Hotel deadline looms for APRO Mid-Year conference | Class actions in Connecticut | Las Vegas Market sees second success | Super Bowl brings good news for RTO | Upcoming events | APRO's Legislative Conference | APRO offers half off membership dues | New APRO members | Rental Training Online | RTO in the News | Contact

Hotel deadline looms for
APRO Mid-Year conference
++February 20 is the last day to reserve a hotel room at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort in Tucson, Arizona, for the APRO 2006 Mid-Year Conference, March 20-22. Call 800/325-7832 or register online with group/convention code PRO to get the APRO rate of $189. You must register for the meeting itself with APRO by March 6. 
++Full conference registration for APRO members is $200 and includes all events and a complimentary spouse registration. The registration fee for non-members is $400. If you have any questions concerning registration, please contact APRO's Director of Membership Laurie Hill.

Class actions in Connecticut
By Ed Winn
++In the waning days of 2005, plaintiffs' attorneys in Hartford filed at least two class action lawsuits against rent-to-own companies doing business in the state. The plaintiff’s alleged violations of the state rental purchase statute and the state unfair trade practices act. The Connecticut statute requires that certain financial disclosures such as the rental rate, cash price, total rental purchase price, etc., must be made in a certain order. Georgia is the only other state with such a requirement. The Connecticut lawsuits allege that the rental companies were not making the disclosures in the proper order. In addition, the lawsuits challenge the way that the companies were making the "90-days-same-as-cash" offer to consumers.
++There is no allegation that any consumers were actually damaged because of the way that the rental agreements were drafted. Instead, plaintiffs are attempting to get minimum statutory damages of $250 per consumer because of the violation and not because anyone suffered any actual harm. If the court approves the classes, it is estimated that the class will number in the tens of thousands in both suits. Both cases are in the early stages of discovery and no decision is expected for a year or two. Copies of the pleadings are available to APRO members upon request.

Las Vegas Market sees second success
++Rent-to-own professionals browsed the hottest home furnishing products and design ideas at the Winter Las Vegas Market. The show was held January 30-February 3 at the Las Vegas World Market Center and attracted more than 1,200 exhibitors. According to Dana Pretner, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for World Market Center, last July’s inaugural industry trade show was the largest show launch in U.S. history.
++“The show in July was over the top by all accounts,” says Dave Palmer, general manager of the World Market Center. “This show proves that it wasn’t a one hit wonder.”
++After a day on the show floor, rental industry professionals had the opportunity to unwind at the APRO hospitality suite hosted by Sandberg Furniture. At the show, Sandberg previewed its new hutch that was designed specifically for the rent-to-own market. The hutch will hold a 50-inch flat screen television and includes a shelf for storing electronics such as DVD players or game consoles. The stand-alone unit comes fully assembled and has several finishes.
++“We value our relationships with all rent-to-own dealers,” says Michael Genrich, vice president of sales for Sandberg Furniture “We will continue to develop products to meet the needs of these dealers.”

Super Bowl brings good news for RTO
By Richard May
++Super Bowl advertising isn't just for the companies with millions to spend for a coveted television spot on game day. In the past two weeks, five APRO member companies have been featured in separate articles that discuss how the “big game creates big-screen demand."  The articles featuring Rent One, Show Me Rent to Own, ColorTyme, Quality Rentals and ABC Lease Ownership and Sales for Less highlighted the surge in big-screen rentals during the NFL playoff and Super Bowl festivities.
++Here’s a sample from the King County Journal in Seattle, Washington: “Kevin Quinn, president of Tacoma-based Quality Rentals, which has 20 stores throughout the state including stores in Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way and South Seattle, said his stores have waiting lists for people wanting to rent big-screen televisions on Super Bowl Sunday.”
++The intensity of big-screen rentals offers the rent-to-own industry positive media coverage promoting its rental value not only to the big game but to potential consumers in the marketplace who may not know much about RTO. APRO’s recent potential customer survey recommends promoting the value of renting as a way of introducing your potential customer to your store, company and the rent-to-own concept.
++“Marketing the short-term (“renting to rent”) appears to offer greater opportunities for initiating trial and expanding the customer base,” says Market Researcher, Linda Trenholm. The NFL lengthened its regular season by several weeks, pushing the playoff season into the full month of January. This change has created new opportunities in a month that has historically provided lower revenues for rent-to-own.

