Rental Viewpoint | December 1, 2005

Rent One donates van to
Mt. Vernon Youth Center
++Seniors and youth will benefit from Rent One's recent donation of a van to the Mt. Vernon Youth Center. The van was presented by Larry Carrico, Rent One's president, on November 17.
++"Larry and Rent One really do some great things for Mt. Vernon. They have been very supportive and help provide better programming," says Rev. James Gordon, founder and director of the youth center. The van will be used for a special program that teaches teenagers about volunteering.
++One of the goals of the program is to provide the opportunity for more than 50 children to visit nursing homes around the Mt. Vernon community. Each child "adopts" a senior citizen and participates in activities with the residents every two weeks. The donated van will help transport these children to the volunteer locations. The van will also be used to collect products from community members that will be donated to the residents at the local nursing homes.
++The Mt. Vernon Youth Center was established in 1986 and provides programming for more than 300 at-risk youth in low-income families.
Rent One

Rent King contributes to
holiday hunger relief
++Rent King contributed more than 1,100 pounds of food last week to Tampa, Florida's, Metropolitan Ministries. Rent King owners Chris Kale, Larry Pividal and Paul Schaller contributed almost $700 to match employee donations.
++Rent King donated "critical need" items and filled four pallets with canned and boxed food. Metropolitan Ministries expects to serve 13,400 needy families over the holidays.
++"This truly encompasses what the holiday season is all about," says Kale. "Our employees work extremely hard for their money and did not hesitate to give up some of their paycheck for those who are in need. We take a lot of pride in having such great employees."

RentDirect Nationwide launches Web site
++RentDirect Nationwide launched its new Web site last week. The site provides information on benefits and marketing services offered by RentDirect. It is also a source for online training initiatives, group-negotiated pricing benefits, high-impact advertising and promotions, member services and information about RentDirect Nationwide's bi-annual member conference, PrimeTime.

Aaron's franchisees open new stores
++Three new Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership stores were opened in November. Hilliard Thornton and David Lyons of LTL Investments opened their first Aaron's store in Kalispell, Montana, on November 17. Doug DenBoer with DenBoer Investments opened Aaron's stores in Traverse City, Michigan, on November 3, and Petoskey, Michigan, on November 9.

Mailing service offers
RTO marketing opportunity
++Prospects/Unlimited, a new APRO associate member, provides rent-to-own stores with a monthly list of recent home buyers and apartment residents. Prospects/Unlimited supplies occupant names—even for recent apartment move-ins.
++According to Robert Dana, owner of Prospects/Unlimited, the company's decision to market this service to the RTO industry was inspired by his lack of knowledge about RTO. "When I visited a rent-to-own store, I was blown away by the amount of merchandise they had to offer. If I didn't know how much they had to offer, other people probably didn't either and I thought I could help get the word out," says Dana.
++Prospects/Unlimited offers mailing labels by zip code and three service options that allow dealers to target direct mail campaigns to recent apartment renters and home buyers or both. To learn more, visit Prospects/Unlimited's Web site or contact Robert Dana at 800/370-9903.

PLEASE NOTE: Nationwide/Rent Direct's Prime Time convention is now scheduled for February 26 through March 1, 2006, and will be held in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel. The show was originally scheduled for February 15-18 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Due to Hurricane Katrina, the location and dates have changed.
Consumer Electronics Show, January 5—8, Las Vegas, Nevada
Florida Rental Dealers Association Board of Directors Planning Meeting, January 18, Tampa, Florida
The NAMM Show: The International Music Products Association, January 19—22, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
ColorTyme Winter Meeting, January 20—24, DFW Hyatt Regency, Dallas, Texas
Las Vegas Market, January 30—February 3, Las Vegas World Market Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Click here to view the APROVision industry calendar of events

