Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Missouri dealers gain marketing insights at annual meeting

February 18, 2010

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 trends that will affect business decisions into the foreseeable future.

See photo gallery.

MRDA meeting attendees were treated to a talk from marketing specialist Kelly McDonald who discussed as a "permanent shift" in U.S. population demographics to one that is 70 percent minority.

McDonald discussed the challenges to businesses as this shift takes place and the various differences between customer segments.

"Those companies that have effectively tapped into various emerging markets have been richly rewarded with business growth and new, fiercely loyal customers," McDonald said.

Her presentation -- described by some as the best MRDA presentation and keynote ever -- focused on how to effectively market to Hispanics (the largest ethnic minority in the U.S) and women (the key decision-makers and influencers of most household and family purchases). The presentation was an eye opener for J.C. Cox, MRDA vice president.

"It was an excellent meeting, the best we've ever had," said Cox of Gateway Home Furnishings. "What I learned is that every store in the next few years is going to have to have bilingual employees and it's going to be important to prepare for that."

Following McDonald's talk, MRDA Boardmembers agreed to continue the highly successful product training seminars at the association's annual Heartland of America Trade Show set for June 15-17. The product trainings, added for the first time last year, were highly rated by members. MRDA is issuing a call for proposals from vendors. Six will be selected to participate in trainings at the regional show. Contact Ken Steiner for more information at 573/489-0622 or steineraa@aol.com.

"The meeting was outstanding," said MRDA President John Cleek Jr. "She (McDonald) was an excellent speaker with lots of relevant information. I would highly recommend her to any other state association."
About APRO
The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry and the most accurate and trustworthy source of rent-to-own news in the industry. Founded in 1980, APRO is the national, nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, courts, media and the public.

For more information, visit www.rtohq.org.

2012 APRO Dave Egan
Legislative Conference

April 17-19, Washington, D.C.

Mark your calendars!

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RTOHQ: The Magazine
RTOHQ: The Magazine is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning rent-to-own industry magazine, and it's available here.

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RTOHQ: The Magazine’s upgraded digital format

APRO's new, mobile-ready magazine is now available in addition to our print edition. The digital format provides the same informative content as our printed magazine, but also offers tools to make the reading experience more enriching. Access the table of contents page with one click or tap. Get additional information from advertisers by clicking on the links in their ads. The interface is easy to navigate and requires no special app—read our magazine on your computer, digital table or smartphone. Click here to access the digital version of RTOHQ: The Magazine November-December 2011.

Marketing Matters

This year marks the launch of a marketing campaign initiated by APRO to build the rent-to-own customer base. It will be a multi-year endeavor employing multiple strategies. In this and upcoming issues of our magazine, we will address the many facets of marketing that affect our industry.

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Future issues of APRO's magazine will be available in this same new format. Click here to access past issues that are not yet archived in the new interface.

Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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