Florida legislature passes rental theft bill | TRIB Group and AVB/Brand Source form strategic alliance | APRO member raises awareness, funds for autism program | Tupelo Furniture Market sets 2007 dates | ColorTyme hires new director of marketing | Former baseball player opens Rent-n-Roll store | Whirlpool in top 50 companies for African-American MBAs to work | Atlanta independent RTO dealer converts to ColorTyme | TRDA to host conference at Opryland | Upcoming meetings | APRO membership drive | Contact APRO

Florida legislature passes rental theft bill
++The Florida bill that will clarify the state’s rental theft statute is on its way to Governor Jeb Bush’s desk. The bill passed April 20 in the Florida House and in the Florida Senate on April 6. The Florida Rental Dealers Association has supported its passage and is urging the governor to sign the bill. If signed, the legislation will make it easier for rent-to-own dealers to retrieve stolen merchandise. The governor has seven days to sign or veto the bill. If Bush does neither, the bill becomes law.

TRIB Group, AVB/Brand Source form strategic alliance
++Members of TRIB Group, America’s oldest buying group specifically for the rental industry and representing the largest collection of rental locations in the country, approved the formation of a strategic alliance with AVB/Brand Source. The partnership is effective immediately and the first roll-out will be at the TRIB Group annual membership meeting and convention, "Play Ball in Cincy", May 17 - 20, 2006, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
++Under the terms of the agreement, TRIB Group will continue to operate autonomously and manage its rent-to-own members. In addition, TRIB Group will manage the AVB/Brand Source RTO dealers, operating as a division of AVB Inc. Other divisions of AVB include Home Entertainment Source, Sleep Source, MARTA and Flooring Source. TRIB Group will continue to be headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, under the leadership of Executive Director Dennis Shields.
++“It is an exciting time for TRIB. It gives us added opportunities to make existing members more profitable, as well as additional programs to grow the TRIB Group membership,” says Shields. “We look forward to working with all our existing vendors as well as all the new contacts and services provided by our alliance with AVB/Brand Source.”
++The relationship will bring TRIB Group members additional manufacturer leverage, as well as additional infrastructure programs, including wholesale financing through Expert Finance, health care through Expert Care and additional opportunities through AVB/Brand Source. The partnership also expands AVB/Brand Source core programs such as Expert Warehouse, Expert Finance and Expert Care and completes a distribution link for AVB/Brand Source “Whole Home Solution” by adding a rent-to-own component.
++“This is a great opportunity for all TRIB and AVB/Brand Source members,” says Bob Lawrence, executive director of AVB/Brand Source. “It creates additional opportunity by increasing total volume, channel reach and core program participation, which increases profitability to all members.”

APRO member raises awareness,
funds for autism program
++APRO member John Cleek Jr. of Cleek's Rent-To-Own in Columbia, Missouri, raised more than $16,000 to benefit the Judevine Autism Outreach Program. Cleek is the organizer of Columbia’s Third Annual Bowling for Autism Tournament, which attracted 120 bowlers.
++The event not only raised funds for the organization, but raised autism awareness in the community. According to Cleek, a local television station set up 500 television spots that announced the event and increased community awareness about autism.
++“Autism is something we need to be aware of,” says Cleek. “We can help these kids out.” According to Cleek, autism is estimated to be diagnosed in one of every 160 children. For boys, the incidence rate increases to one in every 75.
++Cleek has also been involved with the organization as the chair of the parent advisory committee. Cleek and his wife, Heather, have three children. Their 6-year-old son Thomas was diagnosed with mild autism when he was 18 months old. “Four years ago, he couldn't speak,” says Cleek, “but through the services provided by the Central Missouri Autism Project, he can now speak in complete sentences, go to school and lead a relatively normal life.”
++According to Cleek, Judevine will use the funds from the bowling tournament to purchase “wish list” items such as new computers and upgraded equipment.
++The Judevine Autism Outreach Program at Central Missouri provides services to families in rural areas who might be unable to access facility-based services. To make a donation to Judevine or for more information on autism, visit the Judevine Center for Autism Web site.



Tupelo Furniture Market sets 2007 dates
++The Tupelo Furniture Market released the market schedule for winter and summer of 2007. The 2007 winter market will be held January 10-13. The summer market dates are set for June 13-16. The 2007 markets will continue to follow a Wednesday-through-Saturday format.
++“The Tupelo Furniture Market surveyed retailers on the subject of market dates,” says Tupelo Furniture Market Chairman and CEO V.M. Cleveland. “The majority favored a January market, which would allow retailers to buy products in time for tax season. Also, the June market allows retailers time to buy for fourth quarter sales.”
++The 2006 fall Tupelo Furniture Market will officially open on August 16, as previously scheduled.



ColorTyme hires new director of marketing
++ColorTyme Inc. hired Amy Woods as its new director of marketing. A Dallas native, Woods came to ColorTyme with more than 15 years’ experience in advertising and marketing combined with a background in franchisee relations. She officially joined the ColorTyme team on March 15.
++“I admire ColorTyme for its committed management team and entrepreneurial mindset that empowers its franchisees,” says Woods. “I’m honored to join the group, I respect what they do and look forward to developing programs that will help ColorTyme franchisees succeed.”
++Woods’ immediate charge at ColorTyme will be to enhance communication with franchisees with respect to marketing implementation in the field, track strategic advertising initiatives and listen to franchisees' feedback. She will also work to enhance ColorTyme’s identity in the rent-to-own industry.
++“Amy’s understanding of how marketing and advertising can build not only a brand but a franchisee’s business is paramount,” says ColorTyme President and CEO Bob Bloom. “She will play a pivotal role in communicating the strengths that set ColorTyme apart in the industry to support our franchisees and attract new customers.”

