RTO relief fund wrap-up | Digital TV deadline set for 2009| Windsor orchestrates bed donation | Aaron's ranked #1 by magazine | Rent-n-Roll goes international | Maytag stockholders approve merger | Upcoming meetings | Register for APRO events | APRO offers half off first-year membership dues| RTO in the news
++APRO would like to invite all rental dealers attending the Consumer Electronics Show to attend the RTO hospitality gathering, sponsored by BDI Laguna, Friday, January 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Reef A of the Mandalay Bay.
APRO, relief fund recipients say thank you
++Moved by the devastation of fellow rental dealers in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, rental dealers across the nation responded with a flood of relief, sending food, money, clothing, home furnishings, building supplies and more to affected areas.
++In addition to their local efforts, more than fifty APRO members, vendors and state associations contributed to the RTO Employee Disaster Relief Fund. The APRO board of directors established the fund in September to provide temporary assistance to the employees of rental businesses who suffered the loss of their income due to the hurricanes and their aftermaths. One hundred and fifty-nine employees from eight companies received assistance. A total of $158,611 was distributed to recipients for a total of 13 weeks, beginning September 8 and ending December 7.
++The APRO board of directors would like to express their gratitude to the individuals and organizations who contributed to the RTO Employee Disaster Relief Fund and to those who made individual contributions by donating their time, money and products. Here are a sampling of letters APRO has received.
To the Board of Directors and all members of APRO:
++Thank you for all that you have done to help me and my family since Katrina struck in August. There are no words that can truly express the gratitude and appreciation I have for each of you. You truly are a blessing. You have helped more than you will probably ever know. The kindness and compassion you have shown were unexpected and amazing.
++I have been through many disasters in my lifetime, including Camille, but the devastation for Katrina was even more than I could conceive. As we rode the storm out downstairs with the roof blowing off upstairs, life was forever changed in the Gulf Coast. We are survivors. We survived with the help of our friends, relatives and complete strangers such as you. Thank you and God bless you.
++I wish you and your families good health and God’s peace throughout the holiday season and for the new year.
With kindest regards,
Nancy Toche
++Thanks so much to everyone for all they have done for us. You cannot know what a difference your weekly contribution has made for my family and I'm sure the others here feel the same. We appreciate everything so much and will always remember the kindness our APRO family has shown us during this difficult time. Everyone is working very hard to get our lives back.
Thanks again & happy holidays.
Melinda & Everyone at McGregor Rents Furniture
++I can’t start telling you how much this check has helped us. You see, as of September 22 my husband has been out of work because he’s very sick and his workplace does not pay sick leave. He works for BigBen Rent World in Houma and we did get damage from the two storms. It’s kind of hard for me to work because I have a little girl in a wheelchair. My husband can’t pick her up right now because he’s hurting so much. I hope he’s better soon because he loves his job. May God bless your company for doing this for us.
Thank you,
The Robichaux Family
Digital TV deadline set for 2009 
++The deadline for broadcasters to move to all-digital television has been set. According to an article on MSNBC.com, legislation passed by the U.S. Senate last week would require broadcasters to end their traditional analog transmissions by February 17, 2009 and send their signals digitally.
++The deadline is part of a larger budget bill that narrowly passed the Senate on December 21. The U.S. House of Representatives backed the plan on December 19.
++Touted as the biggest change in the industry since color television, digital television provides higher-quality images and sound.
++The digital conversion will not affect American households who already subscribe to cable or satellite television, but households relying on free “over-the-air” analog broadcasts will require a digital converter box to continue receiving service. The proposed plan would allocate up to $1.5 billion to help these consumers purchase converter boxes.
Windsor orchestrates bed donation
++Kathy Windsor, executive vice president of National TV Sales and Rental, orchestrated a donation of 100 sets of bunk beds to Lebanon, Missouri, school children. Windsor said she was inspired to help after reading an article in the Lebanon Daily Record that reported as many as 506 elementary school children did not have beds.
++Windsor contacted Coaster Company of America who immediately donated 100 bunk beds. Windsor is working with manufacturers to acquire mattresses and bedding for the children. The beds are being distributed through Lebanon R-3 Schools Social Worker Joyce Massey discovered the problem after surveying families of elementary school students.
++“Helping the children in desperate need in my own hometown is a wonderful way to give back to the community that has been so good to me over the years,” says Windsor. “Giving back is what it is all about.”
Aaron’s ranked #1
by Entrepreneur magazine
++Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership was ranked number one in Entrepreneur magazine’s miscellaneous retail businesses category and 55th among all franchise systems in the magazine’s 2006 Franchise 500. Published yearly, Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 rankings are based on objective and quantifiable measures that include financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system, the number of years in business and the length of time franchising. According to Entrepreneur magazine, this is Aaron’s sixth consecutive year to achieve a ranking on both lists.
