Everyone wins in American Rentals race for success | Industry veteran opens consulting practice | Premier Rimz joins RentDirect | MRDA hosts annual meeting; announces trade show dates | Nationwide annual member conference heads to Vegas | RSSS announces user conference | Benefit Marketing Solution names general counsel |Aarons Rents directors declare dividend | Upcoming meetings | APRO thanks 2006 legislative conference sponsors | APRO offers membership discount | RTO in the news | Contact APRO

Everyone wins in American Rentals
race for success
by Richard May
++It may cost to attend an APRO convention but it pays much more as David P. David, general manager of American Rentals, will attest. Simply attending a discussion at the 2005 APRO Convention and Buying Show improved American Rentals profit by 107 percent this past weekend.
++According to David, the idea popped into his head during APRO’s convention when two dozen dealers from across the nation were swapping ideas during APRO’s roundtable discussion entitled “What are you doing for promotions?” One of the attendants described a promotional and motivational marketing campaign his company executed regarding a company-wide race-themed contest for the most agreements written. David decided the contest would be a great opportunity for American Rentals, a company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana – the racing capital of the world. He executed “Racing to Total Customer Satisfaction,” a promotional marketing campaign for the weekend of February 16 and 17.
++According to American Rentals Chief Technology Officer Kelly Ireland, employees kept track of the race through logging on to an up-to-the-minute race-themed Web site set up by Chief Information Officer Rauof Bishay. Through the site, employees could view their momentum as well as check the competition from fellow stores and employees throughout the weekend.
++“It was really cool to see everybody so excited,” says David. “The interactive Web connection with all of our stores and employees really gave it a telethon-like feel that energized employees and customers.”
++Managers had liberty to develop their own promotional campaigns to entice customers into the store otherwise the only rule was that the contract had to be written.
++The weekend’s race promotion boosted the company’s revenue 107 percent over the previous year’s. The contest rewarded the store with the most signed agreements over the two-day period with a $1000 cash prize. American Rentals' North Vernon, Indiana, store took first place in the contest. The second place winner was the New Albany, Indiana, store and third place went to the Martinsville store. 

Industry veteran opens consulting practice
++Twenty-year RTO industry veteran Danny Wilbanks announced the opening of Wilbanks Christians PLLC, a consulting firm specializing in providing services to entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses. ++++Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Wilbanks Christians serves a variety of industries with emphasis on assisting the rent-to-own entrepreneur in his expansion and financing needs. Wilbanks’ partner in Wilbanks Christians is Monte Christians. Both Christians and Wilbanks have extensive experience in corporate finance and as entrepreneurs and operators in high growth and rapidly changing environments. 
++Wilbanks Christians offers a broad range of services including private placements of debt and equity, strategic planning and merger and acquisitions advisory services. The firm provides a full range of traditional CPA services as well, including monthly accounting services, tax consultation and tax return preparation. The firm also assists individuals in the area of retirement and legacy planning. 
++During his 20-year career in the industry, Wilbanks served as the principal financial advisor in more than 75 acquisition or sales transactions of rental-purchase stores valued at more than $1.4 billion. This experience makes the newly formed consulting firm the most experienced advisor available for rent-to-own dealers needing assistance in buying or selling rental stores.  Additionally, Wilbanks’ operating experience makes him uniquely qualified to offer these financial and consulting services to the RTO industry.
++Wilbanks has been a member of APRO. He has also been a member of the Texas Association for Rental Agencies since 1994 and served a term as TARA’s president. 
++The partners of Wilbanks Christians PLLC can be contacted by e-mail or at 512/997-9444.

