Rent-to-own News - Heartland wraps high energy show and seminar with awards banquet

Golf winners at the Heartland of America Awards banquet Wednesday night.

The Missouri Rental Dealers Association rounded out its Heartland of America Regional Trade Show and Seminar with an Awards Dinner on the evening of June 16, followed by a full morning of training sessions on June 17.

These events, along with a Buddy Bass Tourney, GolfTournament, Trade Show and Vendor Reception, made for three busy, productive and enjoyable days at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

"Overall, I'd say we had our best show ever," says MRDA President Tiger John Cleek Jr. "We had an outstanding turn-out from our dealers, including very good participation from Kansas [with dealers from Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee also in attendance]. We had excellent turn-out from the vendors, too--and I'd like to thank the vendors for their sponsorships. We had $14,650 in sponsorships for the show, which allowed us to give each attending dealer company one free registration, with additional people from those companies paying just $25."

The Trade Show tallied $675,000 total purchases during the event, "which is really good for a four-and-a-half-hour regional trade show," Cleek says.

"MRDA also launched its newly redesigned Web site (missourirentaldealers.org) recently and we touted it at the show," Cleek says. "We had approximately 10 vendors sign up for banner advertising on the MRDA Web site and we're continuing to offer a really good deal to vendors: $300 for a year of advertising on our site. So any vendors interested in this great deal, contact MRDA's Communications Chairman Macy Mitchell [macymitchell@gmail.com; 417/866-5789]."

The Heartland of America's Awards Dinner was held on the evening of June 16, where winners of the annual Buddy Bass Tourney and Golf Tournament were presented trophies so big they might not fit into a standard-size vehicle for the ride home.

See the winning teams from the Golf Tournament here.

See Bass Tournament finalists here.

MRDA thanks Gary Romine of Show-Me Rent-to-Own in Farmington, Missouri, for organizing the Golf Tournament.

Before the mega-trophies were handed out at MRDA's Awards dinner, several key industry figures spoke to attendees. MRDA board member and Communications Chairman Macy Mitchell talked about the association's newly revamped Web site; Dan Cole stressed the importance of MRDA's political action committee and the necessity to stay politically active.

Chris Bolin presented an update on rent-to-own activities in Tennessee, while Illinois dealer David Keen and Kansas dealer Steve Wine did the same for their states; Gary Romine spoke about some of MRDA's charitable projects and achievements over the past year, then briefly addressed his 2012 race for the Missouri State Senate.

APRO Executive Director Bill Keese capped the speakers portion of the program, lauding the strength of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association, some of its movers and shakers and other stalwarts who have helped nurture the industry and the association.

The morning following the Awards Dinner, June 17, featured MRDA's training sessions. Each 40-minute presentation was conducted by rent-to-own vendor experts who offered hands-on training, demonstrations of new technologies and tips for moving product off the showroom floor.

ArchBrook Laguna focused on the features and benefits of HP products and the HP Tech Zone, HP's online training Web site.

LG Electronics featured demonstrations of the latest plasma and LCD product technologies, as well as Blu-ray and home theater surround-sound systems.

Moneris Solutions discussed the different types of fees and how the rent-to-own business is affected by them, how to decipher your statement, pinned debit transactions and how to be PCI DSS compliant.

OíRourke Sales Co. demonstrated the latest Mitsubishi home theater DLP and LCD/LED television and the products' immersive sound technology. They also showed off the latest in 3D for the home.

Simmons Co.'s training highlighted the features of a Simmons Beautyrest mattress and how to get the consumer to understand the benefits of Beautyrest.

Whirlpool offered appliance installation tips, as well as precautions for delivering and picking up items. Also, they discussed how to qualify service issues, recognize the symptoms and perform simple 
tests in order to avoid having to change a unit out. Whirlpool also demonstrated the features and benefits of the latest top-load laundry line.

"This is my last trade show as MRDA's president and it's been an honor to serve the association and be a part of the Heartland of America Trade Show," Cleek says. "We're looking forward to seeing everyone next month in Louisville for APRO's Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show [July 19-22]."