Perspective: APRO seminars add key insights into RTO business
APRO seminars add key insights into RTO business
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Sometimes it takes an outsider looking in to help us see what we can do to improve our businesses. We need to know what’s going on legally that is affecting how we do business today, and may very well influence how we do business in the future. And don’t underestimate the power of online training programs that help keep employees "in the know" and on top of their game.
These are a few of the dynamic seminars rental dealers can take advantage of at the APRO 2009 Convention & Buying Show in Las Vegas August 30-September 2.
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Inside-Out: An Outside Perspective of Rent-to-Own from a Former Insider
Michael J. Viveiros
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., September 1
Sometimes, the freshest business ideas come from those outside the business–such is the case with Michael Viveiros, an RTO veteran who left rent-to-own a few years ago but is now returning to the industry. He’ll examine the latest trends and opportunities regarding innovative technology, products, compensation, store design and store location. Viveiros also will discuss the rise and fall of his former company, Rainbow Rentals, and shed light on the growing pains that many companies experience.
Rental dealers who have been in the industry for a while will remember that computer rentals were considered experimental in the early 1990s, much like furniture rentals were deemed unorthodox in the 1980s. While at Rainbow Rentals, Viveiros urged the company to rent computers, now a significant product category for rent-to-own.
Viveiros started his career in rent-to-own in 1981 as an account manager for Crown Leasing in Orlando, Florida. He, along with three partners, founded Rainbow Rentals in 1986 with two stores. By 2004, the chain had reached 124 stores and had $100 million in annual revenue. The company was twice selected as one of Inc. magazine’s "Fastest Growing Companies." In May 2004, Rent-A-Center acquired Rainbow Rentals for $95 million. Since May 2004, Viveiros has pursued interests outside of rent-to-own. He’s had little or no contact with the rental business until this year, when he began to re-examine the state of industry.
RTO Legal Update
Ed Winn III, APRO Legal Counsel
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11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., September 1
In this session, Ed Winn III will pick up where he left off at the previous day’s Rental Roundtable, elaborating on a wide variety of legal topics of interest to the rent-to-own industry. He’ll offer details on the new FTC “Red Flags” rule, the tort of bullying in the workplace, improvident extensions of rent-to-own agreements, pornography on rented iPods and gaming systems, taxation of rent-to-own transactions, the implications of Senator Charles Schumer’s legislative bill, an RTO litigation review, recent state legislative initiatives, RTO agreements that must be “terminable at any time,” issues regarding installations, how to manage in-house warranties legally and additional late-breaking rent-to-own legal topics.
Winn is APRO’s general counsel and a partner at the law firm of Martinec, Winn, Vickers and McElroy in Austin, Texas. He helped found the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations in 1980 and his knowledge of the rent-to-own industry is unsurpassed. Winn is a regular contributor to RTOHQ: The Magazine and offers legal advice to APRO members.
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| Keith Carrico, Imagery Marketing Group |
Rental Training Online: Why You Can’t Afford Not to Train Your Employees
Larry Carrico, Rent One, and Keith Carrico, Imagery Marketing Group
10-11:15 a.m., September 1
Do you feel that you don’t have the time to train your employees? Would you train more frequently if you had a way to ensure that your resources were consistent, up to date, effective and easily accessible when your rent-to-own employees were ready to learn? If so, online training is the way to go. This seminar will address the benefits of using the Internet as a key resource for training your staff and how online training can help boost your profit margin. Also, you will discover how to avoid some of the pitfalls of online learning programs. Larry and Keith Carrico will demonstrate the latest rent-to-own employee training programs available and show you why can’t afford not to pursue the resources that will give your employees the learning tools they deserve.
Larry Carrico is the owner of the 42-store Rent One chain and is completing his term as APRO’s immediate past president, having served two terms prior to that as APRO’s president. An APRO member since 1990, Carrico has developed a reputation as one of the rent-to-own industry’s most innovative businessmen. In addition to Rent One, he co-owns Imagery Marketing Group, a full-service marketing and advertising firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, that offers, among other services, an online training program designed specifically for the rent-to-own. He also helped initiate APRO’s online training program and has been an integral part of its development.
As the director of Imagery Marketing Group’s Web Services, Keith Carrico helps ensure that the company delivers outstanding solutions to clients. Prior to joining Imagery, he was president of his own human resource consulting firm, as well as lead project manager and human resources director for Convergence Communications. Keith Carrico also served as human resources manager for SKC Enterprises, where he developed a corporate-assistance team that supported the company’s growth from 15 to more than 30 rental locations.
Full APRO 2009 Convention details here.