Improved RTO statistical survey now online | APRO submits "Friend of the Court" brief in New Jersey case | Rent-A-Center New Jersey Supreme Court for another hearing | APRO releases new Advertising, Public Relations and Media Relations Handbook | Olympian to keynote at RentDirect Nationwide's Summit | APROfile: Gloria Homeier-Schwien | Are you ready for RAE? | Upcoming meetings | RTO in the news | Contact APRO

Improved RTO statistical survey
now available online
++APRO's annual rent-to-own statistical survey—a benchmark study providing the latest financial trends and economic impact of the industry—is now ready for dealers to complete online. This is the first year the survey has been offered online and it's been significantly overhauled in the process, making it easier than ever to complete.
++A group of rent-to-own industry leaders, led by Terry Beville of Buddy’s Home Furnishings, have revised the survey, providing a new format that will take less time and acquire data more relevant to today’s rent-to-own world. The time involved to complete the survey is up to two-thirds less than the time needed for the prior, print-only version. In addition, great efforts have been made to ensure complete confidentiality. Industry Insights has again been awarded the contract to compile individual company’s data.
++“Absolute privacy is assured,” says Beville. “Even the people at Industry Insights will not have access to a company’s data and the company’s identity at the same time.” Rest assured that the link to complete the survey below takes you to a secure section on Industry Insight's Web site and that your private company information is in no way shared with, or transmitted to, APRO or any APRO members.
++By completing the survey, APRO members gain vital management benchmarks and help the industry tell the rent-to-own story to decision makers. APRO President Shannon Strunk urges everyone to participate this year. Please click here to take the survey.
++The results of the survey will be e-mailed at no charge in August to those who complete the survey. In addition, each participant will also receive a company-specific summary, providing data comparisons between the participating company and the industry as a whole. The survey results will cost $500 for those APRO members who do not participate in the process and will not be available at all to non-members. So don't delay—take the survey today!

APRO submits “Friend of the Court” brief
in New Jersey lawsuit
++On May 24, APRO submitted an amicus curiae, “friend of the court” brief in the recent New Jersey lawsuit against Rent-A-Center (see related article below). Rent-A-Center filed a motion to request that the New Jersey Supreme Court reconsider its ruling against the company.
++APRO is supporting the request in its brief by explaining the devastating impact the case would have on small rent-to-own dealers around the state unless the court makes its ruling prospective—as opposed to retroactive—only.
++Since the decision against Rent-A-Center, the same law firm that sued Rent-A-Center has now sued Aaron’s. APRO filed the brief at Aaron’s request because a favorable response from the court would help Aaron’s.

Rent-A-Center asks New Jersey
Supreme Court for another hearing
++Rent-A-Center announced in late May that it intends to ask the New Jersey Supreme Court to rehear arguments in its recent decision affecting the rent-to-own industry in that state. On March 15, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Rent-A-Center's rent-to-own transactions are conditional sales contracts and are governed by the state's retail installment sales act. In addition, the court did away with the time/price doctrine that in most states differentiates between the loan of money and the sales of goods and services over time. The court ruled that the state's criminal usury statute's absolute limit of 30 percent applies to all Rent-A-Center RTO agreements and also that everything between the cash selling price of the goods and the total RTO price is interest.
++The New Jersey Supreme Court's decision was a complete reversal of both the trial court's ruling and the New Jersey Court of Appeals, both of which had held that rent-to-own transactions are not credit sales and are therefore exempt from the retail installment sales act and the usury statute.
++Depending upon the outcome of the request for a rehearing, Rent-A-Center may ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider aspects of the case on due-process grounds; however, its first request takes the case back to the New Jersey Supreme Court. It is not unusual for litigants to ask an appeals court to reconsider a matter. In lower courts of appeal, often the request is made that the appeals court consider the matter en banc—with all of the judges reviewing the issues instead of the three that initially decided the case. The New Jersey Supreme Court is already sitting as a body and cannot add judges to rehear Rent-A-Center’s arguments. However, Rent-A-Center can ask the court to review its decision and to clarify it where there is some doubt.
++Click here for details and insight on the case from APRO's General Counsel Ed Winn III.

