Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Aaron's founder presented prestigious Four Pillar Award

October 10, 2011

Charlie Loudermilk Sr.

Aaron's today announced that The Council for Quality Growth honored R. Charles "Charlie" Loudermilk, Sr., founder and chairman of the board of Aaron's, with its 22nd annual Four Pillar Tribute last Thursday at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Paying tribute to Loudermilk and the "Four Pillars" of leadership and success -- Quality,Responsibility, Vision and Integrity -- were John Schuerholz, President, Atlanta Braves; Herman Russell, Chairman of HJ Russell & Company; John Portman, Chairman, Portman Holdings; and Ambassador Andrew Young, Co-Founder and Chairman of Good Works International, LLC.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed also made welcoming remarks while Paul Garcia, Chairman and CEO of Global Payments Inc., served as emcee. Musical tributes were provided by the Georgia State University School of Music and Nashville recording artist Brittini Black, who performed a song penned especially for Loudermilk.

Loudermilk is APRO's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.

The evening concluded with a surprise announcement from Loudermilk pledging to donate $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta.

ABOUT THE FOUR PILLAR AWARD:
The Four Pillars of Quality, Responsibility, Vision and Integrity are the principles on which the Council was founded in 1985 and continues to focus upon today. Now in its 22nd year, this annual leadership award celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding individuals who have undoubtedly made the world around them a better place.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR QUALITY GROWTH:
Now in its 26th year, the Council for Quality Growth promotes balanced and responsible growth through the platforms of advocacy, information and education. The Council addresses strategic economic development, planning and infrastructure needs as well as tough quality of life issues. The Council is proactively involved in the formulation of policy and legislation critical to economic development and represents its members on local, regional, state and federal issues.

About APRO
The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry and the most accurate and trustworthy source of rent-to-own news in the industry. Founded in 1980, APRO is the national, nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, courts, media and the public.

For more information, visit www.rtohq.org.

2012 APRO Convention and Trade Show

July 24-26, Memphis, TN

Attendee Information

Exhibitor Information

Thank you APRO 2012 Sponsors

Watch RTOHQ Rent to Own videos on YouTube!

Featured APRO Photo:
From the TRIB Group 2010 Annual Convention and Buy Fair, March 28-March 31 Album
TRIB Group 2010 Annual Convention and Buy Fair, March 28-March 31
View All RTO Photos
in the RTOHQ.org gallery

RTOHQ: The Magazine
RTOHQ: The Magazine is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning rent-to-own industry magazine, and it's available here.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR DIGITAL RTOHQ: THE MAGAZINE

RTOHQ: The Magazine’s upgraded digital format

APRO's new, mobile-ready magazine is now available in addition to our print edition. The digital format provides the same informative content as our printed magazine, but also offers tools to make the reading experience more enriching. Access the table of contents page with one click or tap. Get additional information from advertisers by clicking on the links in their ads. The interface is easy to navigate and requires no special app—read our magazine on your computer, digital table or smartphone. Click here to access the digital version of RTOHQ: The Magazine March-April 2012.

A New Rent-to-Own Experience

by Neil Ferguson

Here’s the lowdown on APRO’s 2012 Convention and Trade Show, July 24-26 in Memphis. The RTO industry’s big event will offer many valuable experiences, including insights on how to turn your stores into “experiences”–the good kind for consumers

Who Is Your Competition?

by Bill Keese

In order to expand your customer base, you can learn a lot by observing your competitors. But first, you need to figure out just who they are. If you think your only competition is the rent-to-own store down the street, you’re not considering the bigger picture. APRO’s executive director offers a big-picture perspective.

A Review of Online Customer Complaints

by Ed Winn III

While rent-to-own companies have not cornered the market on negative reviews posted on consumer complaint websites, it’s no surprise that there are cyberspace beefs against RTO. APRO’s general counsel reviews some of them in search of a pattern and he considers appropriate response to online complaints.

Rent-to-Own Families, Part VIII

by Kristen Card

Our series of family-run rent-to-own businesses continues with profiles of the Homeiers in Kansas and two Texas-based sets of kindred colleagues, the Spangles and the Weisblatts.

Future issues of APRO's magazine will be available in this same new format. Click here to access past issues that are not yet archived in the new interface.

Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
1504 Robin Hood Trail
Austin, Texas 78703
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097