Rent-to-own News - Aaron's partners with top universities across the nation

Aaron's, Inc.,today announced it entered into a multi-year agreement with IMG College to sponsor athletic programs at 30 top universities across the nation.

The sponsorship commitment is one of the most significant national partnerships in college sports and considerably expands the company's reach to universities and the fans that support them.

The agreement includes Aaron's signage at football and basketball venues, promotional rights and tickets. Aaron's is also designated as the preferred vendor in the lease-to-own category of furniture, electronics, appliances and computers.

"While Aaron's has a long history with collegiate sports, this is the first time the Company has formed a university partnership of this magnitude," said Tom Peterson, Aaron's VP of Marketing. "Our customers are fans of college sports, and this agreement provides us with a platform to reach millions of existing and potential Aaron's shoppers through 30 premier college athletic programs across the United States."

The IMG College partnership strengthens Aaron's long-standing college sports marketing portfolio. In addition to a multi-year sponsorship of the Southeastern Conference, Aaron's also has existing relationships with the University of Alabama, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina and University of Texas.

According to Peterson, an expanded sponsorship of college sports aligns with the Aaron's business model, which offers students, faculty and fans home essentials with flexible payment options.

"The university audience is an important target for Aaron's on several levels," Peterson continued. "For example, current students and recent graduates on their own for the first time can gain independence when they open a lease agreement at Aaron's. We never check credit and offer affordable payment plans, which allows young adults to learn the responsibility of making monthly payments without the risk of ruining their fragile credit. Additionally, Aaron's continues to be a desirable career option for the many students and graduates seeking employment in a tough economy. We are one of the few retailers in the country that is rapidly expanding and hiring new employees, and our more than 1,900 locations across the country offer a multitude of both managerial and entrepreneurial opportunities."

"College sports continue to grow in popularity and corporate support," said Roger VanDerSnick, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for IMG College. "We're thrilled Aaron's is partnering with IMG College to utilize our new national platform to expand its brand in collegiate athletics, activate at dozens of universities coast to coast, and reach the 173 million Americans who follow college sports."

The IMG College sponsorship package includes partnerships with the University of Arkansas, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Baylor University, Brigham Young University, University of Cincinnati, Clemson University, University of Connecticut, Duke University, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Houston, Kansas University, University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska, Ohio State University, University of Oregon, University of Pittsburgh, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Texas Christian University, University of Georgia, University of Miami, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Villanova University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Washington and Washington State University.