and John Reichenbach Jim Ratner and John Reichenbach last month opened their second Premier store in Auburn, Maine not long after the anniversary of the opening of their first store in Westbrook, Maine. Partners by accident, they have enjoyed success on several fronts, not the least of ... Retailer gains beat expectations A drop in unemployment claims and better than expected gains by retailers last month have some analysts suggesting the combined news may be a strong sign the economy is heading north just ahead of the holiday season. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped last week, according ... Alliance HealthCard promotes Denison to executive vice president Alliance Health Card, parent company of rent-to-own program provider Benefit Marketing Solutions, today announced the promotion of Bradley W. Denison to executive vice president. Denison, who joined the company in early 2006, will continue in his role as general counsel and secretary for the company. He began as general ... 3-D TVs heading for masses in 2010 The next frontier in television technology is here and heading to retail outlets next year. Just don't forget your glasses. Sony and Panasonic say they will release home 3-D television systems in 2010; JVC is not far behind. All of Mitsubishi's current model Home Theater TVs are 3-D ready ... TRIB Group adds second buying show TRIB Group’s Board of Directors recently finalized the decision that the 2010 Meeting of the Minds will be held at the Paris Resort in Las Vegas on August 30, 2010 in conjunction with the Brand Source convention. This move solidifies the addition of a second annual TRIB Group ... KLQ's Mary Reopelle dies Mary Reopelle Mary Reopelle, long time office manager for KLQ Enterprises died October 30 from complications attributed to the swine flu. Reopelle leaves behind her husband Mark, Quality Rentals Inc. Warehouse General Manager & Buyer, daughter Becky and Son Danny. Both Becky and Danny have worked for Quality Rentals ... DATATrue announces national skip/stolen database DATATrue, the original front end information verification service, today announced the release of Alert1One -- a new national skip/stolen database tool in the fight against fraud and loss. DATATrue specializes in creative and effective methods to reduce fraud and loss by early detection of false data provided customers who ... easyhome announces Q3 conference call and Webcast Canada-based easyhome will hold its quarterly management conference call with shareholders, analysts and portfolio managers on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 to discuss the company's third quarter performance. The results will be issued by news release after the market closes on Monday, November 9, 2009. Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 ... 2009 tax deduction for BlackBox GPS fleet tracking equipment GPS Fleet equipment purchases may qualify rent to own companies for the Section 179 deduction. BlackBox GPS, the leading GPS fleet routing and monitoring solution for the RTO, furniture & appliance industry confirms their GPS tracking is tax deductible under Section 179 for 2009. Today Co-Founder, Steven Muntean reports ... ColorTyme Webinar today ColorTyme today is hosting the rent-to-own company's first-ever Webinar for its franchisees. During the secure online presentation, ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom will offer franchise owners a detailed presentation that will include industry trends and current initiatives. “We’re excited to communicate with our franchise owners through this Webinar,... New Premier store opens in Orlando Steve Dovale is an entrepreneur. He has owned several businesses including a cookie company, a construction firm and an outdoor screen enclosure and pool deck operation – each a franchise. So when he had the opportunity to purchase a furniture store from a friend last year, he naturally looked ... Will the future of your business depend on social media networking? A recent book out by business author Erik Qualman, entitled Socialnomics, states the future of your business will depend on your branding through social media networking. Social media networks first became popular with MySpace. Now the most current popular sites are Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter among others. In Qualcom's ... Northwest Rental Dealers Association Meeting Postponed The Northwest Rental Dealers Association (NWRDA) meeting scheduled for November 11, 2009, in Tacoma, Washington, has been postponed. A new meeting date has not been set. Notices will be sent once the meeting has been rescheduled. NWRDA serves the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. E-mail Kevin Quinn ... Sliding consumer confidence fuel uncertainty for consumers Consumer confidence fell unexpectedly in October as job prospects remained bleak, a private research group said Tuesday, fueling speculation that an already gloomy holiday shopping forecast could worsen. The Consumer Confidence Index, released by The Conference Board, dropped to 47.7 in October -- its second-lowest reading since May. ... APRO’s 2010 Rent-to-Own Convention to be held in Louisville, KY The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations’ (APRO) board of directors has selected Louisville, Kentucky, as the host city for the association’s 30th birthday celebration, July 19–22. APRO’s 2010 Rent-to-Own Convention will be held at Louisville’s Marriott Downtown and the Kentucky International Convention Center. The APRO ... APRO trade show created business opportunities for American Rentals and Charles Cloud During APRO's recent trade show in Las Vegas, American Rentals CEO David David jokingly asked previous owner Gary McDougal if he wanted to buy his stores back. Former APRO Board member and RTO dealer, Charles Cloud, overheard the conversation and now the deal has been struck bringing Cloud back ... Rent-A-Center beats estimates Rent-A-Center Inc. reported a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates helped by improved margins. Total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $671.3 million. Net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $36.8 million and $0.... Credit Card industry criticized for punishing credit free consumers The no-debt, credit free rent-to-own transaction continues to be a viable consumer option as credit tightens and customers choose other methods to purchase products and services. According to finance expert, Carmen Wong Ulrich, credit card companies are adding fees and raising interest rates. These aggressive hike in fees and ... Aarons cited as top twelve stock picks Bloomberg columnist, John Dorfman, cited Aaron's Inc, as one twelve "stocks that save my screen." Aaron's recent third quarter results show a 6.8% increase in same store sales. Dorfman states "Aaron’s financial results are attractive. Sales have grown at a 16 percent annual clip ... Ina Mahoney funeral details released Ina Mahoney, 52, beloved industry friend and veteran products buyer for Tampa-based Buddy's Home Furnishings for over 25-years, died in her home Oct. 23 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Details are as follows: Visitation: Tuesday October 27th, 6 to 8pm, Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O Lakes Blvd, ... Long-time Buddy's Buyer Ina Mahoney dies Ina Mahoney, 52, beloved industry friend and veteran products buyer for Tampa-based Buddy's Home Furnishings for over 25-years, died in her home Friday morning after a prolonged battle with cancer. Buddy's President Joe Gazzo issued the following statement to RTO Today: "I am deeply saddened to inform you ... Marketing basics: Don't sell your promotion short As the holiday season quickly approaches, store managers and marketing types are planning holiday “events.” It may be radio, TV, direct mail, email blasts or an in-store promotion. Rent-to-own professionals plan each and every one of these strategies very carefully but too often “sell them short” ... BlackBox GPS RoutePlanner hits home run BlackBox GPS, a leading provider of fleet solutions for delivery and service vehicles announces the victory of RoutePlanner as an invaluable tool for BlackBox GPS customers. “We've had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback regarding the RoutePlanning feature," said company Co-Founder Steven Muntean. "It's great to ... MRDA hosts 'Traveling Roadshow' fall trainings Computer training at MRDA's Heartland of America show this summer. The Missouri Rental Dealers Association next week is once again hosting its popular three day "Traveling Roadshow" training seminars where rent-to-own employees will get up to speed on the latest trends in computers, electronics and appliances. Download brochure ... Consumer Protection Agency passes key committee The U.S. House Financial Services Committee today approved creation of a controversial Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), charged with writing rules for mortgage and credit card lenders and other financial service providers which could include rent-to-own. In a partisan vote that represents the largest expansion of financial service ... Aaron's Inc. Q3: Same store revenues up 6.3% Aaron's Wednesday announced revenues and earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. A replay of the company's conference call on the report is available here. For the third quarter of 2009, revenues increased 7% to $415.3 million compared to $388.0 million for the ... Illinois dealers weigh new agency concerns, elect new president IRDA Board Memers with Jill Young Shurtz (third from right), president/CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois. APRO's 'State Association of the Year' -- The Illinois Rental-Purchase Dealers Association -- convened Wednesday at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois to mull a range of issues ... High Touch releases 'Business Intelligence' (BI) application High Touch today announced the release of its high-value Business Intelligence (BI) application to complement its PRO/Store point-of-sale software. The web-based application is designed to provide clients with the power to slice-and-dice data for analysis of what happened, when it happened and why it happened. The delivery of Business ... Members Only: APRO 2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey released APRO's 2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey -- an invaluable customer service, marketing and advertising guidepost -- will be delivered today electronically to APRO members only. This twice a decade study was conducted by leading rent-to-own customer satisfaction expert Britt Beemer of America's Research Group. America's Research Group is one of ... Aaron's signs continued Partnership with Atlanta Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena Aaron's Inc. today announced a continued partnership with the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena. Aaron's is the only Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena partner with a specific Hawks game-night of the week dedicated to the company. "Aaron's Lucky Dog Wednesdays" is a unique franchise position ... Pennsylvania dealers pitch in for 'Computers for Kidz' Over a dozen Pennsylvania rental dealers from across the state joined forced recently for the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers annual meeting at the Harrisburg Hilton. As APRO's "Most Improved State Association" PARD members voted to get behind a community outreach initiative and alloted $5,000 towards the ... New York dealers hit $40K goal for Special Olympics Premier Companies CEO Trooper Earle with NYSRDA President Dave Edwards at the association's fall meeting Oct. 15. The New York State Rental Dealers Association held its fall membership meeting Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York where over 50 rental professionals turned out for ... Whirlpool named one of the top 50 U.S. companies for social responsibility Whirlpool Corporation was named one of the top 50 U.S. companies for Social Responsibility by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Reputation Institute. Based on a recent survey of U.S. consumers conducted by the Reputation Institute, Whirlpool earned a rating of 72.24, ranking it ... RTOHQ: The Magazine - APRO's 2009 Buddy Award Winners The latest issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine hits mailboxes this week and features a long look at those rental dealers whose achievements garnered industry-wide recognition this year with the presentation of a "Buddy". The featured articles in the September-October 2009 issue focus on APRO’s 2009 Rental Dealer ... 2010 census will show a new customer in America A recent Ad Age report shows that the nearly 310 million Americans in 2010 reflect a new breakdown of American consumers. The demographics of Americans dictate marketing, advertising and ultimately sales for retail businesses. "The concept of an 'average American' is gone, probably forever," demographics expert Peter ... KRDA elects new officers The Kansas Rental Dealers Association held its annual meeting Wednesday at the Prairie Band Casino in Mayetta Kansas where 28 attending rent-to-own dealers elected a new slate of officers. KRDA members elected Tyson Johnson (Rent-A-Center) as president, Steve Wine (Rent 1st) vice president and Shaun Rusch (Triad Leasing) as ... Rent One 'Day on the Diamond' scores with vendors, community Southern Illinois community leaders join Rent One and Ronald McDonald House St. Louis representatives Wednesday for Rent One's presentation of the first $10,000 of a $100,000 commitment to Ronald McDonald House. With an entire minor league baseball park at their disposal, Rent One managers braved drizzling rain ... Industry furthers job training program with computer, cash donation Casey Pristou with training program executive director Lowry Taylor. Casey Pristou, President of Aaron's Franchisee Watershed Development Corporation, recently met with Lowry Taylor, executive director of the Chicago-based Danny K. Davis Job Training Program (DKDJTP), to donate a van load of used desktop and laptop computers, LCD TV’s ... IContain expands into new international markets, passes on savings to RTO Profit protection has been heralded as the number one issue for companies during the economic downturn. IContain's products are designed to save RTO owners losses and protect profits by reducing the cost of collections, unwarrented customer visits, missed opportunities to collect product and harassment lawsuits resulting from overzealous managers ... 'Cash for Appliances' rebate program on its way Thursday October 15th is the deadline for states to submit their detailed plan to execute the U.S. Department of Energy's "Cash for Appliances" program. Guidelines and eligibility requirements are determined by each state. According to the U.S. Department of Energy spokeswoman, Chris Kielich, the consumer does ... Gainesville ColorTyme takes donations for injured local man The community of Gainesville was devastated recently after a horrifying motorcycle accident left Ron Hertell – passionate family man and community member – incapacitated and seriously injured. Hertell’s injuries are so significant that doctor’s predict that he will require a year of rehabilitation, which leaves him unable ... Credit no longer the popular choice to acquire household goods According to the recent Nilson Report, the tightening of credit and high unemployment are changing consumer behavior when acquiring household goods and a large majority of economists say the country's slow recovery will continue with consumers decreasing use of credit. "Think about what's happening in the economy," ... TARA Southwest Buying Show kicks off new era New TARA President William McCrae (far right) shares a laugh with Bailey Street sales reps. Barbara Giles (l) and Jose Ramos. TARA's 26th annual convention and buying show continued Monday as dealers from across the Lone Star State took advantage of educational industry updates and browsed booths represented by ... Rent-A-Center furnishes Wichita Children's Home The Wichita Children’s Home received a welcome boost today from Rent-A-Center’s Random Acts of Caring initiative. With new furniture, electronics, and appliances from Rent-A-Center, the Children’s Home will be able to better serve local children and their families. Rent-A-Center is donating: · Two sofas · Two ... New TARA President McCrae promises government affairs focus William McCrae is elected TARA's new president Sunday. William McCrae, president of Buzz's Lease Purchase and Sales became the new president of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies Sunday at the opening of the association's 26th annual convention and southwest buying show at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addison, Texas. ... New easygates store opens in Tulsa Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC announces the opening of a new U.S. franchise store. The store opened yesterday on East 31st Street in the Garnett Crossing Shopping Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “We are elated to bring the easyhome concept to Oklahoma," Gates said. ... Rent One pledges $100K to build new St. Louis Ronald McDonald House Rent One owner Larry Carrico (far right) at last year's 'Days at the Diamond' event at Rent One Park. Rent One is pledging $100,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis at the company’s “Days at the Diamond Annual Vendor Appreciation Days” at 4 ... Rent-A-Center outfits Mississippi teen room Representatives of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi andRent-A-Center will join together for a dedication ceremony opening a new “RAC Room” for teens at the Club in Jackson, Mississippi on Thursday, Oct. 15. Teens at this Boys & Girls Clubhouse will have a much improved positive place ... TRIB 'Meeting of the Minds' hosts record breaking crowd R to L: Chris Bolin (Bolin Rental Purchase), Chris Raffo (Home Express) and Ken Mashburn at TRIB Group's annual "Meeting of the Minds" event Wednesday. A record number of rental dealers from around the country wrapped up a full day of networking Wednesday at TRIB Group's annual "... Loudermilk to Georgia dealers: 'Satisfy the customer' L to R: Charles Loudermilk Sr., Ernie Lewallen, Jeff Klopp and Mark Kresch chat after the GRDA meeting today in Atlanta. Charles Loudermilk Sr., 82, founder and chairman of Aaron's Inc., had a simple message for attendees at the annual meeting of the Georgia Rental Dealers Association Wednesday in ... 'Tiger' addresses Aaron's Franchise Association "Tiger" John Cleek at Aaron's Franchise Association annual meeting. 'Tiger' John Cleek, president of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) and recently converted Aaron's franchisee, addressed a crowd of around 300 at the Aaron's Franchise Association annual meeting Tuesday morning at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta. Cleek ... Aarons makes U.S. News and World Report's top ten businesses The October 5th U.S. News and World Report's Money section features Aaron's as one of the top ten businesses doing well in today's economy. The article by Rick Newman reflects the recent positive media attention rent-to-own has received in today's economy. The article also reflects the many advances ... Rent-A-Center outfits new Phoenix area Boys and Girls Club Representatives of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and Rent-A-Center, Thursday will formally dedicate a new “RAC Room” for teens at the Club, furnished with merchandise form Rent-A-Center. Teens at the Boys & Girls Clubhouse will finally have a positive place to hang out and call their ... Georgia dealers welcome Loudermilk at annual meeting Wednesday Charlie Loudermilk Sr. presented with the APRO Lifetime Achievement Award last year in St. Louis. The Georgia Rental Dealers Association welcomes Charlie Loudermilk Sr., entrepreneur, philanthropist and chairman of the second largest rent-to-own business in the country, Aaron's, Inc. at its annual meeting Wednesday. Loudermilk headlines a packed agenda ... New easyhome opens in Omaha Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, this weekend announced a new easyhome franchise store opening on October 3, 2009, in Omaha, Nebraska. The store is the first opened by JSNB Enterprises, LLC, an easyhome franchise owned by Jerry Stine and Vernell Jackson. “We are thrilled to partner ... Rent-A-Center outfits new Brooklyn Boys and Girls Club Teens at the Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse in Brooklyn will finally have a positive place to hang out and call their own, thanks to a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Rent-A-Center, Inc. Teenagers are a tough group to impress, but the new RAC Rooms ... Consumer Confidence Drops, Consumer Credit Tightens A recent Conference Board study shows consumer confidence in the retail market dropped this month. Consumer confidence is trying to gain momentum but unemployment and shaky confidence in the market keeps purchases stagnating. These trends have retail markets worried going into the busy Christmas season. On the housing market ... Product training, networking highlight RTO Expo L TO R: Mark Griffith, Brooke Smith and Lee Fink with Countryside Rent-2-Own at a product demonstration by Bob Brandlin of SilkoRadio. Over 150 rent-to-own dealers packed training rooms Wednesday to get up to speed on the latest product innovations in electronics, appliances, computers and furniture at the sixth ... TRIB Group 'Meeting of the Minds' next week TRIB Group’s annual Meeting of the Minds event kicks off in one week and is on track to be the best attended event to date. The event will be held next week, October 7-8, 2009 at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The event ... BlackBox GPS proves a win for RTO owners, managers BlackBox GPS is the leading provider of fleet monitoring and tracking solutions for the RTO industry. “We have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from our current RTO clients, and intend on continuing to be the leading GPS solution provider for the Rent-To-Own industry” ” states Austin Kocielko, ... Midwest RTO Expo opens with reception, bowling Ohio State Rep. Seth Morgan and ORDA President Scott Kinnear officially open the 2009 Midwest Expo in Columbus, Ohio Tuesday. The sixth annual Midwest RTO Training Expo -- the brainchild of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) -- kicked off Tuesday evening at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center ... DSI holds first annual Vendor Summit DSI Systems held its first annual Vendor Summit at its corporate headquarters last week in Des Moines, Iowa. Inviting account executives and senior management from all of the DSI Systems vendors, over 100 representatives came together for this important meeting. “The independent retailer channel is the only sure ... ColorTyme celebrates new multi-unit course graduates ColorTyme, and its ColorTyme University program, celebrated with the first 10 graduates of its all-new multi-unit management training course, held Sept. 21-23. “As more and more ColorTyme franchisees become multi-unit owners, this multi-unit management course is crucial for our system,” said Albert Kohut, vice president of operations ... Sixth annual Midwest Expo begins tomorrow Expo 2008 show floor. The sixth annual Midwest RTO Training Expo -- the brainchild of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) -- kicks off tomorrow at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio where close to 160 rent-to-own dealers from as many as nine states are expected ... Bestway honors high performers at awards banquet Bestway 2009 Award Winners. Front middle: C.D. Bell -- Bestway Profit King. Bestway Rent-To-Own today closed out its 2009 annual managers meeting in Destin, Florida, with an awards brunch celebrating 43 managers of the company's highest performing stores. The company is wrapping up the most profitable year in ... FRDA names first-ever 'Employee of the Year' Mike Van Heusen (l) accepts FRDA's first ever 'Employee of Year' award from Jan Arnett. Mike Van Heusen of Z-Best Rentals is the Florida Rental Dealers Association's first ever 'Employee of the Year.' Heusen accepted the award Tuesday from Jan Arnett at the conclusion of FRDA's annual business ... NEW PODCAST: David Kraemer president, CEO Bestway Rent-To-Own Listen to podcast with Bestway president and CEO David Kraemer. Kraemer is a 26-year RTO veteran who served as past executive vice president with Rent-A-Center and joined Bestway in 2002. The company is currently the largest independent rent-to-own company in the country with 77 stores in seven states. Kraemer ... NEW PODCAST: Beth Durrett, CFO Bestway Rent-To-Own Listen to podcast with Bestway Rent-To-Own CFO Beth Durrett. Beth Durrett is the chief financial officer for Bestway Rent-To-Own. In her 30 years with the company -- dating back to its pre-RTO well-servicing days -- Durrett has lived the Bestway philosophy of putting employees first. New hires at Bestway ... UPDATED: Chair Frank Joins Push for Financial Regulatory Reform Today, House Financial Services Chair Barney Frank reiterated the House commitment to pass a financial regulatory overhaul by the year's end. U.S. Senate Banking Chair Chris Dodd yesterday set forth his proposal to merge the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of the Comptroller of ... Rent One hosts Bowl-A-Thon for Jefferson County troop fund Rent One bowling team at the recent JCOIF Bowl-A-Thon. Rent One recently hosted a Bowl-A-Thon for Jefferson County Operation Iraqi Freedom (JCOIF) -- a fundraiser for Jefferson Country troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rent One kicked off this year's fundraiser with the first donation. The Bowl-A-Thon raised over ... Congress keeps super financial regulatory agency on table U.S. Senate Banking Chair Chris Dodd yesterday set forth his proposal to merge the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Office of Thrift Supervision into a single entity as confirmed by committee staff. The new agency would ... Rent-A-Center donates to Texas Community Storehouse With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring initiative, the Community Storehouse will be able to better serve local children and their families with new furnishings and electronics for their facilities in Keller and Roanoke. Rent-A-Center is donating: Four computers Sofa Loveseat Area rugs 32” LCD HDTV Full-size ... ColorTyme, RimTyme honored with 14 RAE Awards As part of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) 2009 Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas, which took place earlier this month, ColorTyme’s two brands, ColorTyme and RimTyme, were honored with 14 Rental Advertising Excellence (RAE) Awards. APRO’s RAE program recognizes some of the best ... Bestway District 3 is Knowledge Bowl Champ Bestway District 3 took home the $5,000 'Knowledge Bowl' prize Tuesday night. Bestway Rent-To-Own's third annual Knowledge Bowl contest rounded out a packed day of leadership and product training Tuesday night at the largest independent RTO company's annual managers meeting in Destin, Florida. District 3 -- "The ... Bestway turns on the 'Afterburner' L to R: Jamie Cryer, Alexis Graham (Ace) and Bill Masters review mission plans Tuesday. Bestway managers found a new appreciation for the words planning, leadership and execution Tuesday. That's when three U.S. Air Force fighter pilots stormed the company's annual managers meeting in Destin, Florida and broke ... Rent-A-Center to dedicate new "RAC" rooms to Boys and Girls Clubs Rent-A-Center is outfitting two new "RAC" rooms for Boys and Girls Club teens in Florida and Washington this week. Tomorrow the company will dedicate a new room at the Laurence F. Lee Boys & Girls Club in Jacksonville, Florida where area teens will finally have a positive place ... Aaron's expects positive same store revenue growth in Q3 Aaron's, Inc. today announced expectations for third quarter 2009 same store revenue growth. Same store revenues (revenues earned in Company-operated stores open for the entirety of both periods) are expected to increase in the mid-single digit percentage range during the quarter ending September 30, 2009 compared to the same ... Bestway managers hit the beach for annual meeting Steve Kruse (operations analyst), Marvin Macklin (store manager Birmingham, AL), and CEO David Kraemer at the Bestway welcome event Monday. The nation's largest independent rent-to-own company -- Bestway Rent-To-Own -- kicked off it's 2009 annual meeting Monday at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort in Destin, Florida where close to ... FRDA annual meeting kicks off with golf tournament, casino night Sharon Tomaszewski, FRDA