Are you taking advantage of your
marketing opportunities?
++APRO has just released its comprehensive Advertising, Public Relations and Media Relations Handbook for the rent-to-own industry. The handbook encompasses the latest studies and market research that focuses on marketing to potential customers and keeping current customers satisfied. Using a wealth of statistics, the handbook also examines media coverage of rent-to-own dealers to show the best news opportunities dealers across the nation have executed to generate free publicity with local news outlets. The handbook outlines the steps necessary to communicate with the media in a responsive and proactive manner. Every current aspect of public relations, marketing, advertising and media relations for the rent-to-own industry is featured in this handbook.
++Dealers across the country are reshaping their advertising, public relations and media relations to try to reach the more than 40 million Americans who should rent-to-own but do not. Any RTO dealer looking to increase his/her customer count and satisfaction levels must review this manual as a guide and/or comparison to your company’s current marketing strategies.
++The APRO Advertising, Public Relations and Media Relations Handbook is available for downloading through RTOHQ's APRO Member Log-In/E-Communities section. Simply log in to the APRO member site to access the documents. If you have questions regarding the handbook, please contact Laurie Hill by e-mail or by calling 800/204-2776, ext. 103. The handbook is free to members and $200 for non-members.

Olympic gold medallist Bassham to keynote RentDirect Nationwide summit
++Olympic gold medallist Lanny Bassham will keynote RentDirect Nationwide’s “Member2Member” Summit June 12 and 13 in Dallas. He’ll address attendees on his performance enhancement program providing excellent results for athletes and businesses alike. Bassham founded Mental Management Systems 28 years ago and is internationally recognized as an expert on mental preparation.
++“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Lanny’s reputation and management skills headlining our summit,” says James MacAlpine, executive director of RentDirect. 
++Bassham has won 10 individual national championships, five individual world championships, an Olympic silver medal in Munich and an Olympic gold medal in Montreal. He holds four world records and 33 national records. All attendees will receive a copy of his book, With Winning in Mind.
++RentDirect Nationwide’s upcoming “Member2Member” Summit will present the latest information concerning the rent-to-own industry, including television technology, finance, marketing and promotions, revenue building and tires and rims.
++For more information, contact James MacAlpine by e-mail or by calling at 336/714-8819.

Growing with Gloria:
An APROfile of Gloria Homeier-Schwien
++As a mother of seven, Gloria Homeier-Schwien knows the meaning of a full house. The Kansan business owner talks about her family history in rent-to-own, the importance of a solid financial plan and revitalizing her state association. Read her complete profile by clicking here to download a PDF of an article published in the April-May 2006 issue of Progressive Rentals magazine.

Are you ready for RAE?
++APRO is looking for the leaders of rent-to-own advertising for the 2006 Rental Advertising Excellence Awards competition—or RAE, for short. For the past 16 years, APRO has recognized the leaders in rent-to-own advertising, but with the understanding that not every business has the same resources. The RAE Awards offer rental dealers the opportunity to compete on the same level with their peers by dividing the judging into several categories: advertising produced in-house and advertising produced by an advertising agency. How much money is spent on production is also taken into consideration.
++The competition is judged by Matt Belew from the world-renowned advertising agency GSD&M. The winning entries are displayed every year at the APRO Convention and Buying Show. Winners receive RAE trophies and are featured in APRO publications and on the RTOHQ Web site.
++Show the industry how you distinguish your business by entering the 2006 competition. Click here for more information.

June 8-9
Tennessee Rental Dealers Association Spring Conference,
Opryland Hotel and Resort, Nashville. For more information, contact Larry Goad, 423/626-8025.
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June 19-21
Missouri Rental Dealers Association Second Annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show, Lodge of Four Seasons Resort, Lake Ozark, Missouri. For more information, contact Ken Steiner, 573/442-2963.
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June 22
Rent One 12th Annual Vendor Appreciation Golf Outing, Green Hills Golf Course, Mount Vernon, Illinois. For more information, contact Kris Lowe, 618/242-8448, ext. 218.
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July 5-9
ColorTyme 2006 National Meeting, Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee. For more information, contact Rhonda Davis, 972/403-4945.
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July 14-16
NAMM—The International Music Products Association Summer Session 2006, Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas. For more information, contact NAMM's tradeshow coordinator, 760/438-8001