Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - PARD donates five computers, software to local school

April 21, 2010

L to R: Nativity School Board member Susan Ewing, Executive Director Jairee Counterman, students Queshawn Jenkins-Barksdale and Jzaquean Carter and Board member Stephen Proctor at PARD meeting Tuesday.

Around 31 Pennsylvania rent to own professionals turned out for the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers annual business meeting yesterday which culminated in the donation of $5,000 in products and merchandise to an innovative middle school program for inner-city boys.

PARD members made their first "Computerz For Kidz" donation to The Nativity School of Harrisburg Tuesday, after learning of the school's need for computers, printers and software. Three school representatives and two students were on hand to receive the merchandise.

"We don't often get new computers so to get all these new Dell computers and the software package to manage our donations is quite exciting," said Nativity School Executive Director Jairee Counterman. "This will open new doors for the Nativity School and for our students."

PARD member companies donated five Dell computers, an all-in-one printer, a standard printer and a software package. PARD vendor D&H Distributing will also contribute a needed laser printer.

The Nativity School of Harrisburg is a private, independent, faith-based, nondenominational preparatory middle school that exists to Break the Cycle of Poverty for low income, inner-city boys by providing a comprehensive middle school education and by continuing to provide educational and support services throughout high school and college.

PARD membership meeting Tuesday.

"This is very exciting for us," said PARD President and Premier Franchisee Sandi Frye. "This donation is going to benefit everyone in the school and hopefully when they use this equipment they will think of us. We hope to make this donation every year to different schools in the area."

PARD members voted to make a similar "Computerz For Kidz" donation to another local school next year.

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 Convention and Trade Show

July 24-26, Memphis, TN

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Featured APRO Photo:
From the TARA's 2010 Convention and Southwest Buying Show, Oct. 10-11 Album
TARA's 2010 Convention and Southwest Buying Show, Oct. 10-11
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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.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR DIGITAL RTOHQ: THE MAGAZINE

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 March-April 2012.

A New Rent-to-Own Experience

by Neil Ferguson

Here’s the lowdown on APRO’s 2012 Convention and Trade Show, July 24-26 in Memphis. The RTO industry’s big event will offer many valuable experiences, including insights on how to turn your stores into “experiences”–the good kind for consumers

Who Is Your Competition?

by Bill Keese

In order to expand your customer base, you can learn a lot by observing your competitors. But first, you need to figure out just who they are. If you think your only competition is the rent-to-own store down the street, you’re not considering the bigger picture. APRO’s executive director offers a big-picture perspective.

A Review of Online Customer Complaints

by Ed Winn III

While rent-to-own companies have not cornered the market on negative reviews posted on consumer complaint websites, it’s no surprise that there are cyberspace beefs against RTO. APRO’s general counsel reviews some of them in search of a pattern and he considers appropriate response to online complaints.

Rent-to-Own Families, Part VIII

by Kristen Card

Our series of family-run rent-to-own businesses continues with profiles of the Homeiers in Kansas and two Texas-based sets of kindred colleagues, the Spangles and the Weisblatts.

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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Austin, Texas 78703
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097