Rent-to-own News - Heartland of America gears up for sixth annual regional show

Next week the Heartland of America Trade Show marks it's sixth year when hundreds of rent to own dealers and vendors head to Lake Ozark, Missouri, where they will take part in an enviable golfing, fishing, networking and buying bonanza, that distinguishes the show's regional legacy as a value packed company destination.

Download show brochure here.

Around 140 Rent-to-own pros from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri are expected at the annual event hosted by the Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA) June 15-17. Though the number of attending dealers is down this year, the number of participating rent to own companies is up from 19 to 24 over last year.

The event has become a regular stop for rent-to-own companies across the Midwest.

"This is really shaping up to be an excellent show," said MRDA President John Cleek Jr. "Our executive director Ken Steiner and our dealer and vendor solicitation committees have really done an excellent job promoting the show this year to vendors and dealers in surrounding states."

Cleek singled out MRDA's dealer and vendor solicitation committees in particular or their success in recruiting dealers to come to the show this year.

The MRDA dealers committee includes: J.C. Cox (Gateway Rent To Own), Macy and Scott Mitchel (All American Rental)  and Chuck Kuluva (Rental City).

The MRDA vendors committee includes: Trent Agin (Rent One), Dan Cole (National Rent To Own), Scott Mitchell (All American Rental), Chuck Kuluva - Rental City.

"We've also asked our vendors to bring us their "Hot Specials" which will put their best deals on the table and give dealers a reason to stop by their booths," Cleek said.

Some 70-vendor booths representing 57 exhibitor companies -- including around a dozen new to the show -- will line the exhibit hall floor during the buying show at the the three day event which features a traditional mix of recreation and business opportunities.

For the second year the show will feature vendor training seminars in which dealers will break into groups and rotate between six product trainings including presentations.

"The trainings have been a very successful component we've added," said MRDA Executive Director Ken Steiner. "This is something that really adds value to the show for our dealers. Dealers can relate one on one with vendors and ask questions in person. You can't beat that."

Education sponsors and a description of their trainings are as follows:

(1) Archbrook Laguna: This training will focus on the features and benefits of HP products, the HP Tech Zone, which is HP’s online training website and how to out of your warranty.  The training will also include a look at how memory affects the speed of the computer, the benefits of the different processor types and how much information can actually fit on the hard drive.

(2) LG Electronics: Their training will focus on plasma and LCD product categories. In addition, the core features of the plasma and LCD/LED TVs will be discussed and demonstrated as well as Blu-ray players and Blu-ray home theater surround sound systems.

(3) Moneris Solutions: Their training will consist of a discussion of the different types of fees and how the business is affected by them, how to decipher your statement, pinned debit transactions and how to be PCI DSS Compliant.

(4) O’Rourke Sales:  Their training focus will focus on Mitsubishi home theater DLP and LCD/LED TV’s and their differences and immersive sound technology. The core features of these TVs as well as the 3-D TV will be discussed and demonstrated.

(5) Simmons Company: This training will consist of the features of a Simmons Beautyrest mattress and how to get the consumer to understand the Better Sleep of a Beautyrest.

(6) Whirlpool:  This session will consist of installation tips and precautions for delivering, installing appliances and picking up items. Also, the training will discuss how to qualify service issues and how to recognize the symptoms and perform simple tests instead of changing the unit out and what are common issues seen in appliances. They will also discuss the features and benefits of the new top load laundry line. 

See photos from last year's Heartland Show here.