++"Our ranking continues to reflect the hard work and dedication of our entire franchise team. But we never stop, and we look forward to strengthening our hold on the top spot next year," says Todd Evans, Aaron’s vice president of franchising.
Rent-n-Roll goes international
++Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires took a step toward opening international franchises announced Vince Ficarrotta, vice president of franchising for Rent-n-Roll. According to Ficarrotta, an agreement has been signed with 1177035 Alberta, LTD to develop Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Tires franchise stores in Canada, as well as to be a sub-franchisor of the Rent-n-Roll concept in Canada. Wayne Strachan and Mark Kreplin are the principles in Alberta, LTD.
++“This is a unique agreement that will allow us to develop the entire country a lot faster and more efficiently than we could by simply franchising individuals in the traditional sense,” says Ficarrotta.
++The company will be developing their own franchised stores in Ontario and British Columbia. They will be the official Rent-n-Roll franchisors for the rest of Canada. “The Rent-n-Roll experience being introduced in Toronto this spring will service a sector, market and consumer that is anxiously awaiting a concept like Rent-n-Roll,” says Kreplin.
++“I am extremely excited about this deal. This agreement will allow us to develop Canada simultaneously while we continue to develop territories in the United States,” says Larry Sutton, president of Rent-n-Roll. “I have gotten to know Wayne and Mark over this past year and they are going to be great franchisees as well as franchisors.”
Maytag stockholders approve merger
++Maytag announced on December 22 that stockholders approved the proposed merger with Whirlpool Corporation. Based on the preliminary vote total announced at a special meeting, the merger was approved by 68.5 percent of the shares outstanding and 97.8 percent of those shares voting. The proposal only required an approval of more than 50 percent of the shares outstanding.
++“We are very pleased that Maytag’s shareholders have fully endorsed the merger,” said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool chairman and CEO. “The combination of Whirlpool and Maytag will create very substantial benefits for consumers, trade customers and our shareholders. We believe this transaction will result in better products, quality and service, as well as efficiencies, which will enhance our ability to succeed in the increasingly competitive global home-appliance industry.”
++The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice is reviewing the proposed merger. Earlier in December, Whirlpool and Maytag announced that both companies have certified substantial compliance with the Antitrust Division in response to its request for additional information (“second request”) and that, in order to facilitate the Antitrust Division’s review, Whirlpool and Maytag have agreed not to close the merger before February 27, 2006, without the Division’s concurrence, although the Division may request additional time for review.
++Whirlpool and Maytag continue to expect the transaction to close as early as the first quarter of 2006, following regulatory clearance.
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- 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
- Premier Rental-Purchase Dealers' Convention, January 23-26, Mayan Riviera, Mexico
- 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
Register online for APRO events!
APRO legislative conference -
It's later than you think!
++APRO's 2006
Dave Egan Legislative Conference will
be held February 28-March 1 in Washington, D.C and your participation is vital! Whether you're a seasoned RTO professional or new to the industry, APRO would like to encourage you to attend the conference and meet with
your federal representatives to further the industry's federal legislative
cause.
++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. Thank you RSSS and High Touch for your Legislative Conference sponsorships!
Online registration open for Mid-Year Conference
++Online registration is open for the annual
APRO Mid-Year Conference, March 20-22, at the Hilton El Conquistador
Golf and Tennis Resort in Tucson, Arizona.An assigned APRO ID and password are required to log in. Beginning today, APRO members will receive an e-mail with their ID and password. If you are not an APRO member, or if you have any questions concerning registration, please contact APRO's Director of Membership Laurie Hill.
++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.
APRO
offers half off first-year
membership dues
++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.
++Just ask APRO member Larry Amati, president of Prime Sales and Rentals in Dallas, Texas. "APRO has always had the best interest of the RTO industry at hand," says Kraemer. "This may go unnoticed during the quiet times but when potential legislation at the state or federal level may arise, I'm comforted by the fact that I know APRO has kept on top of these issues as well as established contacts at both the state and federal level to best protect our industry. In the past RTO has withstood attacks that if not for APRO's quick and well-positioned response, would of made doing business very difficult if not impossible in some states. ++"We have also used APRO to give us guidance to ensure we protect ourselves with regards to states that do have RTO laws and how they apply to our advertising, fee assessments and legal forms. The tremendous amount of experience APRO offers combined with the collaborated efforts of it members help our industry not only protect itself, but it also brings to the forefront issues that have been plaguing RTO for years. This helps us improve our image as well as our commitment to be seen as a viable alternative for purchasing home electronics and furniture."
++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.
Visit the APRO Web site or
call the APRO office at 800/204-2776.
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