Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Golfers tee off APRO 2011

July 11, 2011

The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) today kicks of its annual 2011 Convention and Trade Show in Little Rock today with the Tom Kitchens/Joe Eason Golf Tournament played on one of Arkansas' most prestigious courses -- the Chenal Country Club.

The course offers two world-class courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., one of the world's leading golf course designers.

Close to 80 golfers will get the opportunity to participate in a golf clinic offered from 8 to 9 a.m. with professional golfer Gene Bone, currently with ProGuard.

The convention, which is highlighted by a number of educational sessions, receptions and awards banquets honoring outstanding members of the industry, runs July 11-14 at the historic Peabody Hotel. The educational and training components of the convention begin Tuesday, with the introduction of a first-of-its-kind RTO Marketing Plan by renown marketing expert Jill McDonough.

The plan is a blueprint for drawing new rent to own customers and is based on numerous "potential customer" focus groups conducted around the country. McDonough will explore the study in-depth in special "Innovation Marketing Session: Grab that New Customer" Tuesday morning.

McDonough's presentation will be followed by a series of roundtable discussions specially developed for small, medium and large companies.

APRO's Educational Program continues after lunch with sessions on "Developing Future Leaders", "Store Makeovers", "Health Care", "Hiring Tips" and "Legislative and Legal Updates" from industry professionals such as Lyn Leach, APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III, and Wayne Outlaw.

The day will be capped by an evening at the Clinton Presidential Center that evening.?
Social and networking events abound at the event including a General Session on Wednesday featuring notable author speaker and entrepreneur Bill Taylor.

The four day APRO Convention is highlighted by a robust trade show that opens Wednesday July 13, and features more than 100 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest in consumer electronics, software, high tech asset management systems, furniture and appliances.

??See full convention details here and follow news and video feeds from the convention at RTOHQ.org, on Twitter and on Facebook.

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

Attendee Information

Exhibitor Information

Thank you APRO 2012 Sponsors

Watch RTOHQ Rent to Own videos on YouTube!

Featured APRO Photo:
From the Buddy's Bahama Cruise Sept. 17-20, 2010 Album
Buddy's Bahama Cruise Sept. 17-20, 2010
View All RTO Photos
in the RTOHQ.org gallery

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
1504 Robin Hood Trail
Austin, Texas 78703
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097