RTO state legislative report card remains positive | Anti-tipping brackets news alert generates responses | Missouri Rental Dealers Association to host new Heartland of America regional trade show and seminar | Alabama-Mississippi dealers to meet June 15 | Upcoming meetings | APRO needs your old RTO photographs | 2005 Rental-Purchase Customer and Employee of the Year deadline extended | New APRO members | APRO online training program recognizes students | RTO in the news

June 20: Exhibit space for 2005 Buying Show
++The deadline to reserve booth space and still be included in the 2005 Show Guide is June 20. If you haven't already reserved your space, contact Cindy Ferguson.

June 25: 2005 Rental-Purchase
Industry Statistical Survey
++As a rental dealer, participating in the annual Rental-Purchase Industry Survey is the single most important thing to do to assure that your industry continues to provide a meaningful "benchmark" from which you can measure the financial management and success of your store against those of your peers.
++The survey, which was mailed to every home office in May, is compiled by Industry Insights and provides invaluable statistical analysis that reveals where the industry is today and where it is headed in the years to come. Members who participate get a free copy of the survey. Otherwise, it is $300. Download a pdf file of the survey questionnaire here.

July 1: Online registration for the
2005 APRO Convention and Buying Show
++Online registration for the 2005 APRO Convention and Buying Show is available through the APRO Web site until July 1. APRO members who register online will be required to have a login and password, which was e-mailed to members, along with a postcard mailed in late May with specific logins and passwords for members. Non-members wishing to register must contact Laurie Hill at APRO at 800/204-2776, ext. 103, for login instructions.

RTO state legislative
report card remains positive
++With the majority of state legislatures adjourning for the session, the RTO industry's state legislative report card for the year remains positive. Out of the 20 bills introduced to date that directly affect the industry, five were negative and the others were designed to help fix or improve state RTO statutes. APRO screens state legislation in all 50 states, D.C. and Congress to catch unexpected and detrimental legislation such as the ones introduced in Arkansas, New York and Connecticut. Of the more than 10,000 bills introduced so far, 25 bills affect the industry and 20 of them were directly targeting the industry.
++There are still 11 states with legislative sessions that last all year, including New Jersey and Wisconsin; therefore, RTO legislative activity remains high, especially with the history of those two states. Thirty-four states have adjourned for the session with six more adjourning in the summer. The remaining states with RTO legislation—New Jersey, Wisconsin and California—are still in session or, as in Wisconsin, have pending legislation to be introduced.
++"Our membership told us their No.1 reason for belonging to APRO was for legal and legislative protection. Our legislative monitoring system and state association network are key components to those goals," says APRO President Shannon Strunk.
++As for next session, Texas and Florida are also planning to reintroduce legislation and use this year's momentum to build upon for next year. In the U.S. Congress, federal legislation continues to pick up more co-sponsors as the summer session continues. HR 1651 has 22 co-sponsors and S 603 now has 14 co-sponsors with the recent addition of Senators Thad Cochran and Kent Conrad.

Anti-tipping brackets news alert generates responses
++In an APRO news alert, released June 3, warning dealers to check installation manuals for free-standing stoves and the possible installation of anti-tipping brackets to keep the stoves from injuring customers, ColorTyme franchisee Robert Kogler sent in the following response:
++"There is a caution on the inside of all Whirlpool stoves, with pictures, informing people not to let children or any person to stand on the opened door. It also states that the anti-tipping bracket needs to be installed or someone could be seriously injured or even killed. As a ColorTyme franchisee, we have to get approvals from the landlords or apartment managers in order to install the anti-tip brackets. If we can't get approvals, then the customer needs to sign a waiver, which states that, "Our corporation, ColorTyme, its employees, vendors and associates, will not be held liable if any injuries occur due to mis-use or improper operation of the stove."
++And Sears Vice President-Sales of Azuma Leasing wrote in, saying, "Sears has been installing these as a matter of practice for many years for just such a reason!" Leonard Alonzo of RES Accessories wrote to say that RES offers universal tipping brackets (RES #03-127) and can get other brands as well, costing about $10 each.

Missouri Rental Dealers Association to host new Heartland of America regional trade show and seminar
++The Missouri Rental Dealers Association is kicking off its inaugural Heartland of America regional trade show September 12-14 at the Lodge of Four Seasons Resort in Lake Ozark, MO. Currently, rental dealers from Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and Arkansas will be invited. Other rental dealer state associations may join MRDA's effort in the coming weeks.
++A buying show similar to the APRO Buying Show format will be held during the event, with vendors offering show specials and $3,500 in cash prices will be awarded to buyers who place orders. A golf tournament as well as an educational seminar will also be highlights of the new show.
++"We realized that by inviting dealers from neighboring states, vendors could reduce their costs by reducing the number of shows they attend as well as increasing the number of attendees coming to show to network and to buy," says MRDA President Chuck Kuluva.
++For information on exhibit space, contact Ken Steiner at 573/442-2963. Stay tuned for more information!