• Rent One Annual Meeting, February 7—9
• Missouri Rental Dealers Association Annual General Meeting, February 9, Columbia, Missouri
• Tupelo Furniture Market, February 22—25, Tupelo, Mississippi
• RentDirect Nationwide Buying Show, February 26—March 1, Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
• TRIB Board Meeting, March 7-8, Atlanta, Georgia
• TRIB Meeting of the Minds, March 8-9, Atlanta, Georgia
• Florida Rental Dealers Association Annual Legislative Meeting, March 14-15, Tallahassee, Florida
• Texas Association of Rental Agencies Convention and Buying Show, March 25-28, Austin, Texas
• Click here to view a one-page industry calendar of events

It’s upon us! APRO’s Legislative Conference, February 28 – March 1
++APRO would like to thank Fraenkel Company, High Touch, M&B Jewelry, RSSS, S.E.D. International, Welton USA and Whirlpool, 2006 Dave Egan Legislative Conference sponsors. The generous support of these companies will add an extra dimension to the trip taken by APRO members to Washington this month.  Veterans of the legislative process and first-timers will meet in Washington to continue working as the voice of the rent-to-own industry to ensure protection of the industry’s right to conduct business. The ultimate goal is passage of federal legislation that properly defines rent-to-own. 
++The first day of the conference will start early with a strategic planning session and a motivational message from ColorTyme President Bob Bloom.  Participants will meet with their congressmen and senators in the afternoon. Following this, members will be treated to dinner and the sites of our nation’s capitol on a “Washington After Dark” tour.  It will be a great time to take a break and share the day’s accomplishments before the next day’s full schedule of meetings on the Hill. Some attendees will start their day at 7 a.m. with work on APRO’s Statistical Survey followed by their trek to Capitol Hill.
++APRO appreciates and sincerely thanks Fraenkel Company, High Touch, M&B Jewelry, RSSS, S.E.D. International, Welton USA and Whirlpool for their generous sponsorships which enable APRO members to continue their work in the federal legislative arena.   

  APRO offers half off first-year
membership dues
++Any business owner knows that running a company of any size isn't always easy. For both new business owners and industry veterans, an APRO membership can be the most valuable resource to your business. By becoming a part of the APRO family, you have access to hundreds of rent-to-own professionals who are waiting to share their knowledge.
++Just ask APRO member Larry Goad, president of Zion's Rental Purchase in Harrogate, Tennessee. “I have been a member of APRO for many years now and here’s what I’ve learned: APRO is knowledge!  I’ve also learned that 'life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.' Being a member of APRO allows you to find those “stumps” in your business’s field," says Goad. "There are literally thousands of years of combined experience in the members of APRO, and I don’t know a single one of them that wouldn’t be thrilled to share that knowledge with you. If you want to save money, grow your business and find the “stumps,” then being a member of APRO is absolutely the best move you could make.”
++Join now and reap the benefits of APRO membership for 50 percent off your first year’s dues. Call APRO at 800/204-2776, e-mail APRO's Director of Membership Laurie Hill or visit the APRO Web site to find out what membership can do for you.

The following rental companies joined APRO in January:

• Paul Albritton, Magic Rentals Inc., Goldsboro, NC
• Frank Constantino, Aaron's Skyway Inc., dba Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership, Bradenton, FL
• John Howard, Promobiz.Com, Fort Worth, TX
• Tobe Kramer, Michels & Co., Lynwood, CA
• A.J. Raffo, Rims USA LLC, dba Rent-N-Roll, Spartanburg, SC

As part of our ongoing effort to recognize Rental Training Online students who took courses over the past three years, here is a list of students who took courses in January 2006:

Sheila Gassmann of A Full House; Lori Briscoe, Christopher Burleson, Robert Burrows, Austin Culwell, Robin McCarthy and Marguerite Teague of Alliance Rental Center; Josh Patterson of American Rental; Casey Bernal of Baber's Inc; Randy Cornwell and Austin LaViolette of Hometown Brand Center; Bradley Rodman of House of Television; Russell Thomas of KLQ; William Carlson, Nathan Carter, Josh Garcia, George Jackson, Roddy Kelley and Adam Walker of Rent City; Angela Cooper and Anthony Shelton of RentOne; Dirk Grayson, Michael Meck and Donald Phares of STAR Rentals; Robert Day, Miles Jones, Franklin Lazala, Marco Pineda and Roy Wells of Z-Best Rentals.

Visit the APRO Web site or call the APRO office at 800/204-2776.