executive director and proud father Terry Beville FRDA treasurer at the association's second annual poker tournament. Over 60 rent-to-own professionals turned out Monday, for the seventh annual Norman "Slats" Slatton Golf Memorial -- the kickoff event for the Florida Rental Dealers Association's annual meeting at ... Matthews is new Benefit Marketing Solutions president Susan Matthews Benefit Marketing Solutions (BMS) today announced the promotion of Susan Matthews to President. BMS is a subsidiary of Alliance HealthCard, a leading membership and insurance marketing company. Matthews served as executive vice president of sales and marketing for BMS for many years. She was named 2008 Vendor ... DAC Products declares APRO Show huge success DAC Products, maker of electronics merchandising displays exhibited at the recent APRO Show in Las Vegas and announced that they were very pleased with the results. “We were hopeful that we could meet or exceed last year’s sales, which were good," said Todd Woods, vice president ... Pasco, Wash. welcomes ColorTyme back into community Front L - R: Adan Saenz, Alma Cruz, Armondo Tovar. Standing L - R: Erick Davis and Albert Vasquez. Today, Pasco residents welcomed ColorTyme back to the community. After weeks of preparation, Franchise Owner Mark Childers and his Vice President of Operations, Albert Vasquez, worked together to open a ... O'Rourke kicks off this year's APRO TEAM Fund Successful grassroots political efforts take motivation, elbow grease and money. Sending rent-to-own advocates to Washington several times per year on behalf of the rent-to-own industry's federal legislative effort is a costly affair. But the gains of maintaining those Capital Hill connections and a robust federal effort are too important. ... August retail sales jump 2.7 percent The U.S. Census Bureau today announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, increased 2.7 percent over July. Though greater than last month, the $351.4 billion ... NEW VIDEO: Watch, listen to winning RAE ads APRO's 2009 Rental Advertising Excellence Awards included 70 winners in over 15 categories culled from thousands of entries that represent the best advertising in the rent-to-own industry. The contest was divided into two broad categories -- in-house and agency produced -- and broken into contests representing the best rent-to-own ... APRO Virtual Tradeshow is live The APRO 2009 Convention and Buying Show is long gone. But keeping in touch with the 84 vendors who attended the Las Vegas show is now easier than ever with APRO's Virtual Tradeshow link. Dealers will find specific details on all vendors who attended the show including product descriptions ... Iowa Dealers head off threats through organization, leadership L to R: Ed Winn III, state sen. Matt McCoy, Jim Carney and Brian Luksetich at recent AIRD meeting. Almost two years after turning back a rent to own price control bill, Association of Iowa Rental Dealers (AIRD) President Brian Luksetich is confident the state's relatively quiet RTO business ... LG Electronics Partners in weekend recycling project LG Electronics USA and 9NEWS, in cooperation with Waste Management, have teamed up to host a FREE recycling event for area residents on Saturday, Sept. 12. Consumers can drop off up to 10 electronic items for free recycling from 7 a.m. to 12 noon (or until capacity is ... UPDATE: Rent-A-Center Prevails, download opinion here The Massachusetts Supreme Court today ruled in favor of Rent-A-Center in a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit -- Silva et al v. Rent-A-Center -- that put the state's 23-year old rent-to-own statute to the test. Download opinion here. The question at hand was whether rent-to-own contracts fell under the ... Healthcare reform and the RTO impact The U.S. Congress is back in session with health care legislation dominating the attention of lawmakers and the public. The current proposed health care legislation mandates small businesses with payrolls of more than $250,000 must provide health insurance to their workers or pay a fine. The health ... RTO's capitalize on $154 billion tax credit expansion Liquid Tax, an aggregate tax preparer announced today that new tax breaks will drive fresh customers to it’s dealer channel. As federal stimulus dollars begin to flow, one unlikely beneficiary is the $30 billion tax-preparation industry. “It’s because of this stimulus coupled with a weak economy ... TARA registration deadline Friday Friday is the last day to reserve discounted rates on hotel rooms for TARA's 26th Annual Convention and the last day to preregister for the convention at the lowest registration fee possible. The reduced hotel convention rate is educed convention rate is $136. Additionally, those TARA members who register ... NEW PODCAST: APRO President "Tiger" Cleek re-elected Listen to "Tiger" John Cleek podcast here. "Tiger" John Cleek of Cleeks/Aaron's will serve another year as president of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) after his re-election Wednesday morning at the rent-to-own trade association's biannual board meeting in Las Vegas. The election took place during ... French elected vice chairman of vendor committee Listen to Bill French podcast. Bill French of O'Rourke Sales is the new vice chairman of APRO's 12-member Vendor Advisory Committee (VAC), replacing past president Ellison Crider of RSSS who has served in the position for the last four years. Michael Gerwe of RES Accessories, was re-elected as the ... McDougal is APRO Lifetime Achievement Award winner APRO 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Gary McDougal. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) Tuesday night, bestowed its highest honor on former rental dealer turned lifelong industry advocate Gary McDougal, naming him APRO's 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek presented Gary and Mary ... Edwards is Rental Dealer of the Year, Blair is Vendor of the Year APRO's 2009 Rental Dealer of the Year Dave Edwards (l) with APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek. The Association of Progressive Rental Organization's annual awards banquet Tuesday, honored rental dealers, vendors and state associations that have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the rent-to-own industry and ... NEW PODCAST: APRO Boardmember Cynthia Baber-Strunk, Baber's Listen to podcast with Cynthia Baber-Strunk here. Cynthia Baber-Strunk knows how to convert a bad circumstance into something better. It’s how she got into the rent-to-own business in the first place—and it is why she’s inspired to run for a position on the APRO board of ... NEW PODCAST: Aaron's Todd Evans talks about APRO's convention Listen to Todd Evans podcast. Vice President of Aaron's franchising, Todd Evans, talks about the state of Aaron's franchising during APRO's annual convention. Listen to Todd Evans podcast.... NEW PODCAST: Vontoo has a message for rent-to-own Listen to Vontoo podcast. Vontoo messaging company provides rent-to-own companies voice technologies for increased promotions and labor saving collections. Listen to Vontoo podcast here.... NEW PODCAST: BestWay's Steve Kruse Listen to Steve Kruse podcast. BestWay's Steve Kruse, who received the award for most Congressional meeting during APRO's 2009 Legislative Conference, talks to APRO about the most effective tips to generating support for rent-to-own in Congress. Listen to Steve Kruse podcast.... APRO Golf winners announced Dave Edwards, Robert Barnes, Charles Smithgall and Mark Fore. APRO's 2009 golf tournament at the Angel Park Golf Course in Las Vegas kicked of the 2009 Convention and Buying Show with close to 60 rent-to-own dealers and exhibitors participating. Winners are as follows: First Place: Dave Edwards Robert Barnes ... Vendor Advisory Committee elected APRO Associate members today elected two new members to the association's vendor advisory commitee (VAC) and re-elected five at a special exhibitor lunch at the APRO 2009 Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas. Newly elected VAC members are Larry Furiani (Coaster) and Mike Neighbors (SED). Re-elected VAC members ... NEW PODCAST: APRO Boardmember Dennis Adams, American Rental Play Dennis Adams podcast. If ever a company name described one of its employees, Full-O-Pep defines Dennis Adams. Bloomington, Indiana-based Full-O-Pep/American Rentals operates 50 stores and three RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires locations across four states and Adams has helped open many of those locations. Currently, as district ... Four new faces join APRO board Members of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) Monday, elected eight candidates to the association's board of directors Monday including four new members with extensive industry experience. The election took place during the general session of APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas. Newly elected members ... Romine announces bid for Missouri Senate Gary Romine announcing bid for Republican nomination for Missouri State Senator in 2012. Gary Romine, past APRO president and owner of Show Me Rent To Own, today announced his candidacy for Missouri Senate at the president's reception banquet closing the first full day of APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying ... APRO's Rent-to-Own Roundtable features protection and profit America's Research Group CEO Brit Beemer. APRO's popular rent-to-own roundtable discussion Monday featured the most prominent professionals in the industry during the association's annual convention in Las Vegas, featuring a presentation and open discussion on the most recent updates regarding federal legislation, customer satisfaction and legal issues. APRO's roundtable ... APRO General Session kicks off convention Rent One's Larry Carrico (l) and APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek (r) present the RTO Employee of the Year Award to David Keen. Close to 200 rent-to-own dealers from across the country packed the Bally's Event Center in Las Vegas for the general session of the annual APRO ... NEW VIDEO: Robin Walker is APRO 2009 Scholarship Winner Play video here. Robin Walker, a University of Mississippi sophomore, is APRO's 2009 Education Scholarship winner and was formally honored today during the association's 2009 General Session at the association's annual convention and buying show in Las Vegas. Daughter of Gary “Bo” Walker, director of operations for RTO ... NEW VIDEO: Wilders are RTO Customers of the Year Play video here. Sherron and Robert Wilder, Rent-A-Center Customers since 1992, are in the business of helping others. The couple's charity work in Benton Harbor, Michigan was formally honored today during APRO's 2009 General Session at the association's annual convention and buying show in Las Vegas. From their Safe ... NEW VIDEO: Dave Keen is RTO Employee of the Year Play video here. David Keen, employee development manager for Rent One, is APRO's 2009 Employee of the Year and was formally honored today during APRO's 2009 General Session at the association's annual convention and buying show in Las Vegas. Keen served four terms on the Mt. Vernon City Council ... APRO golfers tee off in Vegas Dave Edwards, Robert Barnes, Charles Smithgall and Mark Fore took first in APRO's annual golf tournament. Some 60 golfers from across the rent-to-own spectrum -- dealers, vendors, employees and family members -- officially kicked off The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' (APRO) 2009 Convention and Buying Show Sunday in ... BlackBox GPS names new CEO Boca Raton, FL -August 30th, 2009: BlackBox GPS, the leading provider of Fleet Routing and Monitoring Solutions for the RTO Industry, announced thetransition of Co-Founder and CFO, Robin Standlee, CPA, to serve as the company's new CEO. Standleebrings her uniquemanagement backgroundinthe capacity as CFO andconsultant successfully navigatingstartups and established ... New easyhome to open in Wichita, Kansas Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, today announced the opening of a new easyhome rent-to-own store in the Providence Square Shopping Center in Wichita, Kansas on August 29, 2009. "This will be the 23rd easyhome store in the United States and the concept has proven to be ... Whirlpool closes Evansville, Indiana plant Whirlpool Corporation today announced changes to its North American manufacturing operations resulting in the closure of its manufacturing facility in Evansville, Indiana. The closure will eliminate approximately 1,100 full time positions in mid-2010. Production of top freezer refrigerators made at Evansville will be transferred to one of the ... DAC touts new products at APRO show DAC Products, maker of electronics merchandising displays will be exhibiting again at this year’s APRO show in Las Vegas in booth #812. “We are focused on the RTO industry and their needs so we are introducing several new designs intended specifically for them," said Todd Woods, ... Lewallen featured in 'Day on the Hill' mini-doc Watch video here. Rent-to-own dealer and industry ambassador Ernie Lewallen is the subject of a new mini-documentary produced by Moneris Solutions that follows Lewallen's experiences during APRO's 2009 Legislative Conference this April. For over 15 years, rent-to-own dealers have been coming to Washington DC for the Dave Egan Legislative ... Rent-A-Center furnishes new 'RAC Room' in St. Louis Representatives of Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, Rent-A-Center, area teens and their parents will formally dedicate a new "RAC Room" today that was fully outfitted with merchandise from Rent-A-Center. The dedication will take place at 5 p.m. at the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, Adams ... ColorTyme University graduates celebrated (l to r): Ted Schlaack, Mike Tagle, Carol Thomas, Justin Nusser, Justin Vaughn; back row: Christopher Cook, Gerardo Cuevas, Ryan Alford, Greg Green, Bill Carlton and Mark Shealy ColorTyme and its ColorTyme University for Store Managers program celebrated its 33rd graduating class of nine students. The graduating class includes: ... RAE Community Relations winners make difference where it counts Community relations is a category of particular significance in APRO's annual Rental Advertising Excellence contest. While more traditional forms of advertising, particularly television, powerfully influence the public image of rent-to-own, a company's active engagement with the concerns of the community in which it does business conveys an equally moving ... DSI Systems launches online ordering DSI Systems, the largest national distributor of televisions, satellite equipment, and accessories, today launched a new online ordering system that will allow retailers to place orders directly through the DSI Systems online product catalog. Access to online ordering is available to all current DSI Systems customers and includes the ... Rent One funds innovative school fitness program Rent One is spearheading an innovative program to help students improve their academic performance and overall health by tuning up their physical fitness. This year some 1,200 K-8 student in Mt. Vernon District 80 will participate in Fitnessgram -- a program that promotes the awareness and importance of ... TARA registration deadline Sept. 11 September 11 is the last day to reserve discounted rates on hotel rooms for TARA's 26th Annual Convention and the last day to preregister for the convention at the lowest registration fee possible. The reduced hotel convention rate is educed convention rate is $136. Additionally, those TARA members who ... RTO Pro introduces 'Web@Pay' RTO Pro, a leading provider of rental-purchase software with over 800 user locations, announces the release of WEB@PAY- RTO Pro’s new online payment functionality allowing customers to make rental payments through the rental dealer’s website. "WEB@PAY is another example of how RTO Pro is able to ... Consumer confidence rises in August Consumer confidence in the overall economy improved in August, as consumer confidence in technology and consumer electronics (CE) jumped in the same period, according to the latest figures from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) reached 172.2 in August, a ... New stimulus effort: 'Cash for Appliances' A new federal program beginning in late fall will set aside $300 million for consumers to upgrade their old appliances for new energy efficient models under a new "cash-for- clunkers" type program designed to improve household energy efficiency and boost floundering appliance sales to boot. As part of ... 2009 RAE Award winners announced Some 70 winners in over 15 categories were announced today by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) in the country's longest running rent-to-own advertising contest APRO's 2009 Rental Advertising Excellence Award winners were culled from thousands of entries and represent the best advertising in the rent-to-own business. The ... Rent-A-Center furnishes new Harlem teen center Representatives from the Children’s Aid Society and Rent-A-Center christen a new Teen center in Harlem. Teens at The Children’s Aid Society Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club will finally have a positive place to hang out and call their own, thanks to a partnership between Boys & ... KLQ Auction raises $21 K for scholarships Angie Quinn (Quality Rentals) and Bill French (O'Rourke Sales) at the KLQ Golf Tournament and Auction Thursday. In what KLQ Education Foundation co-founder Kevin Quinn of Quality Rentals is calling the biggest turnout ever, rent-to-own pro's from around the country turned out for the fifth annual golf tournament and ... Rent-A-Center selects CyrusOne as exclusive data center provider CyrusOne, Texas’ leading data center facility provider announced that Rent-A-Center, the largest rent-to-own operator in the United States, has selected CyrusOne as its exclusive data center provider. CyrusOne will provide high availability colocation services to Rent-A-Center from one of its three Dallas-area facilities. Operating more than 3,000 stores ... KLQ Foundation fundraiser tees off in Washington KLQ Golfers attend a special "thank you" dinner at Kevin and Angie Quinn's home Wednesday. Over 150 golfers from across the country turned out today for the 5th annual Dan Quinn and James Webber Memorial Golf Tournament in Lacey, Washington -- the key fundraiser for a highly successful ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: ArchBrook Laguna ArchBrook Laguna continues to deliver proven name brand offerings to the rent to own industry with computer and electronic products shipped together in one shipment. ArchBrook Laguna’s alliance with Expert Warehouse and Brand Source has bolstered an unrivaled consumer electronics line card that features such manufacturers as Toshiba, ... Imagery Marketing hosts RTO Roundtable At Imagery Marketing Group’s annual roundtable for rent-to-own industry clients earlier this month, conversation led to the topic of improving business in light of recent economic trends. Imagery took the opportunity to present cost effective marketing opportunities, inspiring clients to consider implementing some non-traditional approaches to effectively boost ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Aaron's Leading RTO Independents Are Converting To Aaron’s. “It’s happening all across North America, independent RTO operators are converting their stores to Aaron’s,” says Greg Tanner, national director franchise development for Aaron’s. “And, leaders in the industry are leading the way. We’ve ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: BlackBox GPS With over 2,000 RTO vehicles and counting, BlackBox GPS, the leading Rent-to-Own GPS solution provider, will showcase their highly anticipated GPS Routing Software, RoutePlanner at the APRO convention August 31 through September 2, in Las Vegas. Since 2003, BlackBox GPS has been developing GPS Fleet Solution's with a ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: BriteLite Enterprises BriteLite Enterprises is a leading vendor for DJ and audio rack systems for the RTO industry. nearly 14 years in the business, BriteLite sells to many retailers in the U.S. and Mexico and will be targeting the Canadian market in this second half of 2009. At the APRO ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Benefit Marketing Solutions Don’t lose your customers because they are losing their jobs. Economic times are difficult. The jobless rate is at an all time high. Customers are being laid-off. Companies are downsizing or closing, Jobs are being terminated. This affects your business because when this happens to a customer they ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Central File Marketing At a time when most marketers are singing the blues, Central File Marketing’s customers are seeing lots of green. The company is posting record sales and is one of a handful of Milwaukee-area employers that is hiring, according to Dan Chaudoir, founder and CEO of the firm. He ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Classic Models Jewelry Classic Models Jewelry Manufacturing is a major diamond importer and prime jewelry manufacturer established in 1986 and located in Atlanta, GA. To meet the demands of a growing market that includes RTO, retail jewelry locations, catalog, gift, and award/recognition jewelry CMJ has opened an additional sales office in Chattanooga, ... Hughes, Squires open new ColorTyme in Clarkson, Wash. To the cheers of many Clarkson, Wash. residents, the much anticipated ColorTyme store at 205 Diagonal Street (on the corner of Diagonal and Second Street) has officially opened its doors for business. “Everybody is so glad we’re back in Clarkston,” said Colleen Squires, one of the ... Coble, Hogan open new ColorTyme in Smyrna, Tennessee Carl Coble and Scott Hogan are thrilled to be in Smyrna, Tenn. Their new ColorTyme store at 291 Sam Ridley Parkway East (Suite 245) is now open for business. “We’re different than our competition because we have an owner/operator, Carl, who is loved by his customers,” ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: DAC DAC Products, maker of displays for merchandising electronics along with other retail fixtures, is set to show two new, innovative products at the upcoming APRO show in Las Vegas. Both items are expansions of existing categories, which can be coordinated to give tremendous flexibility when outfitting a store. Chris ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Dimplex The industry’s most realistic flame effect, superior quality, unparalleled service and support, plus a one-year warranty make Dimplex the world leader. Nothing says “home” quite like a warm hearth. According to the National Association of Home Builders, a fireplace is one of the top three most-desired features ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: dPi Teleconnect Want to increase your store traffic with qualified rent-to-own customers? Here’s how. Offer the pay-as-you-go services they are looking for: dPi home phone, energy, long distance, Internet, cellular-recharge and bill pay. dPi’s traffic-building products are tailored-made to fit your RTO customer. Just think of all the great ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: DreamSeat Want to take the seasonality out of sports furniture and have less headache figuring out which sport or team to inventory? Want to turn more and make higher profits on your investment? Wouldn’t you want one chair to become any team you wanted? DreamSeat has the solution. DreamSeat’... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Florida State Games Do your salespeople know the differences between HD Blu-Ray DVDs and HD DVDs? How about the bells and whistles offered by the latest video game systems? Denis Rosen, national sales manager for Florida State Games, spouts facts and figures, but he also exudes excitement and passion for the future ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Imagery Marketing Group Many know Imagery Marketing Group for its savvy ability to combine its knowledge of rent-to-own with innovative strategies and fresh design. In addition to empowering clients to reach their audiences through TV, radio, web, and print advertising, Imagery is implementing a more targeted marketing approach to increase sales and ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Liquid Tax Liquid Tax, an Aggregate Tax Preparer and leading provider of tax prep solutions today’s retailers need to help increase profits and customer counts with efficiency and automation, announced thesuccess of itsLiquid TaxFlat-ratetax prep service in27 states, including Alaska. Unlike most traditional tax prep services where customers are subject ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Marcone Supply Whether installing new appliances or refurbishing used ones, Marcone Supply is your partner for all the supplies you need, right now. They offer moving blankets, Fore-Arm Forklift and hand trucks for making deliveries, plus power cords, hoses and ducting for use in new installations. They also offer specialty products ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Moneris Moneris Solutions has a 40-year history as one of North America's largest processors of all forms of electronic payments, including credit and debit cards, ACH, e-check and gift cards. We can deliver processing capabilities through point-of-sale hardware, payment processing software and e-commerce solutions. We are dedicated to providing cost ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Peg Perego Peg Perego has been in business for 60 years. The company was founded in Italy with the creation of a baby carriage, designed by Giuseppe Perego for his son, Lucio. His carriage caught the attention of other parents who asked him to build one for them. Peg Perego was ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Teletrack Teletrack improves credit screening for rental purchase dealers by delivering traditional credit reports including tradelines Teletrack, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FADV), is expanding its ability to deliver predictive data from multiple data sources as a result of its integration with ExperianSM. Teletrack is ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: TRIB Group TRIB Group is the oldest and most respected buying group specifically designed for the rental industry. Established in 1983 by a group of independent rental dealers, it has grown over the last 26 years to a nationally recognized RTO organization dedicated to helping independent dealers improve their bottom line. ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: TV Armor Since 2007, TV Armor has manufactured and retailed TV Screen Protectors for todays fragile LCD, LED, and Plasma TVs. TV Armor screen protectors are made from the highest quality optical grade plastic available, yet they can stand up to the worst abuse a consumer can dish out, while maintaining ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Twin Star Twin-Star International, manufacturer of ClassicFlame Electric Fireplaces and Tresanti Media Cabinets is introducing a new line of unique and cool home furnishing: Tresanti Refrigerated Wine Cabinets. Filling a void in the marketplace, Tresanti Wine Cabinets have been well received by retailers. Each cabinet is constructed using the finest quality ... APRO Special Products/Services Focus: Walter L. Clark and Associates Insurance consultant Jeanette Beardsley. In today’s economy it is of utmost importance to keep costs down. One of the areas to look at is of course insurance. Walter L. Clark and Associates prides itself in finding the best price for the coverage a store needs rather than just ... APRO Software Focus: High Touch Answering the needs of its clients, High Touch, a 25-year-old technology solutions provider, will showcase two highly requested products that complement their PRO/Store point-of-service software at APRO Aug. 31 thru Sept. 2 in Las Vegas. Auto Dial voice marketing and GPS Asset Tracking and Fleet Management are both designed ... APRO Software Focus: Ideal Software Systems Ideal Software Systems will be featuring a new Microsoft Windows-based rent-to-own point of sale product at the APRO convention in Las Vegas. Ideal has, for 25 years, offered the premier business enterprise management software for rent-to-own and retail businesses. "What do you do when you have the best ... APRO Software Focus: Rental Information Systems Rental Information Systems, Inc., developer of The RAM System software application, has announced the release of two powerful new products that focus on increased employee productivity and improved RTO customer experiences. These new products deliver an online payment processing solution, company wide inventory and customer search tools, and a ... APRO Software Focus: RSSS For over 25 years, RSSS has been a leading innovator of technological solutions for the rent-to-own industry. To continue that tradition, RSSS is proud to announce some exciting new items for the APRO Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas August 30 - Sept. 2. Online Web payments continues ... Bankruptcy rate soars as credit crisis deepens Job losses and pruned credit options are driving an increase in consumer bankruptcies this year, with new filings poised to hit 1.4 million by Dec. 31, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) and Bloomberg News. The growing number of bankruptcies, many of which are accompanied by job ... Cincy DJ puts Policy Matters Ohio on Hotseat Cincinnati talk show host, Mike McConnell Tuesday morning, went toe to toe with Ohio Policy Matters representative, David Rothstein, regarding the think tank’s recent public criticisms of rent-to-own. Listen to full radio interview here. During the hour long radio broadcast, "Midday With Mike" on WLW AM, McConnell ... Easyhome released Q2 Results Canadian Rent-To-Own Company easyhome, today released results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Revenue for the quarter increased 9.3% to $43.5 million compared with $39.