Free online training from APRO | Chappy's drives home race sponsorship |FAN celebrates tenth anniversary | Aaron Rents plans to aggressively franchise Rimco concept | ORDA Expo has new name and dates | Whirlpool takes steps to integrate Maytag | Upcoming
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Free online training from APRO
++Who says nothing's free anymore? At APRO, that's not the case. For a limited time, ARPO is offering you a free Rental Training Online course, "Introduction to Rent-to-Own." The course is a $19.90 value—but can be yours for free.
++To receive this free course, please sign up for a free APRO account. In addition to a free training class, you will also receive APRO's bi-weekly online newsletter, Rental Viewpoint, and a free subscription to APRO's award-winning magazine, Progressive Rentals. Plus, you'll gain expanded access to APRO's new Web site, RTOHQ, featuring user forums in addition to expanded coverage and resources for the rent-to-own industry.
++This offer is available only to those opening a new account with APRO. You must sign up for an APRO account to receive the free online course and you must provide a valid e-mail address. Signing up for an APRO account does not mean you are an APRO member. To find out more about full membership in the association and all the advantages membership offers, click here.
++Take advantage of this great offer: free education, a free subscription to APRO's online newsletter and a free subscription to Progressive Rentals. Sign up for your APRO account today!
Chappy's drives home race sponsorship
by Richard May
++ Indiana's Chappy's Rent To Own's most successful form of advertising isn't advertising. Instead of spending money on traditional advertising, Chappy's owner Ken Chapman sponsors the local racetrack. Unbeknownst to Chapman, though, is that Chappy's Rent To Own is one of the most prevalent rent-to-own companies featured in national Google and Yahoo search results—all thanks to the racetrack sponsorship.
++According to APRO’s yearlong media study, Chappy’s sponsorship was featured in Google and Yahoo search results for rent-to-own 24 times throughout the year. While Chapman readily admits that the online presence is not significant to store traffic, he is surprised to learn that his company is so prevalent.
++As the Internet continues to become the source for retail information and media research, Chappy’s online presence will give it the name recognition and branding advantage for future growth. In the meantime, Chappy’s presence provides national rent-to-own leaders a small-business story that appeals to the media as well as state and federal lawmakers.
++Industry statistics show that many potential customers do not consider rent-to-own because they view the industry as a “fly-by-night” type of business. The study recommends that RTO companies invest in their communities. Many companies have been successful with charitable sponsorships, but there are also private and event sponsorships that can be very successful—as Chappy’s has proven.
FAN celebrates tenth anniversary
++Arkansas-based FAN Sales and Leasing, dba Furniture and Appliances Now, celebrated its 10th anniversary with an awards and recognition banquet. The anniversary and recognition gala was attended by more than 130 employees, guests and vendors. At the banquet, FAN recognized high-performance stores, managers and employees. Among the many recognized was Ed Martin, manager of the Batesville store who was recently honored as one of two Arkansas Rental Dealers Association Managers of the Year at the ARDA spring conference. FAN honored General Electric as its Vendor of the Year and also gave special recognition to Ashley Home Furnishings and Woodson-Bozeman Distributing.
++The keynote speaker for the evening was former co-owner Fred Pearson. He spoke on creating memorable customer experiences, which will be the subject of his presentation at September’s APRO Convention and Buying Show in Orlando.
++FAN includes 19 furniture, appliances and electronics lease-purchase showrooms in Arkansas and is operated by Geron Vail. Pearson-Vail LLC originated in April 1996 as a partnership between Vail and longtime friend, investment partner and rent-to-own dealer Pearson. Last October, Vail acquired Pearson’s interest in the company.
++The first FAN showroom was in Trumann, Arkansas. Today, FAN is Arkansas’ largest independent RTO dealer. A twentieth location will be announced during the third quarter.
Aaron Rents plans to aggressively
franchise Rimco concept
++Kevin Leary, director of franchise development and operations for Rimco Sales & Lease Ownership, announced that parent company Aaron Rents Inc. has charted an aggressive plan to franchise the Rimco concept nationally.
++Rimco will offer custom wheels, rims and services in 4,000-to-6,000-square-foot, freestanding stores. According to the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, the national rim market tripled in size, from $1.3 billion in 1995 to $3.9 billion in 2004.
++"The market is booming across all demographics and our goal is to build the first national custom wheel and rim chain," says Leary. "We’ll do that by franchising our Rimco concept to meet consumer demand and by operating the stores on the proven Aaron Sales & Lease Ownership business model."
++The first franchise stores are in Columbus, Georgia, and Farmington, New Mexico. Leary plans to have 25 locations by the end of the year.
ORDA Expo has new name and dates
++The Ohio Rental Dealers Association annual expo is changing its name and dates to better suit the Midwest rent-to-own community. The 2006 Midwest RTO Expo will be held August 8-9 at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. Along with the new date, the conference also has a new name – Midwest Training Expo. Registration will open on June 1.
++"The success of training and impact on managers created the need to go in this direction," says Mike Tissot, president of ORDA.
++On August 8, attendees are invited to a cocktail reception and bowling. Bowling ball and shoes will be provided. The expo’s training-focused trade show will begin on August 9 and will provide attendees quality time with vendors. Non-product training sessions will also be offered and lunch will be served.
++The Midwest Expo debuted in 2004 as the first "regional" association activity. In its first two years, attendees representing eight states participated. The trade show has featured more than 40 vendors. Previous training sessions have featured discussions on customer service, legislative rules about accounts management, product refurbishment and sessions regarding specific product categories. For more information, contact Mike Tissot at 740/634-2666.
Whirlpool takes steps to integrate Maytag
++Whirlpool announced a series of changes within its North American organization relating to the integration of Maytag operations. Approximately 4,500 positions will be eliminated as a result of the changes. About 1,500 new positions will also be created at other Whirlpool locations, resulting in a net total elimination of 3,000 positions when all changes have been completed. Details on the number and location of new positions created at other Whirlpool locations will be announced in the near future.
++"We are taking these actions to rapidly restore the competitiveness of the Maytag brands," says Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool chairman and chief executive officer. "This is an important step in our integration process that will allow us to drive continuing performance improvements and will better align our brands, products and operations with the markets we serve domestically and globally."
++The announcement includes plans to consolidate laundry washer and dryer production from Maytag manufacturing sites in Newton, Iowa; Herrin, Illinois; and Searcy, Arkansas, with Whirlpool laundry factories in Clyde and Marion, Ohio.
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