Premier Rimz joins RentDirect
++RentDirect Nationwide added Premier Rimz to its vendor line-up. Premier Rimz is a tire and rim provider that offers RentDirect members the opportunity to join one of the fastest growing segments of the rent-to-own market. Premier Rimz offers a new product line without having to buy installation equipment, stock inventory or hire technicians to install the product. The tires and rims arrive at the rent-to-own dealership and are ready to be placed on the customer’s vehicle.
++“Premier Rimz offers our Rent Direct members an opportunity to expand into the fastest growing segment of the industry while removing many of the obstacles and expenses associated with adding this new product line,” says James MacAlpine, executive director of RentDirect Nationwide.
++RentDirect members can access the Premier Rimz online showroom through their Member Net network. The Web site will allow customers to view a large selection of the most popular tires and rims and choose the correct product for their car. Wheel and tire packages are shipped mounted and balanced and ready to install or take home. Shipping is included in the price and the product usually arrives in three to five days.
++“We are excited to join with RentDirect and Nationwide,” says CheriLyn Korth, vice president of sales for Premier Rimz. “Premier Rimz will benefit from its growing number of members and we can offer a solid product and a turn-key delivery system.”
++Premier Rimz is joining nearly 200 other vendors at Nationwide's PrimeTime! event February 26-March 1 in Las Vegas. (See related story.)

MRDA hosts annual meeting;
announces trade show dates
++The Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA) held its annual meeting on February 9 in Columbia, Missouri. According to MRDA Administrative Manager Ken Steiner, 85 rental dealers and vendors attended the one-day conference, which featured two guest speakers and concluded with MRDA’s annual meeting.
++APRO’s Legal Counsel Ed Winn presented the morning seminar on collection practices while APRO President Shannon Strunk discussed how to expand a business during the afternoon seminar. “We had two topics that really hit home with the dealers – collections and how to grow your business,” says Steiner.
++After the presentations, the MRDA commenced its annual meeting. The board of directors announced two schedule changes for the upcoming year. The second annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show will move to June 19-21 and will be held at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri. Rental dealers and vendors from Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Iowa are all encouraged to participate in the trade show. The board of directors also announced that due to the trade show scheduling, MRDA’s three-city training program for account managers and other store employees will move from July to August.
++One of the highlights of the annual meeting was a review of MRDA accomplishments in 2005. MRDA received recognition at the APRO Convention and Buying show as the state association of the year, MRDA member Dan Cole was honored with APRO’s Heritage Award, and the association also celebrated a 38 percent increase in company memberships this past year.
++“We’re going to keep going higher and higher,” says MRDA president Chuck Kuluva.

Nationwide annual member
conference heads to Vegas
++Prime Time! 2006, the member conference and vendor exhibition for Nationwide Marketing Group will be held in Las Vegas beginning on Sunday, February 26 and continuing through March 1. The four-day event at the Venetian Resort and Casino is expected to draw more than 4,200 attendees with exhibits from 164 companies.
++“We are growing tremendously,” says James MacAlpine, executive director of RentDirect Nationwide. “Since August 2005, we have grown from 42 rental dealers to the 150 RTO members of RentDirect Nationwide today.”
++RentDirect Nationwide is a division of Nationwide Marketing Group. Nationwide has been in business for more than 30 years providing help to independent appliance, electronic and furniture retailers to survive and prosper in the volatile marketplace. RentDirect Nationwide was formed to provide similar support to dealers in the rent-to-own industry. One hundred rent-to-own companies are expected to attend this year’s show.
 ++“Our mission is to provide great value to our members and we will be launching new member benefits at this year’s Prime Time!,” says MacAlpine.
++On February 27, Bill Keese, executive director and Ed Winn, general counsel of APRO will address RentDirect attendees. Keese and Winn will discuss the state of the rent-to-own industry today, legal issues affecting the industry and upcoming APRO events. “I am very excited about attending this year’s Prime Time! and visiting with all the rental dealers and staff of Nationwide,” says Keese.
++Nationwide hosts two premier PrimeTime! buying conventions each year, which draw thousands of retailers and major manufacturers. These events feature nationally known keynote speakers, provide education programs through PrimeTime! University and allow retailers to see new products and talk directly with manufacturer representatives.

