Rent-to-own News - APRO offers convention savings plan

The APRO Board of Directors recently approved a first-ever savings plan option for rent to own dealers who want to attend the association's annual convention and break registration and hotel fees into smaller, monthly payments.

The idea, pitched by new board member Sandi Frye, a single-store Premier dealer in Altoona Pennsylvania, provides the perfect option for smaller dealers who want to be part of the national convention, but prefer to break up registration fees across the year.

"When you're a one and two store dealer who's putting everything back into inventory, it's not easy to make that full payment upfront," Frye said. "That's when I really started thinking this would probably be a good way to get more people to convention and hopefully, more people to join APRO. After attending my first convention this year, I realize it is a must go for me now. The networking opportunities and sharing of ideas by other rent to own professionals is just too valuable."

The six month plan allows interested dealers the option of breaking their convention registration and hotel fees into a monthly savings plan using an authorized credit card. Conventioneers using the plan can choose one that includes either or both convention and hotel fees. The savings plan can be stopped at anytime and is fully refundable.

"We want attendance at the APRO convention to be as accessible and convenient as possible," said APRO Executive Director Bill Keese, "and to include as many industry voices as possible. This is one way we feel we can accomplish that."

Enrollment in "APRO's 2012 Convention Savings Plan" does not automatically enroll dealers for the convention.

When registration opens, participating dealers will be contacted to allow consent for their savings funds to be transferred to APRO at which point convention registration will be complete.

Conventioneers who elect to also include hotel costs in their savings plan will then be issued a check for the remaining balance in their fund after registration fees.

The savings plan does not include registration for auxiliary expenses such as airfare or special events such as the annual golf tournament.

Also, as with all convention attendees, savings plan participants must make their own hotel reservations. All hotel savings accumulated will be released to participating dealers well in advance of the convention.

"Small dealers wear lots of hats and it's hard for us to make the commitments sometimes and the financial aspect is a part of that," said APRO Board Member Sydney Burton, a single store owner in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. "This makes it easy, it's a great idea and the convention is just an invaluable business opportunity for everyone in this industry."

Download your savings plan form here.

For more information about the savings plan option, call or email Jeannie Hutchison at 800/204-2776 ext. 108.