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. Same store revenue growth was 1.0% in the quarter. Operating income ... APRO Furniture Focus: Coaster Fine Furniture Coaster Fine Furniture recognizes that the smaller footprint of a typical rental store is a perfect fit for their quick-ship inventory program and is rolling out new initiatives that underscore the company’s commitment to rental dealers. As an import distributor of fine home furnishings cross all major residential ... APRO Furniture Focus: Donco Trading Company Donco Trading Company will feature it's latest creation at the APRO Convention and Buying Show -- the new premier Staircase Bunkbed. Donco is a furniture importer specializing in juvenile furniture from child to teen; bedroom sets to staircase bunks. The company, founded in 1992, features centralized warehousing, same Day ... APRO Furniture Focus: King Koil In 1898 Samuel Bronstein began the King Koil tradition of bench-built craftsmanship in St. Paul, Minnesota with six employees in a small factory. Since then King Koil has been committed to designing and manufacturing the best sleep products in the industry Throughout the 1900's, King Koil grew domestically and ... APRO Furniture Focus: Protect-A-Bed Protect-A-Bed, a premier provider of mattress and box spring encasements for the consumer and professional market, is showcasing its line of Bed bug and waterproof products to the Rent to Own industry during the Association of Progressive Rental Associations (APRO) 2009 Convention and Buying Show. Protect-A-Bed will attend APRO ... APRO Furniture Focus: Simmons Company Founded in 1870, The Simmons Company prides itself in innovation. From the invention of the Pocketed Coil, to the Queen and King size mattress, to the Bowling Ball commercial, Simmons boasts products that create tremendous quality as well as value in today’s rental industry. Simmons offers beds that ... APRO Furniture Focus: Serta Serta Mattress will be offering tremendous savings on its popular mattress collections at the upcoming APRO Show in Las Vegas. The bedding brand leader is offering a show exclusive of $50 off any Queen or King Perfect Sleeper set as well as $50 off any Queen or King size ... APRO Furniture Focus: Soflex You want it where? You need it when? You want how many? Soflex has redefined “quick ship” and guarantees unbeatable delivery anywhere in the U.S. Receive your order in one to four days, depending on your trading area and location in the United States. Soflex ships all ... APRO Furniture Focus: Welton USA Since 1985, Welton USA has provided quality furniture and electronics to the rental industry. Welton designs, assembles and distributes high quality furniture and electronics, providing exceptional products at competitive prices. Our exacting standards and dependable quality have earned the trust of rental dealers throughout the United States, Canada and ... Rental Rountable Kicks off RTO Education Bonanza Rental Rountable Kicks off RTO Education Bonanza Moderated by Michael Hoffman 1-3 p.m., August 31 APRO's popular rental roundtable session brings together the top minds in rent-to-own for an open forum on the issues affecting the industry. Moderator and keynote speaker Michael Hoffman will lead interactive discussion of ... Chesterfield, Va. resident wins ColorTyme $500 E-mail Sweepstakes “I was looking for a new refrigerator. So I went to ColorTyme.com and signed-up for the e-mail coupons. About a week later, I received a message saying I had won,” said Melissa Payne, a resident of Chesterfield, Va., and the winning customer of the ColorTyme $500 ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: SED International SED provides Rent-To-Own Dealers with the best brands, competitive prices and the largest selection of name brand computer and consumer electronics products. A full service provider for the RTO channel, SED combines the experience of a team of dedicated professionals, specialized services, and a large selection of products to ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: O'Rourke Sales Company O’Rourke Sales Company, proud to be an APRO sponsor, continues to excel in the rent-to-own industry by offering dealers a complete one-stop-shop solution for their rental customer’s needs. O’Rourke Sales Company stocks cutting edge technologies offered by LG, Mitsubishi, Philips, RCA, JVC, DELL, Kenmore, Speed Queen, ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: DSI After introducing a new website in September of 2008, DSI introduced online ordering for all of the company's dealers. Dealers are now able to go into the website, get their price, check local inventory in real time and place their orders electronically. Although DSI still believes our sales force ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: D&H D&H Distributing, the major one-stop resource for computer products, consumer electronics and home entertainment solutions, announces that its APRO Trade Show booth #604 will promote this year’s top-selling new computing formats. D&H carries an array of models, from the latest space-saving, all-in-ones like Lenovo’s A600 ... APRO Computer-Electronics Focus: CybertronPC Cybertron's RTO partners are thrilled with the growing Gaming Systems sales success in their stores. Dealers with that cutting-edge product vision are offering Cybertron's gaming systems not only for the exciting new revenue potential, but due to the "look" of the systems, as a customer attraction highlight in ... Walker is APRO Scholarship winner Robin Walker, a University of Mississippi sophomore, was today announced The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' 2009 Education Scholarship winner. Daughter of Gary “Bo” Walker, director of operations for RTO Rentals of Paris, Tennessee, Walker was selected from a competitive field of over 100 entries which was narrowed ... Rent-A-Center commits to Kerrville community Customers in Kerrville and surrounding communities now have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center is celebrating the opening of its newest store Aug. 11 at 423 Main Street featuring approximately 5,330 square feet of high-quality merchandise. ... APRO Appliance Focus: Whirlpool Whirlpool will have its booth on the APRO show floor instead of being part of the Whirlpool booth on the retail side. We will be showing the complete Rental Line-up with products from Whirlpool, Estate, Amana and Maytag. We will be showing a wide range of laundry products - ... APRO Appliance Focus: GE GE's development and manufacture of Smart Grid-enabled appliances will shave energy peaks for utility companies and save consumers money. "I've been in the appliance business for nearly 30 years," said GE President and CEO Jim Campbell. "I've seen many innovations and changes in the industry. Some ... APRO Appliance Focus: Crosley Corporation Crosley’s business model focuses not only on bringing quality products in at competitive prices, but also on the service aspect of the business. Crosley backs up its products with one of the most inclusive warranties in the industry and a highly trained network of appliance distributors. These same ... APRO 2009 Scholarship finalists continued The Association of Progressive Rental Organization's 2009 Scholarship Award Competition narrowed this week to six finalists who come from a variety of RTO backgrounds and companies throughout the United States. The scholarship competition -- which provides a $2,000 award to the winner -- is open to RTO employees ... APRO 2009 Scholarship finalists selected The Association of Progressive Rental Organization's 2009 Scholarship Award Competition narrowed this week to six finalists who come from a variety of RTO backgrounds and companies throughout the United States. The scholarship competition -- which provides a $2,000 award to the winner -- is open to RTO employees ... TRIB's Meeting of the Minds: Oct. 7-8 TRIB Group is pleased to announce the schedule of events the group's annual members-only Meeting of the Minds. The event will be held on October 7-8, 2009 at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The event is free of charge for TRIB Group members and ... Aaron's directors declare dividend The Aaron's, Inc. Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend. The dividend declared is $.017 per share on Common Stock and $.017 per share on Class A Common Stock, payable October 1, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September ... New RTOHQ: The Magazine focuses on "The Board" The latest edition of RTOHQ: The Magazine hits the post office this week and focuses on APRO's 2009 Board elections and the candidates who hope to guide the rent-to-own industry over the next two years. In his introduction, APRO Executive Director Bill Keese takes a look at the four ... Waterbury ColorTyme supports Youth Service System with donation To Steve Dwyer, supporting the Waterbury, Conn., community - where his ColorTyme store is based - means everything to him and his team. Recently, he and his staff donated a Whirlpool stove to the Waterbury Youth Service System - a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the overall well being ... Benton Harbor's Wilders are RTO Customers of the year Sherron and Robert Wilder are APRO's 2009 Customers of the Year. Sherron and Robert Wilder, Rent-A-Center Customers since 1992, are in the business of helping others. From their Safe Haven programs for children, to their current outreach mission for the homeless, the Wilders' impact on Benton Harbor, Michigan and ... New easyhome store to open in Texas Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates announces the opening of a new easyhome store in the Brazos Square Shopping Center in Waco, Texas on August 1, 2009. This is the third store opened by easycompany an easyhome franchisee based in Wichita, Kansas. “The easyhome concept has proven ... RTO Employee of the year finalists announced The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations today, announced the finalists for its prestigious "Employee of the Year" contest. The contest -- aimed at celebrating those rent-to-own employees who best represent the industry through their contribution to their families, communities and society at large -- was narrowed to four ... High Touch rolls up sleeves for Habitat for Humanity workday High Touch employees at a recent Habitat workday. A team of 20 High Touch employees and their families volunteered their time Saturday, July 25, to participate in a Habitat for Humanity workday and sponsorship. The home is for a local single parent family seeking a safer place to live ... APRO seminars add key insights into RTO business Sometimes it takes an outsider looking in to help us see what we can do to improve our businesses. We need to know what’s going on legally that is affecting how we do business today, and may very well influence how we do business in the future. And ... Aaron's racing enters new marketing partnerships Aaron's, of Atlanta, GA, the Aaron's Outdoors television program and Mossy Oak Brand Camo have teamed together to produce a unique marketing campaign that features specialty paint schemes on three NASCAR racecars and a national register-to-win sweepstakes. Aaron's will replace its familiar Aaron's Dream Machine paint schemes with Mossy ... RTO Customer of the Year finalists announced The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations today announced the finalists for its prestigious "Customer of the Year" contest. The contest -- aimed at commemorating those rent-to-own customers who best exemplify the human spirit through their contribution to their families, communities and society at large -- was narrowed to ... Educational seminars highlight APRO convention Educational seminars highlight APRO convention Where can you find the most education focused entirely on helping you grow your rent-to-own business in one place? At the APRO 2009 Convention & Buying Show in Las Vegas August 30-September 2. The APRO educational program includes individual sessions on topics such as ... CEA: Consumer confidence falls to lowest level this year Consumer confidence in the overall economy dropped in July to its lowest level this year, according to the latest data from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET. The CEA-CNET Indexes also showed that consumers’ confidence in technology and consumer electronics (CE) declined this month. The CEA-CNET Index of ... Easyhome announces Q2 conference call, webcast easyhome, Canada's largest merchandise leasing company, will hold its management conference call with shareholders, analysts and portfolio managers at 4 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. The results will be issued by news release after the market closes on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. Dial-in: toll-free: 1/888-789-9572 or 416-695-7806 ... Rent-A-Center releases Q2 results Rent-A-Center today announced revenues and earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Total revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 were $679.6 million, a decrease of $39.4 million from total revenues of $719.0 million for the same period in the prior year. This anticipated ... Colortyme store manager helps win "Mt. Rainier to the Pacific Relay" ColorTyme Store Manager Dave Ross (Back row, third from left) with his running team -- the recent winner of the "Mt. Rainier to the Pacific Relay". ColorTyme Store Manager Dave Ross and his running team won the “Mount Rainier to the Pacific Relay” – a 154-mile foot ... Contest nomination deadline today 5 p.m.! Today is the nomination deadline for APRO's annual contests and awards. Check out the links below and make sure your employees, customers and companies are entered to win! RTO Employee and Customer of the Year Award: APRO's annual award set aside for those customers and employees who inspire, help ... easyhome CFO Fregren steps down Canadian rent-to-own company easyhome, today announced Chris Fregren, easyhome's current senior vice-president and chief financial officer, is stepping down from the company effective August 16, 2009, after which Steve Goertz will take over the position. Fregren was a key player in some of easyhome's most important recent initiatives, including ... RNR, DropJaw Team up for Custom Car Tour DropJaw Magazine Editor Glenn Pilgreen and RNR Austin Operations Manager Braxton Spangle. John Spangle's RNR Custom Wheels and Performance Tires Austin location Thursday became the the latest stop on a nationwide custom car show tour co-sponsored by DropJaw Magazine. Around 30 cars were expected Thursday at the RNR parking ... Aaron's and La Quinta Inn & Suites team up to reward customers Specialty retailer Aaron's Inc. and LQ Management LLC, operator of La Quinta Inn and La Quinta Inn & Suites, are teaming up to provide their customers exclusive discounts and offers. Aaron's customers will enjoy a discount at participating La Quinta hotels by using the discount promo code included in ... Rent-A-Center to make 80K donation to North Texas Food Bank A special ceremony celebrating Rent-A-Center's $80,000 plus donation to the North Texas Food Bank is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Monday, July 27 at Rent-A-Center Headquarters in Plano. Representatives of the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), executives and employees of Rent-A-Center and a family who has benefited from ... LG Electronics Introduces first ever THX display Redefining the LED LCD HDTV landscape, the newest HDTVs from LG Electronics are the first LCDs to receive THX Display Certification in the U.S. market. LG’s new LH90 series, available now through national retailers such as Best Buy and other leading electronics dealers, offer consumers advanced picture ... Aaron's same store revenue up in Q2 Aaron’s Inc., today announced revenues and earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. For the second quarter of 2009, revenues increased 8% to $417.3 million compared to $387.0 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net earnings from continuing operations were ... Bargain Center makes Aaron's conversion Dale Frederick of Bargain Center, today announced his conversion to Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership Bargain Center, a company with stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas, today became the latest independent RTO company to convert to Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership. The deal, which includes the selling of three ... Harvey replaces Hickey at Aaron's Scott Harvey, new VP of management development for Aaron's Inc. Long-time Aaron's franchisee and corporate man Mike Hickey recently stepped down as vice president of management development for Aaron's Inc, making room for Scott Harvey. Hickey -- a 15-year Aaron's employee in charge of e-learning, field training and managers-in-training ... RTO Pro unveils dynamic new features After requests from its over 800 single and multi-location users, RTO Pro, a leading provider of point-of-sale rental-purchase software, announces two new features to its Windows-based program: Company-wide Inventory and Multiple Depreciation Methods. "This new functionality is just another example of how RTO Pro is able to use ... 25 Year Industry Vet Opens Premier in Murfreesboro New Premier dealers Tom and Martie Opial. Tom Opial opened his Premier Rental Purchase store in Murfreesboro, Tenn. last May, despite the fact that his building wasn’t finished, he had no sign, and it had been a rough road to getting a loan. But he had launched his ... Full-O-Pep company picnic ends with a bang Tori Hunt, nine, daughter of American Rental Manager Timothy Hunt, tries her hand on the mechanical bull Saturday. Over 400 employees, friends and family from Full-O-Pep's 57 American Rental and RNR Custom Wheel and Tire stores turned out for a company wide picnic and fireworks extravaganza Saturday at the ... American Rental Show wraps, company picnic begins American Rental Managers Terry Gross and Sharon Lidberg check out the latest product offerings from Guy Pasvogel of Dorrance Supply. Store and regional mangers made their final rounds to vendor booths today at the annual American Rental Product Experience Show at the Seasons Hotel in Nashville, Indiana where they ... American Rental Show hosts trainings, state association meeting Rental Purchase Dealers Association of Indiana President Dennis Adams (standing) leads the association's meeting Friday. Managers company-wide trekked to pastoral Nashville, Indiana Friday, for the 19th annual Full-O-Pep/American Rental Product Experience Show where a record number of vendors turned out to support the show at the Seasons Hotel Conference ... RimTyme kicks off customer appreciation events Throughout the first half of July, several RimTyme locations celebrated the “dog days of summer” by hosting customer appreciation events. In the past, to celebrate the summer season, RimTyme corporate-owned stores and franchise locations hosted parking lot auto shows and other customer-oriented events to exhibit rim brands such ... BlackBox GPS Announces the release of RoutePlanner BlackBox GPS, a leading provider of fleet solutions for delivery and service vehicles announced today the release of their fleet routing solution, RoutePlanner. BlackBox GPS RoutePlanner provides the ease and ability to promptly route your vehicles in Real Time with the click of a mouse. This highly anticipated solution, ... Broyhill enters RTO market Jim Vaughn, right, Broyhill rental channel representative, meets with APRO Membership Director Laurie Hill and Marketing Director Cindy Ferguson. Broyhill Home Furnishings, a division of Furniture Brands International, has its sites set on rent-to-own where representatives see the company's innovative product line as the perfect answer to more discriminating ... Nine vie for APRO Board of Directors In just over a month, members of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations will decide who will fill half the seats on the APRO Board of Directors. The official election takes place Aug. 31 during the general session of APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas. This ... High Touch pitches in for Habitat for Humanity A single, working mom wants a safer place to live and separate bedrooms for her two young children. High Touch wants to make a difference for the Lee family and other families in need. Both are getting their wish, thanks to a July 25 Habitat for Humanity workday and ... Measuring Up Expands Internet presence with social networking features Tony Craig, founder and president of Measuring Up and its parent corporation Right Choice Today, announced the expansion of its Internet presence for Measuring Up. The company added new features to its existing Web site and launched a new auxiliary site as part of Measuring Up's campaign to connect ... NEW VIDEO: IRDA Boys and Girls Club donation Watch video Members of the Illinois Rental Dealers Association July 7, became role models for the local business community after committing $21,000 for much needed capital improvements to a Springfield Boys and Girls Club forced to temporarily shut down next week due to state budget cuts. Read more. ... APRO's Rental Rountable brings together top minds in RTO Early Registration: July 15 APRO's popular rental roundtable session brings together the top minds in rent-to-own for an open forum on the issues affecting the industry. Moderator and keynote speaker Michael Hoffman will lead interactive discussion of nuts and bolts rent-to-own business issues including: Good Business Practices Economic Trends ... TLH Enterprises relocates its Alice, Texas ColorTyme TLH Enterprises, owner of more than 40 ColorTyme stores, relocated its ColorTyme store in Alice, Texas, to a more visible location – from one side of Main Street to the other. “Our store has been in Alice for about 15 years,” said Diana Cuellar, co-store manager. “... APRO Seminars help grow your RTO business APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying Show in Las Vegas offers a wide range of multi-faceted educational sessions that have something for everyone.Whether you're a store employee, manager, owner or corporate executive you will take away relevant information and strategies to help you do your job better.Choose the ... Indiana Dealers to shape legislative strategy next week The Rental-Purchase Dealers Association of Indiana will hold it's annual meeting at the American Rental/Full-O-Pep Trade Expo and Company Picnic at 10 a.m. at the Seasons Hotel and Conference Center in Nashville, Indiana July 17. Main order of business: negative rent-to-own legislation introduced in the state legislature last ... Illinois Rental Dealers step up when economy is down IRDA members present a check for $21,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois Tuesday. Members of the Illinois Rental Dealers Association Tuesday, became role models for the local business community after committing $21,000 for much needed capital improvements to a Springfield Boys and Girls Club ... Rent-A-Center donates furnishings, funding to Utica teen center Representatives from Rent-A-Center presented more than $6,800 in furnishings and electronic merchandise, as well as a $1000 check,to Utica Safe Schools Healthy Students program today. Rent-A-Center gave students involved in the Utica Safe Schools Healthy Students after-school advantage program another reason to check out The Underground Café ... APRO Scholarship Award entries due July 24 Click to play video. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is seeking qualified applicants for it's second annual scholarship competition open to all APRO rent-to-own employees and their children. Deadline: July 24, 2009 APRO's Scholarship Foundation will award $2,000 toward college tuition fees for the winning applicant who ... Convention: Early Registration Deadline July 15 Early Registration Deadline Next Week! The Rent-To-Own Industry Event of the Year Is Here Register by July 15 – Save $100! Register Now: Dealers Exhibitors Convention packages are $1,195 for Bally's and $1,295 for Paris, with discount, and include a four night hotel stay and complete registration ... UK's Brighthouse posts 21.5 percent profit gain BrightHouse CEO Leo McKee and business developer Hamish Paton at a meeting this summer with APRO officials in Austin, Texas. The UK's largest rent-to-own company, BrightHouse, today announced a 21.5 percent rise in full-year underlying profit and said current trading was in line with management expectations. The 177-store ... ColorTyme's biggest gets bigger: TLH Enterprises opens second Corpus Christi store TLH Enterprises, owner of more than 40 ColorTyme stores, opens its second store today in the “sparkling city by the sea,” Corpus Christi, Texas. “I have been working for TLH and ColorTyme for about 10 years,” said store manager Stella Griffin. “I was from ... Premier dealers turn "jailbirds" to send MDA kids to camp William Cuthbertson jailed to raise money for the Muscular Distrophy Association. Local business owners and community leaders from Clarksville, Tenn. were accused recently of “having a big heart” and were “arrested” and hauled off to “jail” on Thursday, June 18. Among them were Premier Rental-Purchase dealers ... APRO Golfers tee off at scenic Angel Park Angel Park Golf Club. This year's annual Tom Kitchens/Joe Eason Golf Tournament will be held on the Palm Course at the Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas during APRO's annual Convention. Registration Deadline: August 14 Find full tournament details and download entry form here. At almost 3,000 ... Aaron's Inc. Q2 Conference call July 22 Aaron’s, Inc. will host a conference call at 10:30 a.m. EST July 22 to discuss the company's second quarter 2009 results. There will be opening remarks and then questions and answers with Chairman Charlie Loudermilk, President/CEO Robin Loudermilk, COO Ken Butler, and Executive Vice President/CFO Gil Danielson. ... 