RSSS announces users conference
++RSSS will host its 2006 user’s conference, Fly High ’06, April 3 - 5 at the Corpus Christi Town Club in Corpus Christi, Texas. 
 ++The conference will kick off with a golf outing on April 3. An opening cocktail party in the RSSS suite at the Omni Bayfront Hotel will follow. The following morning will be devoted to discussing the future of RSSS. This session will include an address by High Touch President Wayne Chambers. High Touch is the parent company of RSSS. The session will also unveil new features of RSSS Version 12 with new developments in security monitoring, Internet security and innovative back-up solutions to be introduced as well. The conclusion of this session will be a vendor networking break where attendees can mingle with RSSS vendor partners to discuss mutually beneficial marketing opportunities. 
++“This conference has been designed to focus on the core functionality and versatility of the RSSS system with the goal of energizing our users about the power of their system,” says Ellison Crider, general manager of RSSS. “Our users will leave the conference with new knowledge of how to use the system as well as a better understanding of how to analyze the data produced out of their systems.”
++User roundtable sessions and seminars will be held on April 4. After the roundtables, attendees can go to seminars on the features of RSSS software. That afternoon, owners and executives will be given the opportunity to attend a private session with Wayne Chambers and Crider. The evening will conclude with a dinner and casino night at the Omni, overlooking scenic Corpus Christi Bay. At the end of the night, gamblers will be able to redeem their winnings for various prizes donated by vendors.
++On April 5, users are invited to schedule one-on-one appointments with any RSSS staff members, which will be held at the RSSS offices.
++The conference is open only to RSSS users. Additional information and online registration can be found at the conference Web site.

Benefit Marketing Solutions names
general counsel
++Brad Denison, formerly of Rent-A-Center, has been named general counsel of Benefit Marketing Solutions (BMS).
++“We are excited to have Brad aboard,” says Danny Wright, BMS chief executive officer. “His experience in the rental-purchase industry, his background with membership programs as they apply to our markets, and regulatory experience give him a unique ability to readily apply his experience to our company."
++Denison was with Rent-A-Center for 10 years before purchasing a music store business in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2001. Denison made the decision this year to return to the practice of law. He is a 1985 graduate of the University of Kansas Law School and prior to his tenure with Rent-A-Center he specialized in insurance litigation.
++BMS markets membership programs under a Preferred Customer Club concept through more than 3,500 rent-to- own and consumer finance locations nationwide.
++"I am thrilled to be working with Danny Wright and the great people at Benefit Marketing Solutions," says Dennison. "I'm also very excited to be back in the rent-to -own industry. I made a lot of friends when I was in the industry and it is great to be able to have a connection again."
++

Aarons Rents directors declare dividend
++Aarons Rents announced on February 22 that the board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend. The dividend declared is $.014 per share on common stock and $.014 per share on Class A Common Stock, payable April 3, 2006, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2006.

• Tupelo Furniture Market, February 22—25, Tupelo, Mississippi
• RentDirect Nationwide Buying Show, February 26—March 1, Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
• APRO 2006 Dave Egan Legislative Conference, February 28-March 1, Washington, D.C.
• 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
• APRO 2006 Mid-Year Conference, March 20-22, Tucson, Arizona
• Texas Association of Rental Agencies Convention and Buying Show, March 25-28, Austin, Texas
• RSSS Users Conference, April 3-6, Corpus Christi, Texas
• Arkansas Rental Dealers Association, April 25-26, Hot Springs, Arkansas
• High Point Furniture Market, April 27-30, High Point, North Carolina
• Click here to view a one-page industry calendar of events

APRO thanks 2006 legislative
conference sponsors
++APRO would like to thank Welton USA,Fraenkel Company, High Touch, M&B Jewelry, RSSS,Whirlpool and S.E.D. International for their generous sponsorships of the 2006 Dave Egan Legislative Conference. Their support enables APRO members to continue working to acquire federal RTO legislation. 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 conference will be held on February 28-March 1 in Washington, DC.

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 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 who 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 can make.”
++Join APRO now and reap the benefits of 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.

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