Former baseball player opens Rent-n-Roll store
++Rent-to-own veteran and principal of Pearsey’s Enterprises Les Pearsey opened his second Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires franchise location in Bakersfield, California, on March 22. Pearsey, a former professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels and Minnesota Twins, opened his first Rent-n-Roll store in Bakersfield in July 2005.
++“We are excited to be working with Les in California,” says Rent-n-Roll President Larry Sutton. “His passion for this industry and reputation for success is second to none and we are extremely proud to have Les and his team on board.”
++The new Bakersfield store will be overseen by Bill Frankhouser, a longtime employee of Pearsey’s. "I am excited to have the privilege of working with Rent-n-Roll,” says Frankhouser. “This is an exciting time for the rent-to-own industry. We are moving forward and ready for the challenges awaiting our new adventure.”

Whirlpool in top 50 companies for African-American MBAs to work
++Whirlpool Corp. was named 12th on the list of the top 50 companies for African-American MBAs to work for by Black MBA Magazine, the official publication of the National Black MBA Association.
++“Whirlpool is honored to be recognized as one of the top 50 companies for African-American MBAs,” says David A. Binkley, senior vice president of Whirlpool’s Global Human Resources. “Diversity with inclusion has long been one of our core values and we are strongly committed to hiring talented college graduates from all backgrounds.”
++The magazine’s publisher, P&L Publishing, commissioned a team of research professionals to determine criteria for selecting the top 50 companies for African-American MBAs to work. The survey was inspired by the continued growth in the U.S. population and its diverse MBA workforce. Black MBA Magazine was interested in whether companies were adapting to this new trend and staffing their workforce accordingly. Specifically, it wanted to identify companies that not only value diversity, but also have a strong recruitment process in hiring talented and highly educated African-Americans and other minorities.
++The survey appears in the current issue of Black MBA Magazine.

Atlanta dealer converts to ColorTyme
++Former independent rent-to-own dealer Bruce Emory had a list of requirements as he considered the right RTO franchising company for his stores. On his list: a company that believed in him, supported him and also allowed him to preserve the company culture he built for his stores. After several rounds in search of the right RTO fit, Emory converted his three Rent-to-Own Concepts stores in the Atlanta area to ColorTyme locations.
++“For me, converting to ColorTyme was about joining forces with both ColorTyme and with Rent-A-Center, one of the biggest companies in the business, in order to capitalize on their experience and financial power,” says Emory.
++Over the past 14 years, Emory has had as many as eight stores open at once, but was in a constant struggle to secure the financing he needed to grow at a significant pace. Instead, he maintained his stores and grew little by little each year, continuing to look for financing options.
++Emory currently has three stores in the Atlanta area: Mableton, Douglasville and Carrollton. He plans to expand in western Atlanta.

TRDA to host conference at Opryland
++The Tennessee Rental Dealers Association is inviting fellow Tennessee dealers to the TRDA Spring Conference on June 8–9 at the renowned Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. This year’s conference offers educational sessions on keeping businesses compliant with state RTO laws, how to increase store revenues, a legislative update and a new vendor show.
++“We hope Tennessee rental dealers will come to Opryland to enjoy good food, partake of the local entertainment and go home with tools to make their business more profitable,” says TRDA President Larry Goad.
++The Tennessee spring conference is attracting speakers from four states, including Kevin Quinn of Quality Rentals, Mike Tissot of Countryside Rentals, Terry Beville of Buddy's Home Furnishings, Sidney Burton of Hometown Ventures and Ed Winn of APRO.
++"This is a very strong program from a state association," says APRO Executive Director Bill Keese. "The number and quality of TRDA's speakers are comparable to most national-level conferences."
++For registration information, contact Goad by e-mail or at 423/626-8025. Registration is free to TRDA members and guests. Registration for non-members is $100 for the first employee and $50 for each additional employee. Registration ends on May 16. Mail fees to: TRDA, P.O. Box 60, Harrogate, Tennessee 37752. Hotel reservations can be made by calling Opryland Resort at 615/883-2211. Meeting attendees may ask for the X-TNRA block rate of $139.

• Arkansas Rental Dealers Association, April 25-26, Hot Springs, Arkansas
• High Point Furniture Market, April 27 - May 3, High Point, North Carolina
• Cal-APRO Spring General Meeting and Election, May 17, Irvine, California
• TRIB Group 2006 Convention, May 17-20, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Tennessee Rental Dealers Association Spring Conference, June 8-9, Nashville, Tennessee
• Missouri Rental Dealers Association Second Annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show, June 19-21, Lake Ozark, Missouri
  
• Click here to view a one-page industry calendar of events

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 resources.
++Just ask APRO member Tom Martin of Tame LLC, dba Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership, in Wichita, Kansas. “I initially joined APRO because I felt we needed a voice in Washington as well as state representation. If we don't stand together we will fall," says Martin. "The main benefit for us is that we found out about Central File and used them for a National Change of Address (NCOA) program. We found a skip in Wisconsin that recovered over $5,000. The cost of the NCOA program was around $600 and the cost of APRO was next to nothing."
++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.