'A breath of fresh air': Illinois RDA makes renovation possible at area Boys and Girls Club IRDA Board members. It wasn't the outreach project they'd planned to do; but it's the one that needed doing. The Illinois Rental Dealers Association Tuesday will formally present The Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois (BGCCIL) with a check for $21,000 at a press conference at 10 ... New Consumer Protection Agency could impact RTO bills The Obama administration yesterday sent a detailed proposal to Congress to create an agency to protect consumers and oversee nearly every facet of consumer lending. Though the bill, and the agency it proposes to establish – The Consumer Financial Protection Agency – does not name rent-to-own directly and is ... Employee and Customer of the Year: deadline July 24 Click to watch video. APRO's Employee and Customer of the Year Contest is On! Deadline July 24! The search is on for the rent-to-own customer and employee who best personify the spirit of the industry through their work on behalf of others. Nominations can be made online here or ... Minnesota Supreme Court: Franken wins, Dems at 60 The Minnesota Supreme Court today unanimously ruled former "Saturday Night Live" star Al Franken the winner of last November's Senate race, putting him on the brink of becoming a U.S. Senator and giving Democrats a dominant 60-vote supermajority in the Senate. In a unanimous 5-0 decision, the ... APRO Convention Update: Early bird registration July 15 The Rent-To-Own Industry Event of the Year Is Here Register by July 15 – Save $100! Register Now: Dealers Exhibitors Convention packages are $1,195 for Bally's and $1,295 for Paris, with discount, and include a four night hotel stay and complete registration for two people. For example, ... Rent-A-Center, Q2 2009 conference call broadcast July 28 Rent-A-Center will broadcast its quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 10:45 AM ET over the Internet. This call will be held to discuss the earnings release that will be issued after the close of the market on Monday, July 27, 2009. Audio of the call ... American Rental product expo, picnic set for July American Rentals General Manager David P. David tries his luck on the mechanical bull at last year's American Rental company picnic. American Rental, the third largest independent RTO company in the U.S., is gearing up for its 19th annual training expo and company picnic which this year includes ... Premier wraps midyear dealers retreat with open house The Premier Companies wrapped a successful midyear dealers retreat in Atlanta, Georgia Thursday with an open house for entrepreneurs interested in joining the Premier family. Over 90 dealers attended the retreat and took part in 15 offered workshops available to support dealers in their growth. Premier unveiled a number ... RAE Awards celebrate the industry's best ads: July 24 deadline Click to watch. The rent-to-own industry's most prestigious advertising competition is back. But if you want your ad or community relations program included in this year's 2009 Rental Advertising Excellence Awards (RAE) awards competition, you don't have time to waste. The RAE submission deadline is July 24, so click ... Newly elected councilman donates 1,000 DVDs to libraries Riverside City Councilman Paul Davis (center) with family at his swearing in ceremony this week. Riverside City Councilman-elect Paul Davis of Ward 4 was officially sworn into office this week, but he's already going to bat for local libraries. Davis, owner of Nations Rent-To-Own, who ran on a platform ... ColorTyme and RimTyme offer franchise financing guarantee ColorTyme and RimTyme rent-to-own companies offer franchise business opportunities with a franchise financing guarantee. If an approved franchisee does not receive financing, ColorTyme will refund the franchise fee. ColorTyme, Inc. is America’s oldest franchisor of independently owned-and-operated rent to own stores. ColorTyme’s history is rooted in the ... Countryside team volunteers for local campers Countryside Rentals Human Resources Director Jim Runnels pilots a boat full of Kamp Dovetail campers and volunteers. On a picture-perfect summer day, near a postcard lake in southwest Ohio, over 10 percent of the Countryside Rentals workforce was there to lend a hand for one of the largest summer ... Customers honored at Bargain Center Customer Appreciation Day Grand Prize raffle winner Ralph McCord atop his new Harley Davidson. Bargain Center -- a rent-to-own company based in Grove, Oklahoma -- recently held a customer appreciation event throughout all 14 of its store locations to thank its customers the communities it serves. “We really wanted to show ... APRO Convention registration open: Early bird discount deadline July 15 This year the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations returns to the "City of Lights" for the rent-to-own event of the year: APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying Show at Paris and Bally's, Las Vegas, Aug. 30 - Sept. 2. This year APRO offers attending dealers a $100 discount off ... ColorTyme bikers trek across U.S. for franchisee retreat ColorTyme Time Travelers. While many chose to endure air travel to Jackson Hole, Wyo., for ColorTyme’s 2009 Summer Meeting, a valiant group of franchise owners and corporate employees trekked across the country by motorcycle. The group named the Tyme Travelers, included Larry Hill, Mark Shealy, Nellie Rosete, Mark ... High Touch auto dial product helps cut costs High Touch, Inc., a technology solutions provider, will soon rollout a highly anticipated product that complements the company's PRO/Store point-of-sale software. Auto Dial Voice Messaging is designed to maximize staff efficiencies and minimize overhead, according to Jason Mock, Director of Enterprise Accounts for High Touch. Talley’s Beta Tests ... Local ColorTyme owners announce essay contest winners ColorTyme franchisee Louis Garcia presents laptop computers to local high school essay contest winners. Owners of five ColorTyme franchise stores in Maryland, Epic Ventures LLC today, announced the four winners of the 2009 Epic Ventures People Helping People Senior Essay Competition. Winners of the essay contest include Sloane Morgan ... Premier Rental-Purchase Donates $10K to Booker High School Premier dealer Calvin Cooksey and wife. Premier Rental-Purchase in Sarasota, Florida, is the proud No. one sponsor of Booker High School's sports program, having recently committed $10,000 to support the Booker Tornadoes. Premier Sarasota is a family-owned and operated rent-to-own store specializing in furniture, appliances and electronics. They ... ColorTyme franchisees, vendors pow wow in all day conference Yesterday, as part of the ColorTyme Summer Meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyo., franchise owners participated in an all-day conference where they met with several vendors. Vendor representatives provided a list of merchandise that franchisees could later purchase during a special "hot buy" session. ”I love the summer ... Heartland Show totals rock expectations Sale in progress on the show floor of the 2009 Heartland of America Trade Show. The economy may be rotten but you won't find evidence of that in show totals posted at the fifth annual Heartland of America Trade Show which wrapped up yesterday in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The ... Rent-A-Center commits to community at Wyoming store opening Customers in Riverton, Wyoming, and surrounding communities now have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center celebrated the opening of its newest store with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The new store is located in The Shoppes at Federal, ... Heartland training day adds new level of value to show Dan Green of Ashley Furniture shows off the engineering behind an Ashley Furniture recliner. The Heartland of America Trade Show today launched its much anticipated product training day where over 150 rent-to-own dealers will rotate through vendor led training sessions aimed at sharpening product knowledge at the store level ... Heartland Show wraps with awards banquet MRDA Executive Director Ken Steiner (l) with association president John Cleek Jr. Heartland of America Trade Show attendees packed the Granada Ballroom at the Lodge of the Four Seasons Resort Wednesday night for the annual awards banquet recognizing golf and bass tournament winners and reflecting on the association's and ... Relationships rule at Heartland Show National TV Sales and Rental company at the Heartland of America Show. Though purchase order totals will not be available until tomorrow, organizers of the Heartland of America Tradeshow are all smiles as activity in the main exhibit hall winds up Wednesday evening. Around 167 dealers representing 20 rent-to-own ... Dealers, vendors make Heartland Show networking events L to R: Sean Keefe (DSI), Larry Carrico (Rent One), Kelly Carrico (Rent One) and Dan Haight (Pioneer) enjoy a game of four man scramble Wednesday. Rent to own professionals took full advantage of recreational and networking opportunities today at the fifth annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show ... Jackson Hole hosts ColorTyme franchise summer meeting Starting today, the Snake River Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyo., will host ColorTyme’s Franchise Summer Meeting in which franchisees from around the country will gather to spend several days working with members of the ColorTyme corporate staff, collaborate with fellow franchisees and attend several vendor buying presentations. “... RTO dealers turn out for Heartland; attendance up 26 percent Clint Young (l) of Fisher & Paykel Appliances shows off one of the company's high tech washing machines to Murray Beck of Rent One. Rent-to-own dealers and vendors from over five states across the midwest trekked to the banks of The Lake of the Ozarks tonight to shatter attendance ... BlackBox GPS launches Imagery's "Company Cake" training BlackBox GPS, the leader in RTO Fleet Routing and Monitoring Solutions announced today their launch of Imagery Marketing’s Company Cake Training Course. The BlackBox GPS Company Cake Courses were developed to help RTO Managers effectively manage their fleet and improve the overall efficiency of their mobile workforce. The ... Rent-A-Center donates $10,000 to D.C. Food Bank Rent-A-Center's Dwight Dumler presents a check for $10,000 to Lynn Brantley of the Capital Area Food Bank. Rent-A-Center today donated $10,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank – the Capital region’s largest public, nonprofit food and nutrition education resource. The donated funds will help support the ... Above and beyond: RTO employee, customer of the year sought The search is on for the rent-to-own customer and employee who best personify the spirit of the industry through their work on behalf of others. These are people who inspire, help and sacrifice for the betterment of their families and/or communities. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations annually celebrates ... Rent One donates computer to youth program Rent One owner Larry Carrico, Rev. James Gordon, a youth advisor and several children at Rent One corporate offices yesterday. Rent One donated a laptop computer to the Southtown Youth Program in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, Wednesday. The program is run by a local church and coordinates a summer camp ... New York dealers hold successful legislative day NYSRDA annual membership meeting. Around 18 New York Rental Dealers from across the state turned out in Albany, New York, yesterday to meet and greet state lawmakers and promote a better understanding of the rent-to-own transaction's impact on consumers and the economy. The New York State Rental Dealers Association ... Training to highlight re-vamped Heartland Show Bass tournament at last year's Heartland Tradeshow. Next week the Heartland of America Trade Show in Lake Ozark, Missouri, will add training to it's enviable golfing, fishing, networking and buying bonanza, a move that will further fortify the show's regional legacy as a value packed company destination. Over 150 ... Easygates opens two new franchise stores Easygates -- the franchise division of Canada-based easyhome -- opened two new stores last week in San Marcos, Texas and Salina, Kansas. “We are elated to bring the easyhome concept to two new markets," said Bud Gates, chairman and CEO of easygates, "Trent McKenzie and Chuck ... Davis wins Riverside City Council Seat Riverside Ward 4 City Councilman Paul Davis. Listen to podcast. Rent-to-own dealer Paul Davis is the new Riverside Ward 4 City Councilman after winning a decisive victory over the two-term incumbent last night. Davis took home 52 percent of the vote in the race against Frank Schiavone in a ... Discover Rental Purchase launches franchise happiness guarantee In a business landscape cluttered with companies seeking franchise operators, Jim Steger thinks he may have it figured out. As Vice President of Franchise Development for Discover Rental Purchase, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Steger knows he is competing with hundreds, if not thousands, of U.S businesses who ... Rent-A-Center contributes $2K to library at store opening Starting today, customers in Novi, Michigan, and surrounding communities have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center is celebrating the opening of its newest store at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2. Featuring approximately 4,500 square ... APRO 2009 Scholar search begins APRO 2008 Scholarship winner Penny Wyatt (center) with then APRO President Larry Carrico (left) and Show Me Rent To Own owner Gary Romine. Watch Video. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is seeking qualified applicants for it's second annual scholarship competition open to all APRO rent-to-own employees and their ... Don's EZ Pay to open new store in July Arkansas-based Don's E-Z Pay is looking to open a fourth store in neighboring Idabel, Oklahoma this July, almost a year after the company's founder, Don Cecil died. Cecil's daughter, Rhonda Weatherford, a registered nurse, who has also managed the company's three existing stores for the past 10 years, said ... ColorTyme franchisees see big future in Canton Tony Trombley and Tom Smith Partner to Offer Superior Customer Service in New Store Canton, Ohio is now the home of a new ColorTyme store – co-owned by Tony Trombley and Tom Smith. Located near the corner of Whipple Avenue and Tuscarawas Street West in Canton Centre Mall, the ... ColorTyme store celebrates successful fundraiser for boy awaiting heart transplant It started with Hanover’s local ColorTyme store donating a laptop. Then it progressed to the development of a “Have a Heart, Give a Heart” fundraising campaign – all for Jarrett Peck, a 10-year-old boy who will soon undergo a complicated heart surgery. See previous story. Today, the ... RTO employee and customer of the year search is on Far right: APRO's 2008 Employee of the Year Bill Tennison of Heartland Furniture and Appliance. Watch video. The search is on for the rent-to-own customer and employee who best personify the spirit of the industry through their work on behalf of others. Nominations are being accepted now through July ... RNR continues to help feed hungry in Tampa Members of Grace Family Church serve meals in their outdoor soup kitchen set up in the parking lot of an RNR Custom Wheels & Performance Tire’s store in Tampa, Fla. RNR Custom Wheels & Performance Tire’s store on East Fletcher Avenue in Tampa, Florida, has been drawing ... DSI, Digital Delivery Group announce strategic alliance DSI Systems, the nation's largest distributor of satellite and consumer electronic equipment, and Digital Delivery Group (DDG), the leading convergence and digital products-focused distribution consortium, today announced a strategic partnership creating the DSI DDG Alliance. With 59 pickup facilities coast to coast, the alliance will provide custom integrators with ... Rent-A-Center Gift to benefit summer camps in Onondaga and Madison Counties New York State Sen. David Valesky joins Rent-A-Center representatives as they present Camp Healing Hearts with a check for $4,000. Rent-A-Center will help brighten summer vacation for more than 740 children attending Camp Lookout in Madison County and Camp Healing Hearts in Onondaga County. Representatives from 14 area ... Electronics lead consumer confidence rally Consumer confidence in the overall economy moved up sharply in May, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The CEA-CNET Indexes also show that consumers continue to feel more confident about future spending on technology and consumer electronics (CE). The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations ... Vendor Advisory Committee nominations due July 1 Seven seats on APRO's Vendor Advisory Committee are up for election this year and the nomination process is now underway. The Vendor Advisory Committee is open to any APRO Associate Member in good standing who desires to get more involved with the rent-to-own industry trade association. The election will ... Cleek's annual bowling event tops $100K mark John Cleek Jr.'s sixth annual "Bowling for Autism" event earlier this month raised $21,400 for the Judevine Center for Autism in Columbia, Missouri, bringing the six-year fundraising total for the event to $106,000. Money from the event held at the AMF Town and Country Lanes, ... Consumer confidence rallies for biggest jump in six years The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index last month posted its largest month to month gain in six years, rallying to an eight month high as consumers continue to gain footing in an economy rife with sluggish economic factors. The Index now stands at 54.9 (1985=100), up from 40.... Lynn Porter of RentQuik dies Longtime APRO member Lynn Porter, 53, of RentQuik died this Sunday afternoon of cardiac arrest. A memorial service has been scheduled for 4 p.m. at Freeman Harris Funeral in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Porter had been in business since 1985, and an APRO members since 1987, with six RentQuick stores ... Industry arguments begin in Mass. Supreme Court case Industry attorneys head to Boston June 9 to begin oral arguments before the Massachusetts Supreme Court over a multi-million dollar lawsuit that claims the state's 20 - year old RTO statute does not regulate RTO transactions. Read More. Last December the lawsuit a Massachusetts Federal District Court sent the ... Rent One first to donate to holiday fundraiser for troops JCOIF officials Sherri Meadows and Joyce Coorman accept a check from Rent One Owner Larry Carrico while Rent One managers Keen, Murray Beck and Trent Agin look on with other members of the JCOIF. Larry and Sharon Carrico and the entire Rent One family Thursday, kicked off the 2009 ... FRDA signs up dealers for new skips/stolen database Florida rental dealers discuss a new skips/stolen database at their annual association meeting last September. Buddy’s Home Furnishings, Rent King, and ColorTyme dealer Dave Pagano this week are the first companies to sign on to a new real time database rental dealers hope will allow them to reduce ... Consumer protection, regulation drive credit card reform A sweeping bill that would tame "abusive" practices by the credit card industry could make it's way out of the U.S. House of Representatives today after passing the Senate yesterday on a 90-5 vote. Propelled by a wave of anti-bank and pro-consumer sentiment, the bill would outlaw ... Dolezal named new High Touch CFO New High Touch CFO Vernon A. Dolezal. High Touch, a technology solutions provider, has hired Vernon A. Dolezal Jr., as director of finance and chief financial officer. The announcement was made by Wayne Chambers, High Touch CEO/president. Dolezal has 20 years of finance and accounting experience, including corporate finance ... Call for APRO Board nominations In just over three months, members of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) will play a key role in shaping the course of the rent-to-own trade association and the industry as well. Eight of 17 APRO Board seats are up for grabs at APRO's 2009 Convention and Buying ... ColorTyme, RimTyme name new communications head Ryan Alford, new corporate communications specialist for ColorTyme, RimTyme. ColorTyme and RimTyme announced today the hiring of Ryan Alford as the new corporate communications specialist. In his new role, Alford will lead both brands’ public relations strategies, assist with internal communications and, most importantly, support franchisees. Before joining ColorTyme ... Wayland Russell to headline Premier dealer retreat Wayland Russell, founder and former CEO of Rainbow Rentals, will address attendees at the Premier 2009 Dealer Retreat June 24. Russell will focus on the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit and explain how Rainbow’s mantra – “More, Better, Different” – continually challenged those within the organization to ... Past APRO President heads rental sales for King Koil Glenn Davis of King Koil Mattress Company. APRO past president Glenn Davis and Curtis Spain will head up the newly created national rental sales division for King Koil Mattress Company, he announced this week. Davis was president of APRO in 1985 and served as secretary for six years. He ... Registration opens for 2009 Midwest RTO Training Expo Packed show floor at last year's Midwest RTO Expo. Registration for the hottest regional RTO Training Expo has begun. The sixth annual Midwest RTO Training Expo -- the brainchild of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) -- kicks off September 29-30 at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center in ... New RTOHQ: The Magazine profiles industry lobbyists, "Niche" Connection By APRO Executive Director Bill Keese Prior to becoming our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant was fond of sipping brandy and smoking cigars in the lobby of the famed Willard Hotel, just two blocks from the White House. Folklore has it that America’s Civil War hero coined the ... Premier to host franchising open house The Premier Companies, one of the top five fastest growing young franchisors, is hosting an Open House for those interested in owning their own business or growing their business portfolio in the rent and sale of household, auto related and financial goods and services. The event will be held ... Georgia Dealers welcome Loudermilk October 7 The Georgia Rental Dealers Association (GRDA) annual membership meeting will be held 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Oct. 7 at the Marriot Airport Renaissance Hotel in Atlanta and will feature a talk from the head of Aaron's, Inc. The meeting will precede the TRIB Group’s Meeting ... Arkansas dealers elect new board New ARDA Officers and Board members. Around 30 Arkansas rental dealers met Wednesday to elect a new slate of board members and officers to their state dealers association and participate in a range of educational presentations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in West Little Rock. New board-members and officers ... WVRDA elects new officers, sets course for future West Virginia Officers: vice president Josh Hendricks, president Mike Courts and secretary/treasurer Rebecca Hollen. Around 16 rental dealers from 10 companies showed up at the Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna, West Virginia today to elect officers and come to grips with new regulations regarding the pricing of used ... Hanover ColorTyme rallies community support for boy's heart transplant Residents of McSherrystown, Hanover and surrounding Pennsylvania communities -- including the Hanover ColorTyme -- are combining forces to raise funds for a local 10-year-old in dire need of a heart transplant. The Community fundraiser is for Jarrett Peck a 10-year-old boy, who has had two open-heart surgeries, five stints, ... Re-tooled Heartland Show set for June 16-18 Dealers from at least five states will again head to the scenic Lodge of the Four Seasons Resort in Lake Ozark, Missouri, for the fifth annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show and Seminar June 16-18. Rent-to-own pros from Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri are expected and dealers ... Does FTC "Red Flags" rule apply to RTO? Ed Winn III By Ed Winn III, APRO Legal Counsel There is considerable press and palaver about the new FTC Red Flags rule, and what companies must do to get in compliance with it. You can read all about the rule at www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule. The first step to ... New ColorTyme opens with donation to child advocacy group Ribbon cutting ceremony for new ColorTyme in Augusta, Georgia. Bud Evans, owner of the new ColorTyme franchise store in Augusta, Georgia, cut the ceremonial red ribbon in front of his store April 30 to kick-off the grand opening celebration. Representatives from the mayor’s office and the chamber of ... Rent One takes on students in job shadowing program Rent One staffers Lori McGovern, Murray Beck, Chris Lowe and Donna Fally mentored local high school students in a job shadowing program Thursday. Rent One's Mt. Vernon, Illinois corporate staff grew by four yesterday as part of a new job shadowing initiative aimed at giving local high school students ... Easyhome Q1 results released Canadian-based rent-to-own Easyhome today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenue for the quarter increased 10.2% to $43.9 million compared with $39.8 million in the first quarter of 2008. Operating income was $4.4 million, down from $5.7 million for ... RTO vets open new Premier store in Coshocton, Ohio Jeff Gibson and Ron Semelsberger. When Ron Semelsberger decided to join the RTO industry 23 years ago, he had no idea it would lead him and his family toward three acquisitions, six different relocations and the ability to one day own his own business as a Premier franchisee. When ... Arkansas dealers gear up for spring meeting Arkansas dealers from across the state will convene next Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in West Little Rock. Members will elect directors to its board as well as officers during the packed agenda which also includes a talk by Chuck Sanders, Rent-A-Center Regional Director (R064) for the Dallas, ... CORT Furniture enters staging game Furniture rental company CORT is using its furniture muscle to help sell homes through a nationwide home staging program that will outfit empty homes homes for sale, according to the Washington Business Journal. The Fairfax, Virginia-based company also runs a corporate relocation service that includes helping sell the homes ... Voting begins in Paul Davis' council race Riverside City Council Candidate Paul Davis of Nations Rent-To-Own. Listen to podcast. Rent-to-own veteran Paul Davis' bid for a seat on the Riverside, California City Council began in ernest Monday as voters began receiving ballots for the mail-only election that will determine three council races. Davis, owner of two ... West Virginia dealers to study new pricing landscape, elect new officers WVRDA President Shawn DiLeo. When Shawn DiLeo, spearheaded the re-organization of the West Virginia Rental Dealers Association (WVRDA) two years ago, he was glad to have six dealers show up. A lot has changed since then. After two years as the WVRDA president, DiLeo is no longer managing stores ... RAC outfits rec-rooms for Fort Knox soldiers With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring program, soldiers at Fort Knox will enjoy new furnishings in six rest and recreation areas on the U.S. Army base. Three rooms in the 233rd Transportation Barracks, two rooms in the 19th Engineer’s Building and the reception area ... Theft on the rise, lash back with world's first free GPS tracking devices Merchandise theft and loss costs Americans over an estimated 50 billion dollars every year. Globally, hundreds of billions are lost annually. IContain Aims to remedy this problem. With the cost of loss prevention climbing in an effort to combat these increases in theft, loss, and damage, available solutions for ... CEA: Net-enabled TV's in high demand Demand for Internet-enabled televisions is growing rapidly, according to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The study, Net-Enabled Video: Early Adopters Only? found that about half of prospective TV buyers say they are likely to purchase an Internet-connected TV. The study reveals numerous ways consumers would ... Montana bill exempts rental goods from property tax A bill that will lighten the tax load on rent-to-own dealers in Montana became law last week after passing out of the state legislature one vote shy of unanimously. The new law will exempt from personal property tax "property (that) is owned by a business whose primary business ... Imagery welcomes vendors, clients to new digs Imagery Principal Marty Smith (right) discusses the company's newest offering, variable print on demand solution iDemandNOW, with open house attendees. After outgrowing their old digs and moving to a new building in April 2008, Imagery Marketing Group’s staff went to work. They worked on fliers and product development, ... GDP falls 6.1% in first quarter on record investment drop The U.S. economy again took a nosedive in the first quarter of the year as business investment declined at a record rate, the Commerce Department reported today. Real gross domestic product -- the inflation-adjusted, seasonally adjusted value of all goods and services produced in the United States -- ... RAC opens new store, commits $2,000 to Sheridan community Come April 1, customers in Sheridan, Wyoming, and surrounding communities have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center is celebrating the opening of its newest store at noon on Wednesday, April 29. Featuring 4,640 square feet of ... Northwest Rental Dealers meet May 14 The Northwest Rental Dealers Association will meet May 14 for the group's annual business meeting at the La Quinta Hotel in Tacoma Washington. The group, which represents the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, will meet to hear an update on Washington state legislative issues as well as ... Neyharts hold ColorTyme Easter Egg Hunt Lisa Neyhart, Easter egg hunt winner and Tom Neyhart. Tom Neyhart stood at the front of his ColorTyme store with arms folded, surveying his place of business with a sly smile. The store was clean and perfect, and everything was in place as usual – the electronics section was ... Aaron's reports record Q1 revenues Aaron’s, Inc. Monday, announced revenues and earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2009. For the first quarter of 2009, revenues rose 15% to $474.0 million compared to $412.7 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net earnings from continuing operations were $35.4 ... Rent-A-Center reports first quarter 2009 Results Rent-A-Center today announced revenues and earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. First Quarter 2009 Results Total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were $728.2 million, a decrease of $28.4 million from total revenues of $756.6 million for the same period in the ... DiLeo opens third ColorTyme in Kentucky Shawn DiLeo last Friday, opened his third ColorTyme in the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Georgetown, Kentucky. A ColorTyme franchisee since September 2008, DiLeo's two other stores, also in Kentucky, comprise the first phase of DiLeo's six store plan. "This is a great time to be in rent-to-own," DiLeo ... Buddy's car earns pole award at Talladega Tom Hessert and the Andy Belmont Racing Team accept the Menards Pole Award. Tom Hessert, in the Andy Belmont Racing owned Buddy’s Home Furnishings #1 Ford Fusion, earned his 1st career Menards Pole Award for the ARCA RE/MAX 250 race on Friday, April 24th at Talladega Superspeedway in ... Aaron's Q1 conference call tomorrow Aaron's Inc. will hold it's first quarter 2009 earnings conference call live tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. ET. Featured speakers include: Ken Butler, COO, Gilbert Danielson, EVP & CFO, Charlie Loudermilk, Chairman and Robin Loudermilk, President & CEO. The Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership division has 983 company-owned stores ... Fleet management systems key to RTO success In today’s business world, maintaining a strong competitive advantage is critical to achieving long term sustainable growth. In the past, RTO growth has been associated with effective marketing programs, improved customer service, and maintaining a great product margin. However during these difficult economic conditions, business owners and managers ... Legislative momentum strong at APRO Conference Shannon Strunk and Cynthia Baber-Strunk with Sen. Roger Wicker. Wicker agreed to sign on as an RTO co-sponsor today. Rent-to-own dealers and industry representatives headed to Capitol Hill en masse today for the second of a two day barrage of meetings with Congressional leaders in support of the Consumer ... Industry hits Capitol Hill Bob Lawrence, Ernie Lewallen, Joel Ehrlich and Scott Kinnear at the Longworth House Office Building Wednesday. Rent-to-own industry representatives from across the country this morning kicked off the first of a two day mission to send a message to the nation's lawmakers: rent to own legislation is good for ... RTO synergy at APRO Legislative Conference opener Frank Davis, senior policy analyst to RTO bill sponsor Rep. William Lacy Clay, praises the industry Tuesday night. More than 150 rent-to-own industry representatives from across the country packed the grand ballroom of the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. today to learn more about the intricacies of ... Son joins father at Rent One Rent One owner Larry Carrico welcomes son Steven Carrico as the company's new property development manager. Steven Carrico this week joined his father, Rent One owner Larry Carrico, on the Rent One team as the company's property development manager. For the past two and a half years, Steven, 24, ... Premier in Dayton Awards High School Student with Computer Scott Kinnear with new laptop winner Austin Reid. Dayton Premier Rental-Purchase, in conjunction with WRCX-TV 40 and The Ohio Lottery Commission, awarded Vandalia Butler High School Senior Austin Reid with a brand new Acer Lap Top Computer. The computer was part of the Student Achiever Initiative, an award given ... ColorTyme backs industry at APRO Legislative Conference ColorTyme, America’s oldest rental-purchase franchisor, has turned out in force for the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations’ (APRO) 2009 Dave Egan Legislative Conference scheduled for April 21 - 23 in Washington, D.C. More than 150 attendees representing close to 50 rent-to-own companies will convene this week at ... Home Express expands with first licensee location Rent-to-own newcomer Home Express celebrated the grand opening of its first licensee location in Jeffersonville, Indiana Friday. With the strong performance of the six company owned locations, Penny Neace will head up Home Express' first licensee store and kick off a new development phase for the company, now only ... Rent One donates van to Danny Davis Computer Training Center Rent One's Trent Agin and Larry Carrico with Lowry Taylor. Mt. Vernon Illinois-based Rent One yesterday donated a fully reconditioned van to an innovative Chicago based training program, named after rent-to-own bill co-sponsor Rep. Danny K. Davis. The Danny K. Davis Job Training Program (DKDJTP) is a "hands ... Rent-A-Center helps boost Literacy program in Oswego County Xavier Dominicis (center), vice president public affairs for Rent-A-Center with Sen. Neil Breslin (l) and Jane Murphy, executive director for LIteracy Volunteers of Oswego County at the presentation of the new learning center for Literacy Volunteers at the YMCA in Oswego. Rent-A-Center’s most recent Random Act of Caring ... Countryside bowlers raise money for family fighting cancer Beulah, Brittney and Don Riffle at Countryside Rent-2-Own's "Bowling 4 Brittney" fundraiser. Countless times Ben Davis has gotten sweaty and knocked down some wood at Trio Lanes in Wellston, Ohio. But never had hurling his ball down the alley had more meaning or impact than earlier this week, ... Ohio RTO rivalry enters round three Mike Tissot and Gary Ferriman compete for Ohio RTO bragging rights this week. Ohio rent-to-own company owners Mike Tissot of Countryside Rentals and Gary Ferriman of Showplace Rent To Own this week are furthering their legendary rivalry this week, pursuing a no holds barred rally to gain customers. The ... RTO House bill gains five, ups total to 53 Georgia Rep. Tom Price is the 14th member of the House Committee on Financial Services to support H.R. 1744. Industry congressional leaders learned today five new House co-sponsors committed to support the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act, marking the largest show of support prior to APRO's Annual Legislative ... Bestway acquires F.A.N. stores Dallas-based Bestway Rent To Own, today announced the acquisition of four F.A.N. Rent To Own stores, raising the company's total store count to 77. The four purchased stores are located in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Russellville, Arkansas. The acquisition leaves F.A.N. owner ... Best: Briley, Sayre tie for top Aaron's franchise Kelly Sayre, owner of Alliance Rental, tied for Aaron's top franchise Tuesday. Aaron's wrapped up its annual managers meeting Tuesday night, with a star studded awards banquet honoring the best performing franchises, company stores and managers at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. APRO Vice President ... Aaron's guides massive community outreach in DC Aaron's emcee Michael Blair fires up runners before Aaron's first ever Wounded Warrior 5K at the company's annual managers meeting in Maryland. More than 1,000 Aaron's franchise owners, managers and employees braved drizzly rain Tuesday morning to take part in the company's largest ever community outreach campaign involving ... Aaron Rents becomes Aaron's, Inc. Effective April 20, Aaron Rents, will change its name to Aaron's, Inc. according to Robin Loudermilk Jr., Aaron's president and CEO, who officially unveiled the new name Monday evening to 2,000 associates in attendance at Aaron's National Managers Meeting held in Washington, D.C. "Aaron's is creating ... Aaron's launches managers meeting, historic community projects top agenda Aaron's Dream Team dancers kick off the company's national meeting at the Gaylord Convention Center in Maryland. Close to 2,000 franchise owners, managers and divisional vice presidents from Aaron's 1,560 store rent-to-own chain opened the company's annual managers meeting Monday at National Harbor, Maryland, with a high ... Easyhome 2008 annual report details new initiatives, growth opportunities Canadian-based rent-to-own company easyhome, today released it's 2008 annual report detailing the company's performance last year and growth opportunities for its franchise division, easygates, which is poised to open 10-15 new locations this year. In the past five years, easyhome has expanded the number of stores from 131 to ... TARA Convention and Buying Show exhibitor contracts available online Today, the Texas Association of Rental Agencies announced the dates for its 26th Annual Convention & Southwest Buying Trade Show will be October 11-12, 2009, at the Hotel InterContinental-Dallas, a few blocks from the Galleria shopping area. "And this is only one of the many improvements your TARA ... ORDA elects Kinnear president, moves Midwest Expo dates New ORDA officers: (l to r) Joel Elrich, treasurer, Scott Kinnear, president, Mark Kohler, vp, Tony Craig, secretary (not pictured).. Around 18 rent-to-own dealers from 11 companies turned out today for the Ohio Rental Dealers Association spring business meeting in Columbus where they elected a new president and set ... Conference sponsors support RTO legislative agenda APRO's 16th Annual Legislative Conference comes to Washington, D.C. April 21-23 and hundreds of rent-to-own dealers, vendors and employees will head to Capitol Hill to put a human face on the industry and urge passage of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act -- a bill that would regulate ... ColorTyme store manager supports child in need of heart transplant Maria Brooks, ColorTyme store manager in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Maria Brooks, ColorTyme store manager in Hanover, Pennsylvania, likes getting to know her customers. She says over time she gets to hear their life stories and she feels lucky to be in a position to ‘hear and serve’. Her philosophy ... BlackBox GPS, TruckSkin partnership delivers strong ROI BlackBox GPS, a leading provider of GPS Monitoring Solutions for Delivery and Service Vehicles, today announced TruckSkin -- maker of interchangeable banners, decals, and adhesive wraps for fleet vehicles -- has become a Licensed BlackBox GPS Authorized Dealer. The Authorized Dealer Agreement between BlackBox GPS and TruckSkin will provide ... RAC 2008 annual report: acquisitions, community intitiatives lead agenda Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest rent-to-own company, today released it's 2008 annual report on the company's investor relations Web page. Download Rent-A-Center annual report here. The 87-page report contains a forecast for future growth that details the opportunities for expansion both nationally and internationally through further acquisitions and consoladations. "... RAC lends hand to Pennsylvania fire victims With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring initiative, citizens of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, continue to piece together homes and communities destroyed by arson in dozens of fires in and around this struggling steel town. Nearly 50 fires have been set in Coatesville since February 2008 and 20 nearby. ... Almo adds Fujifilm digital cameras, accessories Almo Corporation today announced that Fujifilm's line of digital cameras and accessories is now available to their customers. As the nation’s largest consumer electronics and appliance distributor, Almo offers an extensive lineup of consumer-friendly digital imaging products from the industry’s top brands, which now encompasses Fujifilm. Almo ... Rent-to-Own stores saw furniture fly out the door in Q1 Furniture rentals were up for a number of franchise and independent rent-to-own dealers in the first three months of 2009, according to industry announcements and informal interviews. ColorTyme, the nation's oldest rent-to-own franchise, announced today its franchisees reported an increase in furniture rentals in Q1 2009, even though traditional ... Rent-A-Center seeks $150 million redemption Rent-A-Center, the nation's largest rent-to-own operator, today announced that it has provided notice to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, the indenture trustee, of its election to redeem $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 7½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 (the "Redeemed ... Easygates announces new franchise stores in Texas and Arkansas Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, today announced two more franchises are opening stores in the U.S. Both stores will open on April 4, one on South Congress in Austin, Texas and the other in the Geyer Springs Shopping Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. "We are ... Aaron's commits to historic community outreach in D.C. In two weeks, Aaron Rents will embark on a massive community outreach agenda in Washington, D.C. that will coincide with the company's national manager's meeting and first ever legislative conference. Close to 2,000 franchise owners, managers and divisional vice presidents from Aaron's 1,560 store rent-to-own chain ... Epic Ventures sponsors senior essay competition Epic Ventures, a ColorTyme franchise company announced today it is sponsoring an essay competition for 2009 seniors graduating from high schools in the areas surrounding their Maryland stores. Epic Ventures, ColorTyme will donate a laptop computer to the top two senior essays in this judged competition. Essay Topic: With ... Zagar opens Premier store in Jacksonville, Florida New Premier Franchisee Mike Zagar. Mike Zagar opened his Premier Rental-Purchase store in Jacksonville, Florida last month, armed with 14 years of industry experience. As a former Rainbow and RAC market manager, he was ready to take the next step and own his own business, turn a profit for ... Aaron Rents Q1 2009 Earnings Conference Call April 28 Aaron Rents will hold its live Q1 2009 Earnings Conference Call on April 28 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Featured speakers include: Ken Butler, COO, Gilbert Danielson, EVP & CFO, Charlie Loudermilk, Chairman and Robin Loudermilk, President & CEO. More details. mevans@rtohq.... Seven new co-sponsors join RTO House bill Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri is one of seven new co-sponsors to sign on to progressive rent-to-own legislation in the U.S. House. Seven new co-sponsors today signed on to a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would define the rent-to-own transaction as a lease and ... Oneida Rent-A-Center helps local family Oneida County Habitat for Humanity of New York state received a little help from the local Rent-A-Center store in Oneida, New York for one of the organization's most recent home building projects. The Clark family of four began moving into their new Deansboro home in early March and was ... Credit-card reform bill edges out of committee Credit card reform legislation narrowly edged out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee Tuesday on a 12 to 11 vote that has bolstered consumer groups and drawn the ire of financial firms who say the legislation will make it even more difficult to extend credit. Passage of the ... March consumer confidence flat The Conference Board, which tracks an index on consumer confidence, said the index, which had declined sharply in February, was flat in March. The Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 26.0 (1985=100), up from 25.3 in February. The Board's Present Situation Index declined to 21.5 from ... Sen. Isakson supports RTO bill Georgia Sen. John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson Georgia Sen. John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson this morning, signed on as the sixth co-sponsor of S. 738 -- The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act -- according to an aide with bill sponsor Sen. Mary Landrieu's office. New co-sponsors typically appear in ... Bird elected new vice president of NERDA NERDA Vice President Ray Bird. The New England Rental Dealers Association (NERDA) this morning, elected ColorTyme Franchisee Ray Bird Jr. as the association's vice president. Bird, who owns one store in Providence, Rhode Island, was elected at the association's first official meeting at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, ... Sen. Landrieu introduces RTO companion bill U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today, introduced the Senate version of the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act -- S. 738 -- on the floor of the Senate with five original co-sponsors who have agreed to support the bill, which would define the no-debt ... Economy gives rise to increasing theft, insurance rates Jeanette Beardsley, CPIW, AIS with Walter L. Clark and Associates, an APRO endorsed insurance provider. Rent-to-own store break ins are on the rise. The industry has noticed an increase in store thefts, "smash and grabs" and vehicular "smash and grabs" especially in cases where jewelry cases or ... New York Assemblyman Camara introduces price control bill New York Assemblyman Karim Camara introduced Assembly bill 7180 that would impose price controls on rent-to-own agreements. Assembly bill 7180 is now the seventh negative bill introduced in the New York legislature this session. Assembly bill 7180 has been referred to the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee chaired by ... New York dealers rally for uphill legislative battle, commit to Special Olympics From left: NYSRDA secretary/treasurer Greg Heck, president Dave Edwards, vice president Cathy Skula and Dwight Dumler, senior vice president of government affairs for Rent-A-Center. New York rental dealers from across the state turned out Thursday to assess a gloomy state legislative climate that has already seen the introduction of ... UPDATED: Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act introduced with record 41 original co-sponsors U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay. U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO) today introduced HR 1744, The Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act, on the House floor with a record 41 original co-sponsors already signed on in support of the legislation that would define the debt-free rent-to-own transaction in ... Delaware/New Jersey Rental Dealers Association formed Joe Romano, newly elected president of the Delaware/New Jersey Rental Dealers Association. Over one dozen rent-to-own professionals representing six companies met yesterday to form the Delaware/New Jersey Rental Dealers Association at the Marriott Trenton in Trenton, New Jersey. Attendees elected Joe Romano, regional director for Rent-A-Center, was elected the ... No fooling, High Touch is 25 Pioneering rent-to-own software company High Touch will celebrate 25 years of fine-tuning business software on April Fool's Day next week. In a recent interview in the Wichita Eagle, High Touch co-founders Mark Lenz and David Glover said April 1 will mark the quarter century anniversary of the software company ... Grace Family Soup Kitchen calls RNR home Volunteers from the Grace Family Soup Kitchen feeds the community from an RNR parking lot in Tampa, Florida. If you’re ever ridden down E. Fletcher Avenue in Tampa, Florida, on a Monday or Tuesday evening, you can’t miss the crowd of people in front of RNR Custom ... TRIB Group President Lewallen elected to third term Re-elected TRIB Group President Ernie Lewallen. In its final order of business Wednesday, the TRIB Group Board of Directors wrapped up the group's annual convention and buying show in Dallas by electing officers. Current board president Ernie Lewallen, of UHR Rents, will retain his position after winning re-election by ... Rent-A-Center outfits new Big Brothers Big Sisters office With help from the Rent-A-Center Random Act of Caring initiative, Gulf Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters of Galveston will be able to better serve local youth and families from a fully furnished new office. Their previous location was destroyed six months ago when Hurricane Ike slammed ashore. Big Brothers ... New RTOHQ: The Magazine celebrates ColorTyme Introduction by APRO Executive Director Bill Keese: Thirty years is a long time—and the world has changed considerably since 1979. That year, the price of a first-class postage stamp was 15 cents; today, it is 42 cents (and, in May, will increase to 44 cents). The median household ... CEA-CNET: Consumer confidence highest in 13 months Consumer confidence in the overall economy increased in March to its highest level in more than a year, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET (www.CNET.com). Although consumers reported improved expectations for the broader economy, the CEA-CNET Indexes also show that ... Beville honored with top TRIB award, members purchase $23 million at tradeshow TRIB Executive Director Dennis Shields, "Slats" Award Winner Terry Beville and TRIB President Ernie Lewallen. Long-time TRIB board member Terry Beville of Buddy's Home Furnishings was honored Tuesday night with the Norman W. "Slats" Slatton Sr. President's Award -- TRIB Group's most prestigious honor. The award -- ... VENDOR PODCAST: Ray Oribello, BriteLite Ray Oribello senior vice president of BriteLite. Listen to podcast. Ray Oribello is the senior vice president of BriteLite a 14-year-old company that offers a line of DJ audio rack systems for home and professional use. Kits start in the low $600's to the $1,200. BriteLite is a ... NEW PODCAST: Ernie Lewallen, TRIB Group president TRIB Group President Ernie Lewallen. Listen to podcast. Ernie Lewallen, a 28-year rent-to-own veteran, has served as TRIB Group's president for the past two years. He also owns 10 UHR Rents stores and three customer wheel and tire rental stores. Lewallen is a past APRO president who has been ... NEW PODCAST: Kevin Quinn, Quality Rentals Kevin Quinn of Quality Rentals. Listen to podcast. Kevin Quinn is the owner of 20 Quality Rentals rent-to-own stores and two RNR Custom Wheels and Tires stores, all in Washington. Kevin, a past president of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, has been a TRIB Group member since the ... VENDOR PODCAST: Tony Farrell, PTS Financial Services Tony Farrell of PTS Financial Services. Listen to podcast. Tony Farrell is the owner of PTS Financial Services, one of the largest and oldest successful independent tax service providers in the country since 1988. PTS Financial Services provides "in-store" tax services for rent-to-own dealers and was one of ... TRIB Show rates a "win" for dealers, vendors Dick Klein of Steve Silver Company, shows off dinning room sets. The TRIB Group wrapped up its 2009 Buying Show today with high ratings from both dealers and vendors who set up camp for the last two days at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, where a record 85 ... NEW PODCAST: Dan Fisher, Majik Rent-To-Own Dan Fisher of Majic Rent-To-Own of Pennsylvania. Listen to podcast. Dan Fisher is the owner of four Majik Rent-To-Own stores in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg Pennsylvania. Fisher got his start in rent-to-own in 1984 when his father -- who owned a video rental store -- started allowing customers to ... NEW PODCAST: David Moore, Marketing Director Countryside Rent-To-Own David Moore, marketing director, Countryside Rent-To-Own. Listen to podcast. David Moore is the Marketing Director for Countryside Rent-To-Own, one of the most active and dynamic rent-to-own companies in the country. In this exclusive APRO Podcast, Moore, who has previously worked in newspaper and radio advertising before putting in his ... NEW PODCAST: Lyn Leach, TRIB Group Vice President TRIB Group Vice President Lyn Leach of Ace Rent-To-Own. Listen to podcast. Lyn Leach is the vice president of TRIB Group a past president of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations and owner of 14 Ace Rent-To-Own stores in Nebraska and Iowa. Leach started in the rent-to-own industry in ... TRIB elects board members, readies for new challenges Attendees at TRIB Group's annual membership meeting in Dallas. TRIB Group members carried the momentum of last night's Hot Show -- in which rent-to-own dealers bought $3.6 million in special priced merchandise -- into their annual membership meeting in Dallas Monday morning, electing three new directors to their ... TRIB Hot Show posts $3.6 million, vendors honored Bidding frenzy at the TRIB Hot Show Sunday. TRIB Group, the rent-to-own industry's seminal buying group, jump started its convention and buying show in Dallas Sunday, by racking up $3.6 million worth of purchase orders during the group's annual "Hot Show" auction. Around 400 rent-to-own dealers and ... NYSRDA to stay legislatively responsive, active in community NYSRDA President Dave Edwards at the association meeting last year in Verona, New York. The New York State Rental Dealers Association hopes to have a repeat performance of last year's highly attended meeting when it reconvenes next week at the Turning Stone Casino in Verono, New York March 26. ... Franchising Times: Premier is 5th fastest growing young company Franchise Times today named Premier Rental Purchase the fifth fastest growing young franchise in its annual Fast 55 survey of franchise companies. To make the list companies must be five years old or younger and must exhibit positive franchise unit growth for each year during this period. Premier Rental ... TRIB Appliance Focus: GE GE Appliances is behind a quiet revolution of the laundry business. “Our newest top load washers using GE’s patented HydroWave Wash System are so technologically advanced that they not only do a better job of washing the clothes, but they do it in a very, very quiet ... TRIB Appliance Focus: Speed Queen Speed Queen has begun its second century in the laundry business by giving its commercial quality washer and dryers for the home a control makeover and new knobs. “We’ve put quite a bit of time and thought into the newly designed graphics and control knobs. Our goal ... TRIB Appliance Focus: Whirlpool High-efficiency. Top-load. Hot new color – Lunar Silver. Put these three features together and you’ve got an idea of the Whirlpool brand Cabrio laundry pair’s unique position in the fabric care industry. THE TOP-LOAD THAT SAVES LIKE A FRONT LOAD Inside, innovations like the unique wash plate ... Premier's Trooper Earle on RTO and the current economy Premier's Trooper Earle Most people, including me, had no idea just how bad the economy is and how terribly close to an economic meltdown – like the Great Depression – we came. Seriously, it was a matter of days before life as we know it was about to change ... TRIB Computers/Software Focus: CybertronPC As one of the premier computer vendors in the RTO Industry, CybertronPC, at the upcoming TRIB convention, introduces the newest edition to their gaming/desktop line-up: The “Ferrari Red” Formula 430 Model. In the spirit of cutting-edge race car design, this sexy model is rendered in high gloss metallic ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: D&H Distributing D&H Distributing, the national computer products and consumer electronics distributor, will feature Lenovo’s ThinkPad and IdeaPad Series notebooks and netbooks; plus the Aspire One netbook from Acer at booths T327 & T329 at the TRIB Group Show. Both Lenovo and Acer offer high performance mobile units at ... TRIB Computers/Software Focus: High Touch Helping its clients achieve a higher level of success is High Touch, Inc.’s continued service mission. The company’s software and solutions provided for Showplace, Inc., is an example of how the Internet is becoming a necessary business tool for increasing store revenues, says John Rogers, High ... TRIB Computers/Software Focus: PCRental Agent PCRental Agent this week announced the addition of a Rental PC Backup and Restore feature designed specifically for rent-to-own dealers. The feature - now part of the standard PCRental Agent software package - can restore used computers to rent-ready condition in thirty minutes. PCRental Agent® is the most powerful ... TRIB Computers/Software Focus: RSSS For over 25 years, RSSS has been a leading