Alabama-Mississippi dealers
to meet June 15
++The annual organizational meeting for Alabama-Mississippi rental dealers is scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m., June 15 in Meridian, MS, at the Holiday Inn, 111 U.S. Hwy 11 and 80. On the agenda will be officer elections, planning the calendar of events for the upcoming year and formulating a plan of action to increase participation. All members and non-members are invited to attend. For more information, contact Lee Duvall, 228/697-8103.

• Alabama-Mississippi Rental Dealers Association annual organizational meeting, June 15, Meridian, MS, 228/697-8103
• ColorTyme Summer Convention, June 22-26, Myrtle Beach, SC, 972/403-4945
• Missouri Rental Dealers Association Summer Training Programs, July 19 (Springfield), July 20 (Columbia) and July 21 (St. Louis), 913/371-2400
• San Francisco Furniture Market, July 22-25, San Francisco, CA, 415/552-2311
• Las Vegas Furniture Market, July 25-29, Las Vegas, NV, 888/380-0919
• RentSmart by Nationwide Buying Show, August 7-10, Dallas, 972/650-0770
• APRO 2005 Convention and Buying Show, August 8-11, Las Vegas, NV, 800/204-2776
• Tupelo Furniture Market, August 18-21, Tupelo, MS, 662/844-1473
• 2005 Midwest RTO Expo, August 23-24, Columbus, OH, 740/383-6020
• Missouri Rental Dealers Association "Heartland of America" regional trade show, September 12-14, Osage Beach, MO, 573/442-2963
• High Touch User’s Conference, September 21-23, Wichita, KS, 316/831-8132
• 2005 Arkansas Rental Dealers Association fall conference, (location tba), October 4, 870/910-0059
• Florida Rental Dealers Association annual meeting; Norman “Slats” Golf Memorial and Vendor Appreciation Dinner and Trade Show, October 4-5, 813/623-5461, ext. 110
• Click here to view the APROVision industry calendar of events

APRO needs your old RTO photographs
++APRO is in the process of preparing its 25-year anniversary video for the 2005 APRO Convention and Buying Show. While we have many old photos on hand, we would like to solicit photos from dealers across the country of old stores, employees, inventory and the like for temporary use. We promise to take good care of them and return them right away after they are scanned. Please e-mail Richard May at APRO or send your photos to Richard at APRO at 1504 Robin Hood Trail, Austin, TX, 78703. We thank you in advance!

2005 Rental-Purchase Customer and Employee of the Year deadline extended
++If you haven't gotten around to nominating that special customer and/or employee for APRO's 2005 Rental-Purchase Customer and Employee of Year contest, you have until Monday, June 13! Download the entry forms or fill them out online here.

The following rental companies and industry vendors joined APRO in May 2005:

Rental companies:

• Rodney A. Reddell, Advantage Rentals & Sales, Waco, TX
• Jet Griffin, Griffin Acceptance Corp., dba Griffin Rent To Own, Yazoo City, MS
• Mike Howerter, Howerter's Appliance, Parsons, KS
• Sandi Whited, Whited Enterprises, dba Premier Rental-Purchase, Altoona, PA
• Marc Sulkes, Yes! Stores Inc., El Cajon, C

Industry vendors:

• Larry Peischl, All Systems Satellite Distributors, Newark, DE
• Mike Wilkie, RS&I Inc., Idaho Falls, ID

APRO online training program
recognizes students
++As part of our ongoing effort to recognize Rental Training Online students who took courses over the past two years, here is a partial list of students who took courses in May 2005:
++Rose Baldwin, John Caldwell, Earnest Gipson, Kendall Kirkendoll and James LaBelle of Alliance Rental Center; Rita Dugger of Babers Inc.; Antonio Rock, Jeff Taylor and Adrian Yother of CM City Rentals; Lorrie Hackney and Carmela Tillery of Full-O-Pep/American Rentals; Marcus Elam, Terry Myers and Mark Tryon of Hometown Ventures; Rickey Armstrong, Richard Hall and William Larue of House of Television; Michael Downey, Art Downs, Brian Dretsky, Joshua Haagen, Seneca Jenkins and Mister Robin Kim of KLQ/Quality Rentals; Kevin Freeby, Gregory Fuentes, Robert Garcia, Jordan Lugar, Eddie Massingill, Steffey Moore, Kenny Morgan, Brooks Turnbow, Joel Zambrano and Magdalena Kruse of Rent City; Joshua Borders, Damon Burks and Darren Summers of SKC/Rent One.

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

June 9, 2005
Volume 4, Issue 12

PUBLISHED BY APRO
1504 ROBIN HOOD TRAIL
AUSTIN, TX 78703
800.204.2776
APROVISION.ORG

» Chappy's RTO races on

» Software company recognized for helping accounting distributions at Rent-A-Center

»Colortyme franchise referenced in finance article

» Rent-a-Center taps Koll to build new HQ

» Best Rental moves store to new location in AR

» Payday Lenders follow rent-to-own in regulatory oversight

» Chappy's RTO gets more mileage out of race sponsorship

• 2005 APRO Convention and Buying Show

Have a question or concern? Call APRO at 800/204-2776; or e-mail Julie Sherrier.

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