APRO Convention and Buying Show
dates moved to September
++Due to scheduling conflicts with the increasing number of events in the summer of 2006, the dates for the 2006 APRO Convention and Buying Show have been changed to September 20-23.
++Originally scheduled for August 3-6, the APRO board of directors elected to move APRO's event to September to avoid holding the show in the same time frame as several other events affecting the RTO industry, including the Las Vegas Market and the Tupelo Furniture Market. The major furniture markets have been adjusting their dates because of the entry of the Las Vegas World Market Center into the mix in 2005. The Las Vegas Market has moved their dates several times, causing other markets, as well as APRO, to adjust their dates to avoid conflict with this major furniture industry event. APRO has been working hard to come up with the best dates for our dealers and vendors and feel that the September dates will avoid future conflict with other furniture markets.
++The APRO board feels confident that moving the APRO Convention and Buying Show to September will offer vendors a better opportunity to reach the rent-to-own market and give dealers a chance to attend these events without being constantly on the road during the month of August. APRO realizes that these new dates conflict with a major holiday, but organizers were unable to secure any other dates in September under the contract with the Gaylord Palms without considerable financial consequences. The board is looking at adjusting the convention schedule within the new contracted dates to avoid as much conflict as possible with Rosh Hashanah on September 23. APRO apologizes for this conflict and hopes to find a schedule that will work for all of its members within these dates.
++The 2006 Convention and Buying Show will be held in Orlando at the Gaylord Palms Resort. Visit the APRO Web site for the updated schedule and details as plans progress. Feel free to contact APRO Education Director Shelley Martinek with any questions or comments concerning the new dates.

APRO offers half off first-year
membership dues
++Networking is an important part of life. From expanding your business to furthering your career to making new friends, networking will benefit you every time.
++Just ask APRO member Herb Weisblatt of Sam's Appliance and TV Rental in Haltom City, Texas. "I became an APRO member in the 1980s because I wanted to learn how to do this business legally and gainfully," says Weisblatt. "Twenty-five years later I still learn a lot every year when I attend the APRO convention. My business and organization have grown and some of my success is directly tied to the good counsel and advice I have received from APRO staff and fellow rental dealers.
++"This is not an easy business. When done correctly it can be very rewarding. A single good idea pays my dues a thousand times over—and I have gotten many, many great ideas. I truly feel we would not be as good a company as we are today with out the affiliation of APRO."
++An industry is only as strong as its association and an association is only as strong as its membership. By joining APRO, you support the future of your business, your employees and their families—and the future of the industry.
++Join now and reap the benefits of APRO 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.

Mark your calendar for
2006 APRO events!

Register now for APRO legislative conference
++The 2006 Dave Egan Legislative Conference will be held February 28-March 1 in Washington, D.C. Seasoned RTO veterans and newcomers alike are urged to attend the conference and meet with their federal representatives to further the federal legislative cause. ++The first conference e-mail update was sent this week. Look for more updates to come.
++The 2006 Dave Egan Legislative Conference will be held at the L' Enfant Plaza Hotel at a special room rate of $199. To receive this rate, your hotel reservations MUST be made by January 20. Please make reservations directly with the hotel by calling 800/635-5065. You can register for the conference online or contact Jeannie Hutchison at 800/204-2776, ext. 108. Conference registration ends January 27.

APRO Mid-Year Conference dates set for March
++Rental dealers and vendors are invited to experience a desert oasis at the annual APRO Mid-Year Conference on March 20-22 at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort in Tucson, Arizona. This year's conference highlights include Ed Winn's 2006 RTO legal update, a cocktail reception with tabletop exhibits, an in-depth discussion with Sidney Burton about why 94 percent of your customer base does not rent and a golf tournament benefiting the APRO Scholarship Foundation.
++Full conference registration for APRO members is $200 and includes all events and a complimentary spouse registration. The registration fee for non-members is $400. Look for more information in your mailbox and on the APRO Web site in January 2006.

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

December 1, 2005
Volume 4, Issue 24

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

» Sallisaw businessman plans run for commission post

» Rented car bling rolling into town

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

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APRO: Always There