innovator of technological solutions for the rent-to-own industry. To continue that tradition, RSSS is proud to announce some exciting new items for the TRIB show including those that address online web payments. Side effects of online web payments have been ... Almo 2009 expos kickoff in May Almo brings new product lines and incredible buying deals to dealers nationwide through their 2009 Consumer Electronics & Appliance Expos. Almo Corporation, a leading U.S. distributor of consumer electronics and appliances, today announced their 2009 Almo Consumer Electronics & Appliance Expo schedule. These regional expositions feature more than ... Rent-A-Center opens first Better Living Store, donates $3,000 Customers in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and surrounding communities now have a new choice available when it comes to leasing or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Featuring approximately 3,800 square feet of high-quality merchandise, the store is located at 650 Portland Street in Dartmouth. Better Living will ... TRIB Furniture Focus: Ashley Furniture As the nation's top-selling furniture brand, Ashley Furniture Industries continues to dominate the industry and differentiate its offerings by working directly with rent-to-own companies as a complete business partner. "What some other companies might call ‘sales reps' our company calls ‘marketing specialists'," said Jim Williams, ... TRIB Furniture Focus: Home Line Industries Home Line Industries headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, strives daily to be the most reliable supplier of home furnishings in the industry. With over 40 years experience, Home Line has evolved from a furniture store, to a wholesale distributor, to an international furniture source that caters to retailers throughout the ... TRIB Furniture Focus: Serta Serta Mattress will be offering tremendous savings on its popular mattress collections as well as a one-time only advertising offer to RTO partners at the upcoming Buying Show in Dallas. The bedding brand leader is offering a show exclusive of $50 off any Queen or King Perfect Sleeper set ... TRIB Furniture Focus: Welton USA Welton USA has designed, assembled and distributed high quality furniture for over 25 years. Welton provides exceptional furnishings for the furniture industry. Our exacting standards have earned the trust of furniture customers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Welton USA's 552,000 square foot distribution center is ... TRIB Games Focus: Florida State Games Florida State Games offers gaming expertise to dealers and merchandise for a growing $19 billion industry. There’s no denying that video games are an extremely profitable and expanding RTO category now reaching every age demographic and economic level. Retail sales in the video game industry approached $19 billion ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: Central File Marketing Central File Marketing has long been the industry leader specializing in direct mail marketing. Since 1994 Central File has been developing and producing successful direct mail campaigns that get "trackable results"! "We do one thing and we do it better" says Al Benson, sales director, since ... DSI announces electronic expos DSI Systems is proud to announce their 2009 Electronic Expos coming to Dallas on April 8th, Phoenix on April 29th, Columbus on May 6th, Atlanta on May 13th and Des Moines on May 20th. Each Electronic Expo will feature a tradeshow style environment where dealers will be able to ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: Blackbox GPS BlackBox GPS, a new APRO associate member, announces the release of a remarkable, yet easy-to-use, GPS monitoring application specifically designed for tracking and monitoring RTO delivery vehicles at an exceptionally low cost. In partnership with TRIB Group, BlackBox GPS offers their members GPS fleet monitoring solutions which provide the ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: Benefit Marketing Solutions Economic times are difficult. The jobless rate is the highest it’s been in the past 25 years. Over seven percent of Americans are out of work. Customers are being laid-off. Companies are downsizing or closing, Jobs are being terminated. This affects your business because when this happens to ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: DATATrue It’s a fact of life that not everyone is as honest as we’d like them to be. While some omissions of fact may be innocent enough (such as inadvertently switching digits in a phone number) others are not (falsifying a social security number). Regardless of which occurs ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: Imagery Marketing Group Known by many as the premier advertising agency of the RTO industry, Imagery Marketing Group supports its substantial rent-to-own client base with a multimedia marketing approach that empowers clients to reach their audience through TV, radio, web, and print advertising. “We encourage our clients to increase brand awareness ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: O'Rourke Sales Company O’Rourke Sales Company is the leader in distribution for the RTO industry, being a preferred supplier for over 40 years. Adding Kenmore, America’s most recognized appliance brand, delivers rental customers affordability without sacrificing quality and reliability. The addition of Kenmore’s complete lineup of refrigeration, ranges and ... TRIB Special Products/Services Focus: SED SED International announced it will be exhibiting at the TRIB Brandsource Summit in Dallas, March 22-25, 2009. A leading distributor in the rent-to-own market, SED has been a long-time partner with the TRIB group, exhibiting at past events and providing its members with custom product and program solutions. SED ... TRIB Specialty Products/Services Focus: Silko Radio Silko Radio has been in business for over 40 years specializing in refurbished consumer electronics with an emphasis on Sony laptops, digital cameras, and small electronics including several brands of GPS devices and LCD TV's and home theatre systems. Silko Radio has four warehouse distribution centers in the U.... Keller's to Aaron's conversion finalized A second Missouri rent-to-own chain today, finalized an agreement with Aaron Rents to convert four of its five stores to Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership franchise stores. John and Barb Keller, owners of five Keller's Rental Place Stores in five separate cities will sell their St. Roberts store to ... TRIB Group rallies for annual buying show blitz TRIB Group, America's oldest and most respected rent-to-own buying group, will again co-locate with the nation's largest retail buying group, AVB-BrandSource, for TRIB's annual buying show and membership meeting March 22-25 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, next week where more than 80 rent-to-own exhibitors will show their ... Florida dealers to team with state AG against cybercrime, meet 19 legislators FRDA members meet with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The Florida Rental Dealers Association (FRDA) marked it's 10th annual state legislative conference with a meeting with Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum March 11 in Tallahassee. Florida dealers had an informal "sit-down" with McCollum to discuss the rent-to-own industry ... Credit Limits and Credit Scores Continue to Shrink The Federal Reserve reported 45% of of U.S. banks reduced credit limits for new or existing credit card customers in the fourth quarter of 2008. Add to the fact that financial analysts predict that up to $2 trillion in credit card lines will be eliminated in the next ... RAC donates $2,000 to new home Colorado Springs Starting tomorrow, customers in Colorado Springs and surrounding communities have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center is celebrating the opening of its newest store at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13. Featuring 3,744 square feet of ... Sen. Schumer supports creating Consumer Protection Commission U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer. U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced today he is co-sponsoring legislation by U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) to create a Financial Product Safety Commission, a single government agency in charge of ensuring consumer protections regarding financial products. The proposed commission ... Big Brothers Big Sisters Benefits from Rent-A-Center Fund-Raiser From March 13 through April 11, customers and area residents can visit their neighboring Rent-A-Center to donate one dollar and sign a colorful spring egg to raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Rent-A-Center's more than 3,000 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico participate in the ... Rent-to-own tips for consumers in tough economic times In tough economic times, rent-to-own can be a viable means for millions of American consumers to acquire appliances, furniture, electronics and computers, according to a recent article on MSNBC. Especially at a time when consumer credit is scarce and when existing credit lines are being cut, the rent to ... Easyhome Q4 report caps "challenging and disappointing year" easyhome, today announced its fourth quarter earning results for the year ended December 31, 2008. Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 was $44.1 million, an increase of $5.3 million or 13.5% compared with the same period a year ago. Operating income decreased to $3.... Kniesly takes reigns of GRDA New GRDA President Dan Kniesly of Easy Rentals. The Georgia Rental Dealers Association (GRDA) Board of Directors, unanimously affirmed Dan Kniesly of Easy Rentals as the new GRDA president during a conference call yesterday . Dan replaces former GRDA president Andrea Bozeman, who resigned recently due to personal reasons. Bozeman ... Florida Dealers head to capital next week Members of the Florida Rental Dealers Association head to Tallahassee, Florida, next week for their annual state legislative conference March 10-12. This marks the 10th year Florida dealers have made an appearance on the state house steps and the effort has paid off in the eyes of FRDA President ... Dodd, Schumer aim to strengthen consumer protections Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said Tuesday a new emphasis on consumer protections would accompany the coming overhaul of the nation’s financial regulations, according to Congressional Quarterly. According to the article, Dodd cites a failure to adequately protect consumers and ... Premier's Serina opens computer repair service in Newberry Bob Serina family. Premier Rental-Purchase owner Bob Serina announced today he will will expand his furniture, appliance and computer rental business in Newberry, South Carolina, to include computer repair. According to Serina, the service has been long awaited in Newberry County, the closest alternative being 35 miles away. He ... Buddy's grows legacy with licensing expansion Buddy's Home Furnishings -- one of the premier independent rent-to-own companies -- is continuing its tradition of innovation and customer service through an aggressive licensing campaign that has expanded the company by 16 stores and five states in just under two years. Under the direction of seasoned RTO veteran ... Whirlpool awarded 10th Energy Star Award Whirlpool, the world’s leading home appliance manufacturer, has been recognized with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The award recognizes the company’s leadership in offering consumers appliance energy and water ... Americans saving more, January spending at two year high U.S. households saved most of the extra income they got in January from annual cost-of-living raises, boosting personal savings rates to the highest they've been since 1994 according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Annual pay raises and cost-of-living increases sent disposable real incomes higher in January and ... Rentastic '09: Self-evaluation, work-life balance top meeting Rent One management team at annual membership meeting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Rent One senior and store managers from across the company's 42 store network suited up this week for Rentastic '09 -- Rent One's annual managers meeting in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where the company celebrated it's successes and ... RimTyme makes tracks in Ohio, opens first store in Whitehall Fast-growing custom-wheels-and-tires retailer RimTyme has opened its first Ohio store at 310 E. Main Street at Robinwood Avenue in Whitehall, the company has announced. RimTyme stores specialize in quality wheels and tires from major manufacturers and offer immediate while-you-wait installation. RimTyme said its huge inventory and wide range of ... Leadership changes mark high energy Kentucky meeting KYRDA Board of Directors. The Kentucky Rental Dealers Association (KYRDA) yesterday showed just what a difference a year can make. More than 30 dealers representing 15 rental companies turned out for KYRDA's annual membership meeting in Louisville -- an impressive show of strength for an organization that was only ... American Rental, Colorama acquire Zion's Rental Purchase stores David P. David, American Rental. Bloomington, Indiana, based American Rental recently acquired four of five Zion's Rental Purchase stores in a deal finalized late yesterday that will raise the company's total store count to 54. David P. David, owner of American Rental, said part of the arrangement, which originally ... SEI/Aaron's celebrates excellent 2008 performance on cruise Top SEI performers: John Saladin (District Manager Western Mass stores), Manny Correia (GM F600) Meriden, CT), Julio Velazquez (GM F262 Lawrence, MA), Patrick Courtney (GM F328 Springfield, MA ) and Rob Stevenson (GM F116 Springfield, MA). SEI/Aaron’s, Aaron’s largest franchisee with seventy one stores in the northeast, ... Can RTO fit Obama's call for new regulation? In his bicameral address Tuesday, President Barrack Obama outlined a blizzard of programs and reform efforts including an overhaul of financial regulations, tax relief provisions and stimulus spending aimed at increasing consumer lending and creating jobs. The president's foremost message and mission -- that of market regulation and job ... Consumer confidence plummets to all time low in February The consumer confidence index, which had decreased moderately in January, declined in February, reaching yet another all-time low, according to data released today by The Conference Board. The Index now stands at 25.0 (1985=100), down from 37.4 in January. The Present Situation Index declined to 21.2 ... Economy transforming rent-to-own's public image Positive news coverage of the rent-to-own transaction and its value in a declining economy continues as the financial outlook for millions of Americans remains uncertain. Two recent stories in Georgia and Colorado illustrate this trend as news reporters clamor for fresh stories to contrast against the bleak retail, business ... New "invisible asset management" products could help RTO industry reduce collections Collecting has always been the obvious, though arguably less enjoyable dynamic of renting, taking up as much as 16 percent of a rental operation's time and earning variable degrees of results. Today, new APRO Associate member IContain says it will transform the business of collections with it's new "... DSI Systems and Wilson Electronics partner for better cell connections Wilson Electronics, the leading provider of quality amplifiers and antennas for cellular phones and data cards, today announced its partnership with DSI Systems, the largest national distributor of television, DIRECTV, and accessories. The partnership provides Wilson Electronics’ superior line of in-building cellular amplifiers and antennas to DSI Systems’ customers ... Stealth Security rolls out wireless surveillance technology Next Friday, Stealth Security will take the next leap forward in cutting edge video surveillance technology. That's when the company will unveil it's Smartvue S8 -- the latest in surveillance and security product development -- a line of state of art wireless security cameras and digital video recorders. Stealth ... Rent One, Carricos honored at United Way function United Way President Lane Harvey and Campaign Chairman Brett Hall present Rent One Owners Larry and Sharon Carrico and Rent One Manager Donna Fally with special awards Friday night. The United Way of South Central Illinois honored Rent-One owners Larry and Sharon Carrico and the entire company last night ... UPDATED: Bolin elected to APRO Board Click to play video. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations Board of Directors Friday, elected Chris Bolin of Bolin Rental Purchase as its newest board member. Bolin, who was elected during a tele-conference board meeting, will fill a vacancy left by Larry Goad, who recently resigned his board seat ... Analysis: Rent-A-Center settlement in West Virginia By APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III. Rent-A-Center recently settled a class action lawsuit over RTO pricing issues that had been pending against the company in West Virginia federal district court since October of 2006. In the settlement, RAC agreed to pay $3.... Countryside Rent-2-Own honors company best Top performers sport special awarded Rent-2-Own leather. Identification below. Tax refund money was flowing in the marketplace last week, but all 23 Rent-2-Own stores in Ohio and Kentucky were closed and no one was answering the phones. Yet Countryside Rentals’ President Mike Tissot was still smiling at more than ... Rent-A-Center teams with Magic Johnson for all-star ad campaign Earvin “Magic” Johnson Rent-A-Center announced today the launch of an integrated advertising campaign featuring basketball hall-of-famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Touching upon themes of respect and the achievement of goals, the ads spotlight Rent-A-Center’s exclusive Worry-Free Guarantee, introduced in last year’s advertising campaign. Created by Dallas ... Indiana to become first state to prohibit reserve accounts A bill that passed the Indiana House of Representatives last night could make Indiana the first state in the country to prohibit reserve accounts. The bill is a compromise of sorts, one reached through negotiations with the Indiana Rental Dealers Association over the past several weeks. The bill language ... Vendor training to highlight Heartland Show Re-elected MRDA Officers l to r: vice president J.C. Cox, secretary-treasurer Trent Agin, president John Cleek Jr. Missouri Rental Dealers Association officials topped a day's worth of legislative updates, leadership training and networking Tuesday by electing two new board members and adding a vendor training day to the ... NEW PODCAST: John Cleek Jr., president MRDA John Cleek Jr., MRDA president and Aaron's franchisee. Listen to podcast. John Cleek Jr., an Aaron's franchisee, is serving his third year as president of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association. In this exclusive podcast, Cleek discusses his take on the MRDA board's recent decision to add "vendor" training ... NEW PODCAST: Gary Romine, Show Me Rent To Own Gary Romine of Show Me Rent To Own. Listen to podcast. Gary Romine is a past president of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations and a current board member of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association. Romine opened his first Show Me Rent-To-Own in 1988 and now runs nine stores ... NEW PODCAST: Dan Cole, National Rent To Own Dan Cole, National Rent-To-Own. Listen to podcast. Dan Cole is an MRDA Board Member and its political action committee chairman who opened his first National Rent To Own -- now a 33-store chain located mostly in metropolitan St. Louis -- in 1984. MRDA's decision to incorporate a training program ... Missouri bill defines leased property theft The Missouri Legislature has introduced a bill that will more clearly define the crime of leased property theft. The bill H.B. 741, introduced Tuesday by Republican James Viebrock, introduces a number of definitions that specifically relate to the failure to return rental property as stipulated or to pay ... Whirlpool wins prestigious education award Whirlpool Corporation recently became the first appliance manufacturer to be honored with the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Continuing Education System (CES) Award for Excellence. “Whirlpool Corporation's heavy involvement in the architecture community enables it to create significant and inspiring educational tools for today's architects," said Thom ... MRDA to shake up Heartland Show format The Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA) Board of Directors will vote Wednesday on a number of issues including election of officers and potential changes to the association's annual Heartland of America Trade Show. Over 100 Missouri dealer's from across the state will head to Columbia, Missouri for MRDA's annual ... Aaron's Q4: Same store revenues up 6.2 percent Aaron Rents today announced revenues and earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. As previously announced, on November 6, 2008 the Company consummated the sale of substantially all of the assets of its Aaron's Corporate Furnishings division. The Company no longer includes the revenues ... TRIB Group's Wicker honored for five years service TRIB Group Executive Director Dennis Shields presents services coordinator Karl Wicker with his five year service pin. TRIB Group, the nation's oldest and most respected rent-to-own buying group recently honored services coordinator Karl Wicker with his five year anniversary pin. Wicker, who provides communication support between vendors and dealers ... Tom Bailey opens ColorTyme in Wilmington New ColorTyme franchisee Tom Bailey. When Tom Bailey decided to open his own rent-to-own franchise store after 21 years on the corporate side of the RTO business, he began a very deliberate search for just the right franchise brand and just the right store location. “I knew that ... Shuler, Peters put Premier footprint on Nebraska Mike Shuler and Heath Peters. Until recently, Kearney, Nebraska offered only one place to shop for rental-purchase customers. But industry veterans Mike Shuler and Heath Peters brought new life and some welcome changes in their town upon opening their Premier Rental-Purchase store late last year. The first and hardest ... Illinois rental dealers push for training program in St. Louis Representatives from St. Louis-based Metropolitan Education Center, IRDA, Rent One, Rep. William Lacy Clay's office and Chicago-based Danny Davis Training Program met in St. Louis Thursday. An innovative Chicago-based job training program may soon expand to St. Louis thanks to the efforts of Rent One and the Illinois Rental ... Retail sales rebound mildly in January January sales of consumer electronics and major appliances rose 2.6 percent from December to $8.7 billion but decreased 7.8 percent year over year, according to figures released today by the U.S. Commerce Department. According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales on the whole ... Pioneer exits TV business, will cut 6,000 jobs; Vizio drops plasmas Pioneer Electronics, the world's fourth-largest maker of plasma televisions, today announced it was exiting the flat-panel TV business and will shed 6,000 full time workers and 4,000 temporary workers by March 2010, according to Business Week. The company will end in-house development immediately. The news comes on ... LG Electronics supports DTV delay When President Obama signed legislation setting June 12 as the date for the final phase of the nation's transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting, Michael Ahn, president and CEO of LG Electronics North America, applauded the action and pledged his company's full ongoing support: "LG Electronics ... Dealers give high marks to Vegas Market at special reception Rent-to-own dealers at the APRO and Ashley hosted reception in Las Vegas Tuesday night. More than 20 rent-to-own professionals representing companies from around the country made their way to the Ashley Furniture Suite Tuesday evening after a hectic day of pricing and shopping at the Las Vegas Winter Market. ... Vegas Market attendance down, but higher than expected Quality Rentals buying team at Las Vegas Market. Owners Kevin and Angela Quinn, center. Buyers and designers from around the world are driving attendance at the 2009 Winter Las Vegas Market higher than anticipated, with overall attendance slipping a mere two percent compared to last January's market. The first ... TruckSkin unveils "see-through" store signage Joe Lapekas displays TruckSkin's latest transparent marketing product -- "Window View Through". TruckSkin, maker of interchangeable banners, decals and adhesive wraps for fleet vehicles, introduces its latest advertising innovation with "Window View Through" decals at the 2009 Winter Las Vegas Market. TruckSkin President Joe Lapekas designed the ... Twin Star "Plug N' Play" products offer elegant practicality Jim Gaffey, senior vice president of business development for Twin Star, shows off Tresanti's "Waverley" line. Twin Star's track record of innovation continues at the Winter Las Vegas Market where, in a special reception Monday, the company unveiled new innovations to its Tresanti brand that will change the ... RimTyme opens new stores in Houston RimTyme District Manager Johnny Clark. RimTyme today announced the opening of two new locations in Houston bringing the company's total corporate owned store locations to nine. The new stores -- on Jones Road and Veterans Memorial Drive -- join the current RimTyme store on Bissonnet in southwest Houston that ... Las Vegas Market promises dealers tools to thrive in down economy This week’s Las Vegas Market, held Feb. 9 – 13, will present retailers, rent-to-own dealers and design professionals new tools, resources and business strategies to not only survive, but to thrive in a challenging home furnishings industry in 2009. APRO will host a hospitality suite, generously sponsored by ... Pennsylvania dealers raise $12,500 for Special Olympics Torch icons cover the front counter at Dan Fisher's Majic Rent To Own store. The Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers (PARD) raised nearly $12,500 this January, for the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania 2009 Winter Games in Johnston. PARD will present the check at the games where more than ... NRF says stimulus bill falls short for consumers, urges sales tax holiday The National Retail Federation today told the Senate that economic stimulus legislation under consideration fails to do enough for consumers, and repeated its call for a series of national sales tax holidays intended to jumpstart spending. “We are extremely concerned that it (economic stimulus package) does not do ... DiLeo opens second ColorTyme ColorTyme's Shawn DiLeo. Shawn DiLeo is wasting little time expanding his ColorTyme franchise with the opening of his second store just four months after his first. DiLeo opened his second ColorTyme store this Monday in Somerset, Kentucky and will hold a community-wide grand opening on March 21. The 4,... Buddy's Home Furnishings to sponsor Tom Hessert at Daytona Tom Hessert's Ford Fusion with Buddy's logo. Buddy’s Home Furnishings recently signed on as the primary sponsor for Andy Belmont Racing’s No. 1 Ford Fusion driven by Tom Hessert for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Daytona International Speedway. “It is ... RTO Dealers defrost after ice storm Ice encrusted spigot in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Rent-to-own dealers across the South and Midwest continue to recover this week after a massive ice storm snapped power lines and left millions without electricity and blanketed under a thick sheet of ice in late January. Jerry Pinkley operations manager for Missouri-based ... Higher income customers discover RTO option The consumer credit crunch may be turning some higher-income buyers into renters, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News. Rent-A-Center officials say the recession is leading more customers with higher incomes into the company's stores, which rent and sell appliances, consumer electronics and furniture to customers who ... DTV delay headed to White House The House of Representatives approved legislation Wednesday, 264-158, to delay the analog cutoff TV date 115 days to June 12, 2009, according to Twice. The measure, which was identical to a bill passed unanimously by the Senate for a second time, will now be sent to President Barrack Obama, ... Desert states unite: SW Rental Dealers Association created SW Rental Dealers Association President Ernie Lewallen (UHR Rents) and vice president Mark McDougal (Discover Rental Purchase). Close to a dozen rent-to-own dealers from Arizona, Nevada and Utah turned out Wednesday in Las Vegas to form a tri-state association that aims to unify the industry in the west and ... Vote due on negative RTO bill The Indiana House Financial Institutions Committee will vote next Wednesday on bill that would make a variety of changes to laws affecting a number of financial institutions and transactions including rental purchase agreements. Today, the committee heard testimony from Ron DeMoss, Rent-A-Center executive vice president, in a scheduled hearing ... RTO friend Rep. Putnam will not seek re-election U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) will not seek re-election in 2010. U.S. Congressman and RTO bill co-sponsor Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) will not seek reelection in 2010 in favor of a bid for Florida Agriculture Commissioner, a move one GOP official said is a precursor to ... Illinois man wins ColorTyme $10,000 grand prize giveaway From left: ColorTyme Asst. Manager Brian North, prize winner Patrick Zabel, Store Manager Jose Hernandez, Patricia Zabel and Chris Tatro, Bolingbrook franchise owner. ColorTyme announced Patrick Zabel of Bolingbrook, Illinois is the winner of the $10,000 grand prize in the company's 2008 “ColorTyme BigTyme $10,000 Giveaway” ... RAC Q4: Fewer stores drop revenues $17 million; same store sales flat Rent-A-Center, the world's largest rent-to-own company, today announced revenues and earnings for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. Fourth Quarter 2008 Results Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 were $699.8 million, a decrease of $17.2 million from the total revenues of $717.... New entrepreneurs shine in latest RTOHQ: The Magazine The latest issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine focuses on The New Entrepreneurs -- rent-to-own employees turned owners whose heart and dedication continually infuses the industry with new vitality. The new edition also features an in-depth vendor profile of Imagery Marketing Group and the company's leader, Sharon Carrico. The magazine ... Arizona, Nevada and Utah to organize Wednesday Around 20 rent-to-own dealers from three states are expected Wednesday for the flagship meeting of the Arizona, Nevada, Utah Rental Dealers Association at the Boulder Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. APRO's State Association Coordinating Committee Chair Dave Edwards will lead the meeting and former Ohio Rental Dealers ... CEA: Super Bowl will drive 2.6 million in HDTV Sales Super Bowl XLIII is expected to drive the purchase of some 2.6 million high-definition television (HDTV) units, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). For the fourth year in a row, the Super Bowl retains the title of top driver for HDTV purchases. The season has historically been ... House Votes down DTV Delay Despite a unanimous vote by the U.S. Senate to delay the Feb. 17 deadline to transition to digital television, the changeover will proceed as planned after a vote Wednesday by the House of Representatives. The bill, which had passed the Senate by unanimous vote on Monday, failed to ... Negative RTO state bills at 11; two new price control bills in NY Scarcely one month into 2009, and almost one dozen negative rent-to-own bills are looming over state legislatures from Indiana to New Jersey. New York state senators this week introduced two more rent-to-own price control bills which now raises total negative RTO bills in that state to six, including three ... Son's wisdom guides Premier's Bob Serina at one year anniversary Bob Serina and family. As a manager for a national rent-to-own store in Cleveland, Robert Serina had a successful career for over a decade. But one day on the way home from work with his six-year-old son in the car, things were put into a perspective that has never ... Circuit City Liquidation hits $450 Million Circuit City’s liquidators have already sold $450 million of the company's inventory in the first two weeks of clearance sales, according to Twice. They expect to conclude the liquidation weeks ahead of schedule due to “record shopper turnout." According to Great American Group, one of four ... APRO Board votes not to co-locate in 2010 The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) Board of Directors today, at a special called meeting in Dallas, voted not to co-locate the association's 2010 buying show. Last May the board voted in a first ever decision to co-locate it's 2009 Buying Show with mega buying group AVB/BrandSource on ... Rent-to-own laws offer model for regulation-friendly Congress President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress are promising quick action to rewrite a slew of consumer financial regulations and impose stricter federal rules for everything from credit reporting agencies to mortgage brokers. With lawmakers' sites set on regulation, rent-to-own industry officials note how rent-to-own laws enacted in ... Consumer confidence continues downward spiral Consumer confidence in the overall economy continues to slide downward in January, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET. The CEA-CNET Indexes also show consumers are less likely to spend money on consumer electronics (CE) and technology products. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer ... APRO Board meets in Dallas The APRO Board of Directors meets today in Dallas for a special called meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel DFW Airport. Board members will discuss and potentially act upon a number of issues including board membership policy amendments, bylaws amendments and sites for future APRO Conventions. In addition the ... Aaron's plans massive Canadian expansion Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, a division of Aaron Rents, announced today it is targeting Canada for a major franchise expansion. There are currently 23 Aaron’s locations in Canada and the company calls for a major expansion across Canada over the next several years with plans to ... Buddy's to make Super Bowl appearance Jamie Slatton, Buddy's owner, and Joe Gazo, Buddy's president, show off the Buddy's logo at Raymond James Stadium. This weekend's Super Bowl contest between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals will not only determine the NFL's best team, but the game will also put one of rent-to-own's seminal ... New Jersey state association meeting rescheduled The Jan 28th New Jersey/Delaware state association meeting has been canceled due to icy weather conditions. The meeting was to re-organize the New Jersey and Delaware state associations and to discuss the two legislative bills - Assembly Bill 695 and Senate Bill 1703 - currently pending in the New ... New York City Council hearing calls for rent-to-own regulation A number of New York City and state officials called on state lawmakers to impose stiffer regulations on the rent-to-own industry in a hearing Monday morning at New York City Hall, according to The New York Daily News. City officials are calling on more oversight of the industry which ... APRO Executive Advisory Board named APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek. APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek announced today the appointment of a new five-member executive advisory board that will provide insight and advice to the APRO Board of Directors. All five appointees -- Wayne Chambers, Kevin Quinn, Gary McDougal, Gary Romine and Lyn ... Pheffer introduces fourth RTO bill in New York New York Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D) late last week introduced a companion bill to rent-to-own price legislation introduced in the New York Senate. The bill -- A3083 in the Assembly; S557 in the Senate -- introduced Jan. 7 in the New York Senate by Sen. Eric Adams (D-20), is ... Home Express Sales and Lease enters franchising; Caprio replaces Milby Home Express Sales and Lease President and CEO Chris Caprio. Home Express Sales and Lease -- a Louisville, Kentucky-based company -- announced today it acquired its first franchise partners. With strong performance at the six company-owned locations, this rent-to-own newcomer is ready for franchise opportunities after only 18 months ... Gutiérrez to chair House Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Rep. Louis V. Gutiérrez. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), Thursday announced the committee's six subcommittee chairs including one replacement that could shake up the Rent-To-Own industry's attempts at passing progressive federal legislation. Of chief concern among Frank's appointments is the naming of Louis V. Gutié... Negative RTO bills loom over state legislatures New York Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow has introduced RTO price control legislation. In the first three weeks of 2009, five bills have already been introduced that would have a negative impact on the rent-to-own business. Three New York bills would negatively impact the industry. Two of the New York ... TomTom cuts jobs to adjust to market TomTom -- a leading provider of portable GPS technology -- yesterday announced it will cut 115 jobs, reducing its global workforce by seven percent, excluding Tele Atlas, as a result of the current economy, according to Twice. The job cuts are part of a “cost cutting program aimed ... Rent-A-Center makes $2,000 donation to new Maryland home The world's largest rent-to-own company -- Rent-A-Center -- today will contribute $2,000 worth of grants to a local library and school in Cockeysville, Maryland in conjunction with the opening of a new 6,000 square foot store that will offer customers a new choice available when it comes ... RNR names record 22 stores to million dollar club, franchisee, manager of the year Chris Raffo and Ken Mashburn (center) accept the RNR 2008 Franchisee of the Year Award for Tony Raffo, RIMS USA. RNR CEO Larry Sutton, far left, RNR VP of Franchising Vince Ficarotta, far right. Photo courtesy RedLetterStudios.com RNR Custom Wheels and Tires Wednesday night celebrated the best of ... RNR Convention takes Tampa Vendor mingle at RNR Convention in Tampa. Photo courtesy of RedLetterStudios.com Over 100 RNR Custom Wheels and Tires franchisees, store managers and vendors headed to the "Sunshine State" Jan. 19 - 22 for the company's 5th annual Franchise Meeting at the Tampa Florida Hilton. Though the chilly ... 6.5 million homes still unprepared for the digital transition More than 6.5 million U.S. households – or 5.7 percent of all homes -- are not ready for the upcoming transition to all-digital broadcasting and would be unable to receive any television programming at all if the transition occurred today, The Nielsen Company reported today. This ... Rent-A-Center opens two new locations, contributes $4,000 to local communities Customers in Morris, Illinois, and Fremont, Michigan, have a new choice available when it comes to renting or buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Rent-A-Center is celebrating the grand opening of its two newest stores today in Morris at 217 E US Route 6 and in Fremont at ... Premier dealers recognized for industry leadership APRO Board Member John Darden. The Premier Companies recognized a group of Premier dealers, including two APRO board members, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty representing the RTO industry through their state associations and national involvement at Premier's annual meeting in New Orleans on January ... Updated: ColorTyme names Childers 2008 franchisee of the year Mark Childers accepts his award for ColorTyme Franchisee of the year 2008. ColorTyme on Tuesday, handed out its two most prestigious awards at its 30 year anniversary convention in Frisco, Texas, honoring top performing franchisees who best exemplify ColorTyme values and those of the rent-to-own industry. ColorTyme's franchisee of ... Rent-a-Center and Aaron's featured stock on CNN.Money A January 20th Fortune Investor Daily article featured Aaron's and Rent-a-Center as "Two retail stocks for a recession." The recent article featuring rent-to-own as a valued consumer option in tough economic times is another in a recent series of television and news articles. "As the recession ... Indie RTO phenom, Premier, convenes in New Orleans Premier CEO Trooper Earle. The independent franchise company, Premier, continues to turn the heads of RTO industry leaders and analysts with its growth and penetration. Premier's growth and penetration is the highlighted theme of the company's January 19-21 annual meeting held in New Orleans. The annual meeting this year ... ColorTyme Kicks off Birthday Bash with awards, state of the art trade show ColorTyme CEO Bob Bloom addresses franchisees Monday. ColorTyme -- the granddaddy of rent-to-own franchising -- officially launched its 30-year anniversary party Monday in the grand ballroom of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco, Texas with recognition of the company's highest achievers and a trade show boasting the latest in ... New Get It Now opens in Wisconsin, $3,000 in community grants awarded Customers in West Bend and surrounding communities have a new choice available when it comes to buying brand-name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers. Get It Now! will celebrate the opening of its newest store today at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting with the West Bend Area Chamber ... Circuit City to axe up to 30,000 in liquidation After a failed bid to secure financing from creditors and lenders, bankrupt electronics chain Circuit City announced Friday it will liquidate, joining the list of retailers like Tweeter and Linens 'n Things that are closing up shop due to tough economic times, according to MarketWatch. The move will affect ... RNR celebrates gains, eyes new opportunities at annual franchise meeting RNR Customer Wheels and Tires franchisees from across the country will huddle up for the 5th annual company meeting next week at the Hilton Airport Westshore Hotel in Tampa, Florida. The meeting, scheduled for Jan. 19 - 22, will be as much about celebrating the company's successful past year ... RentAll helps revitalize former Wal Mart property RentAll yesterday, became the first business to open at a redeveloped Wal Mart site in Carroll, Iowa. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based regional home furnishings, electronics and rental chain is the first occupant of the redeveloping former Wal-Mart property in Carroll's central business district, according to the Carroll Times ... Economy leads non-traditional RTO franchisees to ColorTyme Jim Deering, director of franchise development for ColorTyme, says calls to his department are usually from rent-to-own (RTO) industry insiders who’ve been in the business for years and are now eager to open a ColorTyme store of their own. But since the dramatic economic downturn, Deering says, rent-to-own ... Premier Convention heads for "Big Easy" The Premier Companies, one of the fastest growing RTO franchises in the United States, will hold its annual convention Jan.19 - 22 at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Premier Companies -- which includes the divisions of Premier Rental Purchase, Home Furnishings, Rent N' Ride, Wheel ... Indiana Premier dealer chips in for unemployed Beginning this Sunday, Premier Rental-Purchase Dealer Duane Fugante is opening his store and booting up six computers to allow residents to file for unemployment benefits, according to local news station WSBT 22. Watching the growing lines outside the Elkhart WorkOne office and talking to his customers who struggle to ... New FICO scoring formula takes effect Fair Isaac and Co. is introducing FICO 08, an improved scoring model designed to help lenders make a more accurate assessment of risk when accessing applicants. Even though rental dealers do not, as a rule, run credit checks on their rental customers before renting to them, there are some ... Annual Midwest Expo dates set The Ohio Rental Dealers Association's (ORDA) sixth annual midwest training Expo will take place Sept. 8 - 9 at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. Vendors who want to reserve one of the limited training rooms should contact ORDA President Mike Tissot at 937/402-1622. Last September ... CEA opposes delays to DTV transition date After already publicly opposing changes to the scheduled DTV transition date in comments last week and at CES over the weekend, Consumer Electronics Association President/CEO Gary Shapiro Monday sent a formal letter to the chief of President-Elect Barrack Obama's transition reiterating his position the delay would cause "skepticism, ... New Price Control bill hits New York Senate New York State Senator Eric Adams. A new rent-to-own bill that would establish price controls in the state of New York is heading for the state's Judiciary Committee, though a time and date for that hearing had not yet been set Monday morning The bill, S557, introduced Jan. 7 ... Technology aims to lead economic recovery at CES More than 2,700 global companies, including 300 new exhibitors, unveiled an estimated 20,000 new technology products across 1.7 million net square feet of exhibit space this week at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, electrifying the technology industry and helping lead the way to economic ... Rent One's Calhoun wins Dale Carnegie award Rent One Duquoin, Illinois Store Manager Rich Calhoun recently won the Dale Carnegie Institute "Breakthrough" Award. Rent One Store Manager Rich Calhoun, was recently presented the coveted Dale Carnegie “Breakthrough” Award at his weekly training class last week. Calhoun's recognition marks the second time a Rent One ... NEW PODCAST: Public relations expert Xavier Dominicis of Rent-A-Center Xavier Dominicis, Rent-A-Center vice president of public affairs. Listen to podcast. Xavier Dominicis, 44, is the new vice president of public affairs for the world's largest rent-to-own company, Rent-A-Center. With more than 27 years experience in public relations, most recently as head of public affairs in field operations for ... Obama calls for DTV transition delay, CEA disagrees President-elect Barack Obama Thursday, sided with the Consumers Union -- publisher of Consumer Reports -- in calling for a delay on the Feb. 17 transition to digital broadcasting, claiming the country, particularly the poor and elderly, are not prepared for the cutoff of analog TV signals so soon after ... Rent-A-Center Q4 conference call set Rent-A-Center will broadcast its Fourth Quarter earnings conference call Tuesday, February 3 at 10:45 a.m. ET over the Internet. The call will be held to discuss the earnings release to be issued after the close of the market on Feb. 2. Audio of the call will be broadcast ... Consumers Union asks Congress to delay digital TV switch Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, is urging Congress to delay the Feb. 17 transition from analog to digital TV broadcasts. In letters to members of Congress, President Bush, and President-elect Obama, Consumers Union pointed to the fact that the government program that subsidizes crucial TV ... "Smash and grab" wave hits St. Louis RTO store St. Louis police are searching for two men who crashed an SUV through a rent-to-own store, then stole televisions at around 5 a.m. this morning. Smash and grab robberies are on the rise in the area and have been keeping local police very busy, according to local news ... ColorTyme celebrates 30 years of RTO franchising at annual convention The longest running rent-to-own franchise, ColorTyme, will host its national convention Jan. 19-21 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco, Texas, where the iconic company will celebrate three decades of growth, innovation and entrepreneurship. More than 288 franchise owners, partners and managers representing 52 of ColorTyme's franchise groups will ... Digital converter coupon program broke, new applicants join waiting list The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced that starting Sunday, January 4, consumers requesting coupons from the agency’s TV Converter Box Coupon Program will be placed on a waiting list and coupons will be mailed on a first-come-first-served basis, as funds from expired ... 111th Congress goes to work: Where does RTO fit in? A new session of the U.S. Congress with strengthened Democratic majorities convenes today with the overriding goal of quickly passing an economic stimulus package aimed at jump starting the worst economy since the Great Depression. As the White House and Congress continue to grapple with the symptoms of ... UK's BrightHouse focuses on customers in credit starved economy BrightHouse CEO Leo McKee and BrightHouse Business Developer Hamish Paton at a meeting this summer with APRO officials in Austin, Texas. The United Kingdom's largest rent-to-own company, BrightHouse, is planning to open 21 new stores this year as part of its overall campaign to reach new customers impacted by ... LG broadband friendly TV's directly stream Netflix movies LG Electronics today extended its groundbreaking partnership with Netflix, as the two companies announced the first broadband-enabled HDTVs with Netflix streaming software embedded directly in the TV, requiring no external device. LG’s new LCD and plasma “Broadband HDTVs” will display the growing library of movies, TV episodes ... SEI/Aaron's names Barnes, Phillips new directors Newly promoted directors David Phillips and Robert Barnes of SEI/Aaron's. SEI/Aaron’s, Aaron’s largest franchisee with 68 stores, today announced the promotion of Robert Barnes and David Phillips. Robert Barnes, currently the director of western operations, accepted the new responsibility of director of eastern operations. Barnes will increase ... TCF Inventory Finance assumes Textron financing programs TCF Inventory Finance (TCFIF), a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation announced this week an agreement with Textron Financial Corporation to continue existing programs of originating certain floorplan financing receivables for retailers of consumer electronics and appliances, according to a TCF statement. Textron, which provided inventory financing for rent-to-own dealers, ... Premier's "big boys" combine holiday fun, goodwill Premier dealers Mitch Rhodes and Mike Gordon at their in-store holiday food drive. Known as the “big boys” of RTO, with 32 years of experience and 750 pounds between them, Mike Gordon and Mitch Rhodes are quickly gaining a reputation in their community for their generosity and public ... ColorTyme and RimTyme welcome troops with new "VetFran" Program ColorTyme blazed new RTO franchising territory recently with its announcement of a new incentive program that grants American military veterans a substantial discount on their initial fees when they open a new ColorTyme or RimTyme franchise store. "Many military men and women are entrepreneurs at heart and would ... Consumer confidence tanks in December Consumer confidence hit a record low in December, according to the monthly Conference Board and reported by MarketWatch Tuesday, as worries increased about current labor-market and business conditions. The December consumer confidence index fell to 38 from a downwardly revised 44.7 in November. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had ... ColorTyme expands financing options for franchisees ColorTyme today announced today it will add SBA loans to its growing portfolio of finance options for franchisees. “No other rent-to-own (RTO) franchisor has such a broad spectrum of capital and inventory financing programs in its arsenal,” said Jim Deering, director of franchise development for ColorTyme and ... Retail: 73,000 stores could close in first half of 2009 Store closings, bankruptcies and takeovers starting next month will continue to mar the U.S. retail industry as holiday sales are panning out to be the worst in 40 years, according to industry reports. Rent-to-own dealers by contrast appear to be holding steady and in some cases even thriving ... Donation furnishes six hospital rooms in Dayton, Ohio Today Rent-A-Center will present furnishings for six private patient rooms at the Miami Valley Hospital Oncology Center in Dayton, Ohio, the company's tenth gift in its statewide "Random Acts of Caring" initiative. The company's donation includes matching rocker/recliners, large chair/twin sleeper sets and TV/DVD combos. Miami Valley Hospital’... Easy 2 Own destroyed in fire A severe fire believed caused by a faulty surge protector, gutted the showroom of South Carolina-based Easy 2 Own Dec. 23, melting plasma TV's and laptops in a disaster that claimed close to $100,000 worth of damage. No one was injured in the blaze. Easy 2 Own Furnishings ... Loudermilk on Bloomberg: RTO flexibility wins new customers in recession Aaron Rents CEO Robin Loudermilk Jr. on Bloomberg TV. Watch interview. Aaron Rents CEO Robin Loudermilk Jr. appeared yesterday on Bloomberg TV to field questions about his company's impressive performance in an economy that is forcing traditional retail to its knees. Aaron's posted a 16 percent growth in revenue ... Unstable markets force Textron to exit finance units Textron, a provider of inventory financing for the rent-to-own industry, plunged 20 percent in stock exchange trading this week following an announcement the company will exit most of its finance businesses and avoid a breakup, according to Bloomberg.com. The Providence, Rhode Island-based company announced it has approved a ... Rent-A-Center honored in special ceremony Representatives of Miami Valley Hospital and Rent-A-Center will participate in a special ceremony next Tuesday celebrating the rent-to-own company's recent furnishing of six private patient rooms. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Rent-A-Center is donating recliner and chair/sleeper sets ... Stern, Ph.D., joins Rent-A-Center Board of Directors New Rent-A-Center board member Paula Stern. Rent-A-Center today announced that Paula Stern, Ph.D. has been named to its Board of Directors. The Honorable Paula Stern is Chairwoman of The Stern Group an international advisory firm with 20 years of experience in areas of business and government strategy established ... ColorTyme provides "free heat" for Providence customer From L: ColorTyme Providence GM Al Coella, winning customer Salome Rojas, and assistant manager Louie Padilla. As fuel prices skyrocketed and the economy plummeted last fall, ColorTyme franchisee Ray Bird overheard his customers fretting about the coming winter heating bills. “When I heard one customer say, 'Do we ... Premier vendor breakout session open to all vendors Trooper Earle, Premier Companies CEO, today announced the Vendor Breakout Session, a highlight of the Premier Annual Dealer Convention is open to all vendors. An informal table-top style event designed to forge and reinforce strategic vendor-dealer assocations, the Vendor Breakout Session encourages vendors to bring show specials. “This ... Rent One, Globetrotters team up for local families Globetrotter “Moo Moo” Evans with a local fan at Rent One's recent meet and greet event in Herrin, Illinois. Rent One and the Harlem Globetrotters are teaming up to offer two families a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the world famous basketball team court side. The ... RNR moves up in dealership rankings Florida based RNR Custom Wheels & Tires (a.k.a. Rent-N-Roll) is one of the top 25 dealerships in America, as ranked by Tire Business, a leading tire industry publication. In the October 2008 issue, “Top Retail Dealership of 2008", RNR Custom Wheels moved from 21 to 16 ... Fire claims home of Rent One employee, company rallies to help A fire gutted the home of Rent One Employee Johnny Little this Saturday. Rent One is coordinating an inner-company relief drive for the Little family. When a devastating fire claimed the home of a Rent One delivery technician and his family this weekend, the company stepped in to ease ... SEI/Aarons surprises customers in New York Tonawanda store managers Ryan Fleming and Jack Mack with customers Joshua Standard and Melissa Hines. SEI/Aaron's, the nation's largest Aaron's franchise, recently made the holidays a little brighter for families in the New York area. Brenda and Paul Ero lost their home to a fire on Thanksgiving Day. When ... Aaron's ups earnings expectations on strong Q4 showing Aaron Rents today announced that business trends continue to be quite positive and that it was raising its 2009 earnings guidance. "Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership results continue to be strong with growing same store revenues and customer counts," said Robert C. Loudermilk Jr., president and CEO ... Premier convention room rates dropped Dealers, vendors and guests planning to attend Premier Companies' annual convention next month at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans are urged to book their rooms today to take advantage of a rate reduction from $199 per night to $159 per night. All registrants previously booked in ... National TV helps brighten holidays for injured troops From left: Martha Smith, Dan Kopsas, Bob Fisher (employees of National TV Rental), Tracy McCord (Mid Missouri Credit Union), Michelle Jackson, Aaron Windsor (employees of National TV), and Kathy and Mark Windsor (owner’s of National TV Sales and Rental). The employees of National TV Sales and Rental in ... RTO wraps week of positive news coverage At least four more news stories patterned off the "rent to own thrives in a bad economy" theme continued to scrawl across the Internet yesterday, raising the total number of such RTO stories published this week to 14. The spiked interest in the industry by the media appears ... Rent-A-Center donates $20,000 in home furnishings to assisted living organization In its most recent Random Act of Caring, Rent-A-Center co-workers from metropolitan New York helped make residents of two special needs homes in the Bronx feel like the holidays had arrived early. In early December, the Association for Helping Retarded Children (AHRC) was contacted by Rent-A-Center and asked to ... Pennsylvania Dealers host Special Olympics fundraiser The Pennsylvania Rental Dealers Association (PARD), public companies and independent operators, are gearing up to promote and support local Special Olympics athletes at the upcoming Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. Some 133 store fronts will participate when the fundraiser kicks off next month, by allowing customers the option of ... New credit card regs could increase RTO appeal Federal regulators today approved sweeping regulations for the credit card industry intended to shield consumers from interest rate increases on existing account balances. However, experts note the new regulations could further reduce credit availability, especially for consumers with lower credit scores and those who fit the rent-to-own demographic. The ... RTO bill fits Congress' goals: regulation, economic stimulus As the White House and Congress continue to grapple with the symptoms of recession, the rent-to-own industry is proposing legislation that would meet legislators two highest priorities: economic stimulus and financial regulation. President-elect Barack Obama is calling on the new Congress to act quickly to pass an estimated one ... Rent-A-Center Chairman Emeritus Barton added to Hall of Fame The late W. Frank Barton, chairman emeritus of Rent-A-Center, was recently inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. The late W. Frank Barton of Wichita, Kansas, chairman emeritus of rent-to-own giant Rent-A-Center, is one of two entrepreneurs recently announced as inductees into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame ... Countryside holiday challenge raises over $7,000 for charity A Countryside Santa Stack: (from bottom) Lisa Taylor (Asst. Mgr), Amy Pontius (Mgr), Stacey Hines (Customer Sales Rep) all from the Circleville Countryside store. A traditional Countryside Rentals holiday competition raised $7,000 last week for four local charities. Mike Tissot, president of Countryside Rentals, is known for challenging ... RTO news coverage continues The news theme "how RTO businesses are doing well in the current economy" continues to take hold of television news stations across the country today. As a consequence, the rent-to-own industry and transaction again generated attention from the media Wendesday after receiving positive coverage from four television news ... RAC opens 32nd West Virginia store, donates $2,000 to community Rent-A-Center is celebrating the opening of its 32nd West Virginia store in Hurricane, where it will donate $2,000 to local community groups at the news store's ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. December 17. “From bedroom sets to washers and dryers, we’re going to help ... Aaron's corporate acquires 35 store franchisee Aaron Rents today announced it has acquired in a cash transaction all the stores of Rosey Rentals, Aaron's second largest franchisee in business since 2003. Rosey Rentals, owned by Brian Kahn, operated 35 Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership franchised stores in six southeastern states with total annual revenues of ... RTO in the news: Are you ready for your close up? News correspondents and journalists from across the country are tripping over themselves to report on the rent-to-own industry as a recession-proof anomaly, thriving in a sea of economic uncertainty that is crushing traditional retail. A spate of stories from television news stations in Arkansas, Tennessee, Minnesota and Florida today ... RTOHQ: The Magazine salutes "The Dedicated" The October-November issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine is dedicated to “The Dedicated.” There are countless professionals in our industry who have committed themselves to making a big difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. They exhibit the profound sense of self and giving ... Forker opens third Premier, aims for two per year pace Premier dealer Jim Forker recently opened his third rental purchase store in Niles, Michegan. After 26 years in the industry working for such luminary RTO companies as Curtis Mathis and Rent-A-Center, Premier dealer Jim Forker is making up time. He recently opened his third Premier Rental Purchase in Niles, ... Marcone's Souers Appointed to Ronald McDonald House Charities Board Jim Souers, president of Marcone Supply is the newly appointed board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis. Jim Souers, president of Marcone Supply was recently appointed to the board of directors of the St. Louis Chapter of the Ronald McDonald House . Souers was chosen out ... Rent-A-Center Contributes $6,000 to communities, opens three stores Rent-A-Center recently coupled new store openings in South Carolina, West Virginia and Texas with substantial donations to local community organizations. The nation's largest rent-to-own company will make donations of $2,000 to community organizations in the towns where the new stores are located in Charlestown, West Virginia, Myrtle Beach, ... NEW PODCAST: Mark Key, secretary/treasurer New England Rental Dealers Association Mark Key of SEI Aaron's and newly elected secretary/treasurer of the New England Rental Dealers Association. Listen to Podcast. Mark Key, manager with SEI Aaron's, is the new secretary/treasurer for the newly created New England Rental Dealers Association December 11. Key is a native Texan who's spent all his ... NEW PODCAST: Mark Anderson, president New England Rental Dealers Association Mark Anderson, new president of the New England Rental Dealers Association. Listen to podcast. Mark Anderson owner of FastTrack Rent To Own in New Britain, Connecticut, is the new president of a new rental dealers association in the northeast representing Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Anderson began his rent ... New England RTO dealers step up for industry New England Rental Dealers Association President Mark Anderson and secretary/treasurer Mark Key. Around a dozen rent-to-own dealers from three states braved drizzling Connecticut rain Thursday, to create a tri-state dealers association that will focus on communication and protecting and furthering industry interests at both the state and federal level. ... Massachusetts Supreme Court to test state RTO law A Springfield, Massachusetts federal district court Wednesday ruled on a motion by Rent-A-Center to dismiss a $5 million class action lawsuit that claims the state's decades old consumer lease act does not regulate rent-to-own transactions. Rather than dismiss the case, the court held it was an issue for the ... Report: Audio vital to lives of consumers A majority of consumers view music and other audio content as a vital component of their daily lives, according to a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The study, The Evolution of Audio: Is Anyone Listening?, found that 67 percent of consumers believe audio is an important ... CNN: Aaron Rents bucks sales slump Aaron Rents made CNNMoney.com's recent list of companies that are still profiting despite the current recession. Today's online article mentions the rent-to-own home furnishings and appliance company alongside four specialty stores that have foiled bleak holiday shopping forecasts. The company, which reports same-store sales on a quarterly basis, ... APRO, NRC assist reorganization in key New England states Rental dealers across three New England states will meet on Thursday to form a regional rental dealers association aimed at unifying the industry in states where powerful legislators hold sway over rent-to-own in the U.S. Congress. Dealers from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will meet from 10 a.... New Premier dealers combine thirty years of RTO wisdom New Premier Dealers Ron Manzoori and Scott Craig. Scott Craig and Ron Manzoori recently held the grand opening of their Premier Rental-Purchase store in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Their combined 30 years of RTO experience includes a string of successes that, according to Manzoori, will serve them well as they spring ... A Rent-to-own journey: Evans takes ColorTyme to Augusta New ColorTyme franchisee, Bud Evans. Bud Evans has worn many hats through the years: Realtor, general manager of a major car dealership, successful entrepreneur. But in the current economy, nothing made more sense than returning to his rent-to-own roots. That's why beginning in early 2009, he plans to open ... Former Aarons, RentWay manager joins Premier family Gerald and Kim Jacobs will join the family of Premier franchisees with the planned opening of their Premier Rental Purchase in Lynchburg, Virginia on February 1, 2009. Gerald Jacobs has nine years of experience in the rent-to-own business most recently as a general manager at Aaron’s and store ... Hawaii dealer shares Thanksgiving with community Waipahu ColorTyme employees join treat locals to a community Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving is a true community event for one Waipahu Hawaii ColorTyme dealer. Even though his store was closed, most of Mark Shaw’s employees showed up at 10 a.m. sharp on Thanksgiving morning to continue the tradition ... Rent-A-Center helps local tornado victim Rent-A-Center store managers from Wilson, Rocky Mount and Tarboro present Guillen (center) with roses, a card and a $100 gift certificate from Wal-Mart. The company also supplied her with a homes worth of furniture and appliances. When a tornado destroyed the North Carolina home of Shelly Guillen, grandmother of ... RTO theft trends: Is your store secure? Economic trends always have an effect on both retail and rent-to-own sales and profits, but with the holidays around the corner, massive layoffs and employer cut backs, theft, both internal and external, is on the rise, according to a leading industry surveillance company. “With all the financial strain ... Desert states unite for new dealers association Rental dealers across three states are invited to attend an organizational meeting in February that will bring together the states of Arizona, Nevada and Utah for the purpose of furthering legislative and educational opportunities for members. Ernie Lewallen, former president of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association and owner of ... Registration open for TARA Legislative Conference Registration is now open for the TARA 2009 Legislative Conference, Jan. 26-27, 2009, at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown, down the street from the Texas State Capitol. Registration for this conference is free to all TARA members who register before Jan. 15. To register, simply reply click here to ... RTO friend Chambliss wins runoff Re-elected RTO Co-Sponsor Sen. Saxby Chabliss. Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss, the self-proclaimed "firewall" to the Democrats prized 60-seat filibuster proof voting majority in the U.S. Senate, claimed a second term Tuesday, after handily defeating challenger Jim Martin in a high stakes runoff that could have heavily tipped ... Delaware, New Jersey to reorganize Come next month, Delaware and New Jersey rental dealers will have a new voice in their business, community and political affairs. Joe Romano, Rent-A-Center regional director, will join APRO to lead the charge to reorganize the states' rental dealers associations under one banner -- the Delaware-New Jersey Rental Dealers ... Internet Study: How fast is your state? In an Internet dependent world, slow connection speeds have real-time business implications. A recent study by PCMag.com found that Nevada, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are home to the fastest surf speeds—the full state ranking is below. PCMag.com’s “Best ISPs in America” list hits PCMag.com ... Rent One helps brighten holiday for troops overseas Rent One Vice President Murray Beck (top left), President Trent Agin (top right), Mark Williams (bottom left) and David Keen (bottom right) with members of the JCOIF Committee. Members of the Jefferson County Operation Iraqi Freedom Committee (JCOIF) stopped by the Rent One Corporate office this weekend to thank ... Kinnear opens second Premier store in Dayton APRO Board member Scott Kinnear opens second Premier store in Dayton. New APRO board member Scott Kinnear recently held a grand opening for his second Premier Rental-Purchase store in Dayton, Ohio. Kinnear, a seasoned RTO "fixer upper" said the success of his first location combined with the demand ... New tri-state RDA takes flight Dec. 11 Rental dealers across the northeast will meet this month to form a multi-state rental dealers association aimed at initiating and unifying the efforts of three states that are currently inactive. Dealers from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will meet from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the ... LG Electronics Blu-Ray player to receive high-def streaming LG Electronics confirmed today that the popular LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will offer the Netflix High-Definition (HD) Instant Streaming capability. This upgrade will be free-of-charge to consumers via an automatic firmware update in early December. The LG BD300, the world’s first Blu-ray Disc Player to offer ... Premier Invites Vendors to 2009 New Orleans Convention The Premier Companies will hold its annual convention at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans from January 18 –22. With its growing number of franchisees and preferred vendor affiliations, Premier is anticipating this to be its biggest event to date and is inviting those who are ... Rent-to-own goes green in Hawaii, state finds its hero Rent-to-own bicycle entrepreneur Anthony Austin (center) with Alicia L. Feliciano (left) and Toni Gates (right). In his own way, Hawaii rent-to-own dealer Anthony Austin is out to save the planet. He's not tying himself to trees or charging the coast guard in an inflatable boat. He's an environmentalist, but ... CEA-CNET: Consumer confidence up in November Consumer confidence in the overall economy increased slightly in November following a record low October level, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET. The CEA-CNET Indexes also showed consumers are slightly more likely to spend on consumer electronics (CE) and technology products. The ... Ohio dealers clash for bragging rights Countryside Rentals owner Mike Tissot and Showplace Rent-To-Own owner Gary Ferriman at the September Midwest Expo. Any other day of the year, Ohio Rent-To-Own barons Mike Tissot of Countryside Rentals and Gary Ferriman of Showplace Rent-To-Own are cooperative colleagues. Their relationship is one forged through years of personal and ... Rent-A-Center ads speak to credit crunch Rent-A-Center CEO Mark Speese in new ad campaign explaining the value of rent-to-own in an economy where credit is becoming harder to come by. Rent-A-Center today launched a multi-media campaign in which chief executive officer Mark Speese reaches out to legions of consumers burdened by the current cash and ... ColorTyme names Kohut VP of Operations Albert Kohut, ColorTyme's new vice president of operations. ColorTyme, America’s oldest rent-to-own franchising company, today named RTO industry veteran Albert A. Kohut vice president of operations. Kohut replaces Tim Hogan, who moved from the ColorTyme operations VP position in September to become the Vice President of Operations for ... Gates opens first U.S. easyhome Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC today announced the opening of the company's first easyhome store in the U.S. in Olathe, Kansas. A Grand Opening event has been planned for November 22, 2008 at the store in the West Market Shopping Center at 113 S. Parker ... CAL-APRO jumpstarts community outreach plans with $1,000 donation CAL-APRO President Paul Davis. The newly assembled board of the California Association of Progressive Rental Agencies recently approved a $1,000 donation to the Arlington Temporary Assistance Program, a United Way funded program. The donation, along with having a full board of directors, is a first for the association, ... Marcone Supply raises over $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities Marcone Supply raised over $10,000 in just under three days for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Marcone Supply raised over $10,000 in just under three days for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMH) during the company's recent servicer's association convention in Las Vegas. The donation will help RMH provide ... Trustmark makes push to insure rent-to-own dealers Trustmark Affinity Markets, a division of Trustmark Life Insurance Company, today began an aggressive lead generation telephone campaign to educate dealers about its policies, provide quotes and enroll more APRO member rent-to-own companies in the health insurance program. The health insurance program, which is a benefit for APRO members ... Rent-A-Center outfits Ohio family services center Representatives of Rent-A-Center and Trillium Family Solutions in Canton, Ohio, gathered this week, to celebrate Rent-A-Center’s donation of 20 computer monitors, a refrigerator, two microwaves and three TV/DVD combos to the family services organization. Rent-A-Center’s ninth gift in its statewide community initiative – entitled Random Acts of ... Long time Mississippi dealer expands with Premier Wheel Workz New Premiere Wheel Workz Franchisee Pam Hulsey. An RTO dealer for almost three decades, Pam Hulsey recently expanded her market by opening a new Premier Wheel Workz store in Horn Lake, Mississippi on November 7. She has converted half of her large E-Z Rental showroom to create a free-standing ... New House leadership team includes RTO supporters House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) announced the new leadership team elected by House Republicans Wednesday, according to the Republican Leader Press Office. Boehner was recently re-elected to his party's top post in the House during House Republican Conference organizational meetings for the 111th Congress and will now face ... Rent-A-Center treats 150 families to Thanksgiving dinner The community welcomes Rent-A-Center’s random act of caring – helping 150 families in Olean, N.Y. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday and to continue the Company’s Random Act of Caring community initiative, Rent-A-Center, based in Plano, Texas, teamed-up with Olean Mayor David Carucci today to ... RimTyme opens Plano store with salute to Iraq Veteran Former U.S. Marine and Iraq War Veteran Adam Earls (center) with RimTyme Plano Store Manager Cain Maxwell (left) and RimTyme VP of Operations Tim Hogan (right). It takes vision, intelligence and a healthy dose of moxie to succeed in the highly competitive wheel and tire game. This Saturday, ... Democrats reach 58 in Senate, early voting begins in Chambliss race Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, narrowly lost his re-election bid Tuesday, according to the AP. His defeat by Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich moves Senate Democrats one step closer to a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in Congress. A recount is possible, but should Begich hold on ... Norm Smith funeral arrangements set Funeral arrangements for Norm Smith, 81, former head of rental market sales for Zenith, were released today. Smith, a leader in the industry and APRO's first vendor of the year, died Tuesday morning at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 ... Cleek's makes Aaron's conversion Cleek's Lease or Own President "Tiger" John Cleek. "Tiger" John Cleek today announced an agreement with Aaron Rents to convert his Cleek's Lease or Own stores to Aaron's Sales and Lease stores beginning December 1. The Nov. 17 deal will impact as many as six stores in ... Visionary rent-to-own vendor Norm Smith dies APRO's first vendor of the year, Norm Smith, died Tuesday in Illinois. APRO's first vendor of the year, Norm Smith, 81, former head of rental market sales for Zenith, died Tuesday morning at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, Illinois, due to complications arising from his recent open-heart surgery. To say ... Rent-A-Center's 12th Random Act helps military families in need Rent-A-Center representatives donate 120 Hannaford Supermarket gift cards to military families in need at Fort Drum. In the spirit of Thanksgiving through the Random Act of Caring initiative, Rent-A-Center has donated 120 Hannaford Supermarket $50 gift cards to military families in need to make their next trip to purchase ... DSI partners with Chief Manufacturing and Sanus Systems DSI Systems, the largest national distributor of LCD, Plasma and DLP TVs, satellite equipment and accessories, announces new lines now available with Chief Manufacturing & Sanus Systems. Dave Robison, CEO of DSI Systems, stated, “We are thrilled to add Chief and Sanus to our product line-up at DSI. ... Welch, Prater named easygates co-presidents Bud Gates at the March 2008 Nationwide Buying Show. Bud Gates, Chairman and CEO of easygates, LLC today announced the promotion of Ladd Welch and Chris Prater to Co-Presidents of easygates. Welch and Prater will share the office of the president with Welch as President of Operations and Prater ... Whirlpool, Habitat for Humanity, begin five day building blitz in Dallas Home for the holidays takes on a whole new meaning this year for nine families in Dallas. Starting today, Whirlpool brand, Habitat for Humanity International, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, and volunteers from across the country will build nine new homes by Friday as part of the third annual ... RTO ally Danny Davis rallies for Obama seat Illinois Rep. Danny Davis announced today he wants consideration as President-Elect Barack Obama's successor in the Senate. Rent-to-own bill co-sponsor Rep. Danny Davis [IL-7] today formally announced his interest in filling President-Elect Barack Obama's unfinished Senate term after Obama officially vacated the position Sunday. Over 100 people rallied to ... Alliance HealthCard acquires Access Plans USA Alliance HealthCard -- parent company of Benefit Marketing Solutions -- today announced the signing of an agreement for acquisition of Access Plans USA. Based in Norman, Oklahoma, Alliance HealthCard is a leading provider of consumer membership plans offering access to consumer discounts on a variety of products and services ... October sales take record plunge, RTO gains Consumers, taking a beating from the global credit crisis, declining home values, rising unemployment and suffering record low confidence cut back sharply on their spending in October, pushing retail sales down by a record amount, according to the AP. The Commerce Department reported Friday that retail sales fell by ... Georgia Dealers begin membership drive, pledge Chambliss support GRDA Board Members at their first meeting Wednesday. The Georgia Rental Dealers Association Board of Directors made membership and education a top priority yesterday at the board's first meeting since local dealers re-organized the association last month. Nine board members attended the meeting which was sponsored by the the ... For Paul Davis, politics is a family affair The Davis Family: (L to R) May, Tyler, Paul and Triston at the 2008 APRO Legislative Conference. Every other year for the past seven or so, Paul Davis of Nation's Rent To Own has gladly employed a secret weapon in his effort to secure federal rent-to-own legislation. That weapon ... Luxury homebuilder expands RTO program A move by the nation's largest luxury builder, Toll Brothers, to expand its rent-to-own program indicates the transaction is broadening its demographic ground as the economy continues to flounder and credit strapped consumers seek alternative avenues toward ownership not only of merchandise, but of real estate as well. Toll ... NEW PODCAST: David Kraemer president, CEO Bestway Rental APRO Board Member David Kraemer. Listen to podcast. APRO Board Member David Kraemer is president and CEO of Bestway Rental -- a 74 store rental company based in Dallas, Texas. Elected to the board in 2007, Kraemer currently serves on APRO's government affairs committee. He spoke with RTO Today ... Two notices now required to meet Pennsylvania Theft Statute Effective October 8, 2008, the bar for meeting Pennsylvania's Theft of Rental Property Statute went up. The new amendment to the Pennsylvania Theft of Rental Property Statute (Purdon’s Pennsylvania Statutes, Title 18, Ch. 39, sec. 3932(b)(2)) provides that written demand to return the property must be sent to ... Easyhome Q3: Same store growth down, execution issues noted Easyhome today released its third quarter results ended September 30, 2008, noting the acquisition of Insta-Rent and the implementation of a new, system-wide information technology system as factors contributing to "depressed" results for the rent-to-own company's second and third quarters. Third Quarter Results Revenue for the three-month period ... National TV Sales and Rental salutes American heroes National TV Sales and Rental salutes local heroes at the company's Lebanon, Missouri store. A crowd of close to 750 recently gathered in Lebanon, Missouri to honor heroes at home and abroad at National TV Sales and Rental's "Salute to American Heroes" event. The idea for the event, ... Circuit City files for bankruptcy Circuit City today announced it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but the chain will continue to operate the business with the help of a $1.1 billion debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility from its current lenders. The company’s Canadian operations will also seek bankruptcy protection under the ... Aaron's Corporate Furnishings sale to CORT complete Aaron Rents today announced it has completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of its Aaron's Corporate Furnishings division to CORT Business Services Corporation. The sale of the assets, which was previously announced on September 12, 2008, was closed for cash proceeds of approximately $76.4 million ... Panasonic and Sanyo push forward with merger A move by Panasonic's Board of Directors last Friday to make Sanyo Electronics a subsidiary will create the world's second largest electronics firm. Boards of both companies agreed to start discussions for a "capital and business alliance" between Panasonic and SANYO that will capitalize on both companies strengths, ... Circuit City, Tweeter turmoil signals shift in consumer demand Faced with a high unemployment rate, lack of credit options and volatile financial markets, consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level on record in October and weak retail sales numbers are taking a heavy toll on the heretofore resilient consumer electronics market. Earlier this week, Circuit City announced it ... NEW PODCAST: Dave Edwards, president SEI Aaron's APRO State Associations Coordinating Committee Chairman Dave Edwards. Listen to podcast. APRO Board member Dave Edwards is president and COO of SEI Aaron's, the largest Aaron's franchise in the country. Edwards, who is also the president of the New York State Rental Dealers Association, recently took the helm as ... La-Z-Boy to cut 850 jobs as furniture sales plummet According to Furniture Today, La-Z-Boy will lay off